Started around 1963 with a close-and-play on which I played such classics as Tubby The Tuba 1960s-era Garrard handed down from my father, on which I learned to love The Beatles and Tom Lehrer All-in-one BSR system Realistic (Radio Shack) Dual knock-off Dual 1219 Philips 212 Dual 604 Sony PS-X500 B&O RX-2 SOTA Comet VPI HW-19 MKIV (with a number of different arms, including MMT, Hadcock, Eminent Technology, Rega, Origin Live, Terminator) Sony PS-X600 VPI TNT Jr Rega P5 with pretty much every available upgrade VPI Scout VPI Scoutmaster Sony PS-X555es VPI TNT Jr (plinth resurrected with all-new platter, bearing, feet, and has had four different arms, ending with the current VPI Fatboy Gimbal 12) Some of these were obviously owned concurrently for experimentation purposes. The current iteration of the TNT is easily the best sounding. I think about other turntables, but at this point given what I can afford, changing would mean just a different sound, not better. JohnK
1. Pioneer PL-41 2. Technics DD - not sure about the model 3. Thorens TD-145 4. VPI HW-19 5. VPI Aries 2 6. Michell Gyrodec SE 7. Rega P9 8. Lenco L-75
1966 Mickey Mouse record player. 1973 Junky all-in-one Lloyd's...thing. 1980 Something branded H.H. Scott, NOS from the mid-70's. 1986 Something from Technics, packed away within a year with the move to cds. 2004 Music Hall MMF 5.? SE with Goldring 1022 2009 Clearaudio Concept w/ Maestro and Maestro v.2 2019 Audio Note TT2 deluxe w/ AN Arm 2, AN IQ3, AN TT PSU.
1968 Garrard 40B gave to my brother in 1972 1971 Dual 1219 still using in 2nd system 1988 Linn LP12 Sondek sold in 2014 2014 Vinyl Nirvana Thorens 150 sold in 2016 2016 VPI Prime
(1972) '60s era Garrard I found in the attic. Had like a 16 oz. club-head arm and cart that destroyed records. I was 11 years old. (1973) Sound Design all-in-one. Paper route money. (1975) Technics, likely some SL-xx model. (1981) Micro Seiki DD-20, used, but VG. Enjoyed the DD-20 with various carts through 1991 or so, then went completely CD. Still have it in storage.
Kenwood/Trio KD1033 1975- 1984 Ariston RD80 1984 -1995 (Still have it, planning to refurb) Rega RP3 1995 -2020
Philco changer Dual 1214 Dual 1218 Dual 1219 Thorens TD160 Some cheap Japanese DD Linear tracker of some sort (very briefly) Micro Seiki Rega P3 Linn LP12 Rega P9
In order however cannot remember dates; 1.Acoustic Research EB101/Ortofon MC10 2.Roksan Xerxes MK1/Rega RB300/Linn K9 3.Michell Orbe/SME V/Lyra Helikon 4.AVID Volvere/SME V/Lyra Helikon 5.Technics SL1200 MK2/Stanton 500 6. Technics SL1200 MK2/SME V/Denon DL103 Michell Gyrodec SE/double Spyder/ True point pylons/HR PSU/Orbe clamp/Audionote Arm3 v2/ Hana ML Technics SL1200MK2/SMEV/Hana SL.
My first turntable was a Dual HS37 / 1214 combo. I was seven years old when my grandfather gave this to me and loved this thing to bits. It played thousands and thousands of 45s and they all sounded great. Still regret tossing it in the bin. After that came various plastic Technics / JVC / Sony turntables I can’t really remember well.. Sony PS2250 Beautiful piece of kit, inherited from an audiophile uncle but it proved to be a bit too delicate for a teenager so this one was in bad shape after 15 years of misuse. Sold it a couple of years ago to be replaced by a Pro-Ject RPM 1.3 genie. Well, that was a mistake. Very poor quality... Motor humming, armlift leaking. Ditched that one too to be replaced by a refurbished Thorens TD125 with an early SME3009. Apart from eyeballing a new cart (now DL103R, looking at the AT33 series) this is my endgame table.
