I Can't Stop Buying Vintage Turntables! Linn, Micro Seiki, Onkyo...
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- Опубліковано 7 жов 2024
- I can't resist acquiring new vintage turntables when I see a good one available!
Links to previous related videos:
Too Many Turntables? • Too Many Turntables? T...
The Parks Audio Puffin DSP Phono Preamp • The Parks Audio Puffin...
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Some of vintage turntables:
Micro Seiki MB-14
Onkyo CP-1057F
Linn Sondek LP12
TEAC GF-350
Instagram: @myown.devices
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I'm like you. I too can't stop buying vintage turntables. There are just too many great bargains out there on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace. This hoarding and addiction almost cost me my marriage. Nonetheless, its all (10+) in the basement as my own personal stash. I once met a guy in Sacramento who collected vintage audio cartridges. What is amazing is he had 100s in his collection. I was looking for a P-mount cartridge to modify/retrofit on a linear tracking Bang and Olufsen turntable. The discontinued B&O MMCX proprietary cartridges are well over 35+ years old. Its an outrageous cost to replace (NOS) or to rebuild them. I recently got a great deal on a beat-up Pioneer PL-560. My next project is to build a custom wood plinth for it. Thank you for your excellent video - you're not alone in our unique hobby. At least vintage turntables are much cheaper (and easier to rebuild) than vintage reel-to-reel decks.
I wound up with an Onkyo CP 1500F that had belonged to my parents. I like that it has an interchangable headshell and automatic functions. The only "repair" it needed was to readjust the drop point for auto-start so that it landed in the lead-in groove instead of in the first song.
There's a guy in Des Moines IA who has a business rehabbing Dual turntables only. A couple years ago I drove down from St. Paul, MN with my mid-70's 1229. He did a really nice, thorough job of cleaning, adjusting and replacing some aged-out parts (although my dust cover picked up another scratch on his workbench), and it cost about $200 plus gas money. The auto functions work fine now. It's not my main turntable (that's a manual Rega), but it's great to have it working.
Buying vintage gear is addictive!
I bought a Linn Sondek LP12 (with Ekos arm and Troika MC cartridge) back in 1987/1988 when I lived in England. I did the setup myself when I moved to the US. Used a spirit level to level the sound organization table it was on, and made sure the suspension bounce was directly up and down when I adjusted the gromets (to keep the arm board level with the rest of the surface). You might be able to find instructions on where to put your finger on the platter when you do the bounce test. This old version turntable sounded better than a modern Cambridge Audio CXN2 streamer going SPDIF into a Legacy Audio Wavelet digital preamp with fully active Aeris speakers (which was better than using the internal CXN2 DAC). This was with LPs from the 80's versus Tidal CD quality streaming. The motor or power supply finally gave up recently. The last time I checked, the nearest dealer was 8 hours drive away. However, this time round, I discovered a dealer 2 miles away. Given this, I decided to upgrade (to Akurate level) rather than switch to a different turntable. I should be getting the upgraded turntable installed in my home in a week or so, as the parts have just passed through US customs. I am not sure what cartridge you are using. To me, MM sound dull and muffled compared to MC cartridges. When doing some research on the web, I discovered that some upgrades make sense going together. I should probably note that I am using a SPL Phonos phono preamp with the old setup, given the use of an MC cartridge.
I did the circus uppgrade on my 1974 Lp12.I changed the original motorcontrol to hercules at the same time.Sounds wonderful.
The Micro Seiki MB-14 that I use has a 'straight' tone arm.... the whole thing is marvelous. I'll never get rid of it.
In 1971, I purchased a Marantz receiver, speakers and Technics turntable and they're still all operational. It pays to buy quality.
I love my Lp 12. I have the circus bearing and the external lingo power and Linn Akiva moving coil. I would love to do additional upgrades but I have been listening to my LPS for years just the way the table is now and I would never get any other table
The fully-manual Micro Seiki MB-10 was my first turntable, and it rumbled like a train.
