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Best linear tracker under $999?

kotofei

kotofei

permanent gear evolution
Subscriber
Greetings everyone,

I recently restored a Mitsubishi LT-20 linear tracking turntable and played it for about a month. I like the way it looks and works and, especially, sounds. Reading postings here and elsewhere, I realized that many of the LT-20’s sonic virtues are due to linear tracking technology.

The LT-20 doesn’t have a suspension which is not good in terms of acoustic feedback; this was one of the main reasons I let it go. However, I became hooked up to this technology and decided to get a linear tracking turntable which is better than the LT-20.

So, I would like to solicit the opinion of the knowledgeable members of the Community as to what linear tracking turntable surpasses the Mitsubishi LT-20. “Surpass” refers mostly to sound quality and design, although reliability and easy of setup are important too.

My budget is below $1K and this is the long shot.

Models that come to my mind are: Pioneer PL-L1000, Mitsubishi LT-30, Revox B-790/B795 and Yamaha PX-2 and PX-3.

Any comments on the subject will be greatly appreciated.
 
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I can recommend the Technics SL-10. I have had two in the past and regret selling them. I have been searching for one for over two years as they seldom seem to appear on the used market. Built in moving coil headamp so they can be used with many modern amplifiers that don't have phono inputs and you can use passives.
 
You might guess that I like the B&O 8002 and the Yamaha PXs!

They are both VERY good at rejecting acoustic and vibrational (footfalls, etc) feedback with the B&O being extraordinary in that area.
Both are very good reproducers and I use both daily. Although the PX2 may have a very small performance advantage, I find myself playing the 8002 more-it's a little more convenient to use ergonomically, but both are leagues ahead of most others in this regard.
One of these days I'm going to upgrade to a Voice from Soundsmith-then I can settle the question of which sounds better-but for now, all 4 MMC1 and MMC2 cartridges sound great and I prefer them to the AT 440mla or Yam MC705 on the RX2. That said, the hi output MC AdcomXC w/VanDenHul stylus on the PX2 may sound the best, but I think it's a dead heat and depends more on the nature of the recording, which I prefer at any point in time.
One point to be taken from this-all 4 of my original 15-23 year old MMC1&2 B&O cartridges are still fine, showing no signs of weak or stiff suspension. So many discount the B&O because of the lack of new carts-maybe I'm very lucky-but if I am, that's something new! AND-the Soundsmith SMMC-1 is a very capable (Stereophile classA) cart for $700.
 
Fitzy,

THanks for the Technics SL-10 info.

pfcs49,

I did not consider B&O since I've read they are not reliable, are difficult to repair and require special cartridges. Is that true? The cartridge issue is probably the most important.

What headshell the PX-2 has- universal or proprietary?

Thanks.

What.
 
All Bang & Olufsen turntables accept only B&O or SoundSmith cartridges. Nothing else. Exception is if modified for P-Mount (A company in Atlanta does this only on tangential tracking models).
 
Fitzy said:
I can recommend the Technics SL-10. I have had two in the past and regret selling them. I have been searching for one for over two years as they seldom seem to appear on the used market. Built in moving coil headamp so they can be used with many modern amplifiers that don't have phono inputs and you can use passives.
Click to expand...

Here is one at that auction site right now:

[Edited by Moderator: eBay auction links are forbidden anywhere on AK except for the Dollars & Sense Forum. Since you'll get more discussion here in Turntables, link removed. If you want the link, the thread will be moved to D&S.]

I wonder what cartridges it takes?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm also in support of the SL-10.

They're quite hard to find, and even harder to find working, but they sound great and are very easy to live with. Record on platter, close the lid, press start, sit down and enjoy.

I listen to more vinyl than any other format now, thanks to my SL-10.

A $999 budget would get you a used one of these (or possibly it's big, fully programmable brother, the SL-15), and leave you with enough left over to have the unit mechanically and electronically serviced. I bought my 1980 built one in as-is condition on eBay, and after a thorough service, it sounds fantastic and works perfectly.

Fortunately, the most common failures are caused by mechanical things (drive motor needs cleaning, worn belt, hardened grease) or dry solder joints and leaky capacitors, which aren't a big deal to replace. They're even immune to the direct drive death syndrome, as the critical motor control ICs are still in production - For the SL-1200, no less!

The only problem is that the original moving coil cartridge will be most likely missing or unserviceable - Others have found even N.O.S ones to have faulty suspension just from age.

I personally have an Ortofon OMP-10 on mine, but there are plenty of other P-Mount options, both new and new old stock.

Fitzy said:
Built in moving coil headamp so they can be used with many modern amplifiers that don't have phono inputs and you can use passives.
Click to expand...

It's actually a pre-preamp. Lets you use a low output MC cartridge with a MM phono input. It's probably the SL-10's sonic achilles heel - It's better left off and an outboard step-up transformer or preamp used.
 
I've been very happy with my Technics SL-M3 linear tracker. Cost me $600 (including a Grado Silver) from The Turntable Factory, a turntable repair shop. There's no suspension, it uses p-mount cartridges like the other Technics linear trackers, but it has a traditional style plinth instead of the close-and-play construction. The arm moves back-to-front, on the left side of the platter.

