Tandberg TD20A, since 1979.
What, in your system, have you owned the longest?
For me, it's my Zerostat. Bought it in the '80s- most likely 1986 or 1987.
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Ha! 1979! Probably still has that new component smell! Mine’s a Pioneer TX-9100 Tuner, purchased new from the Tacoma Jafco with paper route money in 1974. This however depends on the exact meaning of "in your system" since if you look at my system, which I encourage at all times and whenever possible, you will see way down low over on the right said Pioneer Tuner. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 No not the very bottom, that would be the Technics SL-1700 which is nowhere near as old, having been bought in 1976. In any case while both of these are in my system room and in my system pics they are not at the moment actually connected. And so you being the OP and with of course having the hottest avatar I submit to you My Liege for this ruling. If you rule against the Pioneer then that will of course apply to the Technics leaving the humble, vintage 1976 ZeroStat, burnished well with a patina of fine scratches yet still streaming ions like the day it was new. |
Ariston RD11S bought new in 1977! Still in use! It has had a variety of arms - and cartridges - on it. In order: SME 1009IMP, JH Formula 4, Keith Monks, Lustre GST-1 and at present a Grace 707 with a Denon 103. Record mat is the Hiraoka Diskmat SE22 I bought in 1977 at Harvey Sound (NYC, 48th Street) for $20! Still an amazingly fine sounding TT! The RD11 and RD11S are the Scottish cousins to the Linn Sondek. Actually, the progenitors! Ariston made the early LP12's before Ivor Tiefenbrun set up his own factory. He just copied the RD11 and marketed it as his own original design! Hamish Robertson was the owner/designer of Ariston who got HIS inspiration from the earlier - and wildly successful - Acoustic Research AR TT from 1961. |
A few years ago I found a nice example of the earlier Ariston RD11 on eBay. This first version is virtually identical to the Linn Sondek. It has the long arm-mounting board and red power switch on the front left. Plinth is teak, while the LP12's are afromosia. Underneath, the same stamped steel keel and 3 spring suspension with Sorbotane foam. Two piece massive alloy platter driven by a low-torque AC motor. I added a vintage Fidelity Research FR29 arm and a Sleeping Beauty (Coral 777) lomc cartridge. And a black-anodized magnesium platter mat. |