My 2 Favorite Turntables!
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- čas přidán 3. 01. 2021
- After reviewing dozens upon dozens of turntables, which ones are my favorite (so far) and why? Watch this video to find out and then tell me down in the comments what your favorite is!
Here are links to my top two in case you are interested; amzn.to/38h5Ojb *looks like the other one might be discontinued!
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I LOVE automatic turntables. All I own are vintage automatics. My favorite is my Technics SL-QX300.
Just wanted to say I agree with you I see nothing wrong with automatic TT's they are great having grown up with them and being brainwashed by audiofools and having manual I have restored 3 automaticsand they are great JRi
Oh, there are a lot of contenders, but my very favorite turntable is the Dual CS505. It's just an absolute classic in all its versions, and was the very first turntable I bought with my own money back in the 80's. I loved that turntable dearly! My second favorite is the Linn Sondek LP12, which I've never actually owned, but my friends' dad had one back in the day and it was just extraordinary in it's performance and build quality. I hope one day I'll have one myself, one can dream!
I have a Phillips Super Electric 877 from around 1979. A friend of mine picked it up for $5 at a yard sale, I did replace the cartridge and it works great!
My favorites are my 2 German built Thorens automatics. A piano black TD 240-2 and the new updated TD 103 A in high gloss walnut. Thanks for another interesting video!
My favorites are my Pioneer automatic turntable with moving coil cartridge and a Technics linear tracking table. Both were manufactured in Japan in 1985.
It's difficult to explain, but when you start to "play" with Hi-End toys your prospective change. Some it's a little bit bulls**t, but man the difference it's there. I have a Trans Rotor Zet 1, with a SME 310 tonearm and a Sumiko blue point special evo III upgraded with a boron cantilever and a shibata diamond and I absolutely adore it, in every way. Not only the sound, but the feel of the arm, the weight and feedback resistance of the turntable itself (24kg + a marble plate underneath), the motor, the cables, the way you can calibrate the arm it's unique and waaay easier than "traditional" arms, to align the cartridge you have a special protractor and you slide the entire arm, so your cartridge it's always straight and perfect. When paired with a really good home made phono stage, tube amplifier and Vandersteen 2ce signature II it's an absolute joy to listen to!
For a couple of month I used it with the Audio Technica AT-VM95E, meanwhile mine was upgrading, and something sounded wrong, at first i didn't thought a cartridge could make such a massive difference. Because I upgraded slowly I wasn't really able to appreciate the massive difference.
Hope for you will be able to at least try higher end toys :D but also keeping "down to earth" for more casual people.
P.s. more automatism you have the more stuff can brake and more noise and complexity you have.
Wow that's quite impressive!
Thanks for sharing. My favorite is the Pioneer PL-990. Similar to audio technica with the advantage of speed adjustment easily accessible on the front of the unit. No need for screws or paper platters to check accuracy.
I was looking through OfferUp and found a Audio Technica LP2x (same thing as a LP3) and have been using it daily for about a month. I love it, one of my favorite turntables now.
The best thing about automatic turntables is if you fall asleep you don't have to worry about your needle wearing out too soon.
Great to watch a video on turntables where everything is understandable and no snake oil. Keep up the good work
Glad you enjoyed it!
My turntable is the Fluance RT85.
I would love to see you do a review of any of their "reference series" turntables (RT82, RT83, RT84, RT85).
Your Fluance RT85 is actually a Ya Horng, made in Taiwan. They also make Teac, Denon, and Akai turntables. Sony, some Denon, Pioneer, Audio Technica, Reloop, and others are made by Hanpin, another Taiwan based OEM. Fluance is just a brand, owned by Circus World Displays, a Niagara Falls, Canada based marketer, who also sells Citizen, Electrohome, First Alert, and other brands. Brand means nothing today, as OEMs will slap on whatever brand the marketer pays for.
I love my LP120x !!! Nothing compares !
I had watched both your reviews on the LP3 black and white, settled on the white and haven't looked back, its a set and forget turntable. Love the fact its white and the red accent makes it really pop. Will upgrade the stylus eventually but its a perfectly capable machine as is.