I inherited a beautiful Sondek LP12 with a mk1 Ekos and a Troika
Um you do seem to have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous , here in the UK we would regard your acquisition of the Linn deck as a score of a life time . I can guarantee you will not better it if and I mean If you have it probably serviced . Yes your replacement bearing is again a brilliant bit of internet searching , and well done your for finding it . But I can state hear and now nothing you own or ever likely to own in the vintage market will ever come any way near a well sorted Linn LP 12 . That’s why the latest incarnation at £17000 pounds will knock most of the competition out of the ballpark , even decks costing upwards of £ 50 to 60 thousand pounds . I fully appreciate you are trying to cover as much ground as possible , on your channel but please please be aware of the opportunity you have been granted Best wishes and kind regards 👍😀
My Garrard 401 (SME arm) would give the Linn a run for its money
Some of those CD recorders have a small hole that you can stick a paper clip wire into to make the gears move so you can get the door open. After that you may be able to access the belt, which has likely perished, with a tool like a dental pick. Common problem with any tray loading CD players, even the expensive ones. Many videos on UA-cam about different types and how to change them, easy for even a novice to undertake.
I, too, have a Linn LP12 I bought in 1988, only a black wood base. I see you have what was in 1988 Linn’s top tonearm, the Ittok LVII in black. I have the same arm and it’s fantastic. Easiest arm to manually cue, ever. Your rig deserves much, much better than that Shure on the end. Mine still sports the original Linn Troika MC cartridge from 1988, rebuilt 3 times, first 2 times by Linn, last year by Soundsmith in upstate New York. . Still sounds fantastic and tracks like a champ! No moving coil input? Buy a cheap SUT on eBay.
It’s not a Shure cartridge, but rather an AT VM740ML, which is a pretty respectable MM model. I do have a few good phono preamps which I have featured in previous videos (check them out). I do plan on exploring MC cartridges in the future, but I’m good with what I have for now on my Linn, Rega, Technics, Denon, and Onkyo TTs. Thanks for your comments. Please consider subscribing. Dave
We are fans of some of the same equipment. Empire, Acoustic Research, Marantz. I have two Empire Turntables, a 398GA, and a 698. The GA variant has the same anti skating device as on the old SME arms, a rod with a small weight through a loop of stiff wire. You may be lot younger than I am so I'll tell you why IMO these are by far my favorite turntables and why I'd never give them up. The platters are individually balanced like car tires. You can see the balancing holes drilled on the underside of the rim of the main platter. The journal bearings are individually matched and machined to within a tolerance of +/- 1/100,000 inch giving a claimed unweighted Rumble of -90 db. The motor is a Pabst high torque hysteresis synchronous motor. The arm is dynamically balanced meaning that the center of gravity is at the pivot point. This allows for the lowest possible tracking force for a particular cartridge. The arm counterweight is adjusted so that when the force is set for zero the arm is in neutral balance. The tracking force is applied by a long clock mainspring. The arm bearings are sapphires. The arm has a well damped resonance between 9-11 hz above the record warp frequency and below the lowest frequency on a recording. I've had these for decades. I've got a 999VE, 4000D/III, a 999TE/X and somewhere an 880P which was my first cartridge. The Empire cartridges are encased in mu metal which is the best material for magnetic shielding. I also have some other cartridges, a Shure V15 Type II improved and a Shure V15 Type V MR which I use in the 698.
I also have three 9000M speakers I got for free but no marble tops. I had to redesign them improving their treble by adding 6 3/8" polys per channel, one forward firing and five indirect.
My main interest is in classical music. I don't like rock but I do like jazz and pop music up through about the 1950s. I've got lots of equipment. I've got over 3000 vinyls and over 3000 cds. Frankly I don't remember the last time I listened to a vinyl record. I was an audiophile from about age 12 to 25. I was so disappointed with quadraphonic sound I invented and patented my own sound system. The prototype I built and use, what I listen to now almost exclusively had no commercial interest so it is probably the only one of its kind. It's based on entirely different principles.
Here's my advice or at least what I did. When you run out of space for what you have, don't sell it, give it away or throw it away. Buy a larger house.
Like seeing the finds. I just got an almost perfect Sears LXI (made by Sanyo) this week, and it works like new!
Transferring LP to CD? That’s like transferring wax cylinders to gramophone ;-) Crazy, but great vintage fun! Too bad it didn’t work out. Another fun and interesting video, Dave.
