Systemdek

[aquapiranha]

Since getting rid of my Roksan a couple of years gao, I have been thinking about getting another T/T but I have only a very limited budget. I have seen a very nice Systemdek 11X for a nice price. Any opinions? I would like to get a 1210, but don't have the cash...

[niklasthedolphin]

Since getting rid of my Roksan a couple of years gao, I have been thinking about getting another T/T but I have only a very limited budget. I have seen a very nice Systemdek 11X for a nice price. Any opinions? I would like to get a 1210, but don't have the cash...

Go for the Systemdek IIX.

It's by far better than the 1210 if you have the patience and take the time and get the expert skills to set it up properly.

"dolph"

[aquapiranha]

Go for the Systemdek IIX.

It's by far better than the 1210 if you have the patience and take the time and get the expert skills to set it up properly.

"dolph"

I am not sure at the moment if I can afford it this month, but hopefully I will be able to! setting it up should not be a problem.

thanks for the reply.

[Marco]

Go for the Systemdek IIX.

It's by far better than the 1210 if you have the patience and take the time and get the expert skills to set it up properly.

"dolph"

No disrespect, Dolph, but from experience of using both I would strongly disagree with that statement, although the Systemdek is a nice deck in its own way.

Steve, I suggest that you read some of the threads on the 1210 in the 'Strokes of Genius' section, particularly 'Tim's SL-1210 adventure' (shown below). There should be some interesting info in there for you. Dolph, you might also wish to read it

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1030

Apart from anything else, I would contend that if a standard unmodified 1210 is as good as or better than a pretty well-specified LP12, it's better than a Systemdek

Oh, and you can pick up second-hand 1210s for not a lot of money, sometimes less than £100. Just watch that you have some idea of its history, though.

Marco.

[niklasthedolphin]

I am not sure at the moment if I can afford it this month, but hopefully I will be able to! setting it up should not be a problem.

thanks for the reply.

Don't forget that the Systemdek needs a brick wall mounted shelf to stand on.
The Systemdek's are going very well with Rega RB arms from 300 and up.
It should be set up with extremely soft suspended subchassis to pull out the last deep notes in the groove and to get the amazing soundstage it can reproduce.

If you can find a Systemdek IV, that will be the best they ever made.
Don't go for the Systemdek made without a plinth.

Give it a good cartridge like Shelter 901, Lyra Dorian, Benz L2 or Goldring Elite.

Run it through seperate RIAA like Whest, Mantra or similar super HQ unit.

This will make it a rig compatible with any £ 10.000,- new-on-the-market rig you can find anywhere.

Good Luck.


Oh.........
And Marco:
Did you ever have a correctly set-up Systemdek from IIX and up to compare?
I had the 1210 and I'm not in doubt.
Stay happy.

"dolph"

[Marco]

Dolph, I "correctly set-up" every turntable I own!

And yes I'm 'au fait' with both T/Ts. I'll reverse the question and ask you - have you ever heard a 1210 "correctly set-up"?

And by that I mean removing and upgrading the cheap bits which hold back its performance?

Plus, you've just listed about £2k+ of cartidges and phono stages to go with the Systemdek in order to transform it into "a rig compatible with any £ 10.000,- new-on-the-market rig you can find anywhere" when Steve has stated that he doesn't have the cash for a 1210... LOL!

There's fundamentally one thing that lets the Systemdek down - the fact that it's driven by an 'elastic band'

Direct-drive, done properly as with the SL-1210, is quite simply more accurate and displays less 'sonic signature', which is what hi-fi is about. Other than that, the Systemdek is a very good turntable, and better than most other belt-drive T/Ts being made today at or near its price point.

Marco.

[aquapiranha]

Guys, guys....

I have never heard a Systemdek, just one came up at a good price, but I have heard good things about them.

Marco, I am fully aware of the potential from a 1210 - a freind has recently sold his having put it up against a NAS. I may have a think about the idea.

[Marco]

No worries, Steve. I'm just giving infomation which should help you make a decision

I have a lot of experience in this area.

Marco, I am fully aware of the potential from a 1210 - a freind has recently sold his having put it up against a NAS. I may have a think about the idea.

Did you mean it the other way round?

Marco.

[aquapiranha]

No worries, Steve. I'm just giving infomation which should help you make a decision

I have a lot of experience in this area.



Did you mean it the other way round?

Marco.

Well I have not heard the two together, and only heard the NAS on occasion, and it does sound very good. I can't remember if he tried a Rega arm on it - I know he had one - though he knows what he likes. I think I will look into a 1210.

[niklasthedolphin]

No worries, Steve. I'm just giving infomation which should help you make a decision

I have a lot of experience in this area.



Did you mean it the other way round?

Marco.

I wonder.....................

How can you be so categorical about putting a review on some TT's and drive your own with a cartridge belonging in a bin?

Do you have all that experience?
Did you have TT since the mid sixties, like me, without ever giving the format a pause?
DD better than belt driven................and the way you nickname it "elastic band"........................tsk.................. ....that leaves me in no dout about lack of listening experience.

1210 is an entry level TT for me and will always be like that.
You can modify it until you can't recognize it....................you can even convert it to a proper belt drive and I would gues it still doesn't deserve any better cartridge than the poor man's choise of the tremendously unnuanced and screamingly distorted Denon cartridges.

The £ 2k of surrounding equipment I mentioned would serve the Systemdek well. It would be a complete waste of money with the 1210.

And give any £ 10.000 rig the same or better conditions and the Systemdek set up with the surroundings I mentioned would be strongly competitive ..............if not the overall winner.

My simple advise to the guy with the OP is to go for the Systemdek and avoid the 1210.

"dolph"