Am I a hopeless audio snob?

Personally I find a Technics SP-10 or -15 series in an aftermarket plinth much more visually appealing than most of the fancy gizmo-looking belt-driven tables out there, but to each their own. Sometimes less is more. I do tend to agree, though, that Technics might be limiting their sales by making their $4k tables look nearly identical to the ones you can find on Facebook Maretplace for $500.

Richopp, that’s the one I had, for a brief fling. The Vestigial tonearm was a hoot. But funnily back then I bought in the shortlived belief it was SOTA.

@lewm 

Well, sorry you did that, but I am sure the dealer was happy!  We found that the record did not sit on the "pads" very well and the arm, therefore, traveled more in a vertical direction than it should, so we never really got it to work.

However, if you still have it, it sure is pretty, so I would have it out for people to look at, anyway..  I think they stopped making them in the early '80's after they moved the factory or something.  Anyway, they still have parts and I think will service them if you can find them.

We also had tangential arm tables, which physics people say are MUCH better at tracking than normal arms.  Unfortunatley, only B&O had a good one, and it was VERY limited by a mediocre cartridge that could not be changed.  Once again, PRETTY product, as all B&O stuff is. 

RABCO made a stand-alone tangential arm as well, but it was pretty clunky.  I wonder why someone has not invented a new one since they are truly more accurate than regular arms, and today, money is no object.  Technics SP-10 tables, SOTA back then, were a few hundred dollars.  Today, I have no idea, but thousands, I think, which is ridiculous, but whatever sells, right?

Cheers!

I wrote “brief fling”, so no, I certainly don’t still own it. It still has a certain kitsch however for having been featured in the movie “Clockwork Orange “. If I had one I’d display it with the platter in rotation but I’d not connect it to an audio system.

The current Technics SL-1200G is a fine turntable at its price point. It is stronger on rythmic drive and bass coherence than it is on tonal refinement, but an excellent performer nonetheless. While it looks like the old disco 1200, it does not look or feel cheap in use. However, if aesthetics are a problem, there is the SP-10R, or the SAT XD1, which does use the latter's drive system. Costs a few $$$ though :))