Buying a used Oracle Delphi Mk_ ?

Sean,

I've only used the SME arm but in looking at the mounting plate it appears to accept pretty well anything. I'm not familiar with the ET or Clearaduio arms but I'd be quite surprised if thet didn't fit...may be work asking the arm manufacturers if they've had any trouble mating with an Oracle. The Delphi is an unusually flexible 'table but like all analog rigs does take some patience to get set up properly.

I'm wondering about Arthur Salvatore's statement, in his 'Recommended Components,' that the entire 1980's/early 1990's Delphi-s were difficult to set up properly ('meaning no wobbling'), which is critical in optimizing their sound: Does anyone know where, say, the Mk III falls in this categorization? - or any personal experience with this difficulty (or not) of set-up with the earlier models?

I used to own a MK3 and if you know how to set it up, it is not too hard. Oracle provides a tool to setup the suspension. I find this easy to use BUT further fine tuning is requred to make the setup perfect.

When the Delphi is setup correctly, you can bounce the TT via the spindle while the TT is playing and it WILL NOT mistrack...that's when it is setup up correctly.

All 3 springs will bounce together in sync and will not affect tracking.

IMO, the ET toeanrms and other linear tracking like the Airtangent are NOT ideal to be used with the Delphis as they are very heavy. I know there are stiffer springs for the TT but they just will not work properly.

Oh, I forgot to mention. If you find a used Delphi, make sure the motor works properly, smoothly because there is no replacement parts for it.

Usually they last a long, long time. Soned and look wise, it is one of the greatest tables available out there.

Genesis is absolutely correct on all points. Any Oracle set up properly will track incredibly well. And yes you can ceate an up and down motion from the center of the clamp where the platter will travel 1/2" up and down and not skip while playing a disc. This is a perfectly set up Oracle, and not very hard to do. Unlike a Linn that you can spend an afternoon fine tuning, and a month later do it again. I would use an old cart and a Foreigner album for the half inch test, and put it through the obsticle course (note; you are exercizing the springs, not crashing the bearing). Then mount your good cart and fine tune if necessary. Once set up right, I've rarely ever had to make an ajustment. You do need a good tone arm as well... Tom