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Not much talk about Yamaha turntables.

I've been wanting to jump into the analog world for years, but for a lack of experience and/or knowledge about the equipment, I haven't. There's plenty of talk here about the big names in analog and I was surprised the other day browsing around somewhere that Yamaha has turntables.  Are these any good?  What do they compare to in terms of other more well-known analog names?  I'm not asking about their $8,000 models.  I will never be able to afford that.  I'm asking more about their sub $1k models.  

Thanks!
shtinkydog
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
There you go, i think they are great Direct Drive turntables from the past and highly regarded today, worth the investment for sure.

Yamaha GT2000L is cute, not sure about Yamaha tonearm.


Anyway, i think there are better Direct Drive turntables in the same price like Denon PD-80 for example. 
shtinkydog OP
838 posts
 
Thanks Chakster, but those seriously look well above $1k.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I can't remember exact price, but i think under $2k or less of you're lucky
lewm
14,701 posts
 
Chakster, Have you ever heard a GT2000 or an L version (or an X version)? These are very highly regarded turntables with coreless motors. In fact, on the current market, a very nice GT2000 or any of the variants will cost more than a DP80. I’ve seen them in the flesh, many times in Tokyo. They are beautifully made and not just "cute". I am confident based also on the testimony of owners that the GT2000 is in the same league with any of the vintage decks that you and I also like.
But I think the OP is inquiring about the current models now marketed under the Yamaha name. Unfortunately, they LOOK a lot like the vintage turntables, which were all DD, but they are belt-driven, not that there is anything necessarily wrong with that. One novel feature of the one model I have researched is that it comes with an "underhung" tonearm. That means the stylus underhangs the spindle. Therefore also the headshell is not offset. This has operational advantages and disadvantages (to some) if you require minimal tracking angle error to make you happy. I can say more about underhung tonearms, because they interest me, but I would not shy away from the new Yamahas solely on account of the underhung tonearm. Belt drive is not my thing, however.
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