Good Direct Drives


So I still keep thinking upgrading my current, Awia/Rega plinth/motor with debut arm and Ortofon cart turntable but after owning many years ago a few SL1200 and SL1210 MK2 and Mk5 I am hankering after a change in TT

But not sure what old model Technics or Pioneer to go for. Unless someone else can suggest another DD of this type etc

Thanks
bur70n
My SP10 MK2 project toped out at about 4k yes it adds up . I cannot say that it sounds better then a table costing more money as I don't have one to compare in my system . All I can say I am happy with the way it turned out and enjoyed building it . My table is unique to me anyone could go out and by a finished product . . A waste of time for me not . I had fun doing it .
Got it @chakster

Btw, I don’t believe that one needs a super duper tonearm to evaluate a turntable’s greatness. A rewired jelco or Rega 1000 with a quality cartridge and phonostage will clearly show if turntable is average, good or great. Whether the Technics tonearm is as good as the jelco and Rega stuff, we need to see.

If the 1200G is really high end turntable then adding a super arm will definitely make sense.
I had Nottingham Analog Spacedeck and Specearm. One day I compared it with my friend Lenco L75 With Rega RB250. The biggest difference was PRaT accuracy. When we listened classical piano. When Lenco played, a message of musician was so clear! In opposite to it, Nottingham played a set of not connected sounds.

I bought Lenco L78 with SME 3009 tonartm and heavy plinth.
I liked it a lot. It was much more musical it has better tone naturalnes compared to Nottingham (espessilay on piano and organ). The base was more detaled and sound separation was better too.
I wanted to try something better. I bought DD - EMT948. Is was as musical as Lenco but even more accurate and detailed.

The love of audiophile to belt drive turntable is on of the biggest delusions.
Most of belt-drive turntables ruin PRaT the entity of music.
Producers started to built belt-drive (like Linn LP12 and Thorens 125), because they where cheap! But it is sad that now people buy turntables with toy car engine and price tag of luxury car.
@alexberger SME Model 20 and 30 have the best wow, flutter, and rumble tested performance out of any turntable ever made at any price. And both are belt driven.

Some direct drive tables are great, but the very best have been belt driven historically.

The Papst motors SME use are state of the art. Definitely not toys.