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My Turntable Collection.....

B&O 8002 with an MMC1 and a Sound-Smith SMMC1.

Dual 1219 with some sort of Grado Gold Series.

My favorite - a Garrard Lab 80 MkII with a Grado Silver-Blue Series.

Then a Garrard Type A strictly for 'kitsch' factor. I fitted it with a Grado DJ cartridge because of the weight of the arm.

The Lab 80 fully functions, cycles automatically and drops records properly ( I know its sacrelige {sp?] but I have 12" singles) It's really hard finding a fully functional Lab 80. I really like the heavy platter and the sound that comes out of it.

1219 is a great unit, touted to be comparable to the better units of current day but I'm sorta indifferent to it.

The B&O works fine but the sound is a bit edgy - probably a combination of the light platter and the cartridge.

Aside from the B&O, these units represent things that I lusted after in my youth but was somehow unattainable. A brand new Lab80 or Dual 1219 was a real big deal.

Thoughts or comments on this? Just rambling really.
128x128tobaccoleafpie
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Morgenholz: Can you tell me why vintage tables frquently have cue down failure? I have about 7-8 linear tracking retro tables. All Japanese i believe but two are OEMed Sherwoods. Of the lot I can rely on 3. My best are in permanet arm up freeze. They are a Technics SL-10 and a Nikko that is as heavy as a tank.
I just don't understand they all work fine for a short while then have this problem.
To address the orginal poster I say if you like it who cares. It is your ears and mind that matter not someone elses. That aside my retro tables at the moment are dormant . I use semi acceptable to the High end crowd TTs. I am not a died in the woll vinylphile. The sound is great but what a pain! without automatic lift or stacking. The sound in my case is better with the latter day TTs I think it's the cartridges mainly. It could also be all the mumbo jumbo technical Wow and Flutter being damped to death.
morgenholz
61 posts
 
Mechans, I really like the design of vintage linear trackers, but have avoided them for the reasons that you state. My only experience is with the very cheap, disposable ones that use P-mount cartridges, which are fine on consumer-grade systems and always seem to work well. The only thing I can suggest is to find a tech who also likes linear trackers-- I once knew one who used a high-end one as his only table and kept it maintained.
joeatlas
9 posts
 
Morgenholz,

I just came across your discussion on turntables. I too own some vintage tables (Dual, Denon, Pioneer,Yamaha, Technics, etc.} I am presently looking for a classic Kenwood 500, 600, or 650 to put with a beautiful Accuphase E-202 (made by Kensonics). Without being too forward, could you share what your favorite turntables are and how do they compare to each other, especially the Kenwoods?

Regards,
Joe
jimmyblues
56 posts
 
Turntable collections? hmmm.. Never thought about collecting them, although I have nice collection of vintage tuners.

I've owned some TT's in the past, but nothing super exotic.

My latest is an old Systemdek IIX that I restored two years ago. The table still has its original Profile tonearm and I added a nice Sumiko BPS MC cartridge to it.

For the money, a great turntable that on the used market costs the price of about seven new record albums.

If your preamp doesn't have a phono section, add an NAD PP-2 and your set for analogue playback whenever the mood strikes you.

Jim

PS: As much as I have always wanted to have an exotic phono playback system, I have never been able to justify the price. Although some of these pieces of audio art not only sound terrific, but also make great conversation pieces.
jjmali
108 posts
 
Ahh talk about vintage. You and your future wife lived in separate apartments. Now that is a refreshing idea.

Fun reading about the retro stuff... thank you. Back in the day I had a Denon DP-45. To this day I am partial to those old denon's.

It is amazing the joy one can garnish from simply touching their turntable equipment. Then when you listen you are further reminded of the allure. Nothing takes you back like taking a favorite record for a spin. Damn I am old.
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