One turntable with two arms, or two turntables with one each - which would you prefer?


Which would you prefer, if budget allowed: one turntable with two tonearms or two turntables with one each? What would your decision criteria be?

And the corollary: one phono preamp with multiple inputs or two phono preamps?

Assume a fixed budget, but for the purposes of this question, the budget is up to the responder. Admittedly for this type of setup, there will be a sizeable investment once all components of the chain are factored in.

I'm curious to hear how people would decide for themselves the answer to this question. Or maybe you've already made this decision - what do you like about your decision or what would you differently next time?

Cheers.

dullgrin

I've been looking at the Acoustand tonearm pods, which would let me add a second arm to one or both my SME Model 10 tables. I have a spare SME M10 arm, and could get an M2-9 for a fourth arm. My phono amp supports up to five inputs. I know, it's crazy, but just imagine having four cartridges on the go at once! Talk about spoiled for choice.

The way I'm going to do it is keep my current 1200GR for 78's and a newer, higher-end table for everyday listening. 

If you enjoy the “art” of turntables and tonearms go for many.  I did that at one time and had 4 TT’s and 5 tonearms.  I enjoyed the mechanisms of different arms and experiencing the sound differences of different turntables.  But later I scaled down to one TT with two arms for my main system.  One with a stereo cart and the other with mono.  I play a lot of mono Jazz lp’s and love the way it sounds on my mono setup.  Have fun

It depends a lot on the space available, I have several chains and turntables both with two arms and turntables with one arm, now I am preparing a plinth for the 3-arm victor TT 801.
For phono preamps I prefer phono preamps with multiple inputs.
 

e@best-groove The TT 801 is one of the TT's I feel extremely confident would benefit from a Densified Wood Plinth, this material lends itself to Bespoke Design as well.

If not commenced with the purchasing of materials for your project, the D'fied Wood is a material worthy of investigating for its properties for this type of application.