Rega is a great solution. I have a Planar 8 and it is stellar sounding and easy to set up
Most hyped turntable, tonearm, and cartridge?
Which turntable, tonearm, and cartridge do you think are most hyped?
One of my friends who owns Garrard 301, Thorens 124 and EMT ?? told me that those three vintage turntables are as good as one can get for the price points, beating most modern turntables costing under $10K. However, I've also read that Garrard 301 is over hyped.
My friend also insists that Ortofon RMG 309 tonearm and the original SPU Silver Meister (not MKii) are best for Garrard and Thorens. I wonder whether the Ortofon arm and SPU cartridge are over rated.
Your thought?
One of my friends who owns Garrard 301, Thorens 124 and EMT ?? told me that those three vintage turntables are as good as one can get for the price points, beating most modern turntables costing under $10K. However, I've also read that Garrard 301 is over hyped.
My friend also insists that Ortofon RMG 309 tonearm and the original SPU Silver Meister (not MKii) are best for Garrard and Thorens. I wonder whether the Ortofon arm and SPU cartridge are over rated.
Your thought?
70 responses Add your response
An unrestored stock 301 should not be confused with one of the rebuilt modded tables. I have heard the decked out Lenco as well next to 100K Audio Art tables and they are AMAZING when rebuilt. Some of the prices asked are too high but they are outstanding. Do NOT BELIEVE the people who say that any modern $3k table will beat a modded 301 or Lenco. A modern $3k table is nothing compared to what a $1k table from 30 yrs ago was. Heck even a sp1200mk2 with a good base and cart is punching way above what they go for. |
Like Millercarbon said, old things tend to go up in value due to rarity and collectability in our throw it out if it's broken society. Technologies that get perfected incrementally are what you want. Just like 911s get a little better all the time, their owners have their preferences, whether they are air cooled, turbocharged, sunroof, cabriolet (convertible for the non-car folks). Regas (especially their arms) get better all the time, for 40 + years. When technologies disappear from new production like an idler drive, there is a reason for that. I guess some people want to pay $23,000 for a turntable worth $2K just like some people will pay $900K for a new build of an old 911. They want that nostalgic look that is in style. True audiophiles don't care how things look, only about the sound. Having it look nice is a plus, but IMHO it should not be part of the equation unless all else is equal. Finally to answer the OP question, when I first started with audio equipment in college in the early 80's, all you heard about was that the Linn Sondek LP-12 was the ultimate turntable. Now there are so many good ones, it's hard to say what it most hyped. Also, the prices of some have gotten so stratospheric that they have become status symbols. VPI told me that some of their customers told them that one of their high end tables was too inexpensive. He thought it should cost $40K instead of $20K. I kid you not. They were from Asia somewhere and were trying to impress their friends. |
Excellent early point made: don't mess with antiques! if you have a choice. I run 2 full systems at home. One is a 1978 fully maintained and updated Thorens TD-160 with Ortofon MM Bronze cart. The other is a new Rega 6 with the same cart. The Rega is now at about $3,000 with addtitions like a tone arm lifter and high end belt and the Thorens is about $2,500 with many up dates too. I have loved the Thorens for over 25 years and the Rega for much less. Most important difference is in the "material science" and advances made in everything down to how they 'draw copper wire' has changed. If I could replace everything on the Thorens with the same materials used on the Rega and I would have the best ever. If my house burned down tomorrow and I moved into a new place and could replace one set of stereo gear, I would buy the Rega. In a heart beat. Old loves are dear, but old. I am old and I know it is not to be desired. Inch for inch and dollar for dollar the new stuff is way, way better if you shop smart. As long as you stay with analogue and vinyl it is hard to get it too wrong. P.S. I am a fussy listener but cannot really tell the difference in music once you get much over $3,000 into a turntable. Fantastically expensive equipment does much to impress, but not by the sound. This is ever more true about old equipment. |
There s something almost Zen about linear tracking tonearms. I am conflicted on whether they are better than a 12 inch or 9 inch tonearm. Many reviewers who listen and evaluate for a living seem skeptical. The added complication of air bearings and more things to go wrong alienate me and I doubt I could ever afford zero tracking error instead of tracking error so small it might not be worth the trouble. Are tangential tonearms hyped? I would like to read the opinions of others on this. |
I don’t know about hyping, but I have 4 turntables, and can rank them in sound quality in my systems. 1. Pro-ject Signature 10 2. Pro-ject RPM 10.1 Evolution 3. and 4. tied: - Clearaudio Concept - Oracle Delphi V with Granite plinth You can’t go wrong with a Pro-ject TT in the $3k to $4.5k range. I find that Hana, Audio Technica, Ortofon and Sumiko mc cartridges with mid to hi compliance in the $1k - $2k range work best.. |
With respect to linear tracking arms, I have some, albeit limited, experience. I used an Eminent Technology air bearing tangential arm on a Sota Sapphire table. No big deal. Sound quality no better than a decent pivoted arm. And the air pump, etc was a pain. I have been avoiding linear trackers ever since. |
@chakster I heard the Nakamichi turntable with auto centering feature back in the 1980s at M&K Sound in Los Angeles. At the time, it was the finest LP sound I had ever heard. Dyanamic and without wow problems. I had a choice of a Linn table in 1981. I purchased the VPI 19-1 instead. It sounded better. Then in 2005, I bought a fully loaded VPI TNT VI. It sounded blah until I placed it on a Townsend Seismic Sink, then it became the table it can be. I still use the VPI 19-4 for 78s and it is super dynamic. Neither table is unattractive although the VPI 19 does look pedestrian but so what? |
Commonwealth 12/D if you can find one. Not all vintage is good. If it was a top pro deck back then it’ll be up there now. Not all modern is good. Same rule applies. If it is good now it’ll hold it’s own in the future. As a record producer and mastering engineer cutting vinyl everyday we have 7 turntables and a lathe. We use the best of breed both ancient and modern. No bias except that the good vintage stuff was not built to a price. It was built to last and the professional side of the business using and making the products had big R&D budgets: RCA, Decca, EMI, Western Electric, BBC. Those budgets have shrunk now. The only money being spent is for high end home stuff now or pro software. This is why good vintage matches good modern. Emphasis on the word “good”. Also it depends on the application. For my radio show, Technics. It’s not all about sonics in that scenario because the output is compressed and normalised. It’s more about useable and reliable gear. In the studio flat response and several reference decks to be sure. EMT, Audio Note, Rega, lathe in playback mode and TW Acustic. At home musicality and aesthetics are more important. For me only the Commonwealth does it all. Like an EMT but built like a lathe. It’s actually quiet for an idler too. |
He thought it should cost $40K instead of $20K. I kid you not. They were from Asia somewhere and were trying to impress their friendsThx for response. I believe you. For some, what is important is how much they paid for. The more they pay, the less chance other people can afford, which will make them feel that they are something special. Like those who carry Gucci and Chanel bags. Yes, some of those super rich (not necessarily Asians but many other too) will think 20k is too little to spend for turntables and other audio gears for them to show off. Well, nothing wrong in the modern economy. |
Don’t sleep on the JVC QLY-55F. I’ve an example that’s in 8/10 condition. Very good performance. Okay maybe not overhyped, and it’s direct drive, but it’s a classic and it’s still running on all original equipment. That’s what a 42 year old turntable? I recently mated it with a Clearaudio Virtoso cartridge, and you know what? It sounds really good! |