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Best vintage DD turntables from the 70's and 80's?

Howdy folks-

We’ll I’ve got the vinyl bug for sure. 6 months ago, I bought my first TT, a nice Technics 1200 GR along with some killer vintage MM carts like Audio-Technica, Stanton and a few Grace. I love my GR! I love that little silver bastard A LOT as a matter of fact. A couple weeks ago, my second table arrived, a minty fresh Luxman PD-444 from Japan. This is a Micro Seiki built TT and was the "tits" in the mid 70’s. I can mount 2 arms on the Luxman. I’ve got a nice Victor 7045 arm coming soon along with a Victor X-1IIe MM cart which work quite well together.

I’d like to add another Vintage TT from the 70’s or 80’s and probably phase out the GR. I like the look of the old Pioneer, Denon and Victor tables. I’d like to get a vintage table that can be serviced if needed, something I can add a sweet vintage arm too. 3 arms are better than two!

I’d like to hear suggestions and comments on some fantastic, cool as crap, vintage turntables that you think should sit next to the Luxman.

Thanks again for your help!

Brent




128x128knollbrent

Showing 6 responses by downunder

downunder
1,329 posts
 
Not sure there is any best Japanese DD out there but the two following are certainly in the top few. 

But I do love my Pioneer Exclusive P3 table aka 1979 which has given me almost 10 years of fault free performance. Only available at the time in Japan.

More recently the Technics SL1000mk3 aka SP10mk3 with Thales tonearm is also excellent.

There are the two tables on the left of the rack in the link below

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1845/29654559497_b63d314ab5_b.jpg


downunder
1,329 posts
 
I agree, the PL-70II or P-10, i wish i could find one. They are so nice compared to modern Pioneer’s crapy turntables, the best ever MM cartridge designed for this Pioneer tonearm is PC-1000 mkII (Beryllium cantilever). Here is PC-1000 mkII MM on Pioneer P-3 turntable with removed wooden plinth, look what’s inside. Lewm’s favorite P-3 with coreless motor is amazing, read more about it.

PL-70-II is much cheaper alternative, but i would give them my prize for design.

P.S. All info about the cartridge: https://audio-heritage.jp/PIONEER-EXCLUSIVE/etc/pc-1000ii.html



I have owned the Exclusive P3 for almost 10 years of perfect fault free performance. One of the best tables ever made. The Technic s EPC100 EPC mk4 is an amazing cart as well, although the suspension is fragile.
downunder
1,329 posts
 
The Exclusive P10 is reportedly very close sonically to the P3 and should give you more leeway financially.

I own the P3 and have owned two P10's.  the P10 is a very nice table, however the P3 is in another universe as far as as sound quality goes. 

Outside of the parts of the tonearm - its very cool being able to swap arm wands between both tables, everything else on the P3 is built exclusively for the P3 and is the best table Pioneer knew how to make and it sounds amazing.   
downunder
1,329 posts
 
There are two versions of P3, the best one is P3-A - right ?

They are the same table except for the tonearm which has some different specs to be more compatible with lighter more modern lower compliance carts as I was told once. I have had no issues with modern cart’s at all, so perhaps more to have a new model when the Technics SP10mk3 was released.

According to the vintageknob the signal-to-noise ratio went from 78dB on the P3 to 95dB on the P3A, so I suppose it is correct to assume it is (much) better.

as JP mentioned, that is incorrect. If you read the footnote, all that happened was a different way to measure signal to noise ratio. The P3 and P3a are the same table and both measure the same.


cheers
downunder
1,329 posts
 
No probs Edgewear.   A bit like the specs they used for cd when comparing to vinyl,  not apples to apples 
downunder
1,329 posts
 
best-groove154 posts10-06-2018 11:05pm
The SP10 sounds a little "edgy" in comparison....


What plinth do you use?


   Certainly not my words.   

I have a SP10mk3, not mk2.  It is in the factory plinth with Stillpoint V feet, micro seiki CU180 copper mat with Thales Simplicity II tonearm
and JP Jones wonderful MN6042 chip replacement     - a must for all SP10 mk3's 
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/technics-sp-10mk3-turntable-and-jp-jones-replacement-chip-for-mn6042

sound is powerful, concise, energetic and smooth - The P3 has a fraction more top end extension imo.

cheers
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