Most hyped turntable, tonearm, and cartridge?
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! |
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. |
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. |
@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? |
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. |
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.. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
If you have and like an SPU cartridge, it is a matter of choosing a suitable arm, I don't think the type of table particularly matters. Some people insist on being vintage appropriate, but, to me, a good table, regardless of vintage, deserves a good arm whatever the vintage. I had the privilege of hearing a collection of four different Ortofon SPU cartridges, two were older, and two were current models, on a modern top-end Ortofon arm. This was an interesting comparison--I liked both the highly regarded older model and the latest top end SPU model which sounded quite different from the older model. The Ortofon tonearm is a favorite of the dealer who was doing the audition (the table was a Thorens 124). I would suggest the Ortofon arm, but, it is made by Jelco, which recently went out of business, so it, like a lot of other arms made by Jelco, have become quite hard to find. |
I have one different question though, if I may. Which is a better table between entry level Clearaudio turntable (like Concept) or similarly priced Rega 6 and Technics SL-1200GR? You’re comparing belt drive to direct drive here. I prefer the simplicity of Clearaudio and Rega, but if Technics is at least as good, and if it can be used with SPU cartridges (with additional counter weight), then I would go for Technics as my future turntable. (Well, I’ve read that it is absurd to use SPU cartridges with SL-1200GR tonearm, but I’ve seen some people were happy with it.) As ex owner of a few SPU cartridges I can tell you that you’d better look for SP-10mkII and "12 inch tonearm like Thomas Schick. I owned this combination with my SPU Spirit and SPU Classic cartridges. If you want SL1200GR then you can still use SPU with custom made ring weight for the counterweight, but it’s a bit strange, because there are many better higher compliance MC for Technics tonearm and some killer MM cartridges (best). You can also replace Technics tonearm with something like Jelco. |
My mint Luxman PD444 from Japan with two new armboards in 2018 cost me $2000 which was not common, but I got real lucky. Runs perfect and is one of the most gorgeous golden age tables ever made. Real cost on a mint PD444 is more like $4000 or more, if you can find it. Russian time traveling Victor TT101 in mint-condition sitting on JP’s bench cost me $1500. Original plinth with 4 armboards cleaned up, new Teak veneer cost $500. JP’s cost is around $1500. $3500 for top of the line vintage DD. Spend money wisely says Yoda. |
Have you decided which turntable is most hyped? It’s always the one that the other guy likes, never your own.Not quite. Probably I did not use a correct term. When I used 'hyped', I meant by something that is excessively advertised, overly reviewed, overly followed, and overly priced then what it really worth for whatever reason. Not much of misleading and false advertisement. It appears that both those vintage tables and Japanese DD tables have very good reason for their following and high price. I somehow thought that the 301/309/SPU is at the level of holly grail in turntable community and the modern turntable technology has not surpassed the 70 year old technology. But the conclusion I reached from this thread is, it is not. Again, it was due to my ignorance, and I am happy to learn that. Apologies if I wasted your time, but I certainly appreciate your comment. |
Dear Ihcho, So, from the "most hyped" question, this thread eventually turned into a bunch of recommendations for purchase, and I fell into the trap myself. I’ve got to correct you on one statement; the "high end" Technics turntables (SP10 Mk2 and MK3) were in fact used in a lot of radio stations because of the near instant start-up, but never by DJs (in nightclubs). The favorite DJ table was and is the SL1200 and all its variants. Have you decided which turntable is most hyped? It’s always the one that the other guy likes, never your own. |
