What Turntable do you use?

by **Mark E Smith's Dentist** » 21 Dec 2010 19:33

At the moment I'm getting a surprising amount of joy from an early Garrard 401 with an SME 3009 series II non-improved (metal knife edges, two rider weights) and an alloy bodied Denon DL-103R. It lives in a nice rigid ADC headshell, I strongly suspect it wouldn't sound any good in the "Swiss cheese" SME headshell.

The 401 is in a crap old plinth but I've decoupled the top board using sorbothane.

I wasn't expecting a lot from it but I can honestly say I finally know what all the fuss is about Denon 103s - it's by no means perfect but it's pointing the way.

JT

by **Gutty** » 20 Mar 2011 22:04

Harward Audio #1, Audiomods V4 arm, Kontrapunkt A

by **kelvinMunson** » 31 Mar 2011 08:57

I'm currently using a Thorens TD521 with an SME 3012/DL-160.

by **Henkjan** » 01 Apr 2011 21:23

I still use the 1st turntable I bought myself (from the money I made delivering newspapers): a Dual 505. currently fitted with a Adcom Crosscoil

Since last year I also have a Thorens TD145 mk2, with a Ortofon VMS30km2. The Thorens needs a bit of TLC: the snare will pop-off when I change from 33 to 45, and the right channel is a bit softer than left.

by **rockitman** » 06 Apr 2011 17:57

Hi... I'm new to this forum. Glad to be here. I just got back into vinyl in February this year. I have been quite successful so far in draining the bank account for analog equip and vinyl over the past 2 months.

Originally, I bought a Clearaudio Performance SE with Satisfy arm and Talismann Gold V2 cart, Clearaudio Balance+ phono-pre. I wasn't sure if vinyl was going to be my thing, so I didn't get what I really wanted. What initially attracted me to CA was the use of the Ceramic Magnetic Bearing in their tables. I think that approach makes the most sense when talking bearings.

Well it was a revelation over my 24/192 capable digital rig. I exchanged my first rig for full credit towards my current setup:

Clearaudio Innovation Compact Wood Table
Clearaudio Universal Arm with VTA lift option
Clearaudio Balance+ phono stage w/ ACCU+ DC battery power supply
Shelter Harmony cart.

It is a great match for my system.

by **SammyMac** » 09 Apr 2011 06:06

Technics SL-5210 Quartz Direct Drive TT with Nagaoka MP11 cart, gold rca terminals fitted at rear

by **DJO** » 12 Apr 2011 16:16

An old Lenco B55 with a Rega RB 100 and an Ortofon MC. Phono transfo for MC and RIAA made by myself. The only problem is the rumble of these idlers and so the signal to noise ratio is poor (remember that for a LP12 it's just 62 dB : a Technics 1210 is 67...).
I still collect continental hifi gear like the Era, Stad designs. In the past I've used (successfully) two Duals, four Goldmund studios (st1 to the black Studio 4), one Garrard, Akaï, Fisher, 4 Thorens (160, 166, 125 & 320), a LP12 (LVX and then Akito tonearms), cartridges by Goldring, Denon 103 of course (gaudier sound ever), Benz & Ortofon.
Now I only use my TT for ripping (when it works, my comp is poor).

by **tdat7192** » 13 Apr 2011 20:15

kcc123 wrote:It may not be the best sounding turntable in the world, but certainly looks different-my humble JVC TT-71 motor unit on a custom base.

I know this is a post from some months ago, but it was only a page back.
I do believe I have seen these tables before, but can't remember if it was the movie "War of the Worlds" or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

Beautiful tables, btw.

The table getting about 70% of my play is a Denon DP3000 with Blackwidow arm, and Soundsmith Boheme cartridge. The table getting about 30% of play is a Thorens 160B Mk II with Grace 707 arm and AT120E cart. The Thorens would get more play, but is much more susceptible to footfall, which boggles my mind. Both are in a fairly substantial cabinet and the Thorens is suspended. I cut back the anti-skate and it helped some. I probably need a pressure gauge. I may be tracking too lightly.

by **DJO** » 15 Apr 2011 19:46

Very nice.

by **kcc123** » 21 Apr 2011 19:07

tdat7192 wrote:
kcc123 wrote:It may not be the best sounding turntable in the world, but certainly looks different-my humble JVC TT-71 motor unit on a custom base.

I know this is a post from some months ago, but it was only a page back.
I do believe I have seen these tables before, but can't remember if it was the movie "War of the Worlds" or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Beautiful tables, btw.

The table getting about 70% of my play is a Denon DP3000 with Blackwidow arm, and Soundsmith Boheme cartridge. The table getting about 30% of play is a Thorens 160B Mk II with Grace 707 arm and AT120E cart. The Thorens would get more play, but is much more susceptible to footfall, which boggles my mind. Both are in a fairly substantial cabinet and the Thorens is suspended. I cut back the anti-skate and it helped some. I probably need a pressure gauge. I may be tracking too lightly.

Hi,
Thank you for your kind comment!
Your Denon DP3000 looks beautiful too.
I also have a Denon DP80 which I bought in 1981as an upgrade, a year after I had got my JVC QL-70 turntable with a Grace 707 arm and ADC XLM mk3 cartridge.

by **covalongacurta** » 21 Apr 2011 19:48

i've used my reliable (the only one i've got ) kenwood kp-1022 bought in 1976 with an ortofon u-310 cartridge ! A new table with the same quality would cost me more than 1000 € ! I can't live without it.

by **Eric Weitzman** » 22 Apr 2011 11:35

I made a turntable called "The Balrog". It's based on a 700 lb granite and steel machine platform. I've just added some details about it to my website at http://oriongateway.org/the-balrog

-Eric

by **tdat7192** » 22 Apr 2011 17:15

Eric Weitzman wrote:I made a turntable called "The Balrog". It's based on a 700 lb granite and steel machine platform.

700 pounds?!?!? I would have to either put that in the basement or add substantially to the house structure before the turntable ended up in the basement of its own accord.

How does it all sound btw?
Do you have a floor jack or something to move it? I am sort of kidding, but actually how would you move it?

kcc, Thanks for the kind comment too on the Denon.

by **Eric Weitzman** » 22 Apr 2011 19:28

tdat7192,

The table's integral stand has castor wheels on it so it was meant to be rolled around. From top to bottom, it's made of a 600lb granite block, four iron/rubber mounts, the 100lb steel stand, and four castor wheels.

Our house is a single story home built on a concrete slab, so the floor can take the weight. But the slab is raised about 6" above grade so it was hard to get the turntable over the threshold. It took about an hour working a 2.5 ton floor jack to get one wheel up over the threshold, then another, then the remaining two. That was almost as much fun (ahem) as getting it *off* the 1 ton flatbed truck with a hydraulic lift gate that I rented to bring it home. Try rolling it from the flatbed, over a seam, and *onto* the lift gate without it rolling too far and falling off. Did it solo, I'd add. With the back of the truck a bit higher than the front too.

I use the floor jack to level the table. With a framing level on top, I raise a corner with the jack, put a shim under the wheel, lower the corner, and recheck level. Repeat as needed.

I'm quite happy with the sound. The only remaining problem is most likely cartridge setup or preamp related. There's a touch of sibilance on some records.

- Eric