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So many great golden era DD tables out there, what do you recommend for $1000?

Pretty much as the title says.
Have been looking for a while for a decent DD table to add to my lot.
Have bought a few lower end ones and ultimately been dissapointed.
Now I know there were/ are literally hundreds of choices from the Japanese Golden era of DD tables.
Looking for suggestions from actual owners of solid DD tables up to about $1000 .
I have read and read but nothing substitutes for real experience.
This would likely not be my primary table, my Garrard 401 has that position for now.

Thank you.
uberwaltz
lewm
14,698 posts
 
bigkidz,
I looked up the Sony 8750 on Vintage Knob. Some photos suggest it has a coreless motor.  Do you know whether it does or not?  If it does, then maybe it might be a stealth L07D, as you suggest.
I don't think anyone would say that a Yamaha GT1000 is worth more in the marketplace than a GT2000. I'd say that both the GT750 and the GT1000 could be had for less than $1000 or maybe a very little more than $1000, in the case of the GT1000.
hagtech
176 posts
 
Is there a reason golden age DD turntables became golden age?  Or conversely, why did the high-end move to belt-drive? 

I think there is.

Fundamentally, golden age DD tables employed a PLL (phased-locked loop) to stabilize rotational velocity to a very accurate degree.  The problem herein is that the frequency response of this negative feedback loop (that's what a PLL is) is right in the middle of the audio band, sitting on top of vocals.  Yeah.  So for every disturbance or increase in stylus drag, there is a corresponding error term which gets amplified a drives a proportional (PID actually) response in the motor to compensate, adding it's own signature.  

I'm pretty sure Fremer pointed this out a long time ago. 

A DD may have an easy time hitting 33.3333 RPM long term average, but short term in-audio-band response may become audible and annoying.  In short, that's why a decent belt-driven table is more relaxing and less fatiguing over the long term.

Thoughts?
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
immediate thoughts is that there already exists a whole thread especially dedicated to that subject. 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/stylus-drag-fact-or-fiction
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@hagtech  
Is there a reason golden age DD turntables became golden age? Or conversely, why did the high-end move to belt-drive?

Thoughts?

Could you please recall Japanese turntable manufacturer who has moved to Belt Drive from Direct Drive ? I can't remember anyone. 

Do you own a Direct Drive turntable to compare it to a belt Drive at least to confirm your statement for yourself ? Do you actually hear any problem when you're playing records on high-end Direct Drive turntable ?  

Personally i have never ever experienced any single problem with high-end Direct Drive turntables such as Technics SP-10mkII, SP-20, Luxman PD-444, Denon DP-80 ... even my Victor TT-101 is working. I have no idea what Mr.Fremer is talking about. Probably a $3k vintage Direct Drive owner should buy a $6k modern belt drive instead pretending for upgrade? In Fremer's wold it will be a $60k belt drive, right ? I will never do that and i can't imagine anyone, who own a High-End DD, trading it for a belt drive. 

Belt Drive, say it again. OMG   

What i see in Analog Planet videos from various High-End shows is the ugliest belt drive turntables ever, for insane prices!  

P.S. I want to remind you that his review for new Technics DD was very positive. 

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