The only other essential upgrade needed for the Karousel is the power supply, I’m not entirely sure why, but there are electrical safety concerns regarding the Karousel when installed in a deck fitted with a Valhalla power supply, a used Lingo would be the best solution, but you’d still into four figures.
The Cirkus vs the previous “black liner” bearing is an interesting one, having made that upgrade myself a few years ago, I’d say that the Cirkus gives a more detailed and accurate presentation at the expense of some warm and “bounce”.
I went a few years without an LP12 but recently bought a 1988 model that had been upgraded with a Cirkus… I then took it into my local dealership (only 3 mile from my home, being in the UK, dealers are easy to find), I had a Lingo 2 power supply, Kore sub chassis and Karousel fitted. It looks and sounds amazing, giving the best of the Cirkus and the “black liner” liner bearings, plus a lot more… if you were going to travel hundreds of miles to get work done, I’d definitely suggest going straight to the Karousel, but cost in a power supply upgrade too.
I was on a tt buying kick for a while. I fianally landed on a vpi prime scout. I use it in my main rig. I gave a few of the others away but i still have a technics 1300 and a pioneer direct drive laying around.
A vpi scout is probably the way for most to go. Thiers also the Funk Firm GETT! At 750ish
I like my dampened manual denon m59 or something. Pretty hard to beat overall and bulletproof.
@@jeremywhittler8591 ive thought about trying something else like a sota or something else but i think id be better off upgrading the phono stage and moving to a mc cart
Time to drive that cheesy TEAC unit to a thrift store.
Interesting collection.
That Teac unit does look cheesy as you say, and you definitely wouldn't want to archive your records from that turntable would you! 😃🤪 Looks like the belt has failed on CD writer, it's more than likely a computer drive with either ATA or SATA connectivity on the rear. Is there a little pinhole on the front panel where you can insert a paperclip to activate the emergency eject :) good luck with that one 😃
Yep, that is what I said too (the hole) before reading your post. Belt is easy fix....
I'm glad you didn't try to upgrade the LP12.. that is an Icon in it's self.. so should never be Defaced by thinking it needs upgrading.. the older the LP12 gets the more it works for your ears..
Gotta disagree on this. I’ve upgraded my LP12 steadily for 20 years, and every iteration sounds better.
I’ve owned the Valhalla bearing and the cirkus bearing, to be honest I enjoyed the Valhalla most as it’s adds a bit of bloom to the sound, though the cirkus is more accurate. I could live with either. I used to have a Linn jig and used to adjust my own LP12’s, it’s not rocket science, however wait for the Linnies to say there’s some kind of magic only a Linn specialist has.
Don't even go there after my turntable bug, I am all into 8 track all of a sudden lol
Turntables are the sexiest of audio hardware.
My first turntable was an AR fully manual that I bought from a friend in 1975. My wife surprised me with a CD player in 1985 for my birthday and I sold almost all of my vinyl and started buying CDs. Turntables are awesome, vinyl sucks. Oddly enough, my son loves vinyl.
Have you ever owned an acoustic research turntable I used to have one and I regretted getting rid of it I found it to be the easiest turntable to ever use and I found it to be the least amount of where on your records as long as you maintained it properly and as long as you were attentive to it you had to get up and take the arm off the Record otherwise it would constantly just play and they won't get to the end and stay there because it was a manual turntable but as far as playing the record once you got that tone on balanced and weighed properly there was nothing like it and I happen to love those turntables they're simple and they don't have all the bells and whistles you don't need
I owned the newer AR model with the cherry wood base. Would like to get ahold of another one.
I have a nice separate CD burner I copy all my LPs on . It keeps me busy and they sound great to me. I normally put two LPs on one CD from the same artist. 👍👍🎸🎸🤸🏻♂️
I hate LP12 when it comes to situations like this. You should get a rack to put your LP12 on and work or adjust from underneath.
They all look good but not the TEAC. I would do the bearing upgrade. However I would first clean and polish the original and sound test it along with the new. That way its apples to apples and the results would interest me.
