Looking for a vintage (japanese) direct drive

Look at a JVC QL-7 or QL-A7, the TT71 motor units are very reliable, you don't hear of issues with them. I have two tables with the TT71 drive unit and both are very reliable. Nice touch switches as well.

BillWojo

 

From OP: "Easier to use with my 12" (and 7") 45rpm's." I have a 160, I put 7s and 12s on it switch the speed to 45 and play, couldn't be easier?

 

I know, but the jvc does it faster and is just easier to throw a 7" or 12" on, maybe because I am used to using dj decks in my youth.
It also helps that it doesn't have a suspension like my 160.
Right now the 160 is back into storage and jvc is used as main deck. Maybe I'll switch back in a few months, who knows...

 

Much as I've had nothing but good experiences with my last two used vintage Pioneer TTs over the last 30 years, I'd go with what this gent suggests :

 

Happy owner of a JVC QL-7 here. Found mine at a thrift-store for $20, grimey, beat to hell & left for dead. Cleaned her up & dialed her in & not a hiccup since. Amazing tonearm & bulletproof performance day-in and day-out.

 

Anyone have experience with the Sony 2251? I'm eyeing one on CL that looks mighty nice.

 

Nice LP cover, but could we see the TT not cut off at the base? Why crop it out? Or does it look beat to hell?

 

OK, there are MANY very good old turntables, BUT be carefull to the matching between arm and cartridge (compliance). That times the arms were low mass many of them and requires high compliance and low mass cartridges (5 gr.). Today cartridges are heavy (8-10 gr.) and does high compliance, most of them. They are beautiful in vain if they do not match the current cartridges! IMHO...

 

Yes I have one and they are mighty fine. It is second to my TT-101 I'd have to say, but I could live with either as a daily. I have nothing but Japanese TT's, all but one is DD. They are bulletproof ime.

 

Here's a pic of the QL-7. Doesn't look too shabby I must say...

 

I use one as my main table at the moment. Outfitted with an SME 3009 S2 Improved tonearm, Shure v15 III w/Jico SAS stylus. Bought it over the winter to hold me over until a 1200G arrived. It still hasn't arrived, and everyday that goes by listening to the 2251 makes me care less and less. Its a beautiful table, runs steady all day.. zero complaints.

 

You mean this?

 

I'm going to cheat but I just ran into a mint SL-23. Not DD, but a nice turntable that can be found for much more less than many DD units...

Of course, it doesn't have a masterpiece of a tonearm, but it sounds great with an Audio Technica Microlinear cartridge.

 

Did you grab it?

 

The vintage TT market ain't what it used to be. A good vintage DD for a reasonable price that doesn't need work is very hard to find now without wading through the minefields of risk. I'm glad I've got the tables I need and bought them when I did.

 

No, I went for a minty Thorens TD-160 instead.

 

We have similar tastes in vintage equipment. Lol. My other table is a 160.

 

Beautiful! I assume that's a new dustcover? Looks nice, where's it from?

 

It is.. it's from JnB on Ebay. Really nice, crystal clear.

 

Good choice, my other deck is also a TD160.

 

Thanks! Been wanting to join the club for a while.

Sorry to hijack the thread...

 

No problem. Must confess that my Td160 has seen little use since i had my Jvc QL7A. Mostly because I prefer handling the JVC overall (buttons, automatic lift at the end,...).

 

My vintage table bucket list includes a Denon DP-80, but, hmm... maybe I should look into JVC.

 

From what I've gathered, Denon's motors could develop some issues over time while Victor's (JVC) seem to go on and on and on.