Buying a new TT today

@big_greg
Here is a interview with KI where he talks about designing the TT-15s1

http://www.newaudio.it/marantz/TT15S/TT15%20Gramophone%20April%2005.pdf

BD vs DD
So I’m new in the TT game and it’s been wonderfully fun but I’m not new to the HiFi game...
So my take on it is this. It’s been a interesting debate about BD vs DD but the point one is clearly superior and can be backed up through specs is something of a half truth.
There have been so many amps, pre’s, cd Units and d/a converters that either spec out much better than others or are built in supposedly superior way and yet they don’t sound as good as the supposed inferior unit?
What that says is that not only is the ear of the beholder but also the way a manufacturer can manipulate what they have into their house sound. Some manufacturers are very good at this and some are great at it! They have the ability to get more sound out of what they have to work with.
Anyway I’m sure the Technics are great but I’m sure there are BD’s in their price range that some listeners would prefer the sound of...
jmo

Thanks for posting that article.

Anyway I’m sure the Technics are great but I’m sure there are BD’s in their price range that some listeners would prefer the sound of...

You could say that when you will be able to compare them side by side with the same cartridge in the same system.

No, you will not find equal sounding BD at the same price range that new Technics GR for example ($1700, Technics keeping the price very low), or equal to any of the vintage turntables i have mentioned in the earlier posts, simply because we’re living in the digital era and comparing almost any new BD turntable to the Japanese DD from the golden age (used) is strange. Prices for new BD always higher but the build quality is not higher (this is marketing) and tonearms on them always inferior in comparison to the best Japanese DD from the 80’s. Specific models like SP-10mkII, DP-80 are cheaper and better turntables. Same about Japanese vintage tonearms (always cheaper and better). I rate some vintage DD higher than new Technics.

Also you can’t change tonearm on most of those Belt Drive turntables, manufacturer want you to stay with their arm (which is often not adjustable for some other better cartridges). This is definitely Rega strategy. 

Why do the Technic TT’s primarily target the Dj crowd and other professionals? I even saw one ad targeted to the audiophile consumer but the marketing slogan said something like "spin records like your favorite Dj ". Odd.  That kinda turned me off when I was looking. 

@aj523 Apparently you know nothing about DJing history, back in the days Radio Broadcast and Discotheques were equipped with serious systems (speakers, turntables and stuff) brands like Technics, Victor, Denon, EMT and even Garrard created some of the best studio turntables ever. Many cartridge manufacturers also oriented on professional market (Stanton, Grace, Denon ... ) in the 70’s. In Japan you can visit a lot of bars with Pioneer TAD speakers or Altec, JBL 4350... and tons of vintage equipment from that era for playing records and create an atmosphere. Professional format was Vinyl and R2R. It was analog era and i think innovative design from turntable manufacturers was made for (and tested by) industry professionals first, then adopted for rich music lovers.

Same with recording studios, pressing plants ... it is all professional field, not home audio. Ortofon was manufacturing cutting styli, Technics was manufacturing motors for Neumann cutting lathe. Victor also made a lot for professionals. Denon 107 MM and later 103 MC originally designed for radio broadcast at NHK in Japan.

This is all history, Technics should not hesitate to mention that SL1200 mk7 or even GR or even GAE cab be easily used by professional DJs/Clubs if they have funds to buy them.

The problem is that DJ industry is no longer about high fidelity, it is an entertainment, most of the modern analog equipment for DJs is dirt cheap crap, but everyone can buy it and use it and we have a lot of very bad djs with awful taste in music.

A cell phone in the beginning was very exotic device for rich people only, now every teenager have a cell phone and it’s a micro computer in his pocket. Technologies goes masses. Digital replaced analog even in professional field (radiostations, studios, clubs).

Now an expensive analog gear is for audiophiles, fanatics. but the majority of them are all digital already.

But we have analog audiophiles and we have analog DJs, those people prefer analog format (Vinyl Records, R2R... ). Many studios are still analog and many musicians recorded in analog only.

If Technics has improved their iconic turntables to an audiophile level it is great ! But visually it is almost the same iconic DJ turntable like older SL1200mkII, even more powerful motor, 78rpm included for some models, pitch control and high torque are still there. So why not mention that every professional DJ can use it (or every audiophile can be a home deejay:)) ?

All that speech about Technics (DJ turntable or Audiophile turntable) is about an image and reputation. It’s like a Heavy Metalist in leather jacket going to the stylish Mod Club. He may shock someone, because it’s two different cultural group of music lovers, but they are all humans.

If i will tell you that before Technics many Deejays have been using Thorens TD125 belt drive and Garrard 301 idler drive, do you think it can effect somehow the quality of those classic turntables that now mainly used by audiophiles (and not by DJs anymore).