As for me... My first that I can remember was a Webcor - part of their Holidy package. then... Garrard, Benjamin Miracord, Dual, Bogen, Thorens TD 124, and 121, Rek o Kut, LinnSondek, Grado, Rega, SME, VPI... I probably have forgotten a few
Our family operated a radio shop in the mid 20th century and sold some records so there were LPs around our house as long as I can remember. My grandfather was a hi-fi rep for Fairchild, Electro-Voice, University and others and very fond of classical music and had a nice collection of LSC and Merc pressings. (which I probably messed up)
As for turntables that were mine and not the home hi-fi...the first I recall was really a record player, a GE Wildcat was what it was called.
Then the "real" TTs in pretty much this order:
Fairchild 412-4 / Rek-O-Cut arm (hand me down when grandmother demanded a Console Stereo *shudder*) BSR - Everybody had one, right? Garrard SL-95
(then the Technics Years 1975-99) Technics (belt drive #????) Technics DD ?? Pioneer DD ??? Another Technics semi auto died
(tables I still have) Technics SL-1800 - Manual, good for brushing LPs Dual 1229 -yeah its Auto, oh well. I have 78's still. Linn Axis - why did I wait so long? ...and new to me - Oracle Delphi MK I w/upgrade kit and now the real fun begins!
Fons CQ-30 with SME 3009 Series II arm, Linn LP-12 with Grace 707, Magnepan Unitrac and Signet TK-50 arms, B&O 8002 (gorgeous table), VPI HW-19 Mk. III with Rega 250 arm(modded), VPI Scout with JMW-9 arm, VPI HW-19 Mk. IV with JMW-10.5, Zeta Black and Fidelity Research FR-64fx arms (still have), Denon DP-75 with Mission Mechanic arm (still have), and SOTA Sapphire with Sumiko MDC-800 (just got).
I liked them all but the last three are the best. And I HATE the unipivot arms - they all have uncontrollable azimuth variation which drives me nuts.
Need to update my response of Dec,10,2008. The Michell Orbe has made way for a TW AC with BN motor and PSU. Latest entrant, a vintage Garrard 401. Great thread
An ancient automatic thing hooked up to a tube pilot receiver, Dual 505, Thorens 318, Linn LP12 Valhalla, Rek-o-Kut B12H, Garrard 301 with Grace 707 arm. Currently a Garrard 401 with Jelco750L. Still have and rarely run the LP12.
Ha,ha,ha! Too many to remember. Right now, 4: Thorens TD-147 w/Shure V15VXMR cart, Hitachi HT-40S w/Audio Technica AT-150 cart, Technics SL-210 w/ADC XLM MK3 cart, the last one is in storage 9 years and I forgot the make, model, and cart!
By last count, 37 over last 40 years from original AR to Linn LP-12. My favorite is a Sony PS X-7 with its rock solid base and imageing , original Sony carbon-fiber arm with Sumiko CF headshell and 20 lb zinc base.
If my recall is accurate, I've had 17 over 48 years in audio. I now am back to idler-wheel drives with the Lenco Reference Mk II. My first turntables were all idler-wheel drives before I went to direct drives, belt drives, straight line trackers, etc.
Have added a couple of Technics SP10mk2, a PTP Lenco L75, a Sony PS-X65, a Clearaudio Performance, a Basis 2001, a Collaro, an Empire 498 and I'm sure some others. Probably have owned at least 50 over the years, and at least 20 presently.
This thread is like a group therapy session. I feel much better knowing I am far from the "sickest" one here. I posted here last time in 2008. Since then I sold my Technics SP10 Mk2, bought an NOS SP10 Mk3 and built a plinth for it, bought two Kenwood L07Ds and sold one, bought a Victor TT101 which is currently being re-capacitored. Also, I mounted my Lenco L75 in a PTP'd slate plinth way back in 08 or 09, added a Jeremy Superbearing. I was about to sell my Denon DP80 (which I believe I already owned in 08), found no takers, and at the same juncture bought the TT101 from eBay in "broken" condition. It turned out not to be broken. So now I have SP10 Mk3, Kenwood L07D, Lenco L75, DP80, TT101. Notwithstanding the fact that I have not heard the TT101, the list is probably in order of preference, altho the Kenwood is VERY close to the Mk3, just "different". And I could live with the Lenco alone, happily.
07-16-13: Manitunc Have added a couple of Technics SP10mk2, a PTP Lenco L75, a Sony PS-X65, a Clearaudio Performance, a Basis 2001, a Collaro, an Empire 498 and I'm sure some others. Probably have owned at least 50 over the years, and at least 20 presently.
Manitunc if during a Storage Wars episode they open a locker containing nothing but TTs I will think of you.
Can't remember the name but it was an Ariston table with a uni-pivot arm. No retainers of any kind. The arm just sat on a spike. Next was a Technics direct drive. Then an Oracle Alexandria with an FR-12 and Dynavector Ruby, and finally an Oracle Paris/arm with various carts.
Waaay back when, I owned a BIC. It wasn't bought as an 'audiophile' thing and luckily, it didn't trash the records as I still own many from that time (Just last night I fired up Henry Mancini's 'Combo' and it sounded great! Don't laugh, recorded in '58, an RCA Living Stereo). Ever since I was a kid, it always made sense to handle my records with care, and it paid off. My 1st 'audiophile' table was a Revox B791. I'll never forget as it was my 1st brush with audiophile snobbery, I bought it used from an old Jewish gentleman from Queens, when asked I told him I had Pioneer separates and Ohm Walsh 2's, and he said; "this is too much turntable for yr system!". At the time I thought he was a douche, but of course he was right! Later on I owned a SOTA (also bought 2nd hand) and it never sounded right, which I attributed to it being mis-used by the previous owner. I went on to my beloved Mapleknoll Athena. Had the air pump, the arm design that preceeded the ET-2, wooden side walls with the springs, & the lead platter. Man, she was a beast but, and this is a huge but, it was a magnificent-sounding beast! But she was too finicky, requiring more than I was willing to give and in 1990 I bought my 1st (and last!) brand new TT, a Linn LP12/Ittok IV/Lingo that, due to my increased use of CD's since I bought it, has been gently used only requiring a few tune-ups in 24 yrs!
Paraneer, If you are going to write out "piece of shit", there is no need for "POS". (Kidding.)
Paraneer an Csontos, you are nowhere near sick enough to participate in this thread, if those are your respective lifelong lists of turntables, unless you are both no more than 30 years old.
16 total counting those that worked/ were used. First as a cheapo Garrad changer lost/gone Pioneer PL12DII lost/gone Yamaha YPD-6 Sold Music Hall MMF5.1 Sold VPI HW19jr Sold Pink Triangle I Pink Triangle Anniversary Pink Triangle I Sold Heybrook TT2 Sold Lenco GL85 Sold Systemdek IIx Sold B&O 1700 B&O 1800 B&O RX-2 Sony PS-X6 Technics cheap belt driver automatic
Philips turntable (integrated with a receiver somehow) Sony turntable of some sort Rega Planar 3 Bix+ Teres 255 (with upgraded motor)
Rega RP10
TTWeights Gem
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