Personal Turntable Evolution

Updated Turntable Journey:

1. Dual 1225
2. Bang & Olufsen RX w/MMC5 cartridge
3. Denon DP59L
4. Rega Planar 3 with Accutex MM cartridge
5. Kenwood KD-5070 w/Audio Technica cartridge
6. Harman Kardon T45 w/Ortofon OA-30 cartridge
7. Thorens TD-125 mkII w/Rega RB303 arm, Grado Red MM cart.
8. Linn Basik/Akito arm/AT95E MM cartridge
9. LSA/Columbia SL-3a (Pre Denon)

10. Ariston RD-80SL / Jelco arm / Grado ZC+ cartridge

This is a fun thread.  I don't know how I missed it before now.  Here is my list:

1.  Weathers Townsend - Purchased in 1963 and foolishly traded in 1969

2.  AR Inc. - The disappointing replacement for the Weathers.  1969 -1970

3.  Dual 1219 - 1970 - 1972

4.  Thorens TD 125 MKII - 1972-1978, Two arms Rabco SL-8E and SME

5.  Mitsubishi EC2 1978-1986 (actually still going strong given to a starving student)

6l. VPI HW 19III 1986 and still with me, two arms SME III and SMEII

7.  Technics SL1200 MKII - 2005-201?

8;  Technics SL 1200 GAE - at introduction to present

9.  VPI Prime, 2 arms, fully modified, traded for the HW 40

10.  VPI HW 40 Anniversary - at introduction to present

1) BSR table in the late 70's.

2) Drawer loading Pioneer in Mid 80's..  Don't recall the model number.

3) Onkyo Integra CP-1057F.

4) Music Hall MMF-5.

5) Marantz TT-15S1

My first real table was an;

''2 Pioneer PL-45D''.

2 Technics 1200 mkll

Thorens 126 lll

Technics 1210 G

EMT 948

The Pioneer’s are the only decks that are not hooked up.

All have their own sound. The EMT & the G are side by side in the main listening room.

The Thorens & the 1200 are in the basement setup. (full retro system)

I sold the other 1200 to help finance the G.

Audio-Technica LP120. Removed the built-in preamp

Dual 1229 as second table to stack records. Didn’t last long, too many issues with the automatic features.

Technics 1200 mk2, probably the 80s or 90s version. Intended to get it modded for 78 and never got around to it. It was kind of beat up by the previous owner and ended up selling it for about what I paid. Kind of wish I’d held onto it with how prices for these skyrocketed, but this one was a little too far gone to really be an ’investment piece’.

Rek-O-Kut Rondine 3. Good features for 78 collectors such as a wide-ranging pitch control and long transcription tonearm. Sold because I was staring to hear the limitations of what’s basically a homebrew turntable with cheaper parts and mild speed stability issues. Wish I got rid of it sooner.

Technics SP-10R. Done, hoping it lasts the rest of my life. Perfection. Went through a variety of arms; sticking with the Dynavector DV505 (great for tracking 78s with irregular surfaces) and a Fidelity Research FR66S as a backup. Using Shure V15Vx, Soundsmith Strain Gauge, and maybe some Stanton 681s. 99% of what I play are 78s, so I haven’t really gotten into higher-end LP cartridges. My existing cartridges work well enough for the handful of times I play LPs.