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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
glupson
7,842 posts
 
sleepwalker65,

Thank you for your answers. I copied them as a separate file for future reference.

Luckily, for now, everything works but I feel that an old turntable, or anything old for that matter, is like a car. It runs until it does not and you should not be caught by surprise. That story about stop/return ceasing function was about thirty years ago and it fixed itself and has never been a problem ever since. I have no idea what Kryptonite these turntables were made of, but if my lowly SL-Q2 still works no wonder higher grade models are exemplary.

Thanks again, I truly appreciate it.
edgewear
543 posts
 
@knollbrent

’Anyone have the Pioneer PL-70L II?’

Actually I do and can recommend it highly. It was part of a Japan only series of three models. The PL-30L II and PL-50L II were the smaller ones with 9" tonearms, the PL-70 II was bigger with a 12" version. One might say that these tables were ’trickled down’ from the big P3 and P10 Exclusive tables. The styling and in particular the tonearms are very similar.

The PL-70L II replaced a Denon DP-75 (with Denon DK-330 plinth and Denon DA-309 tonearm). I guess as far as the DD motors are concerned they are about equal. Still the Pioneer performs on a considerably higher level than the Denon, especially in the lower registers. I’m pretty certain this must be attributed to the tonearm, which is probably the Pioneer’s biggest asset compared to similarly priced DD tables. Unfortunately it cannot be separated from the turntable itself because of the remote armlift arrangement (my only complaint), otherwise I probably would have installed this arm on my higher level turntables. I don’t think Pioneer ever released this tonearm as a separate item, at least I’ve never seen it.


paolo60333
3 posts
 
Goldmund Studio but only battery operated. Still a great piece of audio gear
harrylavo's avatar
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harrylavo
346 posts
 
If I remember correctly, the first Denon direct drive turntable from the late ’70’s was a stunner in looks and briefly was on the Absolute Sound’s top turntable list.  The later Denon's were almost all semi-automatic .... the armless ones are rare.
pinthrift
209 posts
 
Enjoyed Denon DP2500 which, last I knew, is still spinning 40 years later...at incorrect speed...has a strobe on-board with no adjustment.  A better strobe from "The Tweak Shop" back in the day, revealed it ran fast.  A "post Allen Perkins (Spiral Groove) Star Sapphire SOTA w/Fidelity Research FX64 arm solved all that, including the "Electronic Flywheel" line conditioner and vacuum...and Marigo Tuning Dots to stabilize it all.  Cheers, Pin
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