View Full Version : Rotel RP3000 any good
The Vinyl Adventure
11-02-2011, 17:07
they have one at Swindon branch of sight2sound ... i have asked if i can play with it for a few days ... they said i can ... so they are sending it up to me
looks quite pretty, and i know our mate Andre was after one a while back ... but no one really commented a great deal on if it was any good or not ...
Well you have a good opportunity to tell us Lol
Ammonite Audio
11-02-2011, 17:16
RP3000 - That takes me back! I do like the look of the wooden plinth decks of that time. No idea whether it's any good, but quite a few DD decks from then weren't at all good, hence the rise of the LP12, early Rega Planars etc. You'll certainly have some fun finding out if it's worth keeping!
hifi_dave
11-02-2011, 17:48
Looked good but wasn't up to much.
The Vinyl Adventure
11-02-2011, 18:09
That's a good point John ...
I doubt I would buy it ... I'd get shot ... I can hear it now "so this is more important than a cot is it Hamish?" ... Which to be fair is a justified comment
You think she'll want a cot that only costs as much as a crappy old 70's turntable? :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Rare Bird
11-02-2011, 18:20
That's a good point John ...
I doubt I would buy it ... I'd get shot ... I can hear it now "so this is more important than a cot is it Hamish?" ... Which to be fair is a justified comment
Get shut this way then ;)
The Vinyl Adventure
11-02-2011, 18:30
Get shut this way then ;)
Yeah, no worries ... When I get it I'll take some photos of it for you
If it's up to your standards and you want it I'll happily get it sent up to you matey!
Rare Bird
11-02-2011, 18:51
Yeah, no worries ... When I get it I'll take some photos of it for you
If it's up to your standards and you want it I'll happily get it sent up to you matey!
Na i don't want it only winding yer up, i'm done with vinyl had enough of it to last me a life time, you should be able to fit an SME arm inplace of the stock arm or something nice like the original Mission '774' with a bit of juggling of the arms red terminal block :)
The Vinyl Adventure
11-02-2011, 18:56
... If I bought it ... Which I won't be ...
Shame your not interested like
Rare Bird
11-02-2011, 19:02
... If I bought it ... Which I won't be ...
Shame your not interested like
How much does he want for it just outta intrest Hamish?
How much does he want for it just outta intrest Hamish?
Sounds like a man talking to a pretty hooker to me... "I'm not really interested luv, but just out of curiosity..." :lol:
You're doomed I tell ye! :D
The Vinyl Adventure
13-02-2011, 20:02
I think it's got £95 on the price ticket ... But there might be movement if they sold it without any guarantee ... I have no idea of condition, or even what come with it or anything....
What would be right price for it in your books matey?
They have a rotel rp850(?) too ... That's got £75 on it I think...
Rare Bird
14-02-2011, 09:28
I think it's got £95 on the price ticket ... But there might be movement if they sold it without any guarantee ... I have no idea of condition, or even what come with it or anything....
I'm suprise people havent cottoned onto this as the latest DD fad along with the Pioneer 'PL71'..The Rotel 'RP3000' would have made more sence to me being able to swap arms.
The Vinyl Adventure
14-02-2011, 09:31
I suppose it would need to be good in the first place ... The consensus seems to say otherwise ... But I guess i shall find out soon enough ...
Rare Bird
14-02-2011, 10:22
I suppose it would need to be good in the first place ... The consensus seems to say otherwise ... But I guess i shall find out soon enough ...
Consensus generally talk ballerks aswell,they always compare things to other things. your ears belong to you not them.Yeh of course the '3000' is a bit cheap with it vinyl wrap chipboard, but things are what you make em if you want to.You either buy it to modify (which i'm against)/ fit new arm or put up with the fact it's a mid price/mid '70's piece of japanese audio bought to just enjoy,nostalgia & all that..it was made in the fashion thing were made back then, you either like it or you don't. i'm a collector/hoarder i don't care what they sound like as long as they are mint & authentic to the day they were available. :)
The Vinyl Adventure
14-02-2011, 10:33
don't worry Andre, i wont be swayed by the consensus ... im quite looking forward to it to be fair!
im not so worried about sound quality at the mo ... im getting a lot more out of things such as finding out what ageing cartridge i like the sound of for less than £25 ...
frenchmonkeys
03-12-2011, 21:02
It's been a while and I was wondering what you made of the RP-3000.