My only issue with that type of belt drive would be its moving parts would be more susceptible to dust and grime. I'm sure it's fine. I have two awesome turntables...I have a Pioneer PL-L800 linear tracking turntable with an Ortofon 2M Black and a Technics SL Q3 with an Ortofon 2M Bronze. They're both direct drive, Quartz locked with no pitch control. The Pioneer just sounds beautiful and the Technics sounds great too. I think the Pioneer sounds just a little better even with cartridges swapped. I would like to try out what you had there too.
BTW, I own several turntables, and one of my favourites is the Pioneer PL-670. One day, you should try one of these t4p turntables. Quite interesting imo.
I've had a number of turntables over the years, from Thorens to Pioneer to Dual. My current #1 is an Audio Technica AT-LP5 which sounds fantastic with an upgraded AT cartridge and shibata stylus. My most recent addition is a vintage Technics Sl-J300R linear tracking fully automatic model (as per Techmoan's video) which I'm having great fun with and which sounds really good too. I also have a vintage JVC Quartz lock direct drive table from the late 70's that I picked up second hand. The 33/45 switch needed some attention and it needed a new cartridge and stylus (the trusty 3600 did the trick) but I got it working and it sounds just fine. So I have a manual, a semi-auto and a fully auto, all the bases are covered !
I watch a review of the AT-LP140XP yesterday, reviewer reckons with a cartridge upgrade it's a match for a $4,000 Technics table, worth checking out I think.
Keep up the great work, really enjoy your content.
The Amstrad TP-12D i had back in the late 70s is my favorite. This mainly due to it's unique platter design, although did suffer from horrible rumble problems. I could easily solve that today if i still had it.
I have an lp60x I just got as a gift and mostly only use it manually, reason being that I clean off each side of my records with a carbon record brush and stylus with a carbon stylus brush in between plays. The auto-return feature is nice though! But besides auto return I would have to say that I really quite enjoy the manual, involved, deliberate, intentional aspect of playing records and keeping them sounding nice :)
I had an LP3 for 2 years then I swapped it for a Rega P1, before that I had already purchased a Rega P2 both tables in my opinion sound great.
I was and still interested in the LP7.
Great review!
Very nice!
I got a Pro-Ject Xpression Mk1 with an Ortofon Vinyl Master Silver cartridge which is 100% manual and I'm fine with that. Automatic turntables can be nice, but more can go wrong and the extras those have don't benefit the sound. So manual is fine for me.I also added a rubber-kork felt-top platter mat for better dampening, but that's already the limit of modifications I did. Proper cartridge alignment is also important and so is to set the antiskating right. Recommendations for antiskating are often too high, cause manufacturers rather have more headroom for lous parts of a track, not being distorted, than correct right/left channel amplitude alignment. Try experimenting with setting Your antiskating lower, by maybe 0,5-1 and you might see an improvement in channel balance. If Your stylus tracks well, You shouldn't have to worry about distortions on higher volume parts of a record either. Fun fact: Antiskating doesn't compensate centrifugal forces, but drag of the stylus in the groove of a record :D Having said that, what I'm also interested in would be an H.H Scott PS-87. Those look cool :D
My favorite right now for playing 78's is my Victor Victrola 2-60 with its Victor No.2 Reproducer. For microgrooved records my favorite is my Sony PS-333 with its Empire 2000e III cartridge.
My favorite turntable is a Technics SL-1200 Mk2, which I purchased used. I was fortunate to find one that was gently used and in almost new condition. My second turntable is a Denon DP-300F which I use for more casual listening (the automatic feature is great). The Technics replaced an Audio Technica LP-120, which had some motor noise issues. It still works and I kept it to play 78’s.
Thanks for sharing!
"Audiophiles" don't like full automatic turntables, because as you noticed, when the automatic mechanism kicks in, it slows down the rotation of the platter, and thus can have an impact on the mechanism reliability. I think both of these TTs are awesome though ^^
Both very nice but i absolutely love the Audio Technica
Once you said, "I've seen a Technics" I was gone. My first turntable was in 1978. Take care!
Its true......I have never played with one lol....
Wish I could own both. If AT would make a white LP7 that would be my ideal TT.
Used to set my eye on LP3, but got a vintage Technics SL1501 instead. Is it good enough?