As a kid...my dad's Realistic LAB 290 (I still own this but not in use) As a teenager...whatever was on top of my crappy all in one stereo College thru grad school...AT PL50 Post grad school and in working world... Rega RP1...upgraded with Ortofon 2M Bronze, Groovetracer subplatter, and GT acryllic platter (sweet sounding turntable, but got outpaced when I started upgrading the rest of my system. Still own but not in use) From there I went to my current stable, in use across three rooms... Rega RP10 and two RP6's w/GT subplatters
My list is probably snub worthy:. 1966: a suitcase record player that I think was a Voice of Music record changer. It sounded pretty good for a record player. 1974: AR XA with a Shure M91-ED 1980: Yamaha P-350 with a Signet TK-3 (a downgrade despite the better cartridge) 1989: wanted a Sota or a Linn, however began picking up turntables at the thrift stores and restoring them ----- Garrard RC-80 (nice for 78's) various headshells that accept a Shure M44 or any ceramic cartridge ----- Dual 1009 heavy platter idler drive, short arm, great for 45's because of almost zero tracking error on the 7 inchers. ----- Dual 1215 with an Ortofon LM-15, a favorite (have sound files from this one) ----- Dual 1218 with a V15-RS, beryllium cantilever (have sound files) ----- Dual 1229 ----- Dual 701 ----- Technics SL-D205 (various vintage carts... my test turntable) ----- Technics SL-D1 ----- Kenwood KD-5070 ----- AR XA with Signet AM-30 (replaced my original, nicer with semi-gloss gray finish) ----- Beogram 1800 Most of my spending went into guitars and amps
I've had the same Micro Seiko DD40 since 1978. Had a G.E. Mustang first stereo $65 whole set up. Can't remember brand of my first decent turntable but my second was a Pioneer then spent what was at the time a months salary on the one I still own.
That was my first-first, til 14 years old After that thingy - 1. Some soviet-made POS I cannot remember the name 2. Electronica EP 017 (direct drive; a little better Soviet-made junk) 3. Technics SL-1200 4. Linn LP12 (got it used, do not remember options) 5. Many years without record player 6. Music Hall MMF 7.3 7. (hopefully last) Acoustic Solid "Solid Machine"
1.suitcase don't remember brand 2.BSR 3.JVC quartz lock 4.Notingham Horizon 5.VPI prime scout (current)
1. Philips GF 423 2. Hitachi HT-20S 3. Pioneer PL-225 4. Pioneer PL-12D- a good sounding 70's entry level turntable more or less on par with the 1210 soundwise IMHO. I still have mine but now in storage. 5. Technics SL-1210 Mk2- I actually had two of those as I used to double-dip as a DJ in the early 90's. 6. Pro-Ject 6.1- this one was called "The Linn Killer" for a while in the mid 90's, I still have it in storage. 7. Michell Gyro SE- I started of with the Rega RB300 went via the Michell TechnoArm until I finally got a SME IV. I still have the Gyro SE as my second deck but now combined with the TechnoArm as the SME IV had to move to my current main turntable. The Gyro SE is a great sounding turntable with spectacular looks. 8. Michell Orbe SE- my current main deck, this is an amazing turntable especially when it's combined with one of the SME tonearms. Not as good looking as the Gyro SE but it's a real killer soundwise.
Pro-Ject debut II - POS Junk, abandoned in a dumpster Rega RP1 - POS Junk, passed to a relative within the same week Audio Technica LP120 - Definitively NOT junk but it made me want to own the real thing Technics SL-1210M5G
The ones that have spent any time as my only turntable are: Marantz 6100, through the 1980s and 90s. Marantz 6300, as an upgrade mostly because I got a deal on it. Music Hall MMF-5, in a slow transition to more-current equipment. Rega P5, in an intent to upgrade. Rega P9, as an upgrade mostly because I got a deal on it. Along the way, I’ve had about ten other turntables that were in a 2nd system or as a 2nd option. Some of note were Technics SL-1200MK2 and SL-7, Dual 1229 and 731Q, Clearaudio Concept.
1. Various record players that folded up into a suitcase (1960s and 1970s) 2. Technics p-mount direct drive (1984-2001) 3. Stanton direct drive, a cheap clone of the Technics SL 1200 (2001-2004) 4. Rega P3 (2004-) 5. Rega Planar 6 (2019-)
Around 1978-81 a PE with a Nagatron cartridge. It was a pretty sweet machine. Then had some Pioneer belt and direct drive tables. ADC ZLM on the DD and kept the Nagatron for the BD. And now my own design with SL-6 (Technics) motor/platter and DIY unipivot wood arm.
1. 1996: Budget Sony was first player in college. 2. 2001: Stanton DJ turntable. 3. 2004: Music Hall 5.1 with grado black. 4. 2012: VPI Classic 1: first real taste of the high end. I still have this table and have since added the ring clamp and weight, which adds another boost. Love the depth, slam, and resolution of the classic. 5. 2012: Dual 1237: bought for my bedroom. Replaced plastic plinth with a wood one. Now lives at my cabin in Montana. Not the greatest, but a good budget option. 6. 2014: Dual 701 from fixmydual. This direct drive table is in my vintage system and regularly catches me by surprise. It’s really good at snap and dynamics. It’s my wife’s favorite because it has an auto start button. Auto shut-off is quite nice too because I’m often cooking while listening to this one. 7. 2017: Vinyl Nirvana VN-150 with Rega Arm. Beautiful table that’s a perfect fit with the aesthetics of my bedroom. Always thought it lacked a smidge of depth but realizing now that it was my p3esrs. Added a rel t7i recently and the vinyl playback is at a whole new level with this firmer foundation. Spent all day yesterday listening to some new jazz records from International Anthem and the sound has a liquid, flowing quality that is really addictive. At this point I’m trying to stick with turntables for 10 years, but would love to try technics, sme, and linn if the opportunity arises.
