Oracle Delphi MarkII or Music Hall7? Which one?


I would like to know some feedback concerning 2 turntables. The first turntable is an Oracle Delphi MarkII mint, brought up to specs(new suspension) without tonearm or cartridge. Or a music hall 7 with original project9 tonearm and no cartridge(1 month old).They are both similar in price How are they comparable, which is best. I like the oracle look, classics, and I heard the sound from a music hall 7 is great, it is newer also.Also what type of tomearm is best suited for oracle.Any feedback would be appreciated.thanks
carlsc

Showing 1 response by jhorowitz128

I cannot speak for the Music Hall but have owned an Oracle MKII w/upgrades since '83. A few things you should be aware of:

They can be a b*tch to set up, but once done, will provide yrs. of listening pleasure. Also, every few yrs. the turntable should be "stripped" and have the bearings and spindle cleaned and re-oiled. Not a big deal if you like to "mess" with your stuff.

The Oracle is compatible with a wide variety of tonearms, including unipivot designs. I am currently using an SME 309 on mine. It is crucial that you use the correct combination of springs for the particular tonearm of your choice. Also, it would be very helpful if you had the original instruction book. I think it can be downloaded off the Internet.

What most concerns me about your choice is that you will have to purchase the correct tonearm mounting plate for your specific tonearm. You should contact Oracle and see if they have a pre-drilled plate for the tonearm of your choice. They may still offer blank plates that you will have to drill, but that's kind of a pain in the *ss if you don't have the right drilling equipment.

Having said all that, my Oracle has given me more that 20 years of trouble-free service and I anticipate many more.

Hope this helps,
Jeff