Hunting For The Second Best Turntable In The World

prime minister

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Ok, not necessarily the second best per se. But maybe the best second tier turntable in the world!

With the big gun pieces, the Kenwood L-07, SP-10 Mk 3, Denon DP-100, etc being silly money now, I'm kinda hunting for a table that does almost all that they do, but at a more mass market price. The Kenwood KD-990 seems a good example. Coreless motor, Closed Loop Frame, nice knife edged bearing tonearm, etc. The Technics SL-M2 maybe? Yamaha GT-1000? Oracle Alexandria even.

One thing I'd love is auto lift! I see no reason why a high end table should not lift the arm up at the end of a side.

Do you fine gents have any ideas?
 
Technics SL-1200G.
Sony PS-8750
SL-10mk2
Sony TTS-8000
Denon DP-80
Yamaha YP-D8/9/10
Victor something or other (TT-101?)

You know, the usual suspects, some better than others.

Yamaha PX-2 (curve ball)

I'm much more in the camp of drive units in custom or separate factory plinths but have always been intrigued by the PS-8750. Figures one shows up locally right after I dove into the TTS-8000 again. Funny, everything I've listed was a DD. Ok, throw in a Michell Gyro BD because they sound good and are cool looking.
 
Regarding auto-lift, get the table you want, and add an aftermarket auto-lift.

I've seen the Q-up, and the Tru-Lift, in operation. Both did what they were supposed to do. I confess that I greatly prefer the look of the Tru-Lift, if I were to buy one, even at the much greater price.
 
I'm not looking too seriously these days but when I do I keep looking at the Yammie GT-750. Must be the design. From what I have read so far they are very similar to the GT-1000 and more of them were made, since the 1000 was discontinued in those days.

And how can you not like turntables that call themselves Gigantic and Tremendous ?
 
Regarding auto-lift, get the table you want, and add an aftermarket auto-lift.

unfortunately they dont fit all tables. such as my pioneer plx-1000. if you are planning on using one - make sure in advance that it would fit.
 
I'm not looking too seriously these days but when I do I keep looking at the Yammie GT-750. Must be the design. From what I have read so far they are very similar to the GT-1000 and more of them were made, since the 1000 was discontinued in those days.

And how can you not like turntables that call themselves Gigantic and Tremendous ?

I’ve heard conflicting info on the GTs. Some saying the actual sound quality difference between the 1000 and the 2000 being minor. Others saying it’s dramatic. The 750 I never paid as much attention to.

And yes, could there be a turntable that is any more “me” then a Gigantic and Tremendous? :)
 
Regarding auto-lift, get the table you want, and add an aftermarket auto-lift.

I've seen the Q-up, and the Tru-Lift, in operation. Both did what they were supposed to do. I confess that I greatly prefer the look of the Tru-Lift, if I were to buy one, even at the much greater price.

Yes, the Tru-Lift is definitely the prettier of the two. But somehow my purist sensibilities are bothered by them. They bring things like this to mind:

1207E488-93C9-42F6-AF2A-37D26A0D5E1F.jpeg
 
Technics SL-1200G.
Sony PS-8750
SL-10mk2
Sony TTS-8000
Denon DP-80
Yamaha YP-D8/9/10
Victor something or other (TT-101?)

You know, the usual suspects, some better than others.

Yamaha PX-2 (curve ball)

I'm much more in the camp of drive units in custom or separate factory plinths but have always been intrigued by the PS-8750. Figures one shows up locally right after I dove into the TTS-8000 again. Funny, everything I've listed was a DD. Ok, throw in a Michell Gyro BD because they sound good and are cool looking.

The only thing that surprises me is that you included the Yamaha’s on your list. I would have thought you’d consider them a major step down.
 
unfortunately they dont fit all tables. such as my pioneer plx-1000. if you are planning on using one - make sure in advance that it would fit.
Correct, not every lift fits every table. There are enough different configurations for some of the lifts, that very nearly every table can be fitted with one or another. Tru-lift has a model that fits the Technics 1200 models, that might fit yours.

1602605686935.png
 
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The only thing that surprises me is that you included the Yamaha’s on your list. I would have thought you’d consider them a major step down.
Well you know I've said offline "Just get a GT-2000". I liked my YP-D8 a lot but my Merrill kind of tore it a new one. There was nothing wrong with it, and you couldn't listen to it and say "this is missing" but then the Merrill comes in and its just in another league. Same with the TTS-8000 when I had the EPA-500 on it. That said, its enough turntable for most people and doesn't do anything wrong. It just doesn't do everything that the top shelf tables do. You did say "second best" :)

As for the PX-2 I just think everybody should play with a big linear tracker from the early 80s at some point, as I think they're a ton of fun. I've been using a Mitsubishi LT-30 for 6 months and have enjoyed it tremendously. The only thing it really needed was a FunkFirm Achromat, which added a hint more emotion to the playback, just seemed to free the sound up. I'm not really a mat fanatic but the Achromat is just great.
 
I also said the GT-2000. the 2000X if it is attainable. But only from HiFiDo. They are the only outfit that can pack one to withstand shipping and stand by their product. You do pay a small premium for the service. I will reiterate that the KP-1100/9090 is the better buy.
 
Now... and I am just sayin' this, mind you*... I know a guy. This guy, in general, is a bit disdainful of most DD tts. But the motors in those early Sony "TTS" DD tts... those he says... are something special. They (he says) do not cog. More to the point... he says... you can hear the difference (in output quality) between one of those Sonys... and... umm... most of the usual Japanese DD tt suspects (i.e., be it the lack of cogging or unicorn dust or whatever...).

