New Turntable Advice

it’s good to have a solid spare TT, nice if it has different technology.

someone ought to get this Mitsubishi LT-22, Quartz Lock DD Linear Tracking, auto play/return.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226961366689?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=ffcf7888-8c02-11f0-adb5-343763653635

a few others are listed

https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=mitsubishi+lt-22

I set one up for a friend, he has two TT81’s, and a PL-3 three arm JVC Plinth, some fancy arms nearing final assembly. We are not certain it will sound any better, and the LT-22 is full of convenience. I had it here for a while, compared it to my then two arm TT81. is quite solid, excellent linear tracking.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226961366689?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=552c82b4-8c00-11f0-8898-393036313037

Make sure the two LEDs that guide the arm’s movement are working (if it starts and plays, they must be working). That’s the only tricky thing about them.

An LT-20, Wood Look (vinyl wrap), no bids yet

https://www.ebay.com/itm/205703469746?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=81b74118-8c03-11f0-ae19-343763653635

speaking of a spare TT, with different technology, I gave my spare Technics SL-J33 to my son

this is NEW, they are very compact, programmable, linear tracking, Quartz Locked DD

https://www.ebay.com/itm/406188053206?_skw=sl-j33&epid=10045792015&itmmeta=01K4JEK6HNXBBXKPGQK413RV9T&hash=item5e92b1d2d6:g:EpQAAeSwiz1oujmI&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cS70VUG9eIEfwr5llEYjKheBA2lcrLrS0iBmuNMovoQirrhiY3Rv4oIVsP2t8EQl0zEHuwLxbB5WHy4jJxNQy5MeGkC0S7GtxbV3PvLKbt5pRfeKxUw5kFMWKav1xlOKQCsM4RdsW8Lo2Z9%2FgYcTPflZCVlgNgavlRGCP7i6K7hJc5p02ZcRm4KqyNJsxNm6GbHCLmPeDVY4YK8UZn7hlfqtQRXurdgqIigR48uDAleqsyWguZ5Bjs6NYz3F5soQDgqXmm%2FllGkDoUU5%2Fd2ODs%7Ctkp%3ABFBM-ujMzqRm&pfm=1

many others for sale

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=sl-j33&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2332490.m570.l1313

I put a P-Mount  with advanced stylus on it. I loaned it to 3 others while their TT's were being fixed or waiting for something ordered, they all had to admit it sounded darn good,

Well this is getting to be a very interesting conversation isn’t it?  Idler driver turntables may be way off topic, but what the hell.  I figure all of us are essentially on a parallel course with flat earthers anyway so why not diverge when the opportunity presents itself?  Of course Lewm is right, this is not a good place for a neophyte to be looking.  I was a neophyte myself when the TD124 (and TD224) were phased out and the TD125 era began.  Thorens held demonstration/clinics where there was instrumentation used to measurably prove the superiority of the new TD125.  My ears told me it was quieter, much quieter.  Of course there were a few holdouts, mostly because the TD124 looked so cool, but over the course of time most serious audiophiles switched to the new model.  As a dealer we hated to see a valued customer bringing in his TD124 to trade in a way because we knew that they were not an easy sell in those days on the used market.  By the time I had the money to buy it was a TD125MKII, so I never did buy a TD124.  I still like them, and I consider my VPI HW-III to be the successor.  And it still sounds good.  But it is a little soft spoken.  A good idler is noiser, but it has more slam.  Better than either, in my opinion, because of practicality really is a direct drive.   Any are fun. 

neophyte interesting ...

Elliott I still have my Sony PS-X700 DD.

Center Tracking Isn’t album runout a big deal? WoW and Flutter, not important if you're listening to Rock and Roll or metal music I suspect. Jazz and Classical Vocals its important.

@badbruno,

Three items you may wish to consider if you are interested in keeping the VPI Prime but modifying it to correct and improve its performance.  

1.  There is no reason to replace the VPI cueing level - just refill-it:  see the directions here - VPI Arm Lift too quick… | Steve Hoffman Music Forums.  Once you slow down the drop of the cueing level, the unpivot arm becomes much more controllable.  

2.  You can upgrade the VPI motor to the latest SOTA design with far improved speed control - Total Eclipse Package – Sota Turntables.   Alternatively, you can keep a look out for a VPI SDS on eBay or US Audio Mart, you want one with a serial number in the 3000's since this was the last version.  

3.  If you decide to upgrade the VPI, it's generally worth it to have the plater thrust plate changed to sapphire and the thrust bearing changed to ceramic.  Contact Steve Leung - VAS Audio who has done this work in past - VAS Audio.  This post describes what is done if you try it DIY Thrust plate and bearing replacement for VPI Turntable- Vinyl Engine.