How many turntables have you owned?


My analog journey started in the 70's- I'm on my 6th turntable, which I have owned since 1998. I think it's my final turntable!

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Approximate years of service. Does not include borrowed units which passed through these doors.

Technics SLB2 (1980-85) 

Dual CS505 (1985-86)

Thorens 318 (1986-87)

Thorens TD160 (1987-90)

Linn LP12 (1986-present)

Garrard 301 (1988-2001)

Rek-o-Kut B12H (2006-present)

Garrard 401 (2009-2013)

Garrard 401 AudioGrail (2013-present)

Garrard 401 AudioGrail (2017-present)

Garrard 401 AudioGrail (2020-present)

I sold two after a few years that appeared on the market: Technics SL2000 and Micro Seiki BL 51 all the others (about fifteen) I kept them for my collection.

Quite a few, but many were duplicates of the same model.

-Dual 1219 (my first "stand alone" TT)

-Thorens TD160 MkI/MkII (not less than 5 total - lost track)

-Philips 212 (1 early on and 2 others received in trade later on)

-Thorens TD124 (people were giving them away in the late 70’s)

-Thorens TD121 ($20 @ an estate sale)

-B&O 4002 ($15 @ an estate sale - gave it to a guy I met @ a local thrift)

-Thorens TD125 Mki

-Thorens TD165

-Thorens TD125 MkII (my current deck)

-Lesa (rim drive from Italy - gift from local phile/still have it)

That’s all I can remember, though I did have a Technics direct drive in 1978 for guests to use, but I don’t recall the model (think it had auto play and maybe return).

I also traded the (2-later) Philips 212’s for one of the TD160’s as they were too prone to footfalls (I lived in a 1929 2-story wood frame building).

Couple of memorable decks that housemates had were a B&O 3000 (sparkly sounding compared to my TD160/SME/Sure V15 MkII combo, but good) and an unattractive Sony 3000 (forget the arm/cartridge) that was really good.

 

DeKay

 

 

The first owned TT that was a purchase made in the early 90's with the intention to build a HiFi System was a Linn, this is still owned today.

After a Few Years of ownership the Linn was superseded by a Garrard 401 and this was to undergo a overhaul and Platter Bearing Modification and ended up in a (60Kg)  9 Stone Granite Plinth.

This was used for many years, until I sold it and bought a PTP Solid 9 with a standalone Bespoke Built speed controller.

Vintage DD TT's have superseded the use of the PTP, but I do still own the PTP and occasionally listen to a replay on it.

I have four Brands of the DD TT's, which are used in a original state and some have received overhaul work and modifications, which are completed to various levels of undertaken work.

Exchanges of Original Plinths to alternative Materials is the basic change put into practice and the more complex Platter Bearing is also a focus of the works undertaken, which requires a support from adept engineers to produce the work that will be a modification, as parts will need replacing and some parts can require machining as the only means to create an exchange part.

There is also a plan in place to carry out work on Platters to produce a design with an improved mechanical connection or improve damping.

I don't do the practical work undertaken where a skill set is needed to produce the required accuracy for the work produced, I am fortunate to have friends who enjoy this side of their interest in HiFi and Micro Mechanics and concerning themselves with microns as a dimension.         

From 1979 until ditching analog in the mid ‘90’s, I went through 6 turntables. Brands in order included Yamaha, B&O, Sony, Thorens, Systemdek & Oracle.

Sometime in 2005, I returned to analog and began collecting vintage turntables with a current count of 9.

After years in the audio industry specializing in phono systems as both retailer and manufacturer’s representatives, I could not be more pleased from the performance and ease of use from my modified Technics SL1200 Mk5 🤗

5 - hopefully this is it unless they come up w one that'll change records for you (meticulously).  I guess I would even consider one that only flips the record for you.