Does anyone run 2 or more turntables...

Drumarty,
I see that you've been a member since 2008. Haven't you noticed in that time that a number of members have 2 ,3 and sometimes more turntables? I'm sure that the reason is because they can afford it, and they want to exploit the strengths of one or the other for different types of music.
I'm sure they will tell you in this thread

I do. In my home system 2 turntables connected to 2 phono inputs that I have. It brings me
1. a convenience of playing records of variable speed without moving that belt over the spindle manually
2. secondary TT has 78rpm or single album setup (so figure different setup for different records. 78rpm setup can also be used for 12" single records.

In DJ application I used 4 Technics 1200:
First 2 for playback of single records
3rd For scratching
4th for LPs

Yes, if you have mono lps, you need a cartridge that is design for them. So, two tables.

Yes. Different tonearms and carts. Second one is set up and used for mono.

For the same reason I have three systems: because it's fun.

I have way more than 2 completely set up tables. Never know when you are looking for a different sound.

Each combination of table/arm/cart is going to give you a unique sound of it's own.

Plus...I'm just crazy when it comes to analog playback.

I have one optimized for superior fidelity and the other rigged for records that are not in the best condition.

I run two turntables and a microphone, that's where it's at my friend. ;^)

Soon to have a second TT so I can have one for MM and one for MC. I also have two CDPs cuz "sometimes you feel like a nut...sometimes you don't". Happy hunting!

I have one turntable with two arms so I can access different cartridges. Many times I’ve had two turntables in the system, typically short term to test one against the other to determine best performance.

I would like to have two “best” turntables with different high end tonearm and cartridge combinations.

I've got 4. Three are always set up for listening, two in my "upstairs" system, and one in my "downstairs" systemm. Yes, two complete high quality systems always at the ready. If you count my Victor TT101, which may never be reliable enough to listen with, I actually have 5 turntables in fact.

I have 3 - Rega P9 with stereo cart. in "main" system; SOTA Sapphire with mono cart. in "main" system; Rega P9 with stereo cart. in secondary system.

I have Kuzma Stabi Reference with Reed 3P and Triplanar VII
in my main system. Both arms have fast headshells while I own many carts. For quick and easy cart change I have the Ikeda 345 with removable headshell on the SP 10/II in my second system.

That's why the Aesthetix Rhea phonostage has 3 inputs (not the least of its charms). I have two arms (one dedicated to mono) on my replinthed Lenco and use a separate Empire 298 turntable for 78s. Yes, I know, the Lenco can play 78s too (just as the Empire can play LPs) but whoever suspected record-playing fanatics of being logical?

Just added second TT, Kuzmz Stabi S w/ 12" Kuzma arm, platter upgrade and outboard power supply Dynavector XX2 Mk II  to Pass Xono phono Still have Linn LP12 ( just overhauled - 1988 vintage) w/ Lyra Kleos to Manley Steelhead . Tight bass SS ; Lot of air, midrange to die-for Tubes

Just to keep your thread alive, I now have 5 turntables up and running, although only 4 of them get even occasional use.  My Victor TT101, mentioned above, was finally fixed by a genius in NYC, JP Jones.  If you have a "broken" direct-drive turntable, JP can fix it. So, in my basement system, I use a highly modified Lenco with Dynavector DV505 and the TT101 with FR64S tonearm.  Upstairs, I use a Technics SP10 Mk3 (Reed tonearm) and Kenwood L07D with its built-on L07J tonearm.  My Denon DP80 is up there too, just sitting. I had promised myself I would sell the Denon if the TT101 ever got fixed, but I don't feel that urge any longer.  The market value of the DP80 is too low to make me feel compelled to part with it.

Does anyone run 2 or more turntables at the same time? What is your purpose?

Sure, I have two.  Besides just being fun, here are the practical reasons...
* One is manual and the other is a semi-auto.  The advantage of a semi-auto are obviously when is one is doing something else while listening.
* One is belt driven and one direct drive.
* One is modern and one is vintage.
* The above two points helps me avoid two classic debates in the world of vinyl because I don't have to take sides.
* Having two allows for two entirely different cartridges and both sound different.
* And back to my opening statement - its just more fun!

