Tossing out a question about some 'tables...

from the models you're looking at - I would get an old DUAL and run it into the ground

I significantly prefer AR to DUAL, having both. Mine is 22 years old, with only a belt change. There is a recent thread here on vinylnirvana.com which is an AR-centric web site. He sells and services.

I bought new a Thorens TD 316 MK II, which is a 318 without automatic shut off, and a new Linn Basik which was made after the Axis had been discontinued. You could tell the Linn was better wearing a blindfold.
I would say a thing to be wary about with the models you listed is whether the motor bearing is in good shape, simply because they are old.
All of these turntables will get you a dance, and maybe a kiss, but the bad girls are outside smoking.

All of these turntables will get you a dance, and maybe a kiss, but the bad girls are outside smoking.

Breadman,
Back in the day, I was thrilled to get the dance...:)
Thanks for all the responses so far guys, I may still be able to squeak out a request for one of the "bad girls" (I married one of the 'dance and kiss' types)...

a TD318 if in good condition with a decent cartridge is a good turntable for 200 bux. More than that I'd be looking somewhere else like a used P2 or P3 Rega or Thorens TD160 Super.

Greetings again!

First off I want to thank everyone here at A'gon (again) for all the help I've received over the years (and recently -- got a great deal on a great CD player). I'm still looking for a 'table and have taken the above info to heart (meaning I'll obsess about it whenever possible and try to weasel a few extra bucks into the account). In the meantime, both of the following are listed here and was wondering about others' experiences with these models/setups:

Rega Planar 3/sme309 seriesiii/goldring1012GX

Linn Basik Turntable w/ tone arm (Basik +) and cartridge (new Grado Green)

thanks in advance!

Greg

Hi Greg

I bought a used Linn Axis here at Audiogon a couple of weeks ago. I could not be more happy with this table as a starter table after many years away from vinyl.

While I have not yet bought enough used vinyl to use it much, my opinion on what this table can do with a good record is very high and leaves me with no doubt that I made a fine choice.

That said, I have already found that like CD...poor recordings still sound poor. This was somewhat of a suprise to me all though it should not have been. I guess we all should know better than to beleave everything we read.

On the other hand, good vinyl does have the magic that we all read about and I will never be with-out vinyl again.

Dave

The AR EB 101 is a good table-2 different versions-one w/o arm board(tonearm attatched directly to suspension via round hole in plinth) and one with arm board like the es-1 which will give you more flex on tonearm switch if desired. Keep in mind turntables are an area where audio snobbery runs most rampant as many good tables like the AR are looked over for todays average like the regas IMO. The AR outperformed both my regas even with the great tonearm. Two TT's I can highly recommend for cheap that will get you no audio snob points are the B&O TX (especially with MMC2 cartridge)and the technics sl-10.