Looking for Turntable Reccomendations

How much are you looking to spend?

The 12" arm is the sticking point. The Kuzma Stabi R is the least expensive new turntable I can think of that will take a 12" arm. Some of the Clearaudios may be able to take a 12" arm. Many of us would tell you to get rid of the 12" arm because we think that 9 and 10" arm perform better. It would also open up a lot more options. I would never recommend an old idler wheel turntable on a custom plinth. 

This is new, free shipping, 30 day money back

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa8g20-origin-live-calypso-mk4-turntable-free-shipping-30-day-money-back-guarantee-turntables

Says you tell them which mount for their 9.5" or 12" long arm when ordering (you might order a 12" plate mounted and a 9" loose plate.

Ask if it can be made to fit your specific tonearm, I don't see why not. (I'd just ask for an oval slot _____ mm wide).

One issue for me is a dust cover. This design allows a 'smaller than huge' custom dust cover if desired

I helped a friend buy/install/add two micro seiki 505 arms to one of these Luxman PD444. I know all about them after that, highly recommend them.

Continuous rear track with two sliding tonearm mounts

I

It would fit your existing long tonearm on the rear left, and another 9" arm (now or future) on the right side.

A real beauty, very nice design solution for nearly any arm length. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314355073356?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=a2b8d166-5284-11ee-bc98-333238353734

new feet would be easy.

comes with a dust cover

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195207470272?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=47997016-5288-11ee-873e-333238353734

If it includes two arms, you could sell one

Thorens TD125, custom wide plinth for long arm

https://reverb.com/item/67536311-vintage-thorens-td-125-long-base-turntable-bokrand-tonearm-ortofon-bronze

Steve at VAS has several TD125's, loves them, I had my woodworker make new plinths (for 9" arm versions)

A new black tonearm board for a specific arm is easy.

I had the Thorens TD124, loved it.

The mounting plate rotates, it might fit your long arm, need measurements

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650018816-micro-seiki-bl-101-rosewood-turntable-masterpiece/images/4654507/

Note: when you rotate or slide ___ for a longer arm, and a factory dust cover is involved: you need to know about the rear counterweight section, it needs to fit when stored with the dustcover down., and the height must clear when the cover is on/down

I had to be very careful with this one, factory dust cover not shown, but the right side long arm and short left arm ’just fit’ when the cover is on.

Without thinking, I added a spacer to raise the long arm, (the JVC spinners are high and wide). I got lucky, top of the gimbal just fits below the top of the dust cover when on.

Having learned from that experience, I searched until I found the left Mission arm with a very short counterweight section, AND it needed a small diameter mounting ring to get close to the wide rim of the TT81. Luckily the seller knew how to measure for me before purchase.

How about a PTP Audio Solid 12?

Origin Live Sovereign. 

@mijostyn 

As I was going to suggest a heavy plinth Lenco, I wonder why you would suggest staying away from one?

I built one, and it’s modded with some of my own design details, including a dedicated dynamic isolation platform. It is a fantastic sounding TT by any metric. 

@perkri 

Most people do not want to get that involved. They want to buy a table, mount the arm, plug it in and go. There are not many crazy fools like you and me.

PTP Audio Solid 12 is an off the shelf heavy plinth Lenco conceived and built by Peter Reinders, one of us crazies, for a sane person to buy and enjoy.

Not sure what your budget is, but I recommend reaching out to Dave at Vinyl Nirvana. He can help you design and restore a Thorens with an armboard to fit your 12" arm, similar to the option shared in a previous post.  

I loved my VPI Classic

This table is a classic and looks great:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2564634910362491/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_general&referral_story_type=general&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%22-3443879528204534948%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%22991485401553808485%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A991485401553808485%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A33%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A6121192844867665920%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A0.0005595631009569%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3A3522%2C%5C%22candidate_retrieval_source_map%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%227355046834511995%5C%22%3A3021%2C%5C%226589769524425727%5C%22%3A3535%7D%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%2C%22lightning_feed_qid%22%3A%22-3443984394079047695%22%2C%22lightning_feed_ranking_signature%22%3A%226121192844867665920%22%2C%22ftmd_400706%22%3A%22111112l%22%7D

@mijostyn 

:)

Yeah. I think I qualify!

Built some Bib enclosures for a pair of Fostex Fe168Ez that I assembled last night. 
 

Part of my love of this hobby is getting to listen to so many different speaker/amp combos. 
 

I do really love the Lenco. Such relentless drive to the music. 

Thank you all so much for your inputs.

Still researching, but will post with my purchase and experience.

Much Appreciated!!

If you want to start a museum or a collection of audio oddities, then and only then consider the Transcriptors turntable recommended by someone here. Yes, it's a treat to look at and watch in action, but no it is not a good turntable by modern standards. In fact, it wasn't so good by the standards of its day.  Either it made "Clockwork Orange" famous or Clockwork Orange made it famous.

@lewm 

Much safer to go with the Oracle. It is a great turntable even by modern standards.

I would recommend most highly that you consider purchasing a Kronos turntable. The Kronos Sparta turntable may be a bit more than the other recommendations offered here on AudiogoN, but the Kronos turntables are truly in a league by themselves. If you want to hear what is truly possible in turntable technology this is it. The Sparta is the most affordable turntable from Kronos that employs the unique counter-rotating platter technology. This combined with amazing engineering and precision machining produces a table that could be an endgame analog product for you.

Can’t post the link but there is an Artisan Fidelity Lenco for $2999 on Usaudiomart 

This is an amazing TT for a steal. It is Pearl white if you don’t mind that.

Lenco has been mentioned.

I own a very similar TT. It is the best I have ever owned… by far.

Here's a nice looking Kuzma with arm at a very reasonable asking price

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650004623-kuzma-stabi-s-stogi-turntable-w-extras/

OP owns a 12" arm.

Several of the recommendations will not fit a 12" arm.

This VPI Classic 4 has a 12" arm, PRESUMABLY (verify of course) it will allow you to use your 12" arm on it.

It is one of the VPI’s that allows a second arm if desired, however that arm might have to be a 9", again clarify. (dustcover cracked?)

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650021687-vpi-classic-4-turntable-upgraded/

If seller/VPI cannot give you answers, Steve Leung at VAS knows a great deal about VPI’s, having worked with the father, and his shop is in the same building as VPI’s shop.

https://vasnyinc.com/

The Luxman PD441 track mount system, single arm version

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276047921268?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=759914d6-54a3-11ee-999b-653134646537

Luxman Manual

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/luxman/pd-441.shtml

says it fits Stax UA70, their long arm, it's probable it will fit yours

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/stax/ua-70.shtml

mount 300mm, effective 312mm (12.25"); overall 420mm which means the rear portion behind the pivot of 4.25" fits within dust cover.