Your thoughts on a few turntables

fleafly

fleafly

New Member
I'm in the process of trying to find a good used turntable but the problem is I live in an area where the pickings are slim. I will be headed down to the Minneapolis area to help someone move next weekend and I found a few turntables and I was hoping to get the experts opinions on what is good, what is crap, and possibly how you would rank them.

MCS 6601 Direct Drive Turntable
dual 505-2 turntable
Technics Turntable SL-23
Sony 5520 Turntable
Technics quarts direct drive automatic turntable sl-q2
JVC QL-A2 Turntable
 
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Not just the "most advanced", but probably the best put together as well as best performing (all things being equal). "Most advanced" usually just gets one in trouble (more to go wrong)! :-)

... but the SL-Q2 is a respectably well-made and very decent-performing piece of hardware -- assuming it's in good condition (i.e., bearings in arm and platter all in good shape with no untoward amounts of play in 'em).

My daily driver is an SL-Q2, for the (ahem) record...

spinnin2 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

Runner up would, to me, be the JVC -- also a very decent piece of hardware in good condition, and possibly less expensive because it lacks the cachet of the "Technics" brand name.
 
I re-belted and re-stylused a Technics SL-BD20 I'd sell it. It cost me $20 and I have about $20 more in it, you should be able to find one for less than $100 in good working order.
 
How would the Technics SL-Q2 compare to a Technics SL-5300 Turntable with Ortofon cartridge?

I know prices and such aren't allowed in this sub but if you'd like PM me what would you consider a good price for a:
Technics SL-5300 Turntable with Ortofon cartridge
Technics SL-Q2
JVC QL-A2
 
Balifly said:
There is a very nice - Technics SL-1500 Direct Drive Turntable - $120 (St Paul)
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/ele/4894687820.html

There is also a - Vintage Pioneer PL-510S Direct Drive Turntable - $200 (st paul)
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/ele/4909747779.html

Best of luck! :music:
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I have been to look at both of those. The 1500 is not "very nice." It's got some paint chipping on the finish and the cue lever needs work, as he says. The base is also sagging away from the plinth. When he put a headshell on it to test, there was only sound on one channel. Not sure what was the issue there. I passed.

The PL-510S is in much better shape.

He's a very nice guy, but I think he wants too much for each of them and evidently isn't willing to go any lower. Both of those machines have been on there for months, and the 1500 started out at $200.
 
fleafly said:
A U-Turn is an option but I'd like to find a good used one before I drop money on a U-Turn.
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I bought a used U-Turn Orbit Plus with acrylic platter and Ortofon cart for $180 off CL.... they are popping up more and more on the used market now. And to me, they sound fantastic
 
Nothing I see on this thread will top the SL-Q2. The JVC and the 1500 are nice, but the Q2 has a better arm than both of them.
 
If you find a Dual that is in excellent condition, has been cleaned and serviced, it will last you the rest of your life. Also, a Dual turntable is one of the easiest to set the tonearm and cartridge. No tools necessary, just three easy steps and you're done.
 
HarmanKardon said:
My brother has the Dual 505-2 turntable and he really likes it. Actually this Dual is a pretty good one.
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4Play said:
If you find a Dual that is in excellent condition, has been cleaned and serviced, it will last you the rest of your life. Also, a Dual turntable is one of the easiest to set the tonearm and cartridge. No tools necessary, just three easy steps and you're done.
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Yes, the Dual is fine so long as the chronically failing capacitors in the power supply have been replaced, the unobtainable toothed belt for the pitch control hasn't worn out, and the plastic bracket that holds the accordion motor spindle contraption hasn't broken. Why wouldn't anyone recommend a turntable like that?

In all seriousness, they can sound great, but I get a LOT of Duals from that era in for repair, and they have problems. Strange design elements, cheap caps, and too much plastic. Most can be fixed, but I wouldn't recommend one to a newbie unless it's been thoroughly checked.
 
bangsezmax said:
Most can be fixed, but I wouldn't recommend one to a newbie unless it's been thoroughly checked.
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Same could be said about the Sansui QRX 9001 ... ;-}
(Ever finish yours?)

I still like my Mitsubishi ...

dpec10auto.jpg


Bought new back around '80. Only problem I had was the auto return went wonky after 30 years and was a bit of a PITA to fix. Working well now, but point being, they all got their eccentricities ...
 
sKiZo said:
Same could be said about the Sansui QRX 9001 ... ;-}
(Ever finish yours?)
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Ack! :yikes:

It's a QRX-999 actually, the European version. But yes, I did finally finish that f'er. Sounds great, but that was some hairy stuff restoring that.
 
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