Turntables

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  • Posts: 20,841
    edited December 2020
    My Thorens just gave up on me. Nothing happens when I press the start button. It was a freebie that has been crushing it for quite a while now without a bench visit, so it was only a matter of time. That said, the timing sucks. 

    Might have to buy a new TT. I have so much equipment that needs work. Three receivers, the Dual could use a second look, and now the Thorens. Gonna cost me a fortune when the time comes. 

    Edit: I remembered that the Thorens was a belt drive. The belt slipped off. I put it back on its pathway, but it’s fussy now upon starting up and slips off again. Ordered a new belt. If that’s all it needs, hell yeah!
    Post edited by dankind on
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Posts: 4,619
    I just got myself a u-turn orbit plus. I’m pretty pumped about it. I think it fits all my basic needs. To top it off I ordered the SpinBase by Andover Audio. It will be aesthetically pleasing for sure. The real test will be how it sounds. 

    Now I just have to wait until February for them to ship.
    Pittsburgh 2013
    Cincinnati 2014
    Greenville 2016
    (Raleigh 2016)
    Columbia 2016
  • Posts: 5,321
    I bought an AT LP-60 in the Spring as I was getting back into vinyl after a very long absence. It worked pretty well, but I ran into a handful of records that would skip on my turntable, but not on a friend's older Zenith. The AT LP-60 didn't have any adjustments for tone arm weight or anti skate, so I was pretty much stuck. Over the weekend I bought a used JVC L-A110 from a local record store. I got it hooked up last night and it sounds pretty good. The records I had that were skipping played through without any issues. 
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,662
    I have still not found my close-to-perfect turntable.  My parameters are thus:

    Total absolute maximum cost including tax and shipping, $1500 US.
    -Very minimal to no motor noise.
    -Ability to switch between 45 RPM and 33 1/3 without lifting the platter.
    -Quality queuing lever.
    -Relatively easy to use tone arm finger grip.
    -No built in pre-amp. (Prefer to plug direct into my Marantz PM5005 phono port).
    -Removable/ lift-able dust cover.
    -Ortophon red cartridge.
    -Piano black plinth.

    However...   in the meantime, I have been able to improve the sound/ play-ability of my Project Carbon Debut hugely by removing the motor hold down screws and washers such that the motor is suspended by the rectangular o-ring. The thumping noise the motor was making is all but gone. After all this time- what a difference!  This relatively easy modification will allow me plenty of time to keep my eyes open for something more to my liking.  For now, I'm enjoying my records just fine!


    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Posts: 20,841
    brianlux said:
    I have still not found my close-to-perfect turntable.  My parameters are thus:

    Total absolute maximum cost including tax and shipping, $1500 US.
    -Very minimal to no motor noise.
    -Ability to switch between 45 RPM and 33 1/3 without lifting the platter.
    -Quality queuing lever.
    -Relatively easy to use tone arm finger grip.
    -No built in pre-amp. (Prefer to plug direct into my Marantz PM5005 phono port).
    -Removable/ lift-able dust cover.
    -Ortophon red cartridge.
    -Piano black plinth.

    However...   in the meantime, I have been able to improve the sound/ play-ability of my Project Carbon Debut hugely by removing the motor hold down screws and washers such that the motor is suspended by the rectangular o-ring. The thumping noise the motor was making is all but gone. After all this time- what a difference!  This relatively easy modification will allow me plenty of time to keep my eyes open for something more to my liking.  For now, I'm enjoying my records just fine!


    I’d love to check out one of these. 

    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Posts: 1,336
    I bought this little beauty a few years ago. The spouse does not share my love of Pearl Jam so I wanted something compact with enough sound to fill up my little office. This fits the bill (though I do want to add external speakers at some point) and it's cool to watch the wax spin. Up next: Ben Harper's latest released...an autographed copy...