Apologies for my ignorance on Technics DD turntables. I only knew that some of their high end models were good for DJ in dance club. Now I see that some of their high end models are as good as turntables can be. lewm, Thanks for your suggestion of Denon DP80. However, if I ever buy a turntable again, I would go for a new one that requires minimal setting. In that sense, I like my Clearaudio Bluemotion. The setup is so easy. The only downside is that I cannot install an SPU. I need at least two turntables, one for stereo and one for mono. Preferably three for two stereos. I have so many albums that do not deserve expensive cartridges. I see two different schools of thoughts from turntables users: one who highly values vintage Thorens, Garrard, and EMT, and another who highly values DD turntables from Technics, Denon, and other Japanese companies. However, I have not heard yet from anybody who have had both about their cons and pros. Maybe those issues were discussed multiple times before, and I would not ask them again here. I have one different question though, if I may. Which is a better table between entry level Clearaudio turntable (like Concept) or similarly priced Rega 6 and Technics SL-1200GR? I prefer the simplicity of Clearaudio and Rega, but if Technics is at least as good, and if it can be used with SPU cartridges (with additional counter weight), then I would go for Technics as my future turntable. (Well, I've read that it is absurd to use SPU cartridges with SL-1200GR tonearm, but I've seen some people were happy with it.) Again, thanks for all your posts. |
Where did I say the motor was other than SP-02 ? I posted many pictures of this motor in my posts earlier this year (thanks to jpjones for the images in his blog). It is Direct Drive and your records made with Direct Drive, period. SP-10 mkIII and SP-10R are best DD from Technics available today. Technics platters are all super heavy! Denon DP-80 and Victor TT-101 platters are lighweight. Those are greatest direct drive turntables available today for very reasonable price in my opinion. If you like something else - no problem. I like Garraard 301 Hammertone, but only because it looks cool, never tried. Using Denon, Technics, Luxman, Victor direct drive and I can’t detect any single problem with these different type of direct drives. |
I love the metaphor, Dover. And your point is well taken; it's been noted by others as well, and all you have to do is look at the SP02 to know it is far more massive than any turntable motor needs to be. However, the Mk3 does have a 21-lb platter, a bit heavier than the skin off a rice pudding, at least my wife's rice pudding. |
You can’t ignore Technics because almost ever record made with Technics motor involved in lacquer cutting process on the Neumann cutting lathe. This is misleading. The Technics cutting lathe motor devloped for the Neumann cutting head was the SP02, Its about the size of a medium cooking pot with torque figures dwarfing even the SP10mk3. Furthermore the SP02 was SPECIFICALLY designed to work in conjunction with the 70lb Neumann flywheel. The majority of the direct drive turntables couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding by comparison to the Technics SP02 lathe motor, and their lightweight platters have little inertia compared to the Neumann flywheel. |
I've probably written this too many times already, but if the OP is interested in a vintage DD, then I think the Denon DP80 is a bigger bang for the buck than the SP10 MK2. Can typically be purchased for under $1000, with or without plinth. I have owned both, side by side on the same system for about a year. I eventually kept only the DP80. This is not to say that I can claim the DP80 is superior to any of the new G series Technics and certainly not to the Mk3 (which I also own) or the SP10R. Those latter two are world class. Considering that the lower cost G series tables come with a good plinth and tonearm, that's where I would go if on a budget of under $2K. |
I was not interested in Technics DD turntables and I did not know how good they were, but I pretty much ignored them and lumped them into cheap Japanese turntable category. Then you have to check prices for Technics SP10 mk3. @ihcho It was very expensive turntable and still very expensive reference class DD. You can’t ignore Technics because almost ever record made with Technics motor involved in lacquer cutting process on the Neumann cutting lathe. There is a Technics Direct Drive motor under the Neumann platter when the cutting stylus working on doing its magic. Almost every record you have made with Direct Drive a few steps before it’s actually pressed. This is the most stable and powerful drive, and this is why Direct Drive (not Idler or Belt) chosen for Neumann cutting lathe! Think about it. But I recently saw a lot of people using new 1200GR at under $2K, and most users seemed to be just happy about it. GR is a compromise, the reference is SP-10R and it’s new. Even vintage SP-10 mkII is outstanding for the money, the drive is under $2k today. The SP-10 mk III is over $7k and new SP-10R is about the same. Regarding Technics most of us already posted tons of information here. |
