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Reason for buying old/classic turntables

Could you please clarify why many people buy old/classic turntable from the 1960's or 1970's? Are those turntables better than the contemporary ones? Is it just emotion and nostalgia? I'm also asking because these classic turntables are often quite expensive (like vintage automobiles and wine). Recently I saw an advertisement for the Technics SP-10 Mk II for $3,000 and a Micro Seiki SX-111 for $6,000. You can also buy a modern turntable like an Avid, a Clearaudio or Raven for that kind of money. Or are these classic turntables still superior to the modern ones?

Chris
dazzdax

Showing 5 responses by dazzdax

dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
Mapman, we are entering a new golden era of direct driven turntables! I must say that I liked the ads from Technics/Akai/Sony/Denon very much --> direct drive was for my generation the ultimate in drive technology (Technics SL-1200, Denon DP-60, wow!) and back then (during the seventies) it was a "politically correct" thing to have a DD turntable.

Chris
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
Hi Radicalsteve, what do you think of the old ugly-as-sin but truly magnificent Thorens Reference turntable? This should be the best turntable ever made, together with the Rockport Sirius III and the Goldmund Reference of course. No vintage collection is complete without :)

Chris
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
The analogy with vintage automobiles is restricted to cosmetics only. Contemporary cars are much more evolved than the old ones, or aren't they? Contemporary turntables are not better per se than the vintage ones. Of course classic cars are very very nice (more elegant cosmetics than the modern ones). I think my Mercedes-Benz 500E looks better than the W210 series (with the ridiculous oval headlights).

Chris
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
In several replies posted here in this thread I have a strong feeling that many of us are merely driven by emotion and nostalgia towards the ownership of a vintage turntable, not because of the believe that these vintage tt's are better than the contemporary ones. Am I wrong?

Chris
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
If there is NO sonic difference between vintage and contemporary turntables, then we don't need the VPI's, TW Acoustics, Avids, Brinkmann's, Teres, Basis, Galibiers, etc. This is a sad conclusion for those manufacturers.

Chris
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