Best all time EVER Turn table (record player)

[Monkey Wrench]

thanks for the links and help on My NAD cartridge, I'll look up the numbers when I'm near it.

[Por_sha911]

My Mitsubishi LT-22 was considered an elite table in its day.
Linear tracking, quartz logic controlled.
Pics of the LT-22 (not mine)

[gumby]

Heres one on Ebay..very cool
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125075921809

[Robert Coats]

[Robert Coats]

[aschen]

Just picked up this Linn sondek LP12 off facebook marketplace. Circa 1985, box, manual, receipt for recent service and basically in as-new condition. Really surprised it popped up in my neighborhood and couldn't resist

Some consider it one of the best turntables ever made, Im not so sure but it is beautiful and beautifully constructed. VPI scout goes to the closet

[afterburn 549]

Congrats!
Do please tell us what you paid so we can feel good with you!
Or I just want to know, if it's not too personal...LOL

[aschen]

1250$ so not exactly cheap, but i think a smoking good deal because the condition is dead nuts mint.

Ebay is full of lp12s for under 2k but alot of them are crapped out or have oddball parts. Lots of super nice ones for much more too. But hard to find all original perfect one at this price.

An lp12 is alot like a 911, tons of variants and mods and room for owners to screw them up. Brand new top of the line version is like 40k! Looks the same as mine and most of the parts fit, but much higher quality and modern

[908/930]

Nice find with the LP12, it does look quite mint. Audio Technica cartridge on it?

[aschen]

yesir, they had a cheaper AT mounted at service. Forgot the model, the really popular one vm95 or something like that.

Thankfully I have a couple decent cartridges to mount, I have a lower end Benz Micro Moving coil and one of the nicer Audio technica moving coils as well, forgot the model but boron cantilever/line stylus. Just been playing it with the cheapo though and it sounds decent. I am not used to a suspended turntable gotta be kinda careful interacting with it, doesnt take much force to bounce the whole assembly up and down.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by aschen

The true ultimate vintage feel TT is the Linn Sondek LP 12 imho. The still make them and there are hundreds of different specification. A well speced 20-30 year old version can be had in the $1500 range.

Lol my post from 4 years ago, I guess a self fulfilling thing

[908/930]

It took you 4 years, you were not trying too hard, Lol. Nice to have a selection of cartridges to try, really a bit of an art to get the right match, or lots of trial and error.

[afterburn 549]

I was watching some YouTubers and Best turn tables...
I never ever knew there were a few brands new for sale for a coool million bucks! WOW
And good for you Aschen for finding the deal! ( on the Linn)

[jhynesrockmtn]

I don't think this would be considered best of all time, but it has a solid following. It's an Empire 598 III. I found it at a local record store. The wood was a bit rough looking. It had been gone through by a local vintage hi fi tech. He restored the Pioneer Amp I have. Supposedly had a new belt and been lubricated. In really nice shape, they'll sell for $1,000 and up. I got it for $575. It was running about 5% fast even though it had a new belt. This is common with these. I found the correct belt on Esotericsound.com. Now dead on. The wood cleaned up nice after removing some scotch tape that had probably been on there for 50 years.

[Dave Kost]

I sold this Mapenoll air bearing turntable. Ran it thru a old Scott tube amp and Klipsch Cornwall speakers. It was a pain to set up. The air compressor controlled the floating linear tracking arm and air bearing. The compressor was in my garage.

[ErVikingo]

I hardly listen to vinyl anymore. As such, I sold the esoteric TT and kept my Technics SL1200 (which I am thinking of selling).

There is a magic to the experience of getting up, cleaning and then playing vynil!

[aschen]

The empire and air bearing TT are very cool, that is what I like about vinyl cool mechanical things to interact with. Like mechanical watch vs apple watch.

I got away from it for a while as well, 3 small kids take all my time and cant be trusted around fragile equipment. They are getting older so Im headed back in.

I think the one last piece of the puzzle I need is some sort of record cleaning equipment or ritual. May get a very basic vacuume clear (record dr) or at least a spin clean. Even some records I bought in the last few years are starting to get a bit dirty, though I try my best to take care of them.

[ramonesfreak]

spin clean will get you by until you figure out what you really want/need

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Dave Kost

I sold this Mapenoll air bearing turntable. Ran it thru a old Scott tube amp and Klipsch Cornwall speakers. It was a pain to set up. The air compressor controlled the floating linear tracking arm and air bearing. The compressor was in my garage.

The cartoon on post 205 of this thread showcases this sentiment perfectly.

(I still have vinyl, never took it to this extreme!)

[pwd72s]

Anybody here do business with these people? USA turntable mfgr.

https://uturnaudio.com/collections/all