@chakster WOW! Those are sure different from the original ones that were self-contained and silver with lots of speed dots on the platter for making sure the speed was set correctly. I imagine they cost a bit, as well. I love vinyl, but still use an older Technics (SL-1200, but don't quote me) and a old Luxman--not sure of the number. Both are just fine, thank-you, but I should probably get a new cartridge sometime. Right now, I need a crossover (EC-21) but am having a heck of a time finding one! As soon as I get that, I will work on the TTs. Thanks for the update. Crazy stuff...when they sold tons of TTs they were pretty cheap. I guess today, with a very limited market, they cost more. We used to sell several a week. These days, who knows? Cheers! |
As regards Garrard 301 there is a factual answer. I like a bit of rumble - reminds me of the great Kingsway Hall in London where you could hear the trains rumbling along the Picadilly Line during the quiet passages. Some might say this is preferable to the electronic haze of direct drive error correction circuitry doing its darndest to ruin your listening enjoyment. |
"most overhyped turntable" Depends on context. Historically the most overhyped turntable would have to be the Tin Sondek. In the early days the Linn Doctor needed to visit multiple times a year to keep it stable. On these forums the most overhyped TTs would be the 70's direct drives and their derivatives with their 70's low tech error correction circuitry inducng a lovely digital haze across the audio spectrum. No amount of fettling, magic oil or elaborate plinth can eliminate that glare. |
At the 2018 High End show in Munich, UK-based SME announced that they had taken steps to reintroduce the classic Garrard 301 @larryi Here is an article about "new" Garrard *** Now for a bit of disappointing news: The new Garrard 301, with SME M2-12R tonearm and custom plinth, carries a retail price of $23,500, freight additional. By comparison, secondhand original-issue 301s are routinely available for between $2000 and $3000, with full rebuild services ranging between $500 and $1500. |
I own a Woodsong 301 with an Ortophon R309D arm. In the process of setting up my new Triplanar SE arm and selling the Ortophon. The Ortophon is a nice period right match for the 301 but can’t compete with the performance of the Triplanar. I had been searching for a good used 301 for years. Feel fortunate to have found a great one. The 301/401 are legendary and deservedly so. They originally were designed for professional use and are truly built to last... and they have. When fully restored, they are hard to beat. Their physicality is unique. And with the idler drive they produce the thrust of music unlike any belt drive. My Woodsong certainly has many features well beyond the original. It also happens to be beautiful! |
My understanding is that the "new" Garrard 301 is not that at all. The factory is now refurbishing the original 301s, including replacement of certain parts that they now are re-manufacturing. The ultimate plan is to increase the number of parts being manufactured to the point where wholly new tables can be built from scratch. The new Thorens 124 looks a lot like the original, but, it is a direct drive table, not an idler drive table. I am familiar with the original Garrard 301 and 401 and the Thorens 124. When these are properly refurbished and maintained, they can sound very good--punchy, dynamic and lively. I have no idea if this is the result of the kind of drive mechanism employed or any other characteristic of the table and the particular arm being used, but, I've heard similarly lively sound from some belt-driven and direct drive tables that happen to use high-torque motors, so I do wonder if that contributes to this sound. I own a belt-drive table with a spring suspension (Basis Debut with vacuum clamp and motor controller) that has a quite different sound--the table sounds less vivid, but the presentation is more "poised" and there is far less noise from the record grooves (the platter damps vibration imparted in the record by the act of playing the record). I like my table, but, if another listener thought it sounded "dead," compared to the likes of the 301 and 124, I can understand that judgment. Given the right system and preferences, the 301 and 124 can be world class tables and I certainly would not rule them out just because they are old and can be prone to some noise issues. |
