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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
dill
2,585 posts
 

2 new Technics models have Auto-Lift.

johnnybwood
63 posts
 

I agree that it can happen that you forget to turn off the tt but It is rare. The only reason it ever happened to me was that I have a Q-up on mine and it lifts the arm at the end so once I got distracted and forgot to shut down. All those mechanical conveniences would compromise the sonics and reliability so I take my chances.

cheers!

larryi
4,373 posts
 

I don’t see any impediment to engineering a high quality table with automatic or semi automatic features.  Perhaps such tables are out there, but they are not recognized as high end.  That suggests that the “reason” has to do with us—the consumers.  If there were demand for high end tables with such features, manufacturers would build them.  But, it is the buyers who baulk at paying a lot for such tables because the buyer perceives such features to not be consistent with high end.  
Another issue would be compatibility with different tonearms.  Ideally, such features have to be integrated with both arm and table, so they would not be popular with high end buyers who want to choose arms and tables separately.

oberoniaomnia
201 posts
 

By extension, why are the spindle stackers no longer made? You could buy two copies of the record, put one on with A side up, second with B side up, and you can play both sides without getting up. And with each additional record, the tone arm is lifted to maintain correct VTA.

More seriously, there is a reason why automatic TTs are only found near entry level. The vast majority who are into vinyl embrace the inconvenience as a factor of appeal and value SQ higher than convenience. If it is that much of an issue, I suggest to stick to digital library of some sort, maybe CDs.

Additionally, once you get into more obscure vinyl, auto-TTs are more of a hindrance than a help. Say 33 rpm 7" or records with actual sound in runout. I have both.

boxcarman
495 posts
 

I am using a Thorens automatic also.  It plays just as well as my previous 'audiophile' TT and is not nearly as fussy to set up.  

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