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Best vintage DD turntables from the 70's and 80's?

Howdy folks-

We’ll I’ve got the vinyl bug for sure. 6 months ago, I bought my first TT, a nice Technics 1200 GR along with some killer vintage MM carts like Audio-Technica, Stanton and a few Grace. I love my GR! I love that little silver bastard A LOT as a matter of fact. A couple weeks ago, my second table arrived, a minty fresh Luxman PD-444 from Japan. This is a Micro Seiki built TT and was the "tits" in the mid 70’s. I can mount 2 arms on the Luxman. I’ve got a nice Victor 7045 arm coming soon along with a Victor X-1IIe MM cart which work quite well together.

I’d like to add another Vintage TT from the 70’s or 80’s and probably phase out the GR. I like the look of the old Pioneer, Denon and Victor tables. I’d like to get a vintage table that can be serviced if needed, something I can add a sweet vintage arm too. 3 arms are better than two!

I’d like to hear suggestions and comments on some fantastic, cool as crap, vintage turntables that you think should sit next to the Luxman.

Thanks again for your help!

Brent




128x128knollbrent
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I hate automatic turntables, especially the vintage automatic turntables.
If the owner of such turntables is not a DIYer then they must be serviced, refurbished, adjusted, calibrated etc. Many automatic turntables are broken, the electornics does not work well. How much the owners have to pay to restore them ?

The only automatic turntable which i’d like to have is this cute little 12inch size Technics SL-10 (and fully programmable SL-15 with 205 mk4 pmount cartridge), but ONLY if they are already refurbished by some specialista in Japan. Nice for a kitchen system.

Serious vintage turntables must be manual in my opinion. I just don’t trust this automatic sh*t

Automatic turntables are difinitely not the best turntables.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
True, That’s why Sony made the PS-X5 a manual , X6 a semi and X7 an auto .I gave  my X-5 away and it still is running fine at 45 years of age !
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
@chakster the definition of “the best” is quite subjective. In my own subjective viewpoint, I prefer semi-automatic turntables that return the tonearm to its rest at the end of play. The mechanism that furnished that function on my prized (and slightly customized) Technics SL-1700mk2 turntables uses an optical detector, and therefore that part is relatively immune to wear and tear. I do openly admit that the mechanism which it invokes is mechanical, and involves a rubber drive belt that is prone to requiring periodic replacement. That is a small concession as far as I’m concerned for the convenience of semi-automatic operation. Admittedly, my aural faculties have diminished somewhat, so my sound quality needs might not be as high as that of others, but I have never enjoyed such sonic bliss before with lesser equipment. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@sleepwalker65 

Have you seen this AT Safety Raiser ? Brand new device from Audio-Technica for lazy guys: "Designed to mount on a manual turntable, the AT6006R Safety Raiser automatically lifts the tonearm at the end of a record, protecting the stylus from damage."

I think it's nice option for manual turntables. 
glupson
7,842 posts
 
I wonder how it works. It does seem like something useful.

sleepwalker65,

You mentioned that semi-automatic mechanism uses belts. Was that what Technics used to do? You got me worried, I have SL-Q2, low-fi by standards of serious listeners and have never replaced anything. I was, obviously stupidly, imagining there were some cogwheels doing the work.

When it comes to reliability, some thirty+ years ago, the stop mechanism ceased to work and arm would not return. I had to start and stop it with on/off button. It lasted for 6 months, maybe even a little more, and then it started working again for no apparent reason. It worked this afternoon, too. The turntable is close to 40 years old so I figure if I do need to replace some belt now and then it goes for another 40, I am set for life. Literally.
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