I'm new to turntables - everyone is whinging about the quality of direct drive tables, but the only people I've spoken to who have owned one of these tables all say they liked it - one still had it after 30 years, with an SME 3009 II attached, which seems like a fairly positive view...
So how was yours configured, and how did you like it? I'm considering buying one myself.
Hi Andrew,
Welcome to AoS :)
If you check the registration email you received, you'll notice that you were asked to pop into the Welcome area and introduce yourself to our community, telling us what system you use and what music you like.
Also, where in the UK are you? We prefer members to give at least the area that they live in.
Please do that on your next visit - cheers! :cool:
Marco.
Most of these direct drives were crap then and are even more crap now. the MatsuSHITa OEM motors often had severe servo problems FAR worse than your average belt drive and acoustic feedback could be horrendous with some of these. Apologies fella's, but it has to be said!
The RP830/850 (whatever) were from a later period if memory serves and things had moved on, despite the drive system used...
Most of these direct drives were crap then and are even more crap now. the MatsuSHITa OEM motors often had severe servo problems FAR worse than your average belt drive and acoustic feedback could be horrendous with some of these. Apologies fella's, but it has to be said!
No need to apologise, dude... That doesn't apply to the Techy! ;)
Thanks for popping in and saying hello, Andrew! :)
Marco.
It applies to some lesser Techies and I remember the awful SL2000 rather well... the top-line Techies were very, very much better (and the feedback prone early ones can be sorted without too much difficulty I think).. By the late 70's and early 80's, the mainstream direct drives in the market seemed to get their motor units sorted and only the isolation/cheap-n-nasty plinth difficulties remained for many of them...
frenchmonkeys
03-12-2011, 22:20
Most of these direct drives were crap then and are even more crap now. the MatsuSHITa OEM motors often had severe servo problems FAR worse than your average belt drive and acoustic feedback could be horrendous with some of these. Apologies fella's, but it has to be said!
The RP830/850 (whatever) were from a later period if memory serves and things had moved on, despite the drive system used...
So you're generalising, or do you know this particular tt?
I realise generalisations are often valid, but I'm keen to hear from anyone who has heard this table (especially if they've done so with a SME 3009 Series II). If it's crap, so be it, but it would be good to know for sure. A number of decks seem to have been given a bad rap over the years, only later to be recognised as being fairly decent, so i prefer to hear from people with experience of the actual item. Is that wrong?
frenchmonkeys
03-12-2011, 22:23
It applies to some lesser Techies and I remember the awful SL2000 rather well... the top-line Techies were very, very much better (and the feedback prone early ones can be sorted without too much difficulty I think).. By the late 70's and early 80's, the mainstream direct drives in the market seemed to get their motor units sorted and only the isolation/cheap-n-nasty plinth difficulties remained for many of them...
Of course, cheap and nasty plinths and isolation issues can all be resolved... I like projects. :)
It's over thirty five years ago now and even my memory for useless audio-info is finite ;)
Can you name many decks which have had a bad rap and now are revered? The PL71 for instance wasn't marked down back then, merely ignored 'cos it looked rubbish compared to the Technics alternatives. I remember us stocking and selling the Rotel at the time, along with the Monitor Audio ET500? and a number of others at different times (JBE later on) which I seem to remember all used the same motor and all having the same dynamic wow issues. Because isolation tables hadn't come about at the time, these decks were listened to in a more general way and the worst of these just sounded bland and "muddy." The thing is, when we switched off our reel-to-reel machines and actually played records, it was the better Sony and especially the technics decks we used, as well as the better belt driven models by Thorens and the flimsy but potentially excellent Philips 212. When I was a newbie, we also had the Lenco GL75 and 78 at the end of their lives and these always sounded fine, although the market had drifted away from idler drives by then. I don't think the L76 was brought into the country (I could be wrong on this, but I never saw one at the time) but we did take the GL85, which was a weak-motored belt drive as I recall...
