Am I a hopeless audio snob?


I think that I may have a problem, I am becoming an audio snob.  

I am going to upgrade my turntable and spend some good money. I read good things about Technics turntables but for some reason I can't take them seriously. From a few feet away, a $4000 Technics plus rig looks like a $400 Technics rig. They look cheesy to me. Low tech 1980's stuff.

I am plunking down some serious money on my next table, but I can't even consider Technics because of the looks. 

I think that I need help!

pilrem

@pilrem Yes on the AMG and definitely Yes on the HRS.  S or M levels platforms are amazing. Which AMG?

mijostyn

5,659 posts

@secretguy , you asked for it and I will double down. VPI makes inferior equipment. If you own one I suggest you get rid of it ASAP before your cartridge explodes. I am not a big Technics fan but I would take one eons before a VPI. Even the Linn is far superior. How's that for BS? I have a lot more if you'd like.

Keep spewing your uneducated nonsense. That'll teach me.

asvjerry:

I married a Robert Palmer Girl (Black Irish - close enough) and she's still HOT 30 years later. 

Have not kept up with Bob's girls.

This said, I find the OP's final choice to be B-Ugly as far as TT's go so,...

you know the old beholder saying.

DeKay

 

@lewm 

 

Well, you asked for it:

J.A Mitchell hydraulic reference turntable | George Meyer AV

 

I was gonna post this one but I thought those unfamiliar with the product might miss some of the wonderful details.

Fun days...we had one on display in the showroom to incite conversation, and it did!

Cheers!

Personally I find a Technics SP-10 or -15 series in an aftermarket plinth much more visually appealing than most of the fancy gizmo-looking belt-driven tables out there, but to each their own. Sometimes less is more. I do tend to agree, though, that Technics might be limiting their sales by making their $4k tables look nearly identical to the ones you can find on Facebook Maretplace for $500.

Richopp, that’s the one I had, for a brief fling. The Vestigial tonearm was a hoot. But funnily back then I bought in the shortlived belief it was SOTA.

@lewm 

Well, sorry you did that, but I am sure the dealer was happy!  We found that the record did not sit on the "pads" very well and the arm, therefore, traveled more in a vertical direction than it should, so we never really got it to work.

However, if you still have it, it sure is pretty, so I would have it out for people to look at, anyway..  I think they stopped making them in the early '80's after they moved the factory or something.  Anyway, they still have parts and I think will service them if you can find them.

We also had tangential arm tables, which physics people say are MUCH better at tracking than normal arms.  Unfortunatley, only B&O had a good one, and it was VERY limited by a mediocre cartridge that could not be changed.  Once again, PRETTY product, as all B&O stuff is. 

RABCO made a stand-alone tangential arm as well, but it was pretty clunky.  I wonder why someone has not invented a new one since they are truly more accurate than regular arms, and today, money is no object.  Technics SP-10 tables, SOTA back then, were a few hundred dollars.  Today, I have no idea, but thousands, I think, which is ridiculous, but whatever sells, right?

 

Cheers!

I wrote “brief fling”, so no, I certainly don’t still own it. It still has a certain kitsch however for having been featured in the movie “Clockwork Orange “. If I had one I’d display it with the platter in rotation but I’d not connect it to an audio system.

The current Technics SL-1200G is a fine turntable at its price point. It is stronger on rythmic drive and bass coherence than it is on tonal refinement, but an excellent performer nonetheless. While it looks like the old disco 1200, it does not look or feel cheap in use. However, if aesthetics are a problem, there is the SP-10R, or the SAT XD1, which does use the latter's drive system. Costs a few $$$ though :))

Richopp, sorry old chap, but your paragraph on tangential tonearms is rife with misinformation. For one example, The best part about the B&O SL turntables was the MMC1 or MMC2 MI type cartridges with which the best of them were equipped.

Furthermore, the vintage Technics direct drive turn tables at the highest level (SP10 Mk3) are competitive with just about anything you can buy today for under $10,000. Whether one given individual will prefer the sound to that of a modern turntable is of course a matter of taste. On that scale, the current prices of properly refurbished and repainted examples are not exorbitant. My opinion, of course.

The newer Technics tt's certainly have strong visual connection to the cheaper DJ tt's.

The SP line is another tt altogether, visual appearance up to user, many routes with custom plinths such as mine.

 

And I prefer my SP MKII to VPI I formerly owned, both visually and performance wise.

I have had a number of good tts in my system through the years, including the SOTA Star Sapphire, SOTA Cosmos, Teres, and finally a hotroded Technics SP 10 mk II.  You're going to buy the table that you like but don't rule things out that really deserve a listen. 

You can see my Technics setup in My System. It was better than anything I had earlier and not by a little bit. You can, to a point make it look however you want, but the sonic strengths of it are worth whatever limitation you see in the cosmetics. 

Technics new tables are excellent. Especially for the cash.

Wont win you the envy of friends and local audiophiles though.

Consider me a convert! I had a chance to hear a SL-1200G-S and it is very nice indeed. My apologies for the manner in which I started this thread, but I sure did get some good feedback. 

I have an old JVC QL-F6 which looks just like the Japanese DDs everyone loves to despise. Only thing is it‘s a stonking good tt that has left a few jaws on the floor. It‘s real fun to see the look of revulsion turn into a WTF?