I think turntables are very subjective. Some folks are fussy and others are happy use the same turntable for years. If it sounds good to your own years and works well then that is all some people need ( myself included). Glad your channel is not one of these rarified audiophile ones. Keep smiling and greetings from lockdown Britain
I really really appreciate that!
Might need to "borrow" that LP7😉😂😂😂
Hello to Rcord- Ology just saw your vid the on your LP-7. We call it at my job Dellring it a synthetic plastic we use in our optical cnc machine it is dense yet light we use to make holders to hold our optical parts to process in cnc , I LOVE !!!! That LP-7 IT IS VERY COOL looking if I had the funds I would consider it but being a manual TT it bothers me that sooooo much money to pay for a TT you do all the work. ,when I was growing up there were a lot of automatic TT's some not so good others like Dual ,Garard Sony were great there specs were better than some of those high price TT"a my ATLP 120 WOW AND FLUTTER is at 0.120 I just finished fixing a BSR McDonald automatic w/mag cart and looked up the specs it was much better than my ATLP-120 I believe it was .025 not sure and Sig to noise ratio was 75. and my old Onlkyo was at .023 Sig to noise ratio was @78 decibel my ATLP-120 is at0.125 and Sig to noise is at 68 with the money I paid for this manual you think it could be better ,just to say I am not putting down your TT's or anybody's TT it just this covid thing I have been working real hard our competitors across the world have slowed down so now we are getting all the work which is good but I work through breaks and am tired by Friday ,I like to come home and relax with my records but as soon as I relax the record ends got to get up and change record it's tiring at times to do so sometimes will watch your vids cause your always upbeat and positive which we all need right now so I thank you for that Like I said I fixed up a BSR AUTOMATIC started using it , so far it works great and just got a used Dual 1209 TT which I am working on to take the place of my ATLP-120 anti skate is not working and that bothers me still love my C-10 TT it has not let me down I even replaced the platter from metal to acrylic which I got used from rega cause it said that this would fit the pro -ject Debut and it does I think it was rega I could be wrong ,I thought about the LP-3 AUTOMATIC TT which I love the way it works but after working on the BSR and Dual all those metal parts and gears I find the newer automatic too much plastic in it I don't think it would last as long as these old timers but sorry for the long rant did not mean to carry on but I did enjoy this vid looking to see the next one Stay Safe JRo
Sony PS-X555ES, an 80's linear-tracker that accepts standard-mount cartridges (current: AT95EX).
My most favorite turntable for home use any Technics, at a radio station the big 16"The newest Technics is the 1500C Fully Automatic turntable first shown summer 2019 1100.00 dollars and 3 speeds!
In life, you pretty much get what you pay for. In a manual turntable, you are paying for LP playback, pure and simple. Less that can go wrong with it. Why buy an older table when some of the best tables ever made are currently being made? Everything that has been learned about the art of LP playback goes into these new tables. Do yourself a favor and buy the LP7. Oh, I own a Linn Sondek LP12. Have owned it since I bought it from a friend 30 years ago (got a great deal - what can I say?). Has gone through several clinics/upgrades. But in these tough times I could not justify spending what you would have to spend to get a new Linn. Buy the LP7. It will bring the magic of LP's to you for probably 20 years (perhaps 2-3 new cartridges/needles in that time). That's a pretty good investment!
100% agreed!
My favorite turntabel is the Audio Technica LP 5.
Hi just a bit of information about the cartridge on the LP3 you are correct it is the same as the 3600L that is on the LP60, but the AT91R red stylus that you see on the LP3 tracks at 2g and is only suitable for turntable with an adjustable counter weight. The 3600L tracks at 3g and the LP60 is calibrated for this weight and not adjustable, so it is not recommended that you put the AT91R on an LP60 or a turntable with with that style of tone arm. I hope that makes sense.
Love your channel by the way interested in all turntables low and high end. I am lucky and have a LP3, LP120 and an amazing Rega planar 8 😍. I understand there is a need for turntables at all budgets for people to enjoy, and if it sounds good to you and your happy with an all in one then it is the perfect thing for you.
good info thank you
The Music Hall that I use on my upstairs system is s bit underwhelming and I've been planning for a while to sell or trade it in for the LP7 which I absolutely love. It's every bit as good as many of the prestige brands out there.
