I agree with Nandric. I recommend de gustibus, because non est disputandum. Thanks to many others for the photos of beautiful vintage turntables that I'd forgotten about. The Empire and the B&O are exceptional examples of beautiful industrial design. If you can find a B&O TT that still works perfectly, and if you can pair it with either a B&O MMC1 or MMC2, you would have a great combo of beauty and high function. (I think of the Empire turntable from memory as having been a bit noisy due to audible rumble, I think.) Atma-sphere sell a modified and upgraded Empire that might be great. I also nominate the Thorens TD125, still a very modern and chic piece of gear and desirable if operating properly. They had problems with electronics, but mine didn't while I owned it. Beautiful and awful is the Transcriptors Reference with Vestigial tonearm. Look but don't use.
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Another vote for the Oracle Delphi, and I like the rather stark look of my VPI TNT 5.
Recently wanted a turntable for my third system and didn't really want a run of the mill appearance. Ended up with one of these - look like a sculpture in plexiglass.
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Cost no object: Oracle Delphi MKV.
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I've always felt that a turntable should be a beautiful piece of furniture like the days of old. SOTA STAR SAPPHIRE COCOBOLO
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Well-Tempered Labs Veralex.
It's not so much glitzy as it is
beautifully mechanical, not to
mention how good it sounds.
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Another vote for Technics SL-1200G.
The etched logo on the 10mm solid aluminum top does it for me every time.
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I've got a Thorens TD 145 with a new acrylic dust cover. There's not a blemish anywhere to be found. I think it's a work of art. And with Nagoaka MP-200 cartridge, it sounds even better.
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I love my ProJect Evolution Xtension 10. Photos from mfg. web pps below:
And here:
photos really don’t do it justice, it needs to be lit from above.
Also really like the more expensive Palmer:
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I love the elegant rosewood looks of the Denon and Victor/JVC direct drive decks of the 70s and 80s
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I realize you're probably excluding custom tables, but someone above mentioned Lenco in custom plinths so a shoutout to Jean Nantais of TJN analog who does beautiful woodwork for his custom rebuilt Lencos. Most are under $5K--i bought one of his "Steampunk" rebuilds on A'gon a couple years back and it's pretty cool--never fails to get comments from everyone who sees it. Here's his picture Gallery:
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You asked for turntables under $5K but since no one is paying attention to that, I'll submit the Avid Acutus Reference.
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Clearly it would also have to be the Linn Sondek LP-12 majik, if still available under 5k last time I looked it was about 4300 bucks, most likely now more with inflation.
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Exposed belts look ridiculous. Rega P8 is the coolest looking modern TT design without looking like it belongs in a physics lab. Perfect minimalist design. Obviously not the choice if you are going for a furniture look. Not a fan of the white ceramic platter on the slightly better sounding P10, but I would take one for the better sound in a NY minute, except it costs almost double and exceeds the $5K limit.
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I don’t really give a s- - - - what it looks like.
I care about what it sounds like.
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@spiritofradio
I have the same table and I agree, it is very nice to look at. Unfortunately your pictures didn’t post. It’s a shame that audiogon won’t allow posting of pictures from your device. The method they use is archaic.
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I will never own a $5,000 TT but I have own,2 Technics 1300,cheaper one,Nad 588,Flunance Rt85,AR xa1,Kenwood 2055,Marantz 6100 custom.
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I like the unobtrusive, industrial, no nonsense look of the EMT 938.
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For me, the combination of the plinth, platter, motor, and arm have to make their own statements, but still come together visually and musically. And for me, no one does that better than VPI. In their own way VPI are as iconically American designs as Harley-Davidson - Big, beefy (22Lb platter!!), modular, and upgradeable. And I have no issues setting up a JMW 3D Unipivot 10.5. It tracks my medium compliance Hana very nicely, running a Shibata or Microline stylus with noticeably fewer high-end issues than a shorter arm. |
1. Beogram 4000/4002
2. Michell gyrodeck
3. Michell transcriptor (clockwork orange 🍊)
4. Amazon model one (clean)
5. Rega Naid
6. Dohmann helix one
7. Sony tts8000
8. Air Force one
9. technics sp10r
10. Brinkmann balance
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I went for the Thorens 1601. Beauty and Performance.
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Brinkmann Bardo, used without any fancy extras can be had for $5k for sure. That's my favorite.
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silver gyrodec
soullines kubrick
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Acrylic turntables like the Basis 1400, Oracle Delphi, Transrotor....Add led lighting...
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