I am sort of in the same situation regarding my lp12. It sounds just fine, as it is and I live a 700 miles by air away from any linn dealer. Apart from maybe replacing the tonearm, I am not sure I would want to mess with the suspension set up.
Nicholas : I understand your concern, I owned this LP 12 in 1986 I still have 2 Syrinx PU2 arms which was made for the LP12.
There are upgrade kits you can buy from LINN in England.
The suspension is not complicated to adjust, the rubbers are used to direct the suspension.
I cannot help you because I am in Belgium.
Greetings
I agree, it is not that difficult to adjust. You buy an LP12 knowing the suspension and upgrade path. Once you take it apart you will see how simple it is. Suspension can take some time (2-30 minutes?!) but its only twisting grommets after you level the armboard. I have an early 80's with pre-cirkus bearing, akito, MK2 10x5 and I love it. The setup is fun.
@@apielet1 I have adjusted the springs, as after 40 years the armboard was not quite level. As you say it is all very straightforward looking. I am just unsure about taking it all apart and dealing with the cirkus assembly etc. and getting that all set up just right. I will probably upgrade the power supply, to allow for 33.3 & 45rpm, but before that I will be upgrading the cartridge from an old at440mla to something much better…
I see your Eagles hat. Do you live in the Philly area?? I live in south Jersey and have a good amount of vintage gear too.
I’m from N Jersey, but I used to live in Philly and south NJ during the 80s. Became a Philly sports fan.
St. Augustine FL since 1997.
Hi Dave, Go Live when you upgrade the bearing on the Lp12, We can coach You through the processes.
Cool vid BTW...
John from Linn-land. (Scotland)
I too am from Linn-Land, the Kingdom area 😉, and have considered getting one for years, as a mate had one but... after going down the older Rega modifications rabbit hole (feel free to check my channel 😉) I'm managing to control myself so far! 🧐 🤣
@@jimsregaturntableshifijukeboxHi there,. They are Very twitchy, I had the same model as Daves'. Invest in an early Garrard 401 instead. I'm just to the North of you, Ower the wahter.
@@JD-lk7im oh no! you may have started a new addiction! 😉😂 🏴 ☺
Ha.! . Come.. Be a Garrardian!
@@JD-lk7im Ah cannae, or I'll be a divorced Garrardian! 😉😂 Managed to get away with all my £20 a time! 🧐 😉🤣 Rega modifications so far! Can't push my luck much further!
I don't think you need to dismantle it completely for the Linn to change the bearing isn't there a hold in the centre to gain access?
If you have to remove the Springs measure them with a ruler first or calipers note down their positions tip of the screw to the nut. Make sure the platter level and on a level surface when checking the alignment on assembly. How much did you pay for the Linn? Use a bearing to check the level on the platter and the table itself make sure both surfaces are clean.
Benefit from some dampening as well dynamat place it on the metal suspension chassis on the plinth inside around the bearing on the platters' on the inside lip of the Inner subplatter where the belt rides and a piece round the spindle on the inside leave the rest open! same on the outer platter the outer ring on inside and the whole surface of the Inner platter not wear it mounts to the inner platter tho! Apply with a wallpaper roller make sure surface is clean with isopropanol first
I have to dual turntables a 1219 and 1229 ya it can be a bug for sure!
Me too. Only I go a little more vintage than you: Garrard 401, Garrard 4HF, Sugden Connoisseur Variable 3 speed, Lenco L70, Collaro 4T.200 and 4TR.200 Transcription Units.
Love my Garrard 401 (SME arm. No way would I swap it for a Linn.
I have the integera onkyo 1055 II 1985 still automatic but does not cue up so it will return but scratch record could that be the same prpblem I have a broken cog never opened it up yet to find out
Garrard 401. Best turner ever🌚
does the teac unit have a transport locking screw? if so there is a small hole underneath the unit for a screwdriver to unlock the mechanism.
That Micro Seiki ooks decent, however too bad it's not a direct drive... because that's what micro seiki turntables are famous for!
The Onkyo looks quite high-end, considering that's an automatic. Most automatics were midrange and entrylevel turntables.
Higher end automatics are quite hard to find and interest into those is starting to catch up... expect it to rise in value quite a bit for the upcoming few years.
