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Best vintage DD turntables from the 70's and 80's?

Howdy folks-

We’ll I’ve got the vinyl bug for sure. 6 months ago, I bought my first TT, a nice Technics 1200 GR along with some killer vintage MM carts like Audio-Technica, Stanton and a few Grace. I love my GR! I love that little silver bastard A LOT as a matter of fact. A couple weeks ago, my second table arrived, a minty fresh Luxman PD-444 from Japan. This is a Micro Seiki built TT and was the "tits" in the mid 70’s. I can mount 2 arms on the Luxman. I’ve got a nice Victor 7045 arm coming soon along with a Victor X-1IIe MM cart which work quite well together.

I’d like to add another Vintage TT from the 70’s or 80’s and probably phase out the GR. I like the look of the old Pioneer, Denon and Victor tables. I’d like to get a vintage table that can be serviced if needed, something I can add a sweet vintage arm too. 3 arms are better than two!

I’d like to hear suggestions and comments on some fantastic, cool as crap, vintage turntables that you think should sit next to the Luxman.

Thanks again for your help!

Brent




128x128knollbrent
best-groove's avatar
best-groove
843 posts
 
The Marantz tables from the 70's were and still are quite nice,

Sorry to disappoint you but Marantz have never been famous for their turntables with the exception of the TT1000
oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948
502 posts
 
SL-1600mk2.  I bought one in the mid-80's.  I gave it to my son a few years ago, and its still going strong. 

Another is the Pioneer PL-1000 linear tracking TT.  I gave it away about 10 years ago and have been kicking myself every since.  
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I think on page 5 people just post what they have (or used decades ago), but the OP question was about “THE BEST” from 70’s/80’s. 
Or just like he said: 

I’d like to hear suggestions and comments on some fantastic, cool as crap, vintage turntables that you think should sit next to the Luxman.


This is Luxman and this is Victor that OP already have next to his new Technics GR. 
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent OP
526 posts
 
Just got an update from JP regarding my Victor TT 101 that’s on his bench. He’s got an MK3 and another table before he can finish with mine. When JP is finished with his magic, the 41 year old drive will be new again. Looking forward to sitting it next to the Luxman.
lewm
13,165 posts
 
There is often discussion of the relationships among the various Victor TT series turntables, the 101, 81, and 71.  The page in Vintage Knob cited by Chakster if you click on the blue Victor in his post, clarifies the differences nicely.
"The TT-81 is a 101 sans Double Bi-Directional Servo and with a simplified pitch control system/display ; the functions and features are nevertheless the same : +/- servo, ±6Hz of 440Hz without switching off quartz-lock switch, soft-touch transport keys and electronic braking with reverse-current circuit.
The strobe is included in the servo loop to avoid AC fluctuations from affecting the actual reading.

The TT-71 is an 81 without +/- servo, no pitch control, an even simplified stroboscope circuit and a solenoid-activated braking pad.

Many integrated players were based on these two drives : QL-10 (TT-81), QL-7 (TT-81) or QL-F6 (TT-81 but with Double Bi-Directional Servo added) among others."
However, I can attest that at least one small point in the VK passage is not correct.  The QL10 incorporates a TT101, not a TT81, along with a plinth and a UA 7XXX series tonearm.  That's how I bought my TT101, as part of a QL10 ensemble.
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