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Seems there is many companies taking advantage of the vinyl resurgence. I tend to stick with the tried a true manufacturers who have been doing tables and such for years. that said there is lots of stuff out there now for the beginner that would be fine. I would not spend multiple thousands on a new company though who just started making tables unless their designer is someone that's been doing this for some time. I also noticed many of the "New" table manufacturers are just get the established manufacturers to either make or partially make their tables. Now of course we can't label all the new upstarts as bad we do need to try them and see what's out there new and wonderful. but we are not really inventing a new way to play records at this point are we. |
I mentioned Pear Audio because these tables and arms are in fact a reincarnation and continuation of Tom Fletcher of Nottingham Analogue design ideas. They get good press too, and prices appear to be quite low for now. I too wouldn't spend much on any new brand table, Pear Audio could be an exception if I got a good impression of the owner and their support team. |
I don't know if they have been out for over 5 years but Shinola Runwell turntables look like a solid design to me. I think they partnered with VPI for the basic design. https://www.shinola.com/audio/turntable.html |
Well, I'll pause and take the 'long view' rather than a *tsk*tsk* stance. If y'all wind the clock back, I'd wager your first turntables were pretty crude by the lofty standards we hold today. Much of your first systems likely matched them, and it's taken awhile for you to educate yourself on what could be...eventually.... *S* 'New vinyl', analogue, and 'tubes' is a new/old concept for those reared on s.s., CDs', cell phones ("They used to have to be wired to a wall....how Quaint..."), and laptops with a thumb drive that can hold your entire LP collection. For many, it will be a passing fad, dropped like a hot rock with the advent of the 'next best thing'. But there will be those that will be inspired, as we're being inspired to sample and venture into DACs', D amps, Bluetoothing, streaming, and all those other agents of Change. And it won't go away, and it's just going to happen faster. So, you can either embrace it, or avoid it. *S* You could start a blog for the 'newbies' and give them some guidance... ...or go sit in your rocker with your blankie and wave your cane at the 'whippersnappers'. Get with the flow. Or be a rock in the river. Yes, I'm being obvious Yet Again. Somebody's got to nip at your heels. It may as well be me. I try to be Nice about it...;) |
This company deserves an attention and recognition as their TT are way too good and under price: Please check this out: www.sam-audio.biz look at the Reference model and check out the photo of how it's put together. |
Technics was out of the game for a while. So they are now a new contender, with two new designs, the SL-1200G and the new SP-10. They are the most speed stable designs available. I've yet to see the new SP-10, but the SL1200 employed 5 different means of vibration control including a damped platter. In stock form it is a very impressive machine (and from the ground up a different design than its distant SL1200 forebears); we got one and mounted a 12" Triplanar on it. |
BTW If i had a notion to get back into vinyl and I had $10k laying around the house I would consider the Shindo Garrard or the Palmer turntable. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/palmer-25-turntable/ |
Two pics of my HW-19 with the T-3. I've since moved it on to a VPI TNT-MK6 http://https//lh3.googleusercontent.com/FjdY68mqHibgt3EUC7faOx51HiLyzVXOQmJE_9osIZAPhI1A3u1BUNk4qYbKeG_flgtJZR_1bCcreWcR0rOyZ6tBkXRa8PcmB6TeRI1meR6NCfMPDV8ROi4dUU3B6yRAuxkvUqTqjVL2rL56kEA2L2F9EwTL-PLEbFijpGaaQRF6A3jy3S_dNkvf6NUIMMlYBXes7WLK7KTXiQf5f6PLljgix2ZD5ZMa7FwYy44UT7BK-PVYpyFm7vlfEcCkxtJPAIqh6j9LMYZ80MMWphD8dFL83Za9NvuC1A-15VyqdE20QBS57uBBai7O17LalMsclSq9qo3KQ2HHrPeWd26y9ptpdNFROJ7LjVE6PmVkySOPeBRpRNIt_Nrxdth-0nT_55izruvWFTqFLCDZn7hsuvPTbuRheLSeAyNlvKEyPQbUre6_5IUXE6ulrrJ77Ky3kTFnNA8nHUq7196qdZg3QhrXNaTQXrhu__7ffJ5UUCMiwCs7r-nET7UujHdiWmUTlw5BoazCCOKC4zBM_zeMFK76Y58o6pCdeyL3fin8zCKDx_nx13_1DDrok2A8lIqVZ-SJ3klJnGsLAWssApFp2cdlE1fPqR_bcfeYqrFUlg=w1316-h740-no http://https//lh3.googleusercontent.com/2N-m2FuClrH3VfLSjTIrdqMjGqoLI4UxhmrtVTXEefQCzrfHdZIACKpuZkC7B8uvV01tm_GDJ5yKFmm16xpOo7JIPJgrQYGPOWYwomsWkJTPoqAKt3jsYRHP-g7ErYBYUc7hH2JA2BxjPr0G8b1RgSmdKRCJb2UB6eN5ir5l7ixX8HUO9VlRUb9ABy-ovGKqI3z3p5zU3NT-VTYUth4NLM21L3H9bBdneVBlF3rFMKwUe6cOUjL1mafq_JpJh3QHp6sy6QijB8UO_WEol8hMbiKdbQEb9aiVN_TzPpsZWMriP2stJQGiTyqTpxtG6b7cbPqna_F6cnJENMjk39hvW0ZC0lF40sY1LqAQeNRvDLX5n9hSxfDbFag1D5WMmFDExDF6NNENZiJ_Uv-kTE9k9k3kV7ieB3bYhszMbrzdIXICSXmMlULxgHToaCxmdIyb2GnWUAfMkOcY2wK6RxwcsQX3ebeWyZuNjf5XXfuXBJXA1t1RT0nAxC1ux51PRly2-oVg-BryCTqxhLtKUW-8pzqo_giXmZyudrzGYIhTiDgcx0fpBj05eeZ9_JCb0ipgp_BdiZ57q0oJ58z9wOYy2dM-RVzwiobuk44Oz3xoSQ=w987-h740-no |
