DD turntable recommendations?

[paulf-2007]

I bought this a few years ago:



Then had a bit of fun replinthing it.



It's a JVC QL7 and has been totally reliable.

Nice Ian.

[Shovel_Knight]

It would be sods law though, you spend over £500 on a 30+ year old turntable with no guarantee, warranty or anywhere you can get spares and part of the quarts lock or a control board chip goes wrong, absolutely no way of getting it repaired, instant scrap and a very bitter taste left in the mouth. You say these don't often go wrong but there are plenty of people that post on this forum that have had issues with old DD decks, my advice is play it safe, it might not be the coolest deck but a 12xx will last and can be fixed if it goes wrong.

And even if an old DD deck works, it doesn't mean it's working correctly.

I bought an SP10 mk2 which was advertised as fully working - well it was not, the electronic brake circuit was broken. I was able to find and fix the fault myself thanks to Phonomac's advice, but it took me several months. It also needed full recap and adjustment of the PLL circuit for good measure. Now at least I can be sure that it works as intended (and that it will likely outlast me, given our family history of male longevity).

[Made in 1968]

One of my fav decks was the Monitor Audio 'ET-500' DD But the Platter was quite poor and very slightly waved at 45rpm..

[Beobloke]

The ET-500 was nice but was limited by its motor, whch was the standard Matsushita OEM item that found is way into dozens of 1970s designs, including the ADC Accutrac 4000, the JBE models, Garrard DD-75 and Toshiba SR-370.

It was a 'good' performer, but much better is out there!

[RobbieGong]

And even if an old DD deck works, it doesn't mean it's working correctly.

I bought an SP10 mk2 which was advertised as fully working - well it was not, the electronic brake circuit was broken. I was able to find and fix the fault myself thanks to Phonomac's advice, but it took me several months. It also needed full recap and adjustment of the PLL circuit for good measure. Now at least I can be sure that it works as intended (and that it will likely outlast me, given our family history of male longevity).

Exactly! Again and to re-iterate. One has to factor in the servicing and having the vintage looked over properly by a competent tech otherwise you've no guarantee you are hearing the thing at it's right performance level / optimum, also you cant give any proper evaluation.

Cant be said enough, to get the point across, which is to save others unnecessary pain. There's a lot of romance connected with the vintage which can get in the way and block/hinder the all important common sense approach.

[steve-z]

Save yourself some money and get an ATLP5X for under £400, it’s got everything you need, a decent cartridge a VM95E, a built in MM and MC phono stage and it even plays 78s. I have the original ATLP5 and find it to punch well above it’s weight, mine only has a MM stage on it but it sounds great with my Goldring E3.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/audio-technica-at-lp5x

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ianlenco]

Nice Ian.

Well it was you Paul that set me on the road to a DD with your lovely Denon. Couldn't find a Denon at a sensible price but I'm more than happy with the Victor.

[Floyddroid]

Sony PS-6750
Hitachi PS-58
Kenwood KD550/650
Pioneer PL-630
Pioneer PL-707
Technics SL-M1/2

and not forgetting the less obvious - Technics SL-10!

+1 for the Sony. I have one in my headphone system it both sounds and looks great. I use it with a Jico A&R P77 though I've had an AT Art 9 bolted to it and it sounded great. Worth a look at and Well within your budget if you can get hold of one.

[HackneyRF]

+1 for the Sony. I have one in my headphone system it both sounds and looks great. I use it with a Jico A&R P77 though I've had an AT Art 9 bolted to it and it sounded great. Worth a look at and Well within your budget if you can get hold of one.

Yes Steve. Those Sony's have been on my list for a while now. They look fab.

[Made in 1968]

Save yourself some money and get an ATLP5X for under £400, it’s got everything you need, a decent cartridge a VM95E, a built in MM and MC phono stage and it even plays 78s. I have the original ATLP5 and find it to punch well above it’s weight, mine only has a MM stage on it but it sounds great
with my Goldring E3.

Great cartridge that 'E3' steve. I was gonna sell the one i just bought but was surprised how nice it sounds, Looks great too. Audio Bargain if you ask me. Replacement Styli can be had for about £50. which i must buy one in for future swap.. Much prefer the 'E3' to the '1042'