I love my rega planar 1 but it is manual. Autostop would be great but it sounds 👌🏻 but I would relly like to have a vintage one like the dual or simular, but i dont have the skills to take care of it i think.
I would like to se the lenco ls-300 but as I said don’t know the US market.
I downgraded from a Pro-Ject 1.3 to a U-Turn Orbit because I just got tired of having to fuss with the higher end turntable constantly. The Orbit isn't perfect (I feel like the belt should fit more snugly for one thing), but I have bonded with it in a way that I never did with the Pro-Ject. If it becomes a hassle to play a record, then what's the point? I did actually at one time consider an LP-120 simply because it has three speeds. I also have a few other TT's lying around. One of them is a vintage JC Penny TT that I modified from automatic to manual and some day could become my every day player. Take care...
My favorite turntable is so far my yamaha yp-b4
Why did AT discontinue the LP3? Very strange decision given its popularity.
Hi, I'm an AT-LP7 owner too. Love it quite a lot. However, there is a certain issue that annoys me a bit. There is a small play in the base of the tonearm, like the screws are not tight enough. If you slightly grab it by the tonearm rest you can wiggle it a bit (not a bearings issue, they are perfectly fine). There is no obvious fix for this, I can't easily get inside to tighten it by myself. Official Audio Technica support told me they checked it on their test units and it is how it is supposed to be, it is normal. Same response from the webstore where I got it. Could you please check yours, do you have it the same way?
YES I noticed this as well! What I ended up doing was rotating the ring at the base of the tone arm mount (with the white dashes) clockwise which tightened it up. I don't use a platter mat on mine so the tracking angle was fine.
@@Recordology Interesting. Here we have a discussion about it on Vinyl Engine forums, seems there is a solution found, also waiting to hear it from AT support that I wrote to again. www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?p=1108089#p1108089
Question on 78s. Always told while playing 78s you need a 3 mil stylus. Recently on a 78 website I learned that only applies to pre 1948 78s. After that date 78s used the same technology at 45s and 33 1/3. Is that true? I have several hundred old 78s from my dad and thrift stores. But I can't tell the difference since most are not dated on the record or cover. I need your help here. Thanks.
I dont believe so......almost all of them are wide groove.
my favorite is my technics sl-1100a it is 100% fully manual but it is highly upgrade-able the armboard can be replaced so i can change the tonearm but i am gonna leave my example 100% original other than my cartridge upgrades it is direct drive with a very large platter.
What cart does the sl-1100a come with?
@@Recordology i believe it came with just an empty headshell
Is the audio tech white turntable belt drive or direct drive
Belt drive
While VPI makes truly great products, IMHO they are overpriced for what you get.
But it's the same with any high end products--cars, furniture, watches, jewelry, etc.
I have belt drive turn table do you recommend belt drive or direct drive turntable I’m looking to upgrade I have currently a belt drive
Andrew Robinson did a review a few days ago for a Audio Technica AT- LP140. He added various Ortofon Cartridges, but not the gold version and compared it to a Technics limited edition turntable. The 140 is motor driven. Belt driven can be out of pitch and some people may notice it. I have a Linn Basik with an Akito Tonearm from 1993 and it is belt driven. Some people prefer belt and others are fine with motor driven.
Here is the link czcams.com/video/Ibi2SJNnr54/video.html
Joseph......there is no real benefit to a dd tt other than dj's who scratch. It is better sonically to have the motor decoupled from the platter
I can’t help but notice that both of your favorites are belt drive. I know that you have a LP 120, which is direct drive. So why do you like these over that one? In other words, why do you prefer belt drive vs. direct drive?
I always find it interesting to hear people’s opinions on this topic. I’m a direct drive person myself, having owned both the 120 and the 140. One common point belt drive people usually make is that they hear less or no motor noise with belt drive TTs in comparison with direct drive TTs. But my experience has been that I have never heard loud or bad motor noise from either of my direct drive TTs. So then what’s the real advantage of belt drive (undoubtedly there will be those who will want to chime in on this topic, but the only opinion that I’m asking for is yours)?
