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The best turntables at their respective fields?

davidro

davidro

Lunatic Member
So, for example:

Idler - Garrard 301

Direct Drive - Yamaha GT 2000X

Belt Drive - Can't really tell, LP12?

Your takes? Let's just choose only one deck each. Literally the best.
 
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For me it is,

Best idler drive, Garrard 301 or 401, Thorens TD 124, EMT any model

Best Direct Drive, Technics SP-10 Mk II or EMT, or Denon broadcast table or Kenwood L-07T

Best Belt Drive, Linn Sondek LP-12, AR XA, or Thorens TD 150, TD 126, or TD 160 or TD 320.
 
Let's limit the choice to only one deck each. The best, literally. That will make your decision harder! :D
 
Idler - Dual 1229

Direct drive - Technics SL-1100A

Belt Drive - Grado Laboratory Series
 
Rethinking it is:

Idler Drive: Garrard 301
Belt Drive: Continuum Caliburn
Direct Drive: Neumann Disk Lathe (many refitted with Technics SP-10 Mk II motors)
Idler/Belt Drive: Thorens TD 124 (It uses both)

Best of all, Period

Neumann Disk Lathe which cut the darned LP lacquer master to begin with. Yes, they do have a playback tonearm. Uncolored on playbacks.
 
All due respect to original poster, but this is a pointless excercise. My idea of "best" might be far different than other record collectors/audiophiles. For example, anything on my "best" list would have to include not only 78 rpm, but variable pitch control as well.

Given my needs, I'll put in a vote for:

Direct Drive: Technics SP-15

That's based on my experience, as I own one.

No comment on belt or idler. Those that I own are not even close to considering as "best."
 
cactuscowboy said:
All due respect to original poster, but this is a pointless excercise. My idea of "best" might be far different than other record collectors/audiophiles. For example, anything on my "best" list would have to include not only 78 rpm, but variable pitch control as well.

Given my needs, I'll put in a vote for:

Direct Drive: Technics SP-15

That's based on my experience, as I own one.

No comment on belt or idler. Those that I own are not even close to considering as "best."
Click to expand...

Apart from being pointless, you're quite right. I didn't define what makes a deck best. Not all of us tried all the decks in the world to be able to say what really is best or what makes a deck the best. Could be a fantasy best or else. But we're not always writing a thesis on this forum are we? Come on take it easy isn't it interesting to see what other people think? :thmbsp:
 
Since the OP clearly stated this is just for the hell of it, my votes:

DD - Pioneer PL-9

ID - Dual 1229

BD - pass - only experience here is with the lower end decks
 
Hi David,

Since my experience with the best-of-all-time TTs is quite limited, I will list the best TTs I own or owned and after those (in brackets) what I suppose would be a great TT of that class, one that I wish I could have, meaning nothing more than that!

Idler: Dual 1012 ( Garrard 301, 401, Thorens TD 124)

Belt: Clearaudio Emotion - in the vintage category I would add Thorens TD-126 ( Clearaudio Champion)

DD: Revox B795 (don´t have one as clearly defined as the previous ones)
 
Guys don't be shy about having some fantasies. I think it's worthwhile to see what others understand to be the best decks and compare different views. And I'm seeing decks I didn't know before which others esteem the best decks ever. That's interesting and helpful.
 
Do you people who have picked the Garrard 301 actually own this table? I just looked it up on Ebay and damn, 5,800 bucks is expensive!
 
skinnybeard said:
Do you people who have picked the Garrard 301 actually own this table? I just looked it up on Ebay and damn, 5,800 bucks is expensive!
Click to expand...

That seems to be an extreme case. Depending on condition, I've seen prices closer to the 700-1000 $ range, but most probably most of them need some work.
 
guiller said:
That seems to be an extreme case. Depending on condition, I've seen prices closer to the 700-1000 $ range, but most probably most of them need some work.
Click to expand...

I think he may have seen one with plinth and a tonearm. The tricky thing about 301 price is that if you pay to get plinth, tonearm(s) & perhaps professional calibration servicing the whole package can potentially amount to a few grands.
 
skinnybeard said:
Do you people who have picked the Garrard 301 actually own this table? I just looked it up on Ebay and damn, 5,800 bucks is expensive!
Click to expand...

Yes! Mine was bought new by my uncle in 1964 and I have owned it now for nearly 20 years.

The cheapest turntable that I have heard that NOTICEABLY bettered it came in at around £5000, so I'd say $5800 for a really good one in a hefty plinth isn't completely ludicrous, especially when you consider that the modern Garrard 501 is around £12,000.
 
I limited my post to those turntables with which I have direct experience over time. Are there better out there? Since the two I listed are popularly owned models I can't imagine that there wouldn't be so long as you're prepared to pay the premium price.
 
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