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Best vintage DD turntables from the 70's and 80's?

Howdy folks-

We’ll I’ve got the vinyl bug for sure. 6 months ago, I bought my first TT, a nice Technics 1200 GR along with some killer vintage MM carts like Audio-Technica, Stanton and a few Grace. I love my GR! I love that little silver bastard A LOT as a matter of fact. A couple weeks ago, my second table arrived, a minty fresh Luxman PD-444 from Japan. This is a Micro Seiki built TT and was the "tits" in the mid 70’s. I can mount 2 arms on the Luxman. I’ve got a nice Victor 7045 arm coming soon along with a Victor X-1IIe MM cart which work quite well together.

I’d like to add another Vintage TT from the 70’s or 80’s and probably phase out the GR. I like the look of the old Pioneer, Denon and Victor tables. I’d like to get a vintage table that can be serviced if needed, something I can add a sweet vintage arm too. 3 arms are better than two!

I’d like to hear suggestions and comments on some fantastic, cool as crap, vintage turntables that you think should sit next to the Luxman.

Thanks again for your help!

Brent




128x128knollbrent

Showing 7 responses by sleepwalker65

sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
@gshepardbuster most SL-1200mk2 turntables have been destroyed by rap “DJ”s. Too bad because with a few isolation tweaks and the KAB fluid damper, they are pretty good. Almost as good as the SL-1800mk2 on which it was based. 
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
I’ve got a SL-1700mk2 semi-auto that I restored recently and fitted with an Audio-Technica VM540ML cartridge. It was probably the best Technics had from the ‘78/‘79 period next to the SP-10. The venerable SL-1200mk2 was based on the SL-1800mk2 manual sister model, but the 1200 lost the double isolation spring suspension in favour of a rubber base trading vibration isolation for ruggedness. A lot of people are critical of the Technics tonearm, but it serves my needs quite well with a mid-compliance relatively lightweight moving magnet cartridge for listening to classic rock.  One thing that this family of turntables is legendary for is rock-steady speed management. There are very few that can beat the accuracy and stability of the Technics Quartz Drive system. 
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
@chakster the definition of “the best” is quite subjective. In my own subjective viewpoint, I prefer semi-automatic turntables that return the tonearm to its rest at the end of play. The mechanism that furnished that function on my prized (and slightly customized) Technics SL-1700mk2 turntables uses an optical detector, and therefore that part is relatively immune to wear and tear. I do openly admit that the mechanism which it invokes is mechanical, and involves a rubber drive belt that is prone to requiring periodic replacement. That is a small concession as far as I’m concerned for the convenience of semi-automatic operation. Admittedly, my aural faculties have diminished somewhat, so my sound quality needs might not be as high as that of others, but I have never enjoyed such sonic bliss before with lesser equipment. 
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
@glupson, the SL-Q2 has a different mechanism than the SL-1700mk2 to raise and return the tonearm at end of play. I have the factory service manuals for both, and I’ll look it up for you. Yours might just need some cleaning and new grease on those moving parts. 
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
@chakster  that AT Safety Raiser looks intriguing. It doesn’t say how it works, so I suppose you manually “set” or “load” the mechanism and when the tonearm bumps into the “antenna” it triggers the mechanism to release and lift the tonearm? That would be a must-have for me, if I ever purchase a manual turntable. 
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
@chakster that video cleared up some of my questions about the AT safety raiser. I would want one for certain if I owned a manual turntable. 
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
@glupson, the service manual shows an arm return mechanism like that of the “lesser” semi-auto Technics turntables of the late 70’s and ‘80’s. The mechanism is driven by a small gear on the platter spindle and engaged either mechanically by the arm pivot contacting a lever when the end of play is reached, or by a solenoid that is triggered by the stop button on the plinth. The SL-Q2’s automatic mechanism probably shares several parts in common with the lower end belt drive units, so parts and donor units should be plentiful on fleabay.  

If neither works reliably, I would first examine the spindle gear and the much larger main gear for missing teeth. If only the stop button is intermittent, try lubricating the solenoid plunger. I believe you can download an electronic copy of the service manual from the vinyl engine site. If you are unable to locate it, I can scan it to PDF and email it to you. 
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