    Raleigh, NC., 8/31/98, Charlotte, NC., 8/4/00, Greensboro, NC., 8/6/00, Mountain View, CA., 10/31/00, Raleigh, NC., 4/15/03, Charlotte, NC., 4/16/03, Mountain View, CA., 10/25/03, Asheville, NC., 10/6/04, Philadelphia, PA., 10/3/05, Washington D.C, 5/30/06, Virginia Beach, VA., 6/17/07, Philadelphia, PA., 10/28/09, Charlottesville, VA., 10/29/13, Charlotte, NC., 10/30/13, Memphis, TN., 10/14/14, Greenville, SC., 4/16/16, Hampton, VA., 4/19/16, Raleigh, NC., 4/20/16, Columbia, SC., 4/21/16, Boston, MA., 8/5/16, Boston 9/2/18 & 9/4/18., Nashville, TN., 4/2/20., Nashville, TN., 9/16/22.

    EV Solo - Washington, D.C., 8/17/08, Atlanta, GA., 6/24/09, Orlando, FL., 11/27/12.
  • New York, NY Posts: 12,070
    dankind said:
    show previous quotes
    I’d love to check out one of these. 

    Wow. I love this one. It is from the second link you posted. When I upgrade I will have to check these Thorens out. The feature I love on my Denon is the fully automatic return. I would want any upgrade I get to have that as well. They are harder to find.
    Thorens TD 240-2 Fully-Automatic Turntable Walnut


  • Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    Well, my Christmas present finally arrived. VERY happy to upgrade from my Music Hall 2.2 w/AT440MLb to my new VPI Super Prime Scout w/ Ortofon 2M Black cartridge. It also has the upgraded 10.5" Tonearm, 2" Prime platter & VTA on the fly.

    The sound is SO nice. Have only listened to a few albums, but am eager to put some miles on this thing.


  • New York, NY Posts: 12,070
    MedozK said:
    Well, my Christmas present finally arrived. VERY happy to upgrade from my Music Hall 2.2 w/AT440MLb to my new VPI Super Prime Scout w/ Ortofon 2M Black cartridge. It also has the upgraded 10.5" Tonearm, 2" Prime platter & VTA on the fly.

    The sound is SO nice. Have only listened to a few albums, but am eager to put some miles on this thing.


    Congrats on your new system. That is one high tech looking turntable. Enjoy!!!!
  • Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    GlowGirl said:
    show previous quotes
    Congrats on your new system. That is one high tech looking turntable. Enjoy!!!!
    Thanks, will definitely be fun going back through my collection and listening for what the better table gets me. 
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,662
    dankind said:
    show previous quotes
    I’d love to check out one of these. 


    I haven't looked very closely at Thorens.  Looks like I need to check them out more thoroughly.  My only surprise here though is that the TD-240 come with an Ortofon 2M Red.  For a TT that lists at $1299, that seems like an inferior cartridge.

    And herein begins a very tricky rabbit hole in which I have found myself falling into:  The big WHAT CARTRIDGE? dilemma.  I have an Ortofon 2M on my Pro-ject Carbon Debut and the more research I've done, the more I'm thinking that beside a TT upgrade, I would do well to look into a better cart.  (And yes, I am back to looking for a new turntable.  After removing the shipping screws, the motor noise on the Carbon Debut did indeed cease, but now I have a very feelable vibration in the tone arm.  This damn Pro-ject has to go!)

    My first consideration has been to go with a Technics SL1500C (comes stock with the 2M red) and upgrade to an Ortofon 2M Blue but I'm not sure that's a good choice.  I have read that the 2M blue rather bright and I am high pitch sensitive such that I'd like something more warm or "lush" sounding.  I've read about the Denon DL-103R being an excellent, warm sounding cart but then you get into all kinds of snags like "if the stylus it worn, you can't just replace it like you can with an Ortofon"?  I read that it has to be "retipped", whatever that means.  And "is it compatible with my Marantz tuner?".  And "and I looking at something too high end to match with the Marantz int he first place?"

