Reason for buying old/classic turntables

Wow, somebody didn't get any Xmas presents this year I guess.

Old tables are cool, they sound different for whatever reason not better or worse, just different. If you sell new tables you don't want people buying old ones, but the sound is simply a matter of taste. I don't have an old table right now, but it's only because of space, not due to any type of belief in their inherent inferiority.

I have a good buddy with a Garrard 301 with an old Quad preamp into a McIntosh 225 (sorry it's the new version) and 30+ year old Klipschorns. That is one of the most musical experiences we get when we all get together. Very nice synergy with all of the gear. If you put on a rock album, say The Who Live at Leeds, or Led Zeppelin II, you need to strap in, because man there is some IMPACT there. Not a good system, a great one. Better than a Clearaudio Statement with associated VTL/Conrad Johnson/Soundlab/Wilson Audio, etc.....

I don't really know even though I have had the chance to hear some of those wonderful items, all I know, is that it sounds REALLY GOOD.

I love the old stuff, sounds smooth. Newer is not always better. CD's and digital don't sound as good as analog no matter how much audio dealers tried to convince us of that when they wanted everyone to buy new gear. Same may be said with old turntables, newer is not always better. Just because a material or process is new, does not make it better. I like the approach of some manufaturers such as Teres and MerrilScalia (sp?) not reinventing, but using what's there and microscopically improving.

It's all subjective.

Actually after reading Audiofeil's comments about advances in engineering capabilites it made me think through how correct that is. A computer does not have 1/1,000,000 the calculating capability of the human brain and thinks only linearly no matter how complicated or detailed the programming. Ones and zeros baby, on and off. That's it. If you program 3 demensional calculations they actually work via indivdual nesting of commands interwoven. The human brain is capable of so much more, and so are human craftsman.

Anyone, and I am guessing there are a many on this board, who have been to Europe(or currently live there) and have seen the precision stonework that was done 2000+ years ago knows that humans are capable of extremely precise craftsmanship without the aid of any type of computer, or even a slide rule. There are many wonderful examples of precision human craftmanship in building that almost any mechanical engineer would tell you are currently not duplicable because the skill needed to construc those type projects no longer exists and cannot be duplicated. Motar-less construction on a massive scale where you cannot fit a piece of paper through the gaps of a 2 ton stone??? Awesome.

So I think turntables made 40 yrs ago probably are OK as compared to those made today. I would love to see a blind listen test, but we know that no one in the audio community ever wants to go there.

I'd love to do the blind listening test, that sounds awesome. Where in NYC? I only need the slightest excuse to visit NY, the wife I am sure will come with me. To NY, not the listening session, I am sure she can find some shopping to do!!