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Why hasnt a turntable manufacturer produced a table with automatic tonearm return/shutoff?

I'm listening to my old Technics 1700 turntable, which has the tonearm return/ shutoff mechanism. It's one of the reasons I don't upgrade. The idea that you have to get up to retrieve the cartridge and turn off the machine makes little sense when the technology has been there for years. I know the issue of the mechanism introducing sound into the table, but it seems to me that the mechanism can be isolated and kept off until the record ends. What gives?

kavakat1
dwette
345 posts
 

 

Why not of great interest to audiophiles. An add on to a top end table?? The convenience is substantial.  

@kavakat1 I don't see a substantial convenience or really any convenience of substance. When a record ends I cue the arm and return it to the arm rest. No big deal. It takes all of two seconds or so. OTOH: adding a mechanism and logic to the turntable for auto-return of the arm just increases cost unnecessarily, and adds moving parts that can resonate, vibrate and introduce unwanted noise into the system. The added complexity just isn't worth it. And it's not going to damage your stylus if it plays the runout groove for a bit until you get up and cue the arm.

ghdprentice
8,274 posts
 

High end turntables are focused on the absolute best possible sound, adding a mechanical device to lift and/or return adds noise and reliability problems. 

reubent
7,117 posts
 

Little Fwend is your little fwend....

Here's a link to a google search of "Little Fwend" that shows the Little Fwend tonearm lift, as well as offerings from several other manufacturers.

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0TM9ILk_LTio2YPTiycksKclJVUgrT81LAQCM8QnX&q=little+fwend&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS888US888&oq=little+fwe&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggBEC4YgAQY5QQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyCggBEC4YgAQY5QQyBggCEEUYOTIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDINCAcQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAgQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAkQABiGAxiABBiKBdIBCTI3MjI5ajBqN6gCCLACAfEFaG0u56BVXHzxBWhtLuegVVx8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

rbull11
60 posts
 

I have a B&O 1900, built in 1976 fully automatic. I won’t but a manual table due to the inconvenience of placing the tonearm and having to get up when album side is over., I play 1/2 an album at night then switch to streamer. There are a few automatic TT’s made today Dual, Denon, Project, Thorens.. 

kavakat1 OP
141 posts
 

Seems to me the mere existence of the Little Fwend and vs other tonearm lifters reflects a problem that needs solving. I’m just saying I’m surprised such mechanisms are not incorporated into the initial design of high end turntables along with auto return and shut off. Some people just don’t b like getting up every 20 minutes when the side playing is over. It’s hard to get off the ground for some of us😎

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