Budget Turntables

[raygreen]

Which would be the better choice between a Dual 505-2 and a Sansui SR-212 ?

I like the look of the Sansui with the S shaped tone arm and the wooden surround. Anyone know if there will be a difference in sound?

[Clive197]

Buy the one you like the look of. Sound wise it will be six of one or half a dozen of the other. Both are well respected budget decks that sold very well back in the day.

Clive

[RobbieGong]

Buy the one you like the look of. Sound wise it will be six of one or half a dozen of the other. Both are well respected budget decks that sold very well back in the day.

Clive

+1

[Geoff101]

If you buy an old Dual 505, you will almost certainly need to budget for a pitch control belt (about a tenner from germany) as I've had a few and never yet bought one where it was still in one piece. For some reason the cable clamp arrangement on the RCA lead seems to create shorts in the cable as well and I've had to replace those on all but one of the ones I've had.
Motors / control boards can have issues as well as the arm linkages to switch them on and off.

I'd look for an old Pioneer instead (PL-12D, PL-112D) which if you avoid ebay, can be found for similar money and I think sound quite a bit better.

No experience of the Sansui I'm afraid.

[synsei]

The Sansui SR222 in all guises is an excellent deck which comes with a very good arm and can be had for reasonable money. It is also the most contemporary looking of the 80's budget super decks. The mkII is probably the best of the bunch IMO...

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8494/8440261312_aa69a1dfff_z.jpg

[spendorman]

If you buy an old Dual 505, you will almost certainly need to budget for a pitch control belt (about a tenner from germany) as I've had a few and never yet bought one where it was still in one piece. For some reason the cable clamp arrangement on the RCA lead seems to create shorts in the cable as well and I've had to replace those on all but one of the ones I've had.
Motors / control boards can have issues as well as the arm linkages to switch them on and off.

I'd look for an old Pioneer instead (PL-12D, PL-112D) which if you avoid ebay, can be found for similar money and I think sound quite a bit better.

No experience of the Sansui I'm afraid.

How about adding the Pioneer PL-512 to the list? I think it's a great deck. I have the PL-12D too, it's a good deck, but the 512 is quieter.

[DarrenHW]

Hi Ray,

I have both a 505 and a PL-12D, you're not far from me if you want to pop over some time you can compare them and see if you like either. They're both surplus so I'd let either go cheap to another AoS member, PM me if you're interested?

[Jac Hawk]

If you can find one i would highly recommend the Aiwa AP2600, Quartz Direct Drive with a cast stone plinth as good if not better than the Technics 1210 in it's standard from the factory form, the only draw back with the Aiwa is it's not as easy to upgrade and it's name. I showed mine a couple of years ago in the " Cheap as Chips " room at Scalford, both Alex and I showed systems for under £100, i think the Aiwa cost me £15, folks couldn't believe how good it sounded and not because it was so cheap, people were genuinely impressed.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/IMAG0062.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/IMAG0062.jpg.html)

[karma67]

i have the sansui sr-212 and i can tell you its a great turntable,very similar to the pl-12d but rarer,i bought it for the same reason you mentioned,i love the look of it,i currently have fitted an AT95HE and all i can say is wow!
i also believe the sansui has a better arm than the pioneer. do a google search and have a look at the comment on the sansui.:)

[DSJR]

The Dual 505 offers easy parts if necessary, needs the later solid mat and the Ortofon cartridge benefits from an OM20 stylus - some UK versions had AT95E's fitted, so an HE stylus should easily be suitable. The arm and deck-metal are too low mass for much else to be said sadly and although derived from the rather more solidly made models of yore, the sonics aren't the same. I'm a huge Dual fan, but more the idler and early belt drive models (1019, 1219/1229, 510, 601 and so on)...

The Sansui is similar to so many jap decks of this era. Careful siting is a MUST if bass-bloat is to be avoided and sometimes, build internally doesn't reflect the immaculate visuals outside..

[karma67]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/michaelcaine22/20140721_170104.jpg

[Martyn Miles]

How about £25 for a turntable ? I bought an AR XA for that amount, fitted a new belt and a felt mat. Cost was approx. £25. What a fantastic turntable for about £50.
I currently use a Denon D110 in it and it gives my LP12 a run for its money.

[walpurgis]

Well I've got this waiting for a refurb and plinth:


http://i60.tinypic.com/b4sth0.jpg

[tim_bissell]

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=1198&image_id=29985&view=no_count

A nice old Micro DD-1 DC servo direct drive - £20, a £4 re-cap plus a splash of varnish, a black respray of the metal top plate with the dregs of a can, plus a spare Achromat and surplus Helius standard arm.

A very nice little player...

-- Tim

[The Barbarian]

Well I've got this waiting for a refurb and plinth:


http://i60.tinypic.com/b4sth0.jpg

How much?

[walpurgis]

How much?

I wasn't offering it for sale unfortunately Andr'e. It's waiting for a refurb by me. :)


(I've always had a BD1 knocking about. I like them, they work very well)

[The Barbarian]

O right. I have one already with the speed change lever & notched pulley, i noticed yours is an earlier one..

[walpurgis]

O right. I have one already with the speed change lever & notched pulley, i noticed yours is an earlier one..

This one has the notched pulley. If I get organised, I may try to set up my lathe to make an un-notched one from Tufnol. I've got a whole pile of spares to keep it going. Good sounding little TT when mounted in a heavy, solid plinth.

[The Barbarian]

Yeh i did design a whole new motor system for it but never got around to it