It's fun to follow the upgrade path, but don't get caught up in it too much or it will burn a hole in your wallet!
That Teac thing is awful. A "monstrosity" indeed!
Lol two spare styli with plastic cantilever...
I would give it away to less fortunates (if they want it lol) or use it for target practice at the shooting range.
I like automatics. Also have an auto Denon.
@@MODAC Nice, vintage Denon turntables are generally good ones.
I like the Denon DP-55 very much, it's similar to the JVC QL-7.
On the LINN, how about you sell it to me?
I a Victrola like that Teac about 8 years ago, Not for the table, but for the CD burner. Those tables are junk. I patched one of my Duals to the AUX jack. This way I get great sound on the CD. It does great as a burner. The table has played maybe 5 records, It was slow 5 years ago and almost slow to nothing now.. You buy more tables to make more videos.
Don' t be fool around a Linn .Because you purchased a new one I'd suggest you to buy a new bearing and check the platter very well . If a platter is a slightly crashed the turntable plays bad ( don't ask me why ) . Tonearm bearing are sensitive , check them very well - The linn is still a killer machine but it plays the music as a cake . A cake is not a beef. If a late 90s Linn worth 8.5 a new Linn worth 9.2 . Does the latest spec . worth 10.000 usd ? that is up to you . The Linn policy is a Spinn Doctor strategy one of the best in Hi Fi Market . Linn assistance works well and you can get easily replacement parts . As far as value for money concern the LINN is not as good as in the past . A nice cake is not a reference turntable . I'm involved in turntable collecting too. The question is that every TT has strong and soft points . That make the play enjoyable .
I'sorry for the mistake . Because you purchased a used one.....
Now you need a Revox :-)
Also I bought a Technics turntable Sl 1300 MK 2 , render your comments plz.
You will know when you have too much of anything
because stuffing the last one in will burst the walls out from under the roof.
Until then, keep acquiring.
Sir,can you plz suggest me which tower speaker would fit the Marantz receiver 6007
I was given some good advice once that Quality good sounding gear dont start sounding bad just because a fancier new version comes out... Stop chasing the rabbit down the hole haha...
Don't go down the rabbit hole, unless you have Wilson Speakers and McIntosh Power.
lol
I found my Micro Seiki dd40 at a thrift store for $60 😭
Linn dominated the UK with source first philosophy. Took me years to realise that if the speakers don't work in your room, then the source is irrelevant. Since then I work speakers first, then backwards. Such was linn and naims tactics, that not many other brands at similar money got a look in, which was a shame.
The concept of the famous LP12 is ,,stolen,,from the Thorens TD160
... I thought it was nicked from Aristons'/Bendix Systemdek design. Also Scottish built.
No its not. The LP12 was out before the TD160. A three way fight this. Ariston RD11, (not RD11S) Thorens TD150 and the Linn LP12. Tiefenbrun upgraded the suspension and bearing of the Ariston to a higher spec and released this as the LP12. Both the Ariston and Linn were based broadly on the Thorens.
Only 9 turntables? Amateur :)
So you acquired a LP12, read a few forums, spent money of the bearing upgrade, only to then back out of fitting by saying it sounds great. Yet a LINN is one of the most basic decks to work on. Beautifully simple mechanics and easy to upgrade, it’s why so many of us own them and why as you quoted they’ve been in production for since the 70’s. That says everything you need to know. Just a vid looking for views 🤷♂️
If that’s your takeaway after watching, fine…But not my intention.
You should have ended the video for that piece of crap thing which didn’t work, to a cut, with you in your backyard landing an almighty sledgehammer blow on it, then booting it down the road, to the words. “I feel much better.”
There’s a time and a place for smashy smashy! .🙂
You only need one good solid turntable. Seems to me your getting turntables that are past their time?
I have others, see my previous video. Past their prime?
All those Linn upgrades are designed to give their customers an inferiority complex
I owned the LP 12 and thought how overrated it was , so wasn’t kept long.
Overrated? How so?
I bet all your records sound like crap when you do not use the tone arm lift for lowering the stylus.
Cheap vintage TT's are a PITA.