AudioBear
Minor Hero
The Only Truth Is Music
Posts: 54 
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Post by AudioBear on Oct 21, 2015 12:16:58 GMT -5
Yes, I saw this one the other night when I was doing some research. |
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AudioBear
Minor Hero
The Only Truth Is Music
Posts: 54
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Post by AudioBear on Oct 22, 2015 12:21:54 GMT -5
Well, I think I have decided to go ahead and send my deck out to have it modded, and I will keep it. Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone really helped me make a decision.
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,261
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Post by KeithL on Oct 22, 2015 14:02:39 GMT -5
The purpose of a turntable is to spin the record at the right speed, hold the cartridge in the correct location and at the correct angle, and avoid introducing any especially annoying noises, resonances, or other flaws into that process. Therefore, to put it bluntly, how much of an improvement you can expect to hear from a different turntable depends mostly on what you hear wrong with the one you have now, and how well the replacement fixes those problems. (In other words, if your current turntable turns at the correct speed, doesn't make noticeable wow, flutter, or rumble, and doesn't introduce any obvious resonances or mistracking, then you shouldn't expect to hear a major difference if you switch to a different one.) Cartridges and phono preamps vary enough from each other, and from perfect, that it really can be a matter of "picking your favorite flavor"; however, a turntable is actually a rather simple mechanical device, and shouldn't be altering the way your music sounds unless it's not doing something right. (Because of the way they're constructed, some equally good arms work better with lighter or heavier cartridges, so there is some room there to pick ones that work together well.) The Technics has an excellent reputation, so you're probably better off keeping it and spending your money on something other than an expensive replacement for it... The Technics SL1200 MKII, is a great turntable and I have one that doesn't get proper use because of my VPI, but I just can't bring myself to part with it. I had a Rega P3-24, the previous model before the RP3. Rega turntables are very good in the mids and high frequencies, but they are very bass shy compared to a Technics. The Technics has better pitch stability because it is direct drive, which means the motor doesn't slow down so that you hear a wavering in sound (ie slow sounding warbling). Boom is right when he says maybe the weakest link on the Technics was the arm. The Rega with Groove tracer Upgrades makes a good table a great table and adds that bass definition. With the Rega you will have to add a speed control device or it's pitch will be off, usually Regas spin a little fast, which is their signature. In the price range that you are talking about there is a VPI Traveler at $1100 in blue at Music direct, right now on Demo and a Music Hall Ikura for 899 in white, "UPDATE" as of 10-19-15, a Rega RP3 for $989.00 and a Project 2Xperience for $999.00 and a Music Hall MMf 7.1 for $999.00. The Project 2Xperience is also a great table and the finish is very good looking. My opinion the Traveler will be your best bet and a very good upgrade followed by the Project 2Xperience, Music Hall MMF 7.1 and then the RP3, they do have a Marantz tt15, which is basically a Clear Audio table made for Marantz, but it is $1399. (Please YouTube Traveler) Any previous arm issues have been ironed out a long time ago. I looked at this table before my Music Hall MMF 9.1, which was later replaced with a VPI HW-19 MK IV and its the best table that I have ever owned, period and the heaviest at 50 pounds. Some of these are photo shoot models, I have bought from them and they will take care of you. These prices are insane on great tables, you asked for a deal, snap up something before they are gone, Good Luck in Your Quest!!! So the Traveler would be a step up? |
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AudioBear
Minor Hero
The Only Truth Is Music
Posts: 54
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Post by AudioBear on Oct 22, 2015 14:44:04 GMT -5
The purpose of a turntable is to spin the record at the right speed, hold the cartridge in the correct location and at the correct angle, and avoid introducing any especially annoying noises, resonances, or other flaws into that process. Therefore, to put it bluntly, how much of an improvement you can expect to hear from a different turntable depends mostly on what you hear wrong with the one you have now, and how well the replacement fixes those problems. (In other words, if your current turntable turns at the correct speed, doesn't make noticeable wow, flutter, or rumble, and doesn't introduce any obvious resonances or mistracking, then you shouldn't expect to hear a major difference if you switch to a different one.) Cartridges and phono preamps vary enough from each other, and from perfect, that it really can be