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Sell Me Your Women, Your Children, Your Vintage Turntable...

Ok I’m trying to understand the appeal of buying something like an old Garrard 301 or an elderly Technics all trussed up in a shiny new plinth, versus something manufactured in the 21st century by people not wearing clogs.

Surely modern gear has to perform better, dollar for dollar? It isn’t like these restored Garrards are exactly cheap, i was looking at one for almost $11k yesterday on Reverb. The internals looked like something out of a Meccano set.
 I ought to be more in tune with the past, I’m almost 60 and wear bell bottoms, but the style of the older TTs just doesn’t do it for me. Now then, my Dr. Feickert Volare had a look that was hardly futuristic, but that’s about as retro as I’d prefer to go.
All that said... I will buy one of these old buggers if it genuinely elevates performance. 
With $10k available for table and arm, on the new or used market, how would you splash the cash?

Rooze 
128x128rooze

Showing 2 responses by jperry

jperry
2,432 posts
 
I haven’t heard the Dr. Feickert Volare, but I have heard the Woodpecker and Firebird, both of which sounded very good. The AMG Giro, while not as good as the Viella, is very good and in your approximate price range.

The Garrard 301, when updated and placed in an excellent plinth is a great turntable. I have one and prefer it to many other turntables. I have my system posted with pictures of the Garrard 301.

If you have a $10K limit, you should consider a Garrard 401 as the performance is similar, but the price is less. I have mine installed in a Woodsong plinth (they can also restore a Garrard or Thorens), which I can highly recommend, then spend what is left of the $10K on a tonearm.

You should probably hear a Garrard 301 or Thorens 124, if you are considering it.

Good luck with your search.

Jim Perry 
jperry
2,432 posts
 
I have not heard the Amazon so no comment on that.

I owned a SME 10 and compared it directly to my Garrard 301 which had a Ortofon RS 309 D tonearm. The Garrard was easily the winner.

Since then I made some improvements to the Garrard 301. The improvements include an Ikeda tonearm, Audio Silente idler wheel, and Shindo platter/bearing system.

I have no doubt that I would prefer it to the SME 20, which is a fine turntable.

I have heard the Dr. Feikert many times, although not in direct comparison to the Garrard 301, and prefer the Garrard.301.

I will be interested to hear which turntable you select.

Jim Perry
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