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Vintage Japanese DD Consult and Suggestions Please

A little over five years ago, I worked with Chris Harban at Woodsong Audio to craft a bespoke Garrard 301 for me and my my vinyl collection. I had previously had a Dual of some model followed by a Thorens TD 160 with a nice Ortofon Black MM cart. The 301 was completely restored featuring a heavy mahogany plinth, Ortofon AS 309S tonearm, and Ortofon SPU head. I have completely blown away with how this table has sounded and looked. The sound was huge, rich, and detailed...everything that I heard that idle drives from this era should sound.

Unfortunately, some family health matters have forced me to liquidate some much revered audio gear, and recently placed my Garrard 301 up for sale. I do not wish to be without a way to continue to enjoy my collection and would somehow like to come as close to the performance of the 301 for around $2500 or so. 

My considerations (thus far)for this change are as follows,

Denon DP80

Technics SP10 Mk 2 or 3

Technics SL 1000 Mk 2

Luxman PD 444

As you can see, I am curious about the more vintage looks and sound of the direct drives coming out of Japan, and am hoping to glean from this audience which of these units may provide me with the same (or as close to)level of enjoyment that my 301 has done. Thoughts on tonearm and MC cartridges pairings with each would be helpful.

I am not really considering anything belt driven at this time for whatever reason, or a deck that veers away from a traditional turntable aesthetic.

If it helps, the rest of the signal chain is as follows.

Aric Audio Motherlode preamp

Manley Steelhead phono pre

Aric Audio Transcend EL 34 push/pull amp

Klipsch Forte iv speakers.

 

I am grateful in advance for your thoughts on this matter.

 

 

laaudionut
lewm
13,328 posts
 

Lenco made belt drives at one point in its existence, just to say the Bogen may be a re-badged Lenco belt drive, or not. (I just cannot recall for sure.)

Mea culpa. See here.

sns
3,433 posts
 

I have a Technics SP10Mk II, completely rebuild, custom plinth, etc. etc, took far more than $2500 to get it to the point I considered it to be a finished product. I could never go back to a belt drive, went through the VPI belt drives, modified Thorens and others. The drive, slam, dynamics, transients far better with my Technics  vs the belts with it's 100lb mass loaded plinth, Stillpoints, and 100lb mass loaded stand.

lewm
13,328 posts
 

Cost is one reason why I recommended a Denon DP75 or 80 instead of an SP10 Mk2 or other, and in this case I would additionally recommend to this OP that he purchase from a reliable source who is willing to guarantee operating condition and shows a history of prior service or restoration. In fact, I would check out PBN Audio, although the cost of one of their DP80s may be out of reach for the budget.

neonknight
406 posts
 

If it were me and I had to get a DD with that budget I would make it a Denon DP80 and get the most cosmetically perfect one I could. You can always get the table serviced, you can never repair the cosmetics on these vintage tables. Some of the Japanese sellers do a recap on them before listing. Then find one of the Denon bases and be willing to sand and refinish. I could see these two pieces coating $1000 to $1200. Now you have 1200 or so for a tonearm. You might be in the range for an Audiomods Series Six. You can see what the used market holds for something like a Groovemaster, maybe you find a Schick, perhaps a Clearaudio. You should get a serviceable table that way.

alexv
34 posts
 

I’ve got following DD tables Technics: Sl1200, SP15, SP10 MkII and MkIII, Pioneer Exclusive P3, Yamaha GT 1000 and GT2000, Denon Dp 75 and DP80 and a bunch of belt driven tables. When it comes to price/performance ratio I can’t think of anything that can touch P3 and Dp80. P3 is not expensive if you know were to buy in Japan but it will cost at least 3 times more here but D80 is still dirty cheap. In my books the performance of DP80 is not that far behind the one of Sp10MKIII and exceeds the one of SP10 MKII. You can get Dp80 in DK300 plinth or DK2300 (two arms plinth) for less than $1200 which is the basement bargain price for the extraordinary good table. There are cheaper Denon plinths available, but their construction is not very good. DK300 is a very decent plinth but a better option would be to mold your own plinth using epoxy and bentonite. It is not difficult to build one and it will cost you less than $400.

Sl1200 will blow TD160 ( I've got one in my collection and I grew up with TD125 which I replaced with SL1200 and never looked back) out of the water so any DD table that you listed would be a  big step up.   Luxman is not in the same league as DP80,  Sp10MK II or GT2000. GT2000 is another option that you should consider) as it come with a decent arm and you can have it for $2500.

I’ve got a couple of DP80s with plinths. PM me if you are interested.

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