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To those with multiple tables/arms/cartridges

How do you 'play' your system?
For 30 years I had only one turntable, one arm and one cartridge......and it never entered my mind that there was an alternative?
After upgrading my turntable nearly 5 years ago to a Raven AC-3 which allowed easy mounting of up to four tonearms......I decided to add two arms.
RAVEN
A few years later I became interested in Direct Drive turntables and purchased a vintage 30 year old Victor/JVC TT-81 followed shortly after by the top-of-the-line TT-101 and I designed and had cast 3 solid bronze armpods which I had lacquered in gloss black.
TT-101
By this time I had over 30 cartridges (both LOMCs and MMs) all mounted in their own headshells for easy interchange.
STORAGE

Every day I listen to vinyl for 3-4 hours and might play with one cartridge on one arm on one table for this whole day or even two or three days.
I then might decide to change to a different arm and cartridge on a the same table or perhaps the other.....and listen to the last side I had just heard on the previous play.
I am invariably thrilled and excited by the small differences in presentation I am able to hear....and I perhaps listen to this combination for the next few days before again lusting after a particular arm or cartridge change?

Is this the way most of you with multiple cartridges/arms listen?......or are there other intentions involved?
128x128halcro
manitunc
795 posts
 
Nandric,
Yeah, I get that. In fact, one of my other tables has a replaceable headshell for that very purpose, and I have about 10 cartridges premounted on headshells that I change out once in a while just for giggles. that is certainly easier than going through a full install, and I dont think there is any huge loss in quality from a fixed headshell arm.
lewm
13,118 posts
 
Dear Nandric and Don (sounds like a 70s rock duo), I owe you guys an apology. Last night I saw that each of you did send an email to my little used gmail account. I rarely even look over there, because I do not give that address out, ever. In fact, I don't know how you guys found it, unless it is linked via Audiogon. But to my knowledge, Audiogon is linked to my regular Yahoo account, which I look at every day. Anyway, I now will respond, but based on what I wrote yesterday, you would have an inkling of my intent. Perhaps Don and I missed the boat, as it were.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
My advice to comrade Don was/is based on my knowledge that
Bill Thalman is/was involved by all Lew's TT's. But my interest in Lew's gear apply primary to those (huge) Beveridge speakers. If I would dare to ask I would but I am reluctant to do so.
lewm
13,118 posts
 
Nandric, Finally I picked up my Beveridge amplifiers from Bill Thalmann the other day. Soon I will be able to report. I need some very long interconnects first. Bill had them for 8 months, so it is not all my fault that I have no listening results so far. I am going to mate them to my transmission line woofers that I myself built 40 years ago!!! Crossover from Bev speaker to woofer is 80Hz.
downunder
1,329 posts
 
I have 4 tables, 4 additional arm wands and various headshells. The 4 tables are ready to be played at any time with my 3 input tube or 2 input ss phono stages, with front dial loading and gain adjustments which is extremely handy for playing different cartridges. All tied together with Dertonarms wonderful 4 input switcher each with ground post.

Cheers
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