Forever turntable under $2000


In search of: forever turntable.

I'm currently looking to upgrade from my existing Pro-Ject RPM 1.3 to a table that I will (hopefully) never grow out of. I'm looking for something that is *technically* competent, something where I know the engineering is extremely solid and "timeless," and provides a good analog platform to swap carts with. My budget for this is $1600 with cart (but up to $2000 if there's a good case for it). The rest of my system is as follows:

* LSA 2.1 Statement speakers

* Schiit Gumby DAC

* Schiit Freya preamp

* Adcom GFA555 power amp

* Schiit Mani phono stage

So far, I have looked into the Rega P6 (or a used RP6), a Clearaudio Concept, a variety of Pro-Ject offerings, and a Michell Technodec... but at this level there are so many choices, its hard to know where to start. Any ideas? Thanks!
primarist

Showing 4 responses by lewm

Sleepwalker, The coreless motor in the new Technics turntables, even including the SP10R that was tested by M Fremer and found to be the most speed stable turntable that he has ever evaluated, derives from the first coreless turntable motor, invented and marketed by Dual in the late 1950s or early 1960s.  How tried and true do you want it to be?  Is the 60 year history of its progenitors in the marketplace sufficient to convince you the new motor is likely to be reliable?

The motors of the Pioneer P10 and P3, the Kenwood L07D, the Yamaha GT2000, the Victor TT101, and even up to and including the Brinkmann Bardo, and others I am not thinking of, all belong to this same lineage. In fact, Dual sued Kenwood back in the day, because the L07D motor was too exactly like their motor.  Kenwood had to produce a second generation of the L07D in order to avoid patent infringement.

Technics' mistake (IMO) in the making of the new generation of their direct drives was to make them too much like the old SL1200 (and SL1500, 1600, 1700, etc) in outward appearance.  However, I understand why they did it.  Below the surface, the new models are superior in every way.  I side with Chakster in defense of the old line, too. With some mods, they can be made to perform very well.  Of course, DJ's liked them too.  Why? Because they like other DD turntables come up to speed very rapidly, and because they take a lot of abuse.
Sleepwalker, besides the fact that every other bit of personal opinion you dispensed is debatable, name one good vintage DD with spring suspension, I can only think of Sony and the Pioneer Exclusive P3 Which has a very elaborate suspension and costs upwards of $6000 these days.

The new SL1200s are in fact elaborately damped, both chassis and platter, unlike the originals. The coreless motor is a huge upgrade over the old models but is hardly experimental.
Technics SL1200GR or for even less money, under $1000 if you're lucky,
vintage Denon DP80.