What is your turntable history

[Gazjam]

Early 1980’s The Parent’s Amstrad tower system

1987 Marantz TT151
1996 Rega Planar 2
2005 Michell Gyro
2010 Michell “Gorbe” with SME V/ Dynavector XX2 mk2

2019 Rega Planar 10/ Apheta 3 ...and the end of the road.


Where does all the time go?

[struth]

Dont really use one now although the last one in list is still with me.. 1. Srm. 2. Thorens td 160. 3. Jbe. all great in their own way

[IMG]20140612_104038 by grant brown, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Gazjam]

Always loved that Thorens, she was a looker!

[struth]

Always loved that Thorens, she was a looker!

yeah, i probably should have kept it tbh but i was starting to struggle with tt's then... the dd jbe is more solid

[Gazjam]

Nice!

Hi all I'm John. My turntable journey not as extensive as some. When I look at it I keep my turntable nearly twenty years!

1980: Thorens td166. Sixteen years old couldn't afford LP12!
1985: Linn LP12, Linn basic LVV, AT cartridge. Linn Ittok, Valhalla, Pink Link, Aro, RATA Torlyte armboard and subchassis all followed.
2006: Michell Orbe SE still in use daily.
2014: Thorens TD2030 my 50th present to myself, also in use daily.
2024: My 60th!

Thanks for looking,

[ronyobi]

hm... back to past - it start with some BSR,then Technics sl 303, Music hall 5.1,Vpi Scout, Rega rp 6,Thorens 160n with Origin onyx tonearm and Lenco 75 - i have still this last two.

[Jules_S]

I've had comparatively few decks (I am discounting all the terrible cheap rubbish I had as a child). Started with a Systemdek IIX/900 back around 1993, RB250 and an AT95E, then later a Goldring 1012 if I recall correctly. I then progressed on to my first Voyd, which was an early model with the colour-matched (!) top plate (it was awful) and a square silver start/stop button, a prototype split-phase PSU and some odd wiring alterations! It was a non-runner when I acquired it. Guy Sargent refurbished and upgraded it for me with the Ref platter & bearing, the normal grey top plate and later power switch and a proper arm board in place of a ratty old bit of ally that had done duty until that point. I kept that until 2014, when financial issues meant it was sold. I cried!

After a long hiatus without a hi-fi system at all I was given an early Pro-Ject Essential by a friend of my partner two years ago, which I upgraded with the acrylic platter, external speed controller, clamp and some simple sorbothane feet, sounds really nice for what is a very simple deck really, and it works great in my (now) second system with a 1042 attached. Last year I was fortunate enough to be able to acquire another Voyd, this one is one of the last models I believe. Same Ref platter & bearing, and the normal split-phase PSU. Currently fitted with an Origin Live Encounter 3c and another Goldring 1042. This one is absolutely a keeper. Unless a full Reference crosses my path, that is....

Oh, and as a side project which will one day get finished, I have an Oxford Acoustics Crystal Reference that's waiting for a full refurbishment. My dream deck from my early days of hi-fi - no idea how it's going to sound, but the sheer size and weight of the thing plus that incredible two-part platter makes it a wonderful bit of eye-candy, even if it sounds terrible! I shall never part with it.

Here it is at home before being dismantled for the refurb:

IMG_0027.jpg

[Vrajbasi]

I have an Oxford Acoustics Crystal Reference that's waiting for a full refurbishment. My dream deck from my early days of hi-fi - no idea how it's going to sound, but the sheer size and weight of the thing plus that incredible two-part platter makes it a wonderful bit of eye-candy, even if it sounds terrible! I shall never part with it.

Here it is at home before being dismantled for the refurb:

IMG_0027.jpg[/QUOTE]

I owned a Oxford crystal reference a good looking deck that could also sound good when partnered with the right arm, the sme tonearms never worked well on then for instance when I changed to a pink anniversary with the sme it was vastly better. The Oxford liked free sounding arms unipivots worked as did the Airtangent this was a classic combination at the time. The suspension rubbers always perished I messed about with many alternatives at the time.

[Jules_S]

I owned a Oxford crystal reference a good looking deck that could also sound good when partnered with the right arm, the sme tonearms never worked well on then for instance when I changed to a pink anniversary with the sme it was vastly better. The Oxford liked free sounding arms unipivots worked as did the Airtangent this was a classic combination at the time. The suspension rubbers always perished I messed about with many alternatives at the time.

The SME V was with the TT when I bought it (eBay) about 6 years ago. I knew that wasn't the ideal combination but it's a decent enough arm (although not to my taste) and did return me a bit of the purchase price when I sold it. An Airtangent or similar parallel tracker would be nice, but I don't see my budget stretching that far any time soon! It will probably be a conventional pivoted arm - if I can fit a 10" or even 12" on with a new armboard I'll probably go down that route.

The deck is currently dismantled and stored in my parent's music room so I can't see if that's possible or if I'll be restricted to a standard 9.5". I have both SME and Rega mount armboards so I have flexibility of choice with conventional arms!

The plan is to do a cosmetic and mechanical overhaul. I have already had the suspension parts seen to - my deck has the later alloy-encapsulated bushes, rather than the simpler cones, and I had an engineering company test the original material and refurbish with something of the same qualities. I need to decide on a suitable finish for the pillar and plinth - mine is the black ash finish rather than the more traditional wood veneer and I'm trying to decide if I want to do something a bit different with it, or keep it standard. I'm erring towards the former at the moment, something that updates the look without ruining it.

I'm in touch with snoopdog (of this parish and Hi-Fi Wigwam) who is also an ex-owner, and he has given me some advice on the desk's setup. The trickiest bit for me though is going to be finding a suitable space for it in my lounge! I don't have many spots that I could accommodate it in so it may have to wait a little longer before it gets the attention it deserves

[lazyscott]

Linn Axis
Linn LP12
Notts Spacedeck
Notts Hyperspace
Notts Dais
Notts Ace Space - (soon to be sold)
Notts Hyperspace (on order)

I see a pattern!!