Good question. I hear no difference between the belt vs dd. I love these for other reasons. The x series lp120 and 140 resolved the rumble issue - I don't know...I just happen to like these two particularly. The heft of the 7 is amazing it feels very nice and sounds great. The lp3 is plasticky but sounds good and has great auto features.
I agree that the LP 3 in particular looks great with the white acrylic mat!!!
To each his own. I like direct drive TTs for 3 reasons (the first one might surprise you a bit):
1. Speed stability and accuracy. Both the 120 and 140 have pitch sliders so you can set the correct speed based on the strobe on the platter (that’s another advantage to these TTs-you don’t have to get a separate strobe card for them, the strobe is already there), and then lock it in. I have yet to see a belt drive TT that has that option (at least the affordable ones). Being a self proclaimed audiophile, proper pitch is paramount to me.
2. Relative ease of upkeep-no belts to replace. In conjunction with the last point, a belt that breaks would drive me up the wall.
3. Sound quality. Yes, most of your sound quality is in your cart and stylus, but different TTs just sound different. One of the things that belt drive enthusiasts still continue to claim is that there’s motor noise problems with direct drive TTs. That hasn’t been my experience at all. Both the 120 and 140 have sounded clear, clean and bright but not overly so. And their sound quality is excellent.
I have come to conclude that the real reason that belt drive enthusiasts still to this day complain about motor noise in direct drive TTs is because they don’t have anything else to complain about them. If someone can prove to me in a direct comparison (as opposed to just jawing about it) that belt drive TTs are significantly better than direct drive TTs, then I’ll listen. And I mean a modern comparison, not one that was done years ago. But if someone can’t, then at least be fair and adult enough to admit it’s no more than personal preference, NOT because they’re intrinsically so much better than direct drive TTs.
Bottom line: let’s all just get along, and enjoy the vinyl hobby together, OK??? It’s so much more fun that way, as opposed to playing quien es mas macho with different types of TTs.
"Forgive me, Majesty. I am a vulgar man, but I assure you, my music is not" - and "vulgar" here means that sometimes I value the looks and functionality above the sonics.
So the top of the list would be the big vintage Japanese DD, full auto decks - not necessarily the TOTL, but decent midline decks like the Denon 59 reviewed by Techmoan. And the two Soviet oddities, the Korvet and the Epos (the latter being my primary deck since 1985). The Mitsubishi vertical TTs, just for the looks. Of the modern products, the entry-level Clearaudios sound, look and feel great - but the arm is manual, no go.
I have a very rare turntable that I use,made by GEC (general electrical company)in approximately 1979.made in Japan.a lovely turntable.ive always been used to portable record players mainly and had a thorens td166 mk2 ages ago.my portable record player is a clarke and smith schools instrument but it's not currently working correctly.i love the audio technica stuff but out of my price range.my whole GEC hifi with pre mentioned turntable only cost me 100 pounds and it's nearly as old as me (43)
I really LOVE our Music Public Kingdom Suitcase player..It looks great stored and looks great when operating and sounds great too.I also like one of two All in ones we own..Made by "Amos"....Or so the Label on the front says.The Ceramic Cartridge and Diamond/Metal cantilever combination it came with provides really superb sound through the Units speakers...Which in my opinion,is how these things should be used.Apart from that i`d love to own the Cucumberpatch SPLX 4,500,ooo,000 Hundred,with Knitting needle and steam powered speakers...Plus can be connected to a cooker in the kitchen,via the included package of string.Its awesome..But too far out of my reach,at £5.50 pence delivered.....Love your 2 turntables..The LP 7 is really special !!!
At LP5X
My favorite turntable is? VICTROLA why? Because they been around for over 100 years from 1906 to present before Technics, Audio Technica, Pioneer. VICTROLA already making an antique turntable and radio. My turntable is Victrola T-1 turntable it's their premium also I upgrade it's power cord replaced it's cartridge with Ortofon 2mm black and replaced my RCA with Audioquest and brought a Lounge Gold preamplifier it's sounds like a high end turntable will never buy again another turntable.
get a linn sondek
VPI is hot marketing garbage. Don't buy that.
It's made for show, not for use.
Your Audio Technica LP7 is probably better in terms of performance.
Harry Weisfeld, the founder/CEO of VPI, doesn't even "believe" in anti-skating, while it's just basic proven physics!