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Potential TT score from SA

EPI-Center

EPI-Center

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
so I was at the SA "just looking" when I spot this box inside a box down on the floor....it has 30.00 written on it in pen. I open it up and it says ROTEL..so I started getting excited....inside is a turntable top nicely wrapped...I took it out and went to plug the TT in to see if it worked...it was a very sleek looking black color, and it at least looked high end. The TT was missing a belt, but the motor was working, so I ask the lady what the price was and she says 30.00 in sort of a nasty tone, I told her there is no belt on this thing...she said sorry...30 bux. I went to return it but thought ..hey I can always return this within 2 days...so I get back to work and lookup Rotel RP955 and it turns out this thing could be a decent score if I can get it up and running.

Has anybody had one of these that can share some opinions or thoughts on what I need to do (other than order a belt) to get the most out of this thing?
 
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That's a good table and easily worth $30. A belt might set you back $10 - $15. Figure that if it had the original belt you would probably have to replace it anyway.
 
It is a score. As I recall, these Rotels were imitations of Regas. The RP 955 sold new for $600, and could handle high-quality cartridges, such as a Blue Point or a Benz Glider.
 
What cart (if any) is on it? I say it is a score even without one, but this could make it even more so.
 
Just goes to show how looks can be deceiving. I never heard of this and assumed it was what some would call a BPC.
 
hakaplan said:
assumed it was what some would call a BPC.
Click to expand...

I don't think that it is "P" at all. It looks to me like Ebony or an Ebony stain. Besides, that arm looks impressive in the pics I found.

Perhaps the OP will weigh back in with pictures and a first hand description. I think that I wish I had found it at the thrift for $30!
 
Definitely not "P". My guess is oak or ash veneer painted black, much like some speaker cabinets. It has the looks, that's for sure. I'll be interested to learn how the OP likes the sound.

John
 
boreas said:
Definitely not "P". My guess is oak or ash veneer painted black, much like some speaker cabinets. It has the looks, that's for sure. I'll be interested to learn how the OP likes the sound.

John
Click to expand...

I finally got this guy out of the box last night and the belt was actually in the box. The platter isn't rubber though, it's a very light foam-like substance, but it works. I hooked it up and put on a SA record that has not been thoroughly washed and I was pretty blown away. I put on Peg and Josie from The Best of Steely Dan and my jaw was just hanging open. When I first got on this forum, I honestly thought that you vinyl heads were just refusing to let go of the past, but I can totally hear it now. With a real quality stylus, the music has a warmth, and seems ALIVE...CD's are clean no doubt, but there's a sense of sterility or coldness that can come across. I'm pretty excited now to get my listening room set up, the vinyl changes everything now.

The table has substantial weight to it, I'm not sure what it's made out of to be honest, if it's wood it's quite heavy, or possibly some type of composite. I can see how someone could think it was BPC from a picture far away, but when I opened the box I was right there with it and I could practically smell the quality. That's why I was reticent to return it even not knowing it's history. I've found some cool scores but this is my favorite so far. This is just such an odd thing to find, you would have to know the SA I go to, there's mostly junk in there......I'm extremely lucky..I'm going to post pics here.
 
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Some of those Rotels are mediocre, others are pretty nice.

I can't recall specifics, but I think your model is one of the good versions.

Congrats to you!

As for records vs CDs, the trick is to have both a good turntable and pair it with the proper cartridge for vinyl, and for cd, a decent DAC.

I love the Rotel 1072 an. Cambridge Audio 640 cd players, and external DACs from PS Audio, Parasound, EAD, Cambridge Audio, etc.

A very good CDP or DAC will do wonders for CD playback.


But playing records is such a cool ritual!
 
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