If the Rotel looks interesting and it works ok, then try it on a modern support and, if the motor servo's aren't too hot and if you have an SME "Improved" on it, get a half decent mat and fit a Shure M97XE, AT120e or 440MLa or a Stanton 681EEE mk3 and track them at 1.25 to 1.5g depending on the model.
It's over thirty five years ago now and even my memory for useless audio-info is finite ;)
Can you name many decks which have had a bad rap and now are revered? The PL71 for instance wasn't marked down back then, merely ignored 'cos it looked rubbish compared to the Technics alternatives. I remember us stocking and selling the Rotel at the time, along with the Monitor Audio ET500? and a number of others at different times (JBE later on) which I seem to remember all used the same motor and all having the same dynamic wow issues. Because isolation tables hadn't come about at the time, these decks were listened to in a more general way and the worst of these just sounded bland and "muddy." The thing is, when we switched off our reel-to-reel machines and actually played records, it was the better Sony and especially the technics decks we used, as well as the better belt driven models by Thorens and the flimsy but potentially excellent Philips 212. When I was a newbie, we also had the Lenco GL75 and 78 at the end of their lives and these always sounded fine, although the market had drifted away from idler drives by then. I don't think the L76 was brought into the country (I could be wrong on this, but I never saw one at the time) but we did take the GL85, which was a weak-motored belt drive as I recall...
If the Rotel looks interesting and it works ok, then try it on a modern support and, if the motor servo's aren't too hot and if you have an SME "Improved" on it, get a half decent mat and fit a Shure M97XE, AT120e or 440MLa or a Stanton 681EEE mk3 and track them at 1.25 to 1.5g depending on the model.
Can you recall if the JVC QLA7 was one of the 'muddy' ones?. I have one and wondered if it's worth investing any money in.
Cheers
frenchmonkeys
03-12-2011, 22:50
It's over thirty five years ago now and even my memory for useless audio-info is finite ;)
Can you name many decks which have had a bad rap and now are revered? The PL71 for instance wasn't marked down back then, merely ignored 'cos it looked rubbish compared to the Technics alternatives. I remember us stocking and selling the Rotel at the time, along with the Monitor Audio ET500? and a number of others at different times (JBE later on) which I seem to remember all used the same motor and all having the same dynamic wow issues. Because isolation tables hadn't come about at the time, these decks were listened to in a more general way and the worst of these just sounded bland and "muddy." The thing is, when we switched off our reel-to-reel machines and actually played records, it was the better Sony and especially the technics decks we used, as well as the better belt driven models by Thorens and the flimsy but potentially excellent Philips 212. When I was a newbie, we also had the Lenco GL75 and 78 at the end of their lives and these always sounded fine, although the market had drifted away from idler drives by then. I don't think the L76 was brought into the country (I could be wrong on this, but I never saw one at the time) but we did take the GL85, which was a weak-motored belt drive as I recall...
If the Rotel looks interesting and it works ok, then try it on a modern support and, if the motor servo's aren't too hot and if you have an SME "Improved" on it, get a half decent mat and fit a Shure M97XE, AT120e or 440MLa or a Stanton 681EEE mk3 and track them at 1.25 to 1.5g depending on the model.
Revered would be a stronger term than I'd like to use, but I'm sure you can name some that were ignored and later discovered to be 'decent', i.e. not the crap they were supposed to be.
Thanks for the advice. I know very little about turntables, but I wish to learn - that's why I'm looking for something fairly inexpensive that i can fiddle with, and learn how this tweak or that changes things.
Don't know that one, but 'Choice didn't like the two lower models from that range and by the time of the "7," the LP12 was rapidly in its ascendancy. Myself and fellow "Linnies" in the industry went gaga for a good few years because of it I'm afraid and the rest is history :(
Like I tried to advise above, get the thing properly sited and experiment with mats and feet?. Remove the lid when playing (these lids can kill an otherwise fine deck) and depending on the tonearm exit lead, consider a replacement one (I'll sit on the fence regarding the internal arm wires for now).
