Two Turntables? Why


OK, been thinking about this for a bit.  Why do people own two turntables?  OK, I understand some traditional uses for a 2nd turntable.  One that is just for 78's, for example.  You may be on a journey to a set up you really enjoy listening to.  You may have even gone the route of an external power supply, isolators, base, phono PreAmp.  All of the accouterments you enjoy because, well, you enjoy records.  But if you are enjoying your LPs and you have purchased a turntable, cartridge and potentially a tonearm that you really enjoy, why do you need a 2nd turntable?  

If you go through all that effort and fun to get to a sound and system that makes you happy, and many of us have, why do it for two or more turntables.  You got a good one, why do you need a 2nd?  Maybe you play all your old LPs from High School on one standard turntable and play all your MoFi and QRP copies on the better machine.  I don't know. 

So, those of you who own more than one turntable, please let me know why you have more than one.  Let me know your thinking.  I'm curious.

Thanks 
pgaulke60

Showing 1 response by sokogear

I have one TT with an extra cartridge sitting in a drawer (for 8 years). From a purely justifiably logical standpoint (something you may be able to justify to a wife who is not allowed to touch anything in the stereo or records except the volume knob) I can easily see having a two arm table for mono vs stereo without hassle if you're that concerned with that, although I've heard that is not a big deal. I can also see using one arm/cartridge for VG+ and below records to do less damage to a less expensive cartridge. Maybe an extra table for that reason feeding a 2 input phono stage that could be less expensive tor two complete tables versus a 2 arm table (but you may have the wife complain so a two arm table may ultimately less expensive for you).

Of course if you have multiple systems, that doesn't count. Each certainly needs its own turntable.

Beyond that, it's an equipment hobby, like rolling tubes, which is fine if you're into that. And swapping in and out multiple tables is a space/convenience and cost issue, like reel to reel vs. analogue and analogue versus digital.