2. analog
  3. 157789-119399

Two Turntables? Why

OK, been thinking about this for a bit.  Why do people own two turntables?  OK, I understand some traditional uses for a 2nd turntable.  One that is just for 78's, for example.  You may be on a journey to a set up you really enjoy listening to.  You may have even gone the route of an external power supply, isolators, base, phono PreAmp.  All of the accouterments you enjoy because, well, you enjoy records.  But if you are enjoying your LPs and you have purchased a turntable, cartridge and potentially a tonearm that you really enjoy, why do you need a 2nd turntable?  

If you go through all that effort and fun to get to a sound and system that makes you happy, and many of us have, why do it for two or more turntables.  You got a good one, why do you need a 2nd?  Maybe you play all your old LPs from High School on one standard turntable and play all your MoFi and QRP copies on the better machine.  I don't know. 

So, those of you who own more than one turntable, please let me know why you have more than one.  Let me know your thinking.  I'm curious.

Thanks 
pgaulke60
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
One for sunny weather, one for rainy weather
One for Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, one for Tuesday, Thursday...
One for Jazz, one for orchestral church music
One for the Show, one for the Money
One for ...
petg60
1,486 posts
 
Hi,
you can have one tt and 2 tonearms also. Many reasons, like many mono Lp's in collection, many used Lp's not in excellent condition, sentimental ones , sound variety ones, and so on.
mikelavigne
2,156 posts
 
chicks dig turntables......multiple.:-)

i've had as many as 5 at once, had one for a long time, now i have three.

if you asked me 2 years ago i would have said i would only have one turntable forever.

what changed?

i realized (1) how much i enjoyed vinyl, (2) how different drive approaches had different musical characters, (3) i enjoyed each of those characters in a different way, and (4) i just think turntables are cool things to mess around with.

so i found 2 more turntables i liked enough to own and bought them. and i'm really enjoying having these three.

check back in 2-3 years and we will see if i still have three, or maybe by then 4.
big_greg
6,567 posts
 
I have six turntables.  I have four systems.  Each has a turntable, my main system has two.  I need to get rid of one and am about to put one up for sale as soon as I have time.

The reason I have two turntables is that I buy a lot of used records.  In general, I play new or NM records on my best table, which also has a more expensive cartridge.  The used records that are VG+ (or sometimes worse) generally get played on the other turntable which has a less expensive cartridge.  Sound quality is pretty close, but I'd rather have the cartridge that cost twice as much last longer and not wear it out playing records that are less than perfect. 

My second turntable is a Technics SL1200 MK2 which also gives me the option of easily switching out different cartridges.  I have three different cartridges that all sound different that I can swap out.

That all probably still sounds crazy, and perhaps it is.
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
How many watches, shoes, guns, rifles, rods/reels, cars,.....etc. They all have a purpose and useful features that the others may lack. Why do you ask?
More to discover