@aj523, "Of course I still obessed a little with vibration and swapped out the stock feet for the Symposium rollerback plus and one of their better shelves. And changed the cart to the Aphelion2 which was a nerve racking experience, thank God for the head screw." This is the kind of unforgettable stuff that sets us audiophiles apart from the rest of the human race. We sometimes seem to be living 2 lives, one for the world and the other for our obsession. After 20 years of marriage and 2 kids I don't think I'd be up to that kind of thing anymore. It's bad enough with a $250 cart let alone a $3k one. Gosh those days of experimenting with wall shelves and various turntable platforms seem so so long ago - and yet so recent. If I remember correctly different platforms under the Rega 3 never seemed to make much difference. The better way for me to go was to use a rigid lightweight table as a support rather than a wall shelf. I now suspect that this was largely down to living fairly close to a busy main road whereby no wall shelf was ever going to excel in being stationary enough. I hope you've had better luck at the vinyl summit with your Rega 10. Many years later I'm still not certain what the best way of attaching a turntable wall shelf would be, but here's a nice story warning of some potential dangers. https://theaudiophileman.com/decent-audio-turntable-wall-shelf/ |
Then I saw new Thorens and Garrard selling at $15K and $20K. The high price tag must be due to the popularity of the vintage models and strong following. The popularity may be due to their true superb performance or possibly due to hype or nostalgia, or something to do with cult level status. You'd be surprised. All of these play a part. Except hype, a word you seem to use as a catch-all for anything anyone likes more than you think they should. But whatever. There's a point here worth making but its going to call for opening your mind and looking around at the whole big wide world. By you I mean you the reader not necessarily just you the OP. I've been a Porsche guy since high school. Back then a new 1979 911SC sold for about $25k. By the time I could afford one it was 1991, they were depreciated to about $12-16k, and I found a very nice example for $16k. People mocked me for over-paying when $12k was the going rate, and sure enough within a few years its worth much less but oh well, its a nice car, don't they all go down in value anyway? Well now 30 years later its got another 150k miles on it and still a fine example and guess what? They go for like $40k now, ones as nice as mine anyway. The better the condition the higher they go. What I noticed over my 30 years following these things, they all do this. Every single one. People get blinders on, something catches their attention, they figure has to be X. Which X could be oh its a GT, or its a Speedster, its the last of the air-cooleds, or X could be what you said, nostalgia, cult (another misused word like hype) status, whatever. Point is this is nothing special. Happens all the time. Don't be distracted by this one or that one. Pay attention to the trend. The all-powerful trend. The trend is anything and everything that somehow manages to survive the ravages of time becomes worth a lot more. One Porsche guy refused to believe me, went looking for proof, was at least man enough to admit when he found a Chrysler K-car selling for $25k, about 5x what they went for new, crappiest car Chrysler ever made. Watches, clocks, telescopes, and yes turntables all follow this same trend. Try and find something more than 30 years old still in great condition that has not gone up in value. (Priced in fiat dollars, which is the real problem. None of these has gone up in terms of real money, gold. But that's another one for another day.) The market is thin, and the market is specialized. You can bet your bottom dollar that $15k turntable you're talking about is one truly exceptional example, nothing like what you have or are likely ever to see anywhere. That's why people pay the money. To have something special. And it is. All you have to do is watch the reaction every time I pull up at a gas station. People just naturally love intrinsic beauty that endures. Its not hype. Its in our blood. |
lewm, Thanks for your notice. You are right. I was not deliberately trolling, but I understand that it could be taken as trolling. Why did I ask? I was interested in hearing people’s opinion, not so much of fact (like measurement data on noise, hum, wow, flutter, ...). However, opinion can be very biased, and without supported fact it could end up into pointless argument. Anyway, a good portion of high end audio is based on hype and personal and subjective opinion, and asking whether something is hype or not may be pointless as you suggested. Hope that my question would not fall into pointless argument. So far, I like all the postings. Learned something new too. Here’s my story (please skip it if you are not interested in hearing about it, and it might digress to other direction). I had Thorens 