One medium mass Technics 1200 GR for changing out carts and the other a low mass arm for a high compliance setup that likes the low mass arm better. The general idea here is to not play one cart to death but rather rotating carts so the stylus last longer.
I have three TTs, two are vintage late 70s and one is relatively new. One belt drive manual (VPI Scout 1.1), a second manual direct drive (Technics SL-1800) and a third which is a fully automatic direct drive (Pioneer PL-630). I enjoy swapping TTs, head shells and cartridges.
A large portion of my library was recorded in the 1950s. I used to have separate mono and stereo TTs, until I started downsizing. My old ears and I will adapt.
The more tables, the more fun. Well, within reason, only two in the main room, and I do have a favorite that I use most often
I have 3 listening rooms, plus 2 tables on my main system... one is a vintage semi auto for obvious reasons.
You know.... facts of life..... like I find myself now in this situation: On the left -> a very good vintage setup. Totally restored Thorens TD124 which runs like new, SME 3009 improved arm / Shure V15III cartridge with an original VN35MR stylus I bought new and still with low hours on it, that is to say the best arm/cartridge combo on earth conceivable in the 70s, which is exactly the period most of my most beloved records were pressed. All in all, it is like driving a 60's vintage Ferrari 250 GTO. On the right -> a very good modern setup. SME 10 turntable equipped with "The best pick-up arm in the world", the SME series V. Both of those are a real pleasure to set up and to operate, any detail is mechanical top quality. Cartridge is a Dynavector XXII mkII. There's now a thread on this forum titled: "Can anything compete with Koetsu?", well, I am coming from a Koetsu Black and the Dyna is so much better from any point of view. All in all, it is like driving a current formula 1 Ferrari F1-75. Now this thread is about the question "Why do you have more than one turntable?". Tell me @Dafox , if you were me, which one would you give away? and what for? money? ah ah ah.
Of the three I have only one is decent. The other two were bought before the good one, both cheap. (No, no Crosley, but an ION and a Pyle, both under $75.) The ION is not too bad, actually, but the Pyle is a toy. I plan on giving it away to someone with perhaps a kid who wants a 'record player'.
Once the turntable bug hits you, it is difficult to have only one. At first I wanted one decent example of each drive type. Then I wanted an excellent example of each drive mechanism. Then I wanted different philosophies of belt drives - light and rigid, heavy and rigid, suspended. They all have slightly different sounds, so it becomes difficult to cull the- herd. I AM A TURNTABLE HOARDER, I GUESS.
My TT can support up to three arms. I only have one arm, which is doing the job just fine. I guess I wouldn't mind have a couple of TT's in different rooms, but I'm trying to simplify things at this time in my life.
Ya can't have just one. Fixed headshell so the DV rides the tonearm 24/7 This modded AR loves a good Grado but puts up with all the other cartridges lying around here' And this 1200 has all the bells and whistles and loves to be turned on. My wife can use this deck with confidence.