Can we discuss high(er) end TT's with auto return etc??

Hi gang,

After years of having my sony PS-X5 in my living room and my oracle TT in my "main system" (which rarely got used) I really became accustomed to auto return etc.. and now that my Oracle lives in my main audio system I'm missing that simplicity. It's pretty much impossible to use the cuing lever to lift the arm because of the soft suspension of the Oracle.

Years ago I had my eye on a Sony PS-8750 but can you guys suggest other tables that are both user friendly and provide excellent sound quality? I'm willing to make a few sacrifices for this to be more user friendly. My dad has a tremor so he can't use my TT when he's at my house, and it'd be nice if it were a bit simpler for the wife. I do want to keep my Audio Technica cart in my signature.

One thing that is important is reliability. I understand these vintage tables likely need recaps etc... but I'm very weary of any tables with known issues of failure that cannot be repaired.

The last, and maybe least affordable option, is to keep my arm and put it on a non-suspended table that will allow easier use of the cueing arm. I'm not really prepared to invest any more into my analog rig (or stereo at all) so this is the least attractive option.

Opinions and input welcome.

I was pretty impressed with the Sony PS-X50/60/70, semi and full auto tables. Good build quality. An improvement over the X5/6/7. VTA on the fly.

The semi auto Technics SL1700/1710MK2 is another, basically the workings of a 1200/1210MK2 on a suspended platter and with automation. Retains the VTA on the fly. A bit more complex though vs the Sony.

My top pick though- if you don’t need a fully auto table, the JVC QL-A7 is for all purposes a QL-7 and UA-5045 with a nifty relay mechanism to lift the arm and turn off the table at end of play. Clever solution by JVC to use their modular motor unit and existing arm and incorporate an auto lift feature.

Another option is to add something like a Denon DP75 and one of the end of record lifting devices like Audio Technica or Q-Up makes. Again, only if you need end of lift, and not a fully auto table.

Fully auto tables are always more complex than I really am comfortable with- additional motors, circuitry, and/or plastic levers and gears and springs and rods and… Well, I think you understand.

I never heard the Sony 8750 but I bet that’s one heck of a table, by the way.

This is an exciting topic. Great turntables with arm lift. BTW, I've never been able to fit an "aftermarket arm lift" on any table on which I have tried to fit one - there needs to be significant real estate b/w the platter and the arm collar.

There are a ton of vintage Denon models with arm lift - often designated by the letter L after the model number, e.g. DP-62L. Getting a grip on how the Denon models rank in quality and sequence can be challenging.

I'm with Deli, the JVC QL-A7 is a nice high quality TT that is a pleasure to use. It lifts the arm at end of play and shuts the motor drive off.
I don't like bobbing suspended tables either.

BillWojo

Way back in the 80s in college I used an arm lifter (I think the one sold by Audio Technica) on my Ariston RD-11S with Grace 707 to lift at the end of records in moments of (ahem) inattention.

Why not add an arm lift to the Oracle? Yes, you'd have to reset the suspension to make up for the extra weight, but youd get the sound you like, with the convenience.

Btw, my Kenwood, see below, is just a step below the best out of Japan, and it lifts the arm at the end of the side. Not priced as crazily as the leading brands.

I use a Mitsubishi LT-30 linear tracker as one of the four tables I kept…as we’ve discussed offline…though finding one in good condition is a trick. They don’t ship well.

Oops. I just realized the equipment list in my signature is big time out of date.

And the mysterious yet-to-be-named Kenwood is.....?

(Asks the guy with a Kenwood KD-4100)

1tumbleweed said:

And the mysterious yet-to-be-named Kenwood is.....?

(Asks the guy with a Kenwood KD-4100)

Click to expand...

Kenwood KP-1100, otherwise Known as the KD-990.

Quick interweb pic.

On the cheaper and easier to ship side the Yamaha YP-D8 has an excellent tonearm that lifts up with a sudden “ploink!” at the end of the record. At least mine did. Simple, solid, good sounding if not euphonic.

@prime minister: Mighty purdy.

FWIW, my 4100 is full automatic, sounds good to me, and that's enough for me.

Not that I wouldn't move up if I could....

In the "moderately antique" category there are the later Empire tables which to my ears sound far nicer than I imagined they might.

Man there are some good replies in here, thanks everybody! I am going to keep my ear to the ground for something local and this really helps me with some direction. At this point I am not ready to toss the Oracle to the curb, but I am definitely open to something different and like the idea of auto functions. Deli mentioned the complexity of those auto return arrangements and I watched some youtube videos with horrified fascination. Incredibly rube goldberg looking arrangements.

Anyone have experience with Luxman? They sure do look nice as well. I adore the Empires! I have always found them to be visually gorgeous.

Some thoughts:

Luxman, AFAIK, were all sourced from Micro Seiki. They're nice tables, but are overpriced in the market - IMO - because of the Micro mystique. There are better values without sacrificing performance.

Empire: Love the table; the arm not so much. Just my opinion, YMMV.

Auto functions in general: Many tables with auto functions separate those from the playing part. In other words, while in use the auto stuff has no connection to the rest of the platter or arm.

1tumbleweed said:

Some thoughts:

Luxman, AFAIK, were all sourced from Micro Seiki. They're nice tables, but are overpriced in the market - IMO - because of the Micro mystique. There are better values without sacrificing performance.

Empire: Love the table; the arm not so much. Just my opinion, YMMV.

Auto functions in general: Many tables with auto functions separate those from the playing part. In other words, while in use the auto stuff has no connection to the rest of the platter or arm.

Click to expand...

My initial reaction to the Empire arm was that I'd probably replace it with something modern as I've a couple on hand that would fit. Then I got it set up with a cart it liked and changed my mind. It looks positively antique, but there must be some very good bearings etc. in there as it performs very nicely.

The Empire arms are surprisingly good with a cart that likes a heavier arm. I’ve tracked some higher compliance carts on mine (OC9 and Empire’s own 999z/ex) but it sounded better with a lower compliance LOMC like the ubiquitous DL103. Actually the only time I liked my DL103 was when it was on my Empire.

If you can get by with just auto-lift rather than full-auto-return, there's always the add-on Little Fwend:

About — LITTLE FWEND

I second John on the LT-30 or if you prefer a vertical table the LT5-V. I had the same cartridge in both and couldn't tell a difference in sound switching between the two.