I suspect that, with the higher budget, one could do better.
 
kotofei said:
Fitzy,

pfcs49,
I did not consider B&O since I've read they are not reliable, are difficult to repair and require special cartridges. Is that true? The cartridge issue is probably the most important.
What headshell the PX-2 has- universal or proprietary?
Thanks.

What.
Click to expand...
I have 2 8002s. Once I re-capped both, they became very reliable workhorses.
Then I strayed to the dark (Jap) side and acquired a PX2 and a PX3 because everyone seemed to be impressed by them. Their reputation is well deserved, but I am just as impressed by and satisfied by the 8002s.
The PXs take a proprietary Yamaha headshell with no fingerlift, but any std headshell will work.
Ultimately it's probably more a question of what deal you can find-I've heard similar good things about the Technics SLs and they seem to resemble the Yamahas a good deal.
I'm very satisfied with the B&O 8002s and the Yamaha PX-2/3s and will keep all 4-should last me effectively forever.
If you can aquire a working 8002 with a good original cartridge, I'd grab it if its under $400. Just need patience. I paid less for my 8002s ($200 & $250) than I paid form my PXs ($300 & $600), but despite intermittent functionality, both B&Os needed recapping, a labor of love that may have created some bonding-but, hey!-isn't that what we are about? Lately on that auction site they seem to bring $700ish and none were re-capped. Last year one went to $1200!
And both PXs needed some serious attention over time: main belt issues, cue-damping issue (PX2) and basic setup, lubrication, and adjustment issues.
My hunch is that most PXs that haven't had experienced service will need some before they work fully satisfactorily today.
Enjoy your hunt! phil
 
HI,
I had a B&O 4004 linear tracker in the seventies when they were a current model. It was bought new (expensive!). I used only the B&O top of the line cartridges with it. Without a doubt, it was one of the finest turntables I have owned. The cartridges were great too. Over the four years I had it, there were no problems. Unfortunately, I was limited to B&O cartridges and I wanted to go with moving coil designs. So, the B&O had to go. I cried a little because I truly loved that turntable.

I replaced it with a Yamaha PX-2 which had a universal head shell. Now I could go with any cartridge and I moved to the moving coils. Since then, I have never owned another MM. The PX-2 stayed in my system for about 10 years and I had no problems with it. It was a very fine turntable.

Of the two, I felt the B&O was the better design but not by much. The B&O linear designs were optimized in a unique way which took advantage of the fact they had control over all elemments of design. The Yamaha, like most integrated models, was more generalized and this kept it from reaching the ultimate performance levels acheived by B&O. The proprietary cartridge issue was my only objection with the B&O linear trackers.

As my finances improved I replaced the PX-2 with a Sota Nova vacuum turntable. On it I mounted am Eminent Technology ET-2 air bearing arm. This was around 1990. I still have this combo today. The tone arm has been upgraded several times with factory improvements. And it remains the best I have owned and one of the best I have heard or seen.

The point here is I have had nothing but linear tracking tone arms since the B&O 4004. In my view they are the only way to go no matter which type of tracking system we are talking about (air bearings or optical servo; the Rabco mechanical switch type servo is inferior).

So, I suggest that you persue your linear tracker. You won't be sorry. But do try to get one of the better ones. Don't be afraid to spend a little more for the best. The results will be a turntable you will love and have for many years. The plastic wonders are junk.

Sparky
 
Find a working Rabco SL-8E if you can. You can linear tracking on your t. t. of choice.
 
For a complete Linear Tracking table under $1000, get a restored ReVox Linatrack, a B&O higher end model, or get a Harmon Kardon Rabco armed model. :tresbon:
 
My present turntable, a Pioneer PL-L1000, is my second linear tracker (the first, being a B&O).
The L1000 can accomodate a wide range of high quality cartridges and sounds fabulous. It is a real kick watching it work. I recommend it highly.
 
I've recently added a Technics SL-10 and an SL-7 to my living room system, don't overlook an SL-7 - they sound great.
 
Best Linear Tracker Under $999

I'm really satisfied with my Yamaha PX-2 with a Denon DL-103D cartridge. I must have around $900 invested in it minus the cartridge, the purchase price plus the cost of having it completly serviced back to original spec. One thing I'm FANATICAL about is a solid platform for all my TTs, I use Target wall shelves with absolutely no feedback/footfall issues, an elephant could run thru the house and none of the TTs would miss a beat. No matter what LT TT you get if you don't have a solid platform you will be back where you started with your first LT.
 
panasonic SL- DL- 5

I have a panisonic technics DL 5 and I love it. I bought it new over 20 years ago no problems, love the P- mount . :banana:
 
I am partial to the ReVox B790. Rock solid and they sound great.
The typical Swiss type of engineering, once you look inside you realise why their trains run within 10 seconds of their scheduled times. If you want pretty and great sounding this might not be it as their look is rather industrial.

I got mine up and running with a Goldring 1012GX and love it. The wife won't let me plumb it into the main system though as she thinks its hideous.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
For a complete Linear Tracking table under $1000, get a restored ReVox Linatrack, a B&O higher end model, or get a Harmon Kardon Rabco armed model. :tresbon:
Click to expand...

What is ReVox Linatrack? Only B790 model or any ReVox with the linear tracking arm?
 
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