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Vintage Japanese DD Consult and Suggestions Please

A little over five years ago, I worked with Chris Harban at Woodsong Audio to craft a bespoke Garrard 301 for me and my my vinyl collection. I had previously had a Dual of some model followed by a Thorens TD 160 with a nice Ortofon Black MM cart. The 301 was completely restored featuring a heavy mahogany plinth, Ortofon AS 309S tonearm, and Ortofon SPU head. I have completely blown away with how this table has sounded and looked. The sound was huge, rich, and detailed...everything that I heard that idle drives from this era should sound.

Unfortunately, some family health matters have forced me to liquidate some much revered audio gear, and recently placed my Garrard 301 up for sale. I do not wish to be without a way to continue to enjoy my collection and would somehow like to come as close to the performance of the 301 for around $2500 or so. 

My considerations (thus far)for this change are as follows,

Denon DP80

Technics SP10 Mk 2 or 3

Technics SL 1000 Mk 2

Luxman PD 444

As you can see, I am curious about the more vintage looks and sound of the direct drives coming out of Japan, and am hoping to glean from this audience which of these units may provide me with the same (or as close to)level of enjoyment that my 301 has done. Thoughts on tonearm and MC cartridges pairings with each would be helpful.

I am not really considering anything belt driven at this time for whatever reason, or a deck that veers away from a traditional turntable aesthetic.

If it helps, the rest of the signal chain is as follows.

Aric Audio Motherlode preamp

Manley Steelhead phono pre

Aric Audio Transcend EL 34 push/pull amp

Klipsch Forte iv speakers.

 

I am grateful in advance for your thoughts on this matter.

 

 

laaudionut
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,735 posts
 

@alexv has the formula and order correct but depending on room and system bandwidth / SPL ( the op has at present 2x JL subs ) i would add isolation. my plinth is 70# on a 300# rack, speakers in room flat to 20 and spring isolation require d at moderate spl. 90 db peaks. i’ve got 4 arms to choose from on the DP-75 tables, Triplaner Ultimate, Dynavector DV-505, Ortofon 309 Japan geometry 12”, and Infinity Black Widow. Does OP have a target cartridge in mind to steer our inputs ..?

i don’t necessarily agree w shop cosmetics… some parts are as Lew said unobtainable.. PbN charges $75 for platter and about $700 for recap and chip preservation wizardry. I know Peter and always include some beer $$$… hence my fuzziness on pricing.

Yes Japan is supercool. used to get there for work and visit my Sensei… Sounds to me like a sorted or high functioning TT from @alexv is a prudent course…

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,735 posts
 

@lewm ah we all have a white whale… mine is the Big Beveridge….  on a private pirate audio board my moniker is

callmeIshmael

ha…

lewm
14,675 posts
 

Come on over, Tomic.  I am running a pair of Beveridge 2SWs in my second system.  Same size as the model 2 and still direct driven by the built in amplifiers but designed for higher SPLs than the 2, so they go down only to 80Hz and require woofer augmentation.  For that I use a pair of full size transmission line woofers that I myself built 50 years ago to match the specs published in Wireless World for a functional TL using the KEF B139 woofer.  A la the IMF Monitor speaker. I daresay that after 10 years, I have dialed in and stabilized the Beveridge direct-drive amplifiers.

westcoastaudiophile
819 posts
 

@laaudionut from your list I would recommend to look at sl1000mk2. Without tonearm you may find one in good shape, with clear dustcover, fitting into your budget. There are plenty relatively cheap arms’ easily adoptable to it’s original plinth. Advantage of this approach is excellent reliability+performance of SL100MK2 deck! 

Smaller (similar to DP80 setups) excellent ’n’ "audiophile rated” DD oldie deck is Technics SL1200MK4, which definitely will be in your budget range. Advantage of that deck is in titanium tonearm, which I think is still one of the best for SL1200 platform. MK4 is capable 78/45/33rpm speed, and nice RCA connectors on the tonearm base helping to check phono cables.. MK4 was sold only in Japan, and you may need small step-down transformer (such as inexpensive TP-811 japan made one), or replacing original power transformer with any SL1200MK2/3/5 US 117V transformer (obtainable). 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,735 posts
 

@lewm Ha…i knew you and i shared that. I worked at a Beveridge dealer during the end of the golden years. We carried KEF and i’m definitely a fan of the B-139 in Cantata an IMF alignments..i expect your TL is fantastic. I also knew RM and hold everything he touched in high regard. i hope to be back in SE PA for a reunion in June… will yell if that planetary alignment happens ! best in music to you.

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