    It all soooooo confusing!!!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Posts: 20,841
    brianlux said:
    show previous quotes

    I haven't looked very closely at Thorens.  Looks like I need to check them out more thoroughly.  My only surprise here though is that the TD-240 come with an Ortofon 2M Red.  For a TT that lists at $1299, that seems like an inferior cartridge.

    And herein begins a very tricky rabbit hole in which I have found myself falling into:  The big WHAT CARTRIDGE? dilemma.  I have an Ortofon 2M on my Pro-ject Carbon Debut and the more research I've done, the more I'm thinking that beside a TT upgrade, I would do well to look into a better cart.  (And yes, I am back to looking for a new turntable.  After removing the shipping screws, the motor noise on the Carbon Debut did indeed cease, but now I have a very feelable vibration in the tone arm.  This damn Pro-ject has to go!)

    My first consideration has been to go with a Technics SL1500C (comes stock with the 2M red) and upgrade to an Ortofon 2M Blue but I'm not sure that's a good choice.  I have read that the 2M blue rather bright and I am high pitch sensitive such that I'd like something more warm or "lush" sounding.  I've read about the Denon DL-103R being an excellent, warm sounding cart but then you get into all kinds of snags like "if the stylus it worn, you can't just replace it like you can with an Ortofon"?  I read that it has to be "retipped", whatever that means.  And "is it compatible with my Marantz tuner?".  And "and I looking at something too high end to match with the Marantz int he first place?"

    It all soooooo confusing!!!
    I got a free Thorens off of CL a few years back, and I love it enough to buy a higher-end model when the time comes. It took a while to get accustomed to a few interesting features (floating/suspended chassis; it's kind of like putting your record on a surfboard) and something that looks like it came out of a fishing tackle box for the anti-skate, but it is just so quiet (that weird floating/suspended chassis thing) and worry free. Give 'em a listen. 

    Also, Turntable Lab will pretty much supply/upgrade a turntable with any type of cartridge, etc., they carry in stock; perhaps a West Coast hi-fi outfit does the same. Blue gets all the love from the Ortofon folks.
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,662
    edited March 2021
    dankind said:
    show previous quotes
    I got a free Thorens off of CL a few years back, and I love it enough to buy a higher-end model when the time comes. It took a while to get accustomed to a few interesting features (floating/suspended chassis; it's kind of like putting your record on a surfboard) and something that looks like it came out of a fishing tackle box for the anti-skate, but it is just so quiet (that weird floating/suspended chassis thing) and worry free. Give 'em a listen. 

    Also, Turntable Lab will pretty much supply/upgrade a turntable with any type of cartridge, etc., they carry in stock; perhaps a West Coast hi-fi outfit does the same. Blue gets all the love from the Ortofon folks.

    Thanks, I'll check further into Thorens.  May not work for me as it appears Thorens requires a pre-amp which means more money and more stuff.  I want to be able to plug right into my Marantz PM5005 tuner.  Drat!

    This search just keeping getting more frustrating.  Earlier today I was looking into Rega models again and read a bunch of stuff that had me convinced that a Rega Planar 1 or 2 or 3 were only going to lead me down a path of varying upgrades and that the best thing to do was break my budget a lot further open, suck it up, and go with the Planar 6.  And then I saw this:


    See the two photos on the first page (post #14 and #18).  This is what $2000 bucks get you?

    Hit it, Neil!

    Saw it on the tube, bought in on the phone, then I got it home, it's a....

    Post edited by brianlux on
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • New York, NY Posts: 12,070
    brianlux said:
    show previous quotes

    Thanks, I'll check further into Thorens.  May not work for me as it appears Thorens requires a pre-amp which means more money and more stuff.  I want to be able to plug right into my Marantz PM5005 tuner.  Drat!

    This search just keeping getting more frustrating.  Earlier today I was looking into Rega models again and read a bunch of stuff that had me convinced that a Rega Planar 1 or 2 or 3 were only going to lead me down a path of varying upgrades and that the best thing to do was break my budget a lot further open, suck it up, and go with the Planar 6.  And then I saw this:


    See the two photos on the first page (post #14 and #18).  This is what $2000 bucks get you?