Thanks for the advice. I know very little about turntables, but I wish to learn - that's why I'm looking for something fairly inexpensive that i can fiddle with, and learn how this tweak or that changes things.
In many ways, this is what makes the Thorens TD150 and 160 such fun. You quickly learn the art of sprung suspensions and correct belt and cable dressing and setting on these. The Rotel makes it too easy :D
Don't know that one, but 'Choice didn't like the two lower models from that range and by the time of the "7," the LP12 was rapidly in its ascendancy. Myself and fellow "Linnies" in the industry went gaga for a good few years because of it I'm afraid and the rest is history :(
Like I tried to advise above, get the thing properly sited and experiment with mats and feet?. Remove the lid when playing (these lids can kill an otherwise fine deck) and depending on the tonearm exit lead, consider a replacement one (I'll sit on the fence regarding the internal arm wires for now).
Hinges have been off the lid since I care to remember so I could just lift it off for use.
It's been a long time since it's been used properly, last time I listened to it it did sound muddy with one channel almost missing (but I've since put the channel problem down to the cartridge - did the same thing in an SL1200 I've just got).
Oh well it'll reside on top of the record storage unit until I get chance to mess with it, got two SL1200s to play with first.
Rare Bird
03-12-2011, 23:57
Ive never had issues with either the Rotel 'RP-3000' or the Monitor Audio 'ET-500' (I loved the cute outboard PSU)..
bogle111
04-12-2011, 22:40
Can you recall if the JVC QLA7 was one of the 'muddy' ones?. I have one and wondered if it's worth investing any money in.
Cheers
Yes, it did sound a little inflated lower down. It will definitely benefit from a re-plinth. As DSJR said, the Linn was around then and yes, for 8 hours a day we were Linn Dealers. However, after 5:30, a few of us started playing with DD's and the JVC / Victor can sing. Have heard two of these derivatives re-housed and they were very good. Saw another one recently somewhere that had a Micro DDX type of frame - looked sublime.
A lot of the Japanese wood plinths were severely lacking being more cosmetic than anything. Beautiful finished piano lacquer etc., but poor construction.
Yes, it can be taken a long way. Try dropping the motor unit into a slate slab, you'll be glad you did and it shouldn't cost the earth either.
Thanks for the advice. As it's one of seven I've got at the moment it'll have to wait it's turn.
bogle111
04-12-2011, 23:41
Thanks for the advice. As it's one of seven I've got at the moment it'll have to wait it's turn.
Dare I ask what they are?
Two SL1200s, a Luxman & a Yamaha (not sure what models - they're in the loft), a Project Essential (which sounds good, I just find it a little 'frail'), a Garrard Zero 100 & the QLA7.
Yes, it did sound a little inflated lower down. It will definitely benefit from a re-plinth. As DSJR said, the Linn was around then and yes, for 8 hours a day we were Linn Dealers. However, after 5:30, a few of us started playing with DD's and the JVC / Victor can sing. Have heard two of these derivatives re-housed and they were very good. Saw another one recently somewhere that had a Micro DDX type of frame - looked sublime.
A lot of the Japanese wood plinths were severely lacking being more cosmetic than anything. Beautiful finished piano lacquer etc., but poor construction.
Yes, it can be taken a long way. Try dropping the motor unit into a slate slab, you'll be glad you did and it shouldn't cost the earth either.
Hi Peter,
I think you are talking about the JVC that I have. Here is the picture:
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u114/KCCTKC/DSC01996copy.jpg
Rare Bird
05-12-2011, 09:58
Is that a Grace '727/747' over the back?
Hi Peter,
I think you are talking about the JVC that I have. Here is the picture:
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u114/KCCTKC/DSC01996copy.jpg
Wonderful looking beast - great to see what could be done with my old QLA7 but I doubt my funds would run to such a venture!
Is that a Grace '727/747' over the back?
Yes, that is a Grace 747.
Rare Bird
05-12-2011, 11:56
Not many of those about King, i prefer them to the '707'..
They are the improved version of the 707 arms which I also have, including the mk1 and mk2.
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