All I can say is the one I have sounds awfully good -- and my hifi colleague (and member here, for reference sake) @forkliftman15 (who set the one up that I have for me) opined "I guess that's what they call a black background" when we fired it up (some time ago, now).

I listened to Side Two of Abbey Road** on it last night, and it did sound good (and it wasn't even a high-zoot pressing thereof... I just pulled out the orange "Capitol" label pressing I bought in the late 1970s 'cause it was handy and I knew it was in good condition).

As an aside, there are a lot of copies of Abbey Road here -- for which there is no logical explanation. :)

I guess this doesn't help much, does it?
Oh, well... I enjoy practicing my typing, and using italics. :smoke

1602617746691.png
_____________
*
On the "plus" side, I heard this guy say this out loud... as opposed to reading it on the internet.
** Which, at this late date, I think just might be my single favorite pop/rock album side, full stop.
*** Oh, and ellipses (or is that ellipsises?)... I like to get practice using those, too...
 
Now... and I am just sayin' this, mind you*... I know a guy. This guy, in general, is a bit disdainful of most DD tts. But the motors in those early Sony "TTS" DD tts... those he says... are something special. They (he says) do not cog. More to the point... he says... you can hear the difference (in output quality) between one of those Sonys... and... umm... most of the usual Japanese DD tt suspects (i.e., be it the lack of cogging or unicorn dust or whatever...).

Maybe this is the reason why I enjoy listening to my Sony TTS2500 and even the humble Denon DP1250. AFAIK, the DP75 and DP80 also use a similar motor.
 
Any DD turntable with a suitably advanced stator, speed control, and sufficiently heavy platter should exhibit no discernable cogging / speed ripple. Hell, there should be just as much if not more potential for cogging with old-skool rim drive / idler drive.
 
Maybe this is the reason why I enjoy listening to my Sony TTS2500 and even the humble Denon DP1250. AFAIK, the DP75 and DP80 also use a similar motor.
... and that may be. I don't actually know too much myself about the Denon tt world. I have some positive memories of some I heard and saw, but it's on the order of four decades ago now.
 
Now... and I am just sayin' this, mind you*... I know a guy. This guy, in general, is a bit disdainful of most DD tts. But the motors in those early Sony "TTS" DD tts... those he says... are something special. They (he says) do not cog. More to the point... he says... you can hear the difference (in output quality) between one of those Sonys... and... umm... most of the usual Japanese DD tt suspects (i.e., be it the lack of cogging or unicorn dust or whatever...).

All I can say is the one I have sounds awfully good -- and my hifi colleague (and member here, for reference sake) @forkliftman15 (who set the one up that I have for me) opined "I guess that's what they call a black background" when we fired it up (some time ago, now).

I listened to Side Two of Abbey Road** on it last night, and it did sound good (and it wasn't even a high-zoot pressing thereof... I just pulled out the orange "Capitol" label pressing I bought in the late 1970s 'cause it was handy and I knew it was in good condition).

As an aside, there are a lot of copies of Abbey Road here -- for which there is no logical explanation. :)

I guess this doesn't help much, does it?
Oh, well... I enjoy practicing my typing, and using italics. :smoke

View attachment 28497
_____________
*
On the "plus" side, I heard this guy say this out loud... as opposed to reading it on the internet.
** Which, at this late date, I think just might be my single favorite pop/rock album side, full stop.
*** Oh, and ellipses (or is that ellipsises?)... I like to get practice using those, too...
Are you talking about the TTS-2500 drive that's in the PS-2250 and 2251? It's hyped by that maker-of-the-ugliest-plinth-you've-ever-seen guy who really built up the Lenco craze?

I had a 2251, which uses the AC TTS-2500 drive unit, which I'd used with an FR-24mkII, Grace 704, and Tokyo Sound ST-15 tonearms (as well as the stock arm). It was a good motor that I'd contemplated putting in a different plinth, though I alway felt it was a bit of both-worlds. Lower torque like a belt drive, but a direct drive. Had a smooth character to it, very pleasant if not exciting. The piano-key on/off/speed buttons were the best part...loved those!
 
The Technics SP10 Mk2 / SP15 are both good, solid tables. If you want to go completely orthogonal from the Technics DD, perhaps look at the Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck - belt drive, low torque, massive platter (not Teres massive, but pretty damn heavy).

Sadly, neither offers auto-lift, but as others have pointed out, there are options if one is so inclined.
 
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Are you talking about the TTS-2500 drive that's in the PS-2250 and 2251? It's hyped by that maker-of-the-ugliest-plinth-you've-ever-seen guy who really built up the Lenco craze?

I had a 2251, which uses the AC TTS-2500 drive unit, which I'd used with an FR-24mkII, Grace 704, and Tokyo Sound ST-15 tonearms (as well as the stock arm). It was a good motor that I'd contemplated putting in a different plinth, though I alway felt it was a bit of both-worlds. Lower torque like a belt drive, but a direct drive. Had a smooth character to it, very pleasant if not exciting. The piano-key on/off/speed buttons were the best part...loved those!

Learned something new today...I didn't know Jean N hyped this TT aside from Lenco. I was too busy doing other things when he was active.
 
Linn LP-12? 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

I should clarify that I've nothing against the Linn except their schtick that the LP-12 is "the best". Hence my suggestion...
 
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Learned something new today...I didn't know Jean N hyped this TT aside from Lenco. I was too busy doing other things when he was active.
He’s certainly talked about it, how it’s the one DD motor he’s a real fan of. It has a somewhat unique motor. Lower torque “AC drag cup” or some such. No quartz lock or that kind of thing. It really is a nice sounding motor unit. I just don’t think it’s necessarily better than other, later, DD units and my own ears preferred Sony’s later TTS-8000, among others.
 
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