a matter of "picking your favorite flavor"; however, a turntable is actually a rather simple mechanical device, and shouldn't be altering the way your music sounds unless it's not doing something right. (Because of the way they're constructed, some equally good arms work better with lighter or heavier cartridges, so there is some room there to pick ones that work together well.) The Technics has an excellent reputation, so you're probably better off keeping it and spending your money on something other than an expensive replacement for it... So the Traveler would be a step up? Definitely all good points, and I'm not sure that I've seen anyone break it down quite like that before. I guess sometimes you have to take it back to basics when you're feeling consumed by all the options and/or opinions that are out there. That further cements the decision to hang on to it, much appreciated! |
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Post by sidvicious on Oct 22, 2015 21:03:11 GMT -5
The purpose of a turntable is to spin the record at the right speed, hold the cartridge in the correct location and at the correct angle, and avoid introducing any especially annoying noises, resonances, or other flaws into that process. Therefore, to put it bluntly, how much of an improvement you can expect to hear from a different turntable depends mostly on what you hear wrong with the one you have now, and how well the replacement fixes those problems. (In other words, if your current turntable turns at the correct speed, doesn't make noticeable wow, flutter, or rumble, and doesn't introduce any obvious resonances or mistracking, then you shouldn't expect to hear a major difference if you switch to a different one.) Cartridges and phono preamps vary enough from each other, and from perfect, that it really can be a matter of "picking your favorite flavor"; however, a turntable is actually a rather simple mechanical device, and shouldn't be altering the way your music sounds unless it's not doing something right. (Because of the way they're constructed, some equally good arms work better with lighter or heavier cartridges, so there is some room there to pick ones that work together well.) The Technics has an excellent reputation, so you're probably better off keeping it and spending your money on something other than an expensive replacement for it... So the Traveler would be a step up? I agree with Keith's premise for the most part, but there are huge gaps in turntable performance from model to model, it's like saying a DAC is a DAC, a Tape Deck is a Tape Deck, a CD Player is a CD Player, because they are all suppose to do the same basic things. I went from a Dual CS-5000, to Project Debut III, to a Project Impression, to a Rega P3-24, Sansui 924, Technics 1200 MK-2 to a VPI HW-19 MK-IV, with SME-309 arm and SAMA motor. The Sansui was bought as a collector's item and the Technics is nostalgic of my much younger DJ, Days. Each of these tables did the same basic thing, but each did it differently and each table sounded better and better with the VPI sounding better than all of them, better bass, speed and pitch perfect. The Technics is a good deck, pitch perfect and great bass and like I said I still have mine and I'm keeping it and will be buying another dustcover and some small accessories for it, but it is not, I repeat, not, a VPI HW-19 MK-IV by any stretch of the imagination and will never be. My dream table would be a SME 30.2 or 20 series,VPI HRX, followed closely by a VPI PRIME (A lot of YouTube listening). If I get blessed and were able to work a trade, that was beneficial to me toward a Prime after hearing one in person, I would probably buy it. The SME 20 series I have heard in person at the dealer's and it will mop the floor with a Technics and much better than my current table. Here is my suggestion, I want you to be happy with what ever you decide and if keeping the Technics is it, keep the Technics. Do yourself a huge favor and go to a dealer that has a decent stock of tables and listen for yourself with records that you have in your collection, heck record what you hear at the dealers with your cellphone to keep it in your mind and then and only then make that decision, you will thank yourself for it, besides what do you have to lose, the Technics is a given. Listen I went through several DACs to get the one I have now, they do sound different. At the end of the day, the only opinion that is truly important, is your own, we all are just a resource, one of many. |
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Post by vneal on Oct 23, 2015 6:52:47 GMT -5
I dont think either table warrants modification outdide of a cartridge upgrade. Spend your dollars on a better table like a VPI Prime
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Post by yves on Oct 23, 2015 10:06:56 GMT -5
I dont think either table warrants modification outdide of a cartridge upgrade. Spend your dollars on a better table like a VPI Prime Vehemently disagree. You have to be near audio deaf to not be able to hear the difference that the tonearm makes. |
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