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One turntable with two arms, or two turntables with one each - which would you prefer?

Which would you prefer, if budget allowed: one turntable with two tonearms or two turntables with one each? What would your decision criteria be?

And the corollary: one phono preamp with multiple inputs or two phono preamps?

Assume a fixed budget, but for the purposes of this question, the budget is up to the responder. Admittedly for this type of setup, there will be a sizeable investment once all components of the chain are factored in.

I'm curious to hear how people would decide for themselves the answer to this question. Or maybe you've already made this decision - what do you like about your decision or what would you differently next time?

Cheers.

dullgrin
ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,493 posts
 

Absolutely without question one turntable with two arms. As you said at the same investment level. Turn table performance improves phenomenally with cost (assuming yo are doing your research). Two tts at half the price at almost any cost level are not going to sound as good.

And phonostages even more so! Until I reached the ~ $8K level every Phonostage hindered the output my turntable. It is really easy to get a TT that exceeds the capability of your phono stage.

 

I have been listening to turntables for well over fifty years. And began my pursuit (very inexpensively at first) of the high end over 40 years ago. I am sure I have owned nearly a dozen highly rated phono stages of all cost levels and until I bought my first Audio Research Phono stage 30 years ago, they were of different brands.

noromance's avatar
noromance
10,498 posts
 

I've one turntable with 2 arms (and another turntable with one arm.) Initially, I didn't really use the second arm much but thanks to a generous gift from @tomic601, I now have two phono stages and switch between arms all the time. 

Turntable 1 > 12" arm 1 > phono amp 1

Turntable 1 > 9" arm 2 > phono amp 2

Agree with @ghdprentice that one good table is best.

drrsutliff
933 posts
 

One turntable with two tonearms is what I currently use.  I absolutely agree with @ghdprentice on his comments about the need to invest in a quality phonostage. 

lewm
14,701 posts
 

I have 5 turntables with 5 tonearms up and running into two systems.  I think that makes me a bit crazy, but I viewed it as a project that required the equipment so I could make judgments for myself.  Also, I hate selling anything.

elliottbnewcombjr
7,824 posts
 

I went to 1 TT with 3 arms, I don’t have room for two TT’s, and 1 SUT with 3 inputs to 1 Phono Stage, and PASS for MM thru the SUT to that favorite MM Phono Stage.

I’m gonna assume two arms means you will get into MC cartridge. And 1 arm could be fixed cartridge, but the second should be removable headshell so a variety of cartridges, i.e. MONO, MM, Elliptical. Advanced Stylus could be acquired over time.

MC Low Output means a SUT to get up to MM signal strength.

SUT with PASS for MM.

SUT with two selectable inputs; out of SUT to single Phono Stage.

.......................

My Fidelity Research FRT-4 SUT has 3 selectable inputs, PASS, and 4 optional x-factors/impedances

this one is over-priced, but shows it’s features, they often show up for around $700.

 

Entre ET-100 has 3 inputs, PASS, and 3 optional x-factors/impedances, usually cost a bit less that the FRT-4.

 

 

Note: FRT-4 has internally connected output cable with old simple connectors

Entre ET-100, rca jacks: you can use your own output cable, better connectors, I may modify my FRT-4 one day.

 

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