I'm sure that's a Nottingham arm. Looks like a 12" incher, but I'm not sure if it's an Innerspace, Anna space or Ace Anna. Gotta love NA's names!
I love this one so much...just a no fuss, mesmerizing sound. Right now, spinning "No Filter" by Jerome Sabbagh (not the record in this picture right now though) on the EAR Discmaster Turntable through a Denon DL103D, Kuzma 4 Point, Denon AU-320 step up, EAR 88PB phono into the EAR 912 Preamp...HEAVEN!!! https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5623/30034321471_9c869f449e_k.jpg
gorgeous table right there. That's amongst the first Garrard's I've seen that was aesthetically pleasing in a smaller plinth. I usually feel like they need those monster plinths to look as good as the TD124 does with a 9inch arm but that right there is all class! Bet it sounds sublime too...Schick arm is on the possibilities list when/if I move to a 12 inch arm on my table. Great photo too...
Beautiful, lovely table! I currently have the stock Zu cart and really like it. Who did the retip and how do you compare it to the stock Zu?
The retip was by Andy Kim, and I like it. I’d mostly filed the 103R away in a drawer. When I listened to it I liked it but I’d always end up back with my SPU 90th Anniversary as a daily driver. That SPU has better bass, imaging, soundstage depth, resolution. The retipped 103R is a meaningful improvement from stock, competing in all those areas now except possibly soundstage depth. Certainly lots more resolution and a more overall hifi sound (in a good way). Andy does the work in a few days, versus months elsewhere, so recommended for good service as well. Phono Cartridge Repair
Now that my beloved Sony Biotracer has bit the dust, I'm auditioning a few entry level-priced turntables for the living room. Since my kids came along I've viewed common room audio as a series of compromises (size, ease of use, no super hot big glowing things, how much hair I'll lose if it gets damaged, etc.), so my list of things I'm looking for in a turntable these days might be different from others... So this last week it's been: Technics SL-1200mkii in close to mint condition... vs. Stock (non-modded) Lenco L78, with updated v-blocks. I've gone through the motor and tonearm and made sure everything's operating like it was when it came out of the box new. I wouldn't call it a shootout -- changing cartridges is too much of a pain on Lenco's proprietary head shell mount. The Lenco has been running an Ortofon OM30 and the Technics has been running a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC ☆. I've fitted a Shure M44-7 (with JICO Mars stylus) to both of them, too, just to try to do a more 1:1 comparison. But the Lenco doesn't really have VTA adjustment, and the M44 is a little tall for the Lenco so the bass was heavy and wooly. All that to say: After owning (and modding) a few Lencos and a Garrard 401 in the past before going all direct drive for the past few years, I may be falling back in love with idler drives!
Nice! Just my 2 cents, but in a common area with kids, the 1200's rep for 'taking a licking and keeps on ticking' plus the ability to remove the headshell thus safely storing away your cart(s), the 1200 would seem like the better choice? Best of luck with your hunt!
That’s definitely one of the reasons that it’s in the hunt! I also like how the abundance of aftermarket parts makes them easy to tinker with and repair, compared to pretty much any other DD table. I think it’s hard to do better than a 1200 in the ~$500 category. Is it just my ears, or does the 1200 have a sort of passionless sound, though? At least in stock form.
Interesting comment, I've seen others state that as well when speaking of DD's in general. I guess it depends on what your def of passion is, do you mean a romantic presentation? For me the" passion" comes from precision and dynamics. Also I would think the OM40 a better fit for the 1200? Different strokes though...ya' gotta' go with what excites you!
Interesting--why is the OM40 a better fit? I'm open to experimenting with pairing the right cartridge. I think 'romantic' is pejorative in audio land, but that's not what I mean. If I had to contrast the 1200 with other turntables, I'd say it comes across as a bit thin, but with a bass bump around 100hz, and lower dynamic contrasts than some other turntables.
Cool, perhaps the 1200 is not for you? I said OM40 because I like the FG cut on the Ortofons. Although they can also have a leaner/quicker low end.....so maybe not the one to rec for you.
Maybe, maybe not. No turntable is perfect. It all comes down to trade-offs: quirks you can live with because you like what it does well, and the deal breakers that get in the way of you and the music. And everyone hears those things differently.
True, all tables have compromises to fit price points. I only commented because I thought the 1200 was a better situational fit for you. If the presentation doesn't work for you then it doesn't.