Technics SP-10R drive system from What Hi-Fi? http://www.factmag.com/2017/08/31/technics-sp-10-turntable-reissue/ Scroll down to middle of page for video. |
@bdp24 Hello Eric. ... how far above the top surface of a table’s platter is the top of the Terminator? The top of the arm assembly is the VTA adjustment knob, about 3.5" above the top of the platter. The gantry suspending the cabling is another 3" higher, but this is highly adjustable. And how far to the right of the platter’s center spindle does the arm's support structure extend? The distance from the spindle to the right hand side of the arm structure (the levelling screws) is 11", but this can be modified by +/- 0.5" by positioning the arm base on it's tower. Neither measurement is affected by setup parameters. Hope this helps. Terry |
Eric, just a couple of notes. 1. I use the HiBlow air pumps, made in Japan, obvious quality, but noisy enough to be in a closet or another room. I bought from Pets and Ponds. 2. I also use a Fairchild regulator and a blood pressure gauge, allowing me to tune the sound towards warm (low pressure, about 9 mm of Hg) or precise (high pressure about 30mm Hg). Note that 760 mm Hg is 1 atmosphere or 15 psi, so 30 mm Hg is 0.6 psi. Welcome to the club! |
Fern & Roby has some incredible tables and gear worth a special mention. https://www.fernandroby.com/products/details/the-turntable?gclid=CjwKCAjw6ZLOBRALEiwAxzyCWw-gBedZc3H... |
A new(ish) update from a long established company. Usual disclaimer, I've no financial or other business Interest in this company. Just a happy, UK based, customer. Merrill Williams REAL 101.2 fitted with Ikeda IT CR 407 arm and Ikeda on-the-fly arm height adjuster. Using Ikeda Kai and Audio Note IO Gold mc pickups installed in separate Ikeda headshells. Superb-sounding, reasonably easy to set up and fuss free operation. Comes with built-In, highly visible, LED strobe and easy to adjust speed control. Absolutely silent operation and excellent suppression of external and Internal vibrations. Not the cheapest turntable I've owned but definately the nicest to use and really fun to listen to music with. |
I guess it's too expensive to merit inclusion on this list, but my neighbor recently acquired a Dohmann Helix I turntable. Seems quite nice. Dohmann was a designer of the Continuum products, including the Caliburn, and you can see the family resemblance in the Helix, which, although very expensive, is cheap compared to the Caliburn. And the Helix has an integral Minus K suspension. New brand turntables in the under or around $1000 range are so numerous and so rapidly being introduced as to defy listing. At least the Dohmann is pushing the envelope. |
Almost none of these products, save the Technics and the Dohmann, bring anything new to the table except affordable pricing. Most of those that are affordably priced are concocted of MDF, perhaps with aluminum in the platter driven by a cheap motor via a pliable belt, and an inexpensive tonearm. They are very much in the "me-too" line of thought. I realize that for those on a budget, the availability of such products is important, but it's not technically interesting. |
Hi everyone, Had the pleasure of hearing the Mobile Fildelity Ultradeck at this past Capital Audiofest. They had it playing through TAD electronics & speakers. They MoFi sounded very, very good...quiet, deep background with a very textured & detailed presentation on top. They were spinning the One-Step (I believe that’s what they call it) version of Santana’s Abraxas & the sound was incredible. They’ve been getting great reviews...and the pricing is very fair & competitive. I also visited the Fern & Roby room. They had various versions of turntables they built, including some with their own phono preamp. While they struck me as very well-made, I couldn’t help but feel they were products that were aesthetically-focused, more of a lifestyle concept vs. sonic purposed. No doubt they had a different look to them with elements of steampunk & even an industrial-age vibe. The price of entry is high, however, they present a unique design & look on the “usual” record player. Just my $0.02 worth, of course... Arvin |