Vintage or modern TT?

[Floyddroid]

This may well be the first analogue question of the year? It may well or very likely been asked before? but what just is the consensus of the preference between vintage turntables and modern designs. Japanese, US or Uk? What's your thoughts?

[Light Dependant Resistor]

My Linn LP12 Valhalla, Basik Plus shows no sign of stopping, so encouraging the same fortune for others, my vote is for vintage.

[British high fidelity]

And my custom Thorens TD125 mkII is going NO WHERE! Ever! lol

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[British high fidelity]

If it aint broke then dont fix it, and the vintage are not know where near broken

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[karma67]

vintage japanese direct direct drive gets my vote.

[Audio Al]

My opinion is as follows

Back in the day company's built to a standard and were proud of this.

Modern mass production unit are designed by accountants

SOME moder makers do still produce quality but this is normally at high cost due to limited production

I would hunt out something vintage / classic

This does depend on your all in TT budget

[Natara]

I love my LP12 but it can be frustrating that everytime I want to do anything to it it has to go to the shop, I know vintage decks can be quite seductive but if you just want a plug and play no nonsense TT I would go new. A new Rega Planar 3 looks like a really good deck just over 600 pound with cart fitted guaranteed and warranteed, you can still upgrade with a few mods as you go along a seperate psu etc. Also the Rega Fono MM 2 is a great phono stage for the money I used on for a year or so and it never let me down. Good luck in the search you are in for a real treat which ever way you decide to go.

[hifi_dave]

Depends on the model. A Garrard 301 or 401, Thorens TD 124 or Goldring G99 are excellent by any standard and built to last but numerous 'vintage' turntables are a waste of space and will require a fair bit of fettling to keep going.

If you can't pay out for a top of the range 'vintage, then as Tara says above, a Rega is a great choice for high quality, trouble free listening.

[shane]

This needs rescuing. Set it up with a decent arm, it'll just sit there and do the biz for years without needing to fiddle with it. Of course, I'm a bit biased where these things are concerned...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351945209350

[topoxforddoc]

I would have no problem with buying a vintage traditional TT, like a Thorens 124, Garrard 301/401 etc; these are essentially mechanical beasts, with lots of support. Vintage japanese high end TTs are fabulous, but spares are almost unobtanium. If you have deep pockets, or a lot of electronics nouse, then buying a high end Jap DD TT needing work (just like Beobloke with his recent Sony purchase) could be a gamble, as you might end up with an expensive paperweight.