Turntables New vs Used


Thought I would post this as possible food for thought. Have been in this hobby since 1957 and have owned a great many tables both new and used. My first audiophile table was a Dual 1019 and it has evolved from there.

I deal a lot in turntables both new and used, sort of a hobby business. With that in mind in recent years there has been several new tables to hit the market such as those from Music Hall,Project, and so on. Not all but most of the tables in the sub $1,000.00 range are just horrid to say the least. For what one pays in this category,one can find true stellar turntables in the used market.

Used tables from Sota,VPI and Rega will clearly outperform anything from Music Hall, Project and others.

This is not meant to disparage Music Hall or Project or others of the same category. But when one truly looks into what is available in the used market,it becomes readily apparent that the higher end used tables will sonically be superior to the new offerings.

I know for the last few months have had several of the Music Hall and Project tables as well as others come and go through the door.

To be candid there is no black art or voodoo science in turntable design. Physics and Geometry are basic law and are absolute with debate not being possible.

But many of these new tables have seem to have forgotton these basic laws and some of the new tables are pure dreck and I am being kind there.

Turntables from VPI,Sota,Rega,Nottingham,Bluenote,Clearaudio,JA Michell,and Simon Yorke offer tables that firmly place them among the best in the world,with sound engineering principles.

Plus the upgrade path is clearly there for future sonic improvements as materials and science come about.

In addition the price one will pay for one of the used tables make these some of the best bargains for today and tomorrow. However with all things used do make sure of whom you get it from and that you are getting what you pay for.

Don't overlook many of the excellent direct drive used tables from Denon,Kenwood,Yamaha,Technics and others. But do concentrate on thier upper end models forgoing the lower model line up.

All in all the current used market represents far greater value than most of the mass produced new tables.

For instance a Rega P3 is in my opinion is vastly superior to a Music Hall MMF 7 and at less cost, new price to new price. I know I have had both here in recent months. Used the Rega P 3 is a hands down winner in this category.

Both VPI and Sota are easily accessed via phone or e Mail and are most helpful in their product line.

The choice is yours and it is your money.
ferrari
Have heard the Project Perspective which was a somewhat Oracle/Michell clone. But at $1,299.00 at the time there is far better price point to price point. But nonetheless was decent value. Tone arm left something to be desired though should have been better at the price point. Arm had difficulty with heavier weighted Moving Coils at 8 grams and above. My opinion at this price point should be able to handle any moving coil regardless of gram weight. Overall while the Perspective was a decent table, but somewhat over priced for value received. My customer only kept it for a couple of months before moving on to the VPI Scout. The Scout is only $300.00 more than the Perspective but offers performance that only the Perspective wished it could do. Basically this is one of the issues I am trying to inform. One can easily find a used Scout in the same price range as the Perspective and have performance that the Perspective cannot hope to reach. And it is really a no brainer to spend the additional $300.00 over the Perspective. Not that the VPI Scout is the end all of turntables it is not. However at its price point I know of nothing that can touch it in quality,construction and sonics. Plus the support from VPI. It is very nice to able to call the manufacturer and speak with someone that knows analog and is helpful to ones concerns. Try calling Project,thats a hoot all in itself.
Why Technics continues with this table is a total mystery to me when the Technics SL 1100A and the armless version the SL 110A were vastly superior to the venerable SL 1200 and the MK II version.

In my view this table has application in the DJ market and limited use in home application.

The only good thing I see here is that parts are readily available because of the continued production of the SL 1200.

Have not seen or used the KAB Modded version of the SL 1200 and cannot comment on that version. However with that being said to mod one of these and sell it for $900.00 or so, seems to be like flogging a dead horse. The SL 1200 in the day was very good, but it time has also come and gone.

One can easily acquire a VPI HW 19 in its many models or a Sota Sapphire in it different versions for the same or less money. Have better sonics,upgradeable with factory parts. U.S. made with excellent factory support.

Now if Technics wants to impress me bring back the SL 1100A or SL 110A or the SP 10.

Over the years have had way to many SL 1200 pass through the doors, no longer impresses me to value,sonics,build quality and the tone arm is in my opinion way outdated.
Ferrari (and others, of course!): any opinion about Pro-ject RPM 9? Do you know how this compares with VPI Scout? Thanks!
The VPI Scout is in my opinion vastly superior to the Project RM9, from any stand point one would care to debate.

The tone arm on the VPI Scout is the JMW 9 which is hands down superior to the Project arm.

The fit,feel,precision,construction far exceeds the Project RM9.

Great upgrade path later on with genuine VPI parts, should one want to upgrade.

The Project RM9 is a fine table, but in my opinion falls far short of the VPI Scout.

Plus the service and support of VPI being a U.S. company is more than an added incentive. Great folks at VPI.

Check with Elusive Disc, have some great deals on VPI, last time I visited their website.