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Buying a used Oracle Delphi Mk_ ?

Any comments on what to look for and/or to avoid in a used Oracle - or whether to look for or to avoid a used Oracle in the first place? The idea would be to pay a modest price and then to upgrade gradually as the budget welcomed, enjoying the music in the meantime.

Our system hasn't been complete in over a decade, as we moved around too much to 'do it right': A humbly exquisite little modified Dynaco 70 in triode is all there is of it at present; in the past it included a Walker turntable with Audioquest (which we thought were listenable under the circumstances) and Spika T-60 speakers (which we adored). Thank you all for any input you think relevant.
saffron
sean
6,231 posts
 
Motorpsychos, i was wondering about the mounting situation on these tables as i too had been curious about them. Will they easily accept an ET II or a Souther / Clearaudio ? Maybe you or Jeff can chime in on this one. Sean
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jeffloistarca
1,004 posts
 
Sean,

I've only used the SME arm but in looking at the mounting plate it appears to accept pretty well anything. I'm not familiar with the ET or Clearaduio arms but I'd be quite surprised if thet didn't fit...may be work asking the arm manufacturers if they've had any trouble mating with an Oracle. The Delphi is an unusually flexible 'table but like all analog rigs does take some patience to get set up properly.
saffron OP
1 posts
 
I'm wondering about Arthur Salvatore's statement, in his 'Recommended Components,' that the entire 1980's/early 1990's Delphi-s were difficult to set up properly ('meaning no wobbling'), which is critical in optimizing their sound: Does anyone know where, say, the Mk III falls in this categorization? - or any personal experience with this difficulty (or not) of set-up with the earlier models?
genesis168's avatar
genesis168
409 posts
 
I used to own a MK3 and if you know how to set it up, it is not too hard. Oracle provides a tool to setup the suspension. I find this easy to use BUT further fine tuning is requred to make the setup perfect.

When the Delphi is setup correctly, you can bounce the TT via the spindle while the TT is playing and it WILL NOT mistrack...that's when it is setup up correctly.

All 3 springs will bounce together in sync and will not affect tracking.

IMO, the ET toeanrms and other linear tracking like the Airtangent are NOT ideal to be used with the Delphis as they are very heavy. I know there are stiffer springs for the TT but they just will not work properly.
genesis168's avatar
genesis168
409 posts
 
Oh, I forgot to mention. If you find a used Delphi, make sure the motor works properly, smoothly because there is no replacement parts for it.

Usually they last a long, long time. Soned and look wise, it is one of the greatest tables available out there.
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