124 and Garrard 301, and sold Thorens because it was too much to keep both, and I liked Garrard more. I’ve had Garrard over 8 years. My Garrard is with Ortofon RMG 309 + SPU Gold/Silver and Ortofon RS 212 + SPU mono (dual arms). I don’t hear much hum or noise. It sound just nice. I like this setup a lot. Better than my other setup (Clearaudio Bluemotion + AT150mlx, Ortofoc MC20, SL15, ..., Denon 103R). However, at over three times price tag. My Clearaudio is for B rated albums and Garrard is for A rated albums. Then I saw new Thorens and Garrard selling at $15K and $20K. The high price tag must be due to the popularity of the vintage models and strong following. The popularity may be due to their true superb performance or possibly due to hype or nostalgia, or something to do with cult level status. I was not interested in Technics DD turntables and I did not know how good they were, but I pretty much ignored them and lumped them into cheap Japanese turntable category. But I recently saw a lot of people using new 1200GR at under $2K, and most users seemed to be just happy about it. I wonder how many happy Technics DD users compared their setup with vintage/new Garrard/Thorens with SPU. I might try it by myself. If Technics 1200GR with SPU (with additional counter weight) sounds just as good and I don’t hear much difference, I can sell my Garrard. So, in that sense, lewm, you were not right. |
Rega- it’s hyped maybe deservedly so, but should get a mention regardless When I started my first ever audiophile TT search this past Spring, I soon realized it was going to a nightmare of obsessive, expensive and inefficient tweaks for me, several of which I’m simply not skilled enough to pull off properly. So I went with Rega since it’s advertised as an all in one solution and a 40+year track record with very little to fuss about. Dealer let me line up the P6,8, and 10 in my house and the 10 won easily hands down. Of course I still obessed a little with vibration and swapped out the stock feet for the Symposium rollerback plus and one of their better shelves. And changed the cart to the Aphelion2 which was a nerve racking experience, thank God for the head screw. |
I would suggest going with Panasonic if they are still being made. @richopp If you missed this click here |
Back in the '70's when a lot of this started, we had a lot of different TTs in my shop. Garrard was a joke back then--plastic and sold for about $40.00, I think. Thorns' tables were hard to get for a while. I think they were a couple hundred bucks...also belt drive as I remember and OK, but not perfect. Linn-Sondek was supposed to be great. It was a belt drive, as I remember, and had a lot of issues and kept putting out changes to fix them whenever a reviewer would point something out. Technics came out with DD tables and all of a sudden, the ultimate tables were born!! I forget all the numbers--an SP-10, maybe, was $500 dollars and pretty good, but of course the audiophile world had lots of negative things to say about them. Shure arms (SME something--I forget all the numbers) were about $100.00-$125.00 and had removable head shells, which was judged to be a no-no back then for all kinds of reasons. I forget all the arms with fixed head shells that came out about then. The physicists said the straight-arm tables were the best as they tracked better, but B&O limited theirs to their own cartridges, which were mediocre at best as I remember. Another guy had a straight arm that you could put on a table, but it did not work very well. Moving coil cartridges with various amps were in favor--Decca, Satin, Supex, Grado, etc. AT and Shure still had MM ones and their prices started rising. They were afterthoughts until then, I think. My fav was the Transcriptor. We had one in the window to attract people. It never actually WORKED, of course, but it sure was pretty with its SME arm, etc. I think we actually sold a couple of them--probably as art objects! I would guess Panasonic Technics tables are still pretty good. They started making them for discos so you could move the platter with your finger--MK 10 or 11 or something, and became a bit expensive. I still think I sold more B&O with the tracking arm than any, but I forget. I sold a lot of Thorns tables as well. Cassette tapes (METAL!) were big, as were Nakamichi tape decks, which broke but worked great when they did. I would suggest going with Panasonic if they are still being made. Cheers! |
You could try at least Technics SP-10 mk2 without any mods, this is high-end Technics. Their SP-10 mk3 is ultra high-end. The new one is SP-10R (drive about $7k) and SL-1200GAE turntable ($4k). Even $900 SL-1200 mk7 is completely different turntable comparing to your old $400 hi-fi SL1200 mk2 @rushfan71 |