    Hit it, Neil!

    Saw it on the tube, bought in on the phone, then I got it home, it's a....

    The Thorens TD 102-A appears to have a built in preamp. Have you checked that one out?
  • Posts: 20,841
    Brian, your Marantz doesn't have a phono stage? If it has a phono stage, you don't need a preamp. If you're using the aux, then, yes, you'll need a preamp.
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,662
    edited March 2021
    dankind said:
    Brian, your Marantz doesn't have a phono stage? If it has a phono stage, you don't need a preamp. If you're using the aux, then, yes, you'll need a preamp.

    It does indeed!  Late last night, after I saw your other post here, I found an article about phono stages and realized I have that on the Marantz and don't need a pre-amp.  I'm leaning toward the Technics SL-1500C but still considering Thorens.  Thanks for your input, Dankind!  :smile:
    GlowGirl said:
    show previous quotes
    The Thorens TD 102-A appears to have a built in preamp. Have you checked that one out?

    I did, thank!  It looks like a new model and I couldn't find much in the way of reviews but will consider it.  :smile: 
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,662
    After a TON of research, I finally decided to go with the Technics SL-1500C and made the call. 
    "Sorry, out of stock."
    And another call.
    "Sorry, back-ordered."
    And another call.
    "Sorry, no gots."

    Sheesh! :grimacing:
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Upstate NY Posts: 541
    brianlux said:
    After a TON of research, I finally decided to go with the Technics SL-1500C and made the call. 
    "Sorry, out of stock."
    And another call.
    "Sorry, back-ordered."
    And another call.
    "Sorry, no gots."

    Sheesh! :grimacing:
    When I was ordering gear from my dealer recently, they mentioned how hard Technics has been hit due to the pandemic and it’s very difficult to get their products right now. 
  • Posts: 20,841
    Hey, @brianlux , it's me, your Thorens pusher again.

    How you doing, buddy? Jonesin' for a noiseless motor and an incredible soundstage? 

    I know how it is, pal. I've been there. But not anymore. Because I found Thorens. :lol:

    You want user friendly. As long as you use, Thorens will be friendly. :wink:
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,662
    BB162610 said:
    show previous quotes
    When I was ordering gear from my dealer recently, they mentioned how hard Technics has been hit due to the pandemic and it’s very difficult to get their products right now. 
    Yeah, I talk to a couple of reps from three different companies and they're all saying Technics probably won't be shipping until summer or maybe even early fall.  One guy said that electronics in general have been hard hot due to pandemic factors.

    dankind said:
    Hey, @brianlux , it's me, your Thorens pusher again.

    How you doing, buddy? Jonesin' for a noiseless motor and an incredible soundstage? 

    I know how it is, pal. I've been there. But not anymore. Because I found Thorens. :lol:

    You want user friendly. As long as you use, Thorens will be friendly. :wink:

    Good to know.  I talked to a tech from Music Direct yesterday and explained what was going on with my Pro-ject Carbon Debut.  Once I removed the shipping screws, the thumping motor noise stopped.  I sometimes can feel a fine vibration in the tone arm but the tech told me that was not going to hurt anything.  He said the carbon fiber arm is light and thus transmits some of the energy and that I should just use the cuing lever and not worry about it.

    With that in mind, I figure it buys me time to look at both the Thorens and the Technics.  Both of them will have a big advantage over the Carbon Debut:  No more lifting the platter to change speeds.  What I don't know is weather I would like the Thorens' Audio Technica AT VM95E cartidge (which I haven't heard) over the Ortofon 2M Red (which is what I have on the Carbon Debut) or the Red upgrade, Ortofon 2M Blue (which I also have not heard).

    So many choices to make!  But now,at least, I feel like I have time to do more research. 

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

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