As an owner of the recommended Marantz TT15, I would like to chime in. It is a beautiful table and it does sound good. I got it new a couple of years ago for $1000, which was a steal at the time. That said, I am going to be replacing it with a direct drive. Reasons:
- The belt drive. I hate changing the belt for speeds. Especially on this table. The belt is located near the bottom and can come off.
- The motor. It just sits in a hole in the plinth. I get it, isolation. However, when you turn it on, the motor moves. It is just a poor design, IMHO.
- The cartridge. As mentioned above, the overhang is significant and I know people with this table that have broken it off more than once. I am SUPER careful and have not had any issues, fortunately.
- Also as mentioned above, it does have an additional ground wire and no dustcover. I am not a fan of a giant acrylic box sitting over my tt(for another $200.)
I have a vintage Kenwood KD-500 that I am servicing. It is a great looking table with a nice tonearm, a dustcover and has a Grado gold on it. It is made of a composite that Kenwood designed that looks like marble and is quite heavy. I am going to shoot it out with the Marantz when I am done and if I find it close, the Marantz will be sold.
- The belt drive. I hate changing the belt for speeds. Especially on this table. The belt is located near the bottom and can come off.
- The motor. It just sits in a hole in the plinth. I get it, isolation. However, when you turn it on, the motor moves. It is just a poor design, IMHO.
- The cartridge. As mentioned above, the overhang is significant and I know people with this table that have broken it off more than once. I am SUPER careful and have not had any issues, fortunately.
- Also as mentioned above, it does have an additional ground wire and no dustcover. I am not a fan of a giant acrylic box sitting over my tt(for another $200.)
I have a vintage Kenwood KD-500 that I am servicing. It is a great looking table with a nice tonearm, a dustcover and has a Grado gold on it. It is made of a composite that Kenwood designed that looks like marble and is quite heavy. I am going to shoot it out with the Marantz when I am done and if I find it close, the Marantz will be sold.