78 TT help...

[Schu]

well it's finally time...

I've had a collection of several hundred vintage 78's in my possession for decades that came from my great grand father, and I am dying to get a player that will deliver the best sound for my money spent. I done a lot of research and found some sources, but they always seem slightly out of reach financially as this TT will play nothing but 78's. I really would like to keep pricing around... say... $350-$425 if possible, but I want something that will deliver warm and accurate sound and not tear up my records.

any help would be really appreciated... if you know of a used TT site or other sources.

I am also looking for the best cart/needle in the $100 range.

I will be using better SS amp for now, but the speakers are Klipsch Cornwalls, so I am expecting good reproduction.

thanks in advance
Schu

[Coffee Phil]

Hi Schu,

There have been several threads related to this very thing.
Here is a good one to start with: viewtopic.php?f=69&t=19336

Phil

well it's finally time...

I've had a collection of several hundred vintage 78's in my possession for decades that came from my great grand father, and I am dying to get a player that will deliver the best sound for my money spent. I done a lot of research and found some sources, but they always seem slightly out of reach financially as this TT will play nothing but 78's. I really would like to keep pricing around... say... $350-$425 if possible, but I want something that will deliver warm and accurate sound and not tear up my records.

any help would be really appreciated... if you know of a used TT site or other sources.

I am also looking for the best cart/needle in the $100 range.

I will be using better SS amp for now, but the speakers are Klipsch Cornwalls, so I am expecting good reproduction.

thanks in advance
Schu

[Phoca]

On a quick look at that thread I didn't see any specific Dual models shown. The 10xx and 12xx series are terrific for both 78s and 33-1/3s. I have a 1019 and a 1219, both are quite nice with very heavy platters. The 1019 has a smaller platter (but heavier!) than the 1219, but it plays 16 rpm as well as 33, 45 and 78s. 1219 only does 33,45,78 (but who has 16s anyway?).

You should be able to get either of these in the $100-200 range on ebay, quite possibly less elsewhere. Add $100 for a cartridge and you should be good to go with quite nice reproduction. I highly recommend a cartridge that will allow you to use either a 78 or 33 (microgroove) needle. That way you can minimize the changes you have to make when you switch between the two.

Good luck. With a budget of $400 or so you might even be able to get a really nice cartridge.

[jake]

Recommend a Thorens 115 MKII. I have one, and besides being super durable, it has the 78 speed, which is all I use it for. With the detachable wands, you can mount up a couple 78 cartridges (I use Shure). Prices on eBay fluctuate, but still obtainable for under $500. Back in the 70's, this was the last Thorens made to spin 78's, and I bought it off a guy that played nothing but 78's on it.

[tysouthwick]

It might sound like a bad idea but, I play mine on an old console record player from the 70's the sound really isn't bad at all, At least I think so. You can find them all over on craigslist usually for 20 to 100 dollars.

[gillsev]

Here's mine ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru2CGUsD6G0

[sombunya]

It might sound like a bad idea but, I play mine on an old console record player from the 70's the sound really isn't bad at all, At least I think so. You can find them all over on craigslist usually for 20 to 100 dollars.

I too use a 1970's portable.
I went straight from the tonearm to the input of my A to D converter. I generally play them once and catch the the info on my PC.

I don't play my valuable ones this way though.

[jjmcf@aol.com]

You can get a Garrard Type A for practically nothing, even on ebay, and these are very sturdy and sound good. They might come with a good cartridge. In my opinion, the mono GE variable-reluctance cartridges with a 3 mil stylus are the best for playing 78s. The 4-8 gram tracking force needed for the GE cartridge is as light as a feather for 78s, which were engineered for 80-gram pickups with steel needles. The 2.5 mil styli which are widely available for a number of cartridges are the wrong size for old 78s--the surface noise is excessive. Apart from the Garrard, the Dual is probably the best-sounding table with a 78 speed which is commonly available; however it's difficult to mount a classic mono cartridge on this table and the changer function is dodgy for heavy 78s. If you're really into listening to 78s, you're going to want a changer; the 4-minute side is annoyingly short. Before the days of the record changer, Victrola sessions were for two people who took turns changing records. Nice thing to invite a girl over for. Dancing, listening, etc. This was probably one of the reasons for the revolution in sexual mores that took place in the 1920s.

[Mr_E]

I got one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT ... B002S1CJ2Q

Not only does it do 78 but you can vary the speed quite a bit which I find really helps getting a lot of my 78s to sound right.

Plus at just a little over $200 it costs about the same as a fixed up Dual.

I use Shure and Grado 78 carts and an old Fisher phono pre that can be set for a number of non-RIAA curves.

[chewie]

I have two Magnavox portables(one with a Collaro tt and one with a Voice Of Music tt)and a Dual 1215S that I use for 78s. The Dual is the only one dedicated to 78s.