Two tables here. One for mono, one for stereo. If my stereo table allowed two arms I would have one table two arms.

A Luxman PD444 with three arms(2x SME 3012R + Kuzma 4P at the moment.) Unfortunately there is no space remaining to set up my three other turntables simultaneously. Multiple tonearms on one TT help in making close comparisons between tonearms and cartridges. They take a significant variable out of the equation. I can’t understand why more pro reviewers don’t have this arrangement. It can also help convince one how specious judgments of better/best can be in audio. A multi-arm setup convinces that above a certain level of performance, choices are largely matters of taste and are often price-independent.

Dave, It's telling for me to learn that you prefer the PD444 (direct-drive) vs your other 3 turntables, which if memory serves are either belt-drive or rim-drive types (do you have a Terminator Salvation?).  I have come to the same conclusion, as is obvious.  Does the PD444 use a coreless motor?  I have developed a preference for the sound of those that do.

lewm, "a coreless motor? I have developed a preference for the sound of those that do."

So, does this suggest interest in the new Technics SL-1200GAE?

http://www.sl1200gae.info/about

Tim (Pryso), I would not dare to buy yet another turntable, but if the new Technics does indeed have a coreless motor, as I also read, then it may prove noticeably superior to the original SL1200, which made me wonder why they built it to look exactly like the SL1200. Its appearance has thus been seized upon by some as reason to question the seemingly high price, which really is not so high, IMO. Albeit, I would not trade my L07D for the new Technics, despite the fact that the former typically costs less when you can find one.

Dave, Sounds like the PD444 motor is indeed "coreless".  It may be my imagination, but I "hear" coreless motors as giving a little more life to the music, as compared to iron-cored motors in direct-drive turntables.  One exception is the SP10 MK3 with Krebs mods.  The Krebs mod goes a long way, probably all the way, to achieving the coreless sound. Plus the Mk3 is peerless when it comes to a sense of drive and rhythm.  I am sure that an unknown factor in the direct-drive equation is the servo mechanism and how it works to maintain constant speed.  That too could surely affect musicality.  I forgot that you also have an L07D, but it cannot mount 3 tonearms like the PD444.

I run three turntables with five tonearms on two systems.

One system includes a Luxman PD444, modified in small ways but mounted on 1 lb. brass cones resting on Aurios media bearings, which yield a vast improvement over the factory footers. The other system includes a second Luxman PD444 set up identically to the first, but with different tonearms. That system also includes a Garrard 401 with Thomas Schick tonearm, running more often than not an SPU.

The Luxmans have outlasted and bested every belt drive turntable I've had over the last 40 years. The Garrard 401 simply has a different presentation entirely that while less objective than the Luxman PD444, is vastly entertaining and engaging in selective ways that benefit some music over others.

Phil

yep -- i have two turntables, as well. the first is an LP12/Naim Aro/Armageddon that only does 33rpm, so i also have a Rega P5 for 45rpm duties.

i've been wrestling with my next step: get a Radikal for the LP12, which does both speeds -- or replace the P5 with a Garrard 301?

I have two turntables each with three arms...
http://i.imgur.com/r2AM7An.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/msMbfXy.jpg
What is my purpose?
I have had around 50-60 cartridges over the years and have 'limited' myself currently, to the best 30 or so.
Despite what most audiophiles think.....it is simply not possible to accurately compare the sounds of multiple cartridges when one needs to unmount and remount each one in a fixed arm on a single turntable.
The differences between top MM and LOMC cartridges are often sooo subtle and elusive....that our aural memories cannot cope with the time lags.
That's why all but one of my arms accept interchangeable headshells so that I in fact can go back and forth with dozens of cartridges in short time spans.

Now admittedly this may not be important to most audiophiles....and it wasn't to me in my single turntable/single arm/single cartridge days....but having experienced the luxury (and pleasure) of multiple arms/cartridges over the last 6 years......I will never go back 👀

I have two complete operational turntables, a VPI and a Sota Cosmos.  I have briefly run them in one system (the preamp,, which no one has probably heard of, a Classe DR7 has two on board phono stages), but now run them in two separate systems.

I have had two for almost a year and it's been fun....but now have a second armwand for the better TT so will be back to one again.