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To those with multiple tables/arms/cartridges

How do you 'play' your system?
For 30 years I had only one turntable, one arm and one cartridge......and it never entered my mind that there was an alternative?
After upgrading my turntable nearly 5 years ago to a Raven AC-3 which allowed easy mounting of up to four tonearms......I decided to add two arms.
RAVEN
A few years later I became interested in Direct Drive turntables and purchased a vintage 30 year old Victor/JVC TT-81 followed shortly after by the top-of-the-line TT-101 and I designed and had cast 3 solid bronze armpods which I had lacquered in gloss black.
TT-101
By this time I had over 30 cartridges (both LOMCs and MMs) all mounted in their own headshells for easy interchange.
STORAGE

Every day I listen to vinyl for 3-4 hours and might play with one cartridge on one arm on one table for this whole day or even two or three days.
I then might decide to change to a different arm and cartridge on a the same table or perhaps the other.....and listen to the last side I had just heard on the previous play.
I am invariably thrilled and excited by the small differences in presentation I am able to hear....and I perhaps listen to this combination for the next few days before again lusting after a particular arm or cartridge change?

Is this the way most of you with multiple cartridges/arms listen?......or are there other intentions involved?
128x128halcro
thuchan
1,009 posts
 
Downunder,
sometimes I am responsible for clearing the ground for some new small product ideas :-) In case of the UNIswitcher I asked Dertoneam some years ago if he could build such a switcher for my many tables and phono pres. The aim was not loosing any quality. So the UNIswitcher was born. I am using one with three inputs and I still have another unit for also three units which I don't use anymore (cause I sold two tables). my units have a very nice wooden box around it which I ordered at my High End carpenter. The wiring is fully silver which makes it not cheap.
I am not sure whether I will need it in the future or not. It makes Audio-life easier.
lewm
13,175 posts
 
Last winter, I had a local entrepreneur visit my home. He is Douglas Hurlburt, founder and designer of DSA phono stages (models I and II). He brought both for a try-out in my system, even though I warned him in advance that I was unlikely to pay the high prices for his units. Doug turned out to be a fine gentleman, and I must say I have rarely if ever seen such quality of construction, which stems from the fact that he over-builds his units himself, and he is obviously an obsessive person. In any case, his phono II has provision for three separate tonearms, balanced and unbalanced inputs for each, individual R and C adjustments for each, and individual gain selection for each. All selections can be made from the front panel. No flashlights or mirrors needed. (Each tonearm is in fact feeding a completely separate RIAA stage, one from the others.) In short, he's thought of everything our little hearts could desire in a phono stage. And I might add that the sound was superb, good enough for me to consider putting aside my bias for tubes. At the time, the Phono II was going to market at around $15,000, which alas was too much for me. I think now he has slightly reduced the price. Highly recommended if you've got the financial capital.
mab33
101 posts
 
Hi Lewm, I have a TT-101 that is working well, but I wouldn't mind picking up the IC from you in case it falls victim to a failure.
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
What great news about your TT-101.
I guess those old Victors just need current running through them regularly?

For what it's worth.......I never use the variable pitch/speed control on my TT-101.

Welcome to the club.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear Lew, 'Your' Douglas Hurlburt seems to agree with
'Einstein who is no Einstein' regarding the inputs. Each
of his inputs has its own RIAA stage, gain, etc.
My Basis Exclusive has two separate and independant from
each other pres and both balanced and unbalanced inputs.
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