So many great golden era DD tables out there, what do you recommend for $1000?


Pretty much as the title says.
Have been looking for a while for a decent DD table to add to my lot.
Have bought a few lower end ones and ultimately been dissapointed.
Now I know there were/ are literally hundreds of choices from the Japanese Golden era of DD tables.
Looking for suggestions from actual owners of solid DD tables up to about $1000 .
I have read and read but nothing substitutes for real experience.
This would likely not be my primary table, my Garrard 401 has that position for now.

Thank you.
128x128uberwaltz
Dear @lewm  : You are totally wrong: the tonearm in the GT750 is the same along the GT 2000 and certainly there is no plastic down there:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/yamaha-GT-2000.html   and here:

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/yamaha/gt-750.shtml

The GT 2000 is superior to the 101. Of course that because you are a 101 owner you can't admit Yamaha is superior. It does not matters what you think YAMAHA is superior and bestgrooves is wrong too when he said the tonearms are not the same because owners of the 750 can attest it's. Could be that the finish can be better on the top models but only the finish of the tonearm not its design and used parts on that tonearm design.

I owned two JVC tonearms one stand alone and one coming from a JVC TT and I can attest both are exactly the same.

Btw, yes specs can't tell us all about a product but here the differences are really high and speaks of the quality level of the building design. You have the 101, put your money where your mouth is and buy the GT 750 for by first hand experiences can attest or not what you are posting.

Sorry but your opinions are way wrong on that regards.

Yamaha not only made it high quality TTs but tonearms and very well regarded cartridges, speakers and electronics.

Audiophiles like you almost never talk about Yamaha but this company is second to none and extremely competitive at the very top level. Please don't make mistakes with.

In the other side I don't care about uber choice because that's his choice for good or bad, he is who will live with his choice not you or me or any one else.

As always only my opinion and nothing more than that.

R.

Btw, about the PUA-7 in other thread was proved that the stand alone is the same that the one in the TT and where in " hell " exist eveidence from Sony where they attested both tonearms are not the same but different. Bestgroove where is your Sony direct evidence. ? ? ?
Uber : """ rather more similar than one being " much" better. """

it’s way better but as I posted is your choice not mine. Period.

R.


https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_reviews.php?make=Yamaha&model=GT-750
I can buy a brand new SL1500c for $1499 Canadian so really close to your USA$ Budget why not but new?  you get the upgraded motor, etc, so is that better then  a 20+ year old one in your budget? 

Granted i'm not an expert on Technics tables past or present. I also didn't read every post here so if this has been covered sorry for the rehash. 


below for example 
https://www.atlasavu.ca/shop/turntables-accessories/turntables/technics-sl1500c-complete-turntable-s...


I'd keep saving and get the new 1200,  nothing like that classic look and a warranty. Very few people post in these forums that they got screwed on a vintage TT, they  only post when it was a killer score. 
@Uberwaltz                                                                                                                               
I read that some QL7 owners inserted Dynamat-type damping material in the empty spaces under the plinth, significantly improving the sound of the turntable.
Pay close attention to the 4 feet of the plinth, the rubber will probably be compromised and broken after all this time as well as the damping rubber between the barrel and the counterweight of the arm .... I managed to save all 4 feet with a job of patient restoration.  This after the rubber repair:
https://i.postimg.cc/GpX3yCp6/DSCN6033.jpg                                      https://i.postimg.cc/yYnR7k4z/DSCN5962.jpg