New Turntable Advice

The maximum industry standard for the Tolerance of an LP Pressing to allow  for an Off Centre Spindle is 0.2mm.

Do LP Pressing creep in excess of 0.2mm? With the maximum being  0.2mm, the liklihood is not overly concerning. 

Do LP Pressings have a dimension less than 0.2mm? The lilihood seems favourable to have pressing within the Industry Tolerance. 

I will leave the explaining of a negative impact of a eccentric rotation of 0.2mm or less to those who really do know its impact on a Stylus / Modulation Interface and the  produced End Sound. 

The GT 2000 is an interesting Japanese Vintage DD as it has off board electronics, which the Module containing electronics are able to be found rebuilt / redesigned as a modern Spec'. 

I have made quite a few purchases of JVDD TT's, some are Punt Purchases and have not had a Bad Experience with Imported from Japan Models where the electronics are a concern when investigated. 

I have experienced Transit Damage or been duped by Ad Info and bought a TT with a damage, where Ad Info showed an intact TT. 

As I by duplicate TT's to be used as a Donor Model, I don't get too put off, if a TT is with a aesthetic issue, discovered after delivery. 

In relation to the GT 2000, I have a SP10 MKII, produced as a Kaneta Design, this has New Electronics and as a desig shares similar design traits to the GT 2000. 

The Options really are Olden Technology with years of unknown usage vs New with a full knowledge of usage. 

My own experience with certain TT models is that Olden Technology, coupled to modern used materials for Mechanical and Electrical Interfaces is able to produce a TT that is a formidable performer, that can stand strong in any company for much less monies than a TOTR Modern Design. 

I have wrote about the impact of demo's given of my go to JVDD TT and owned Phon's in other Threads. The outcome has had profound impact on those who had the encounter. 

I'm also confident Steve Dobb's has produced  / is still producing a Kaneta Variant as well, this as a design puts the SP10 Mk II into a price range that is up with Branded New Designs that come with a price tag 3-4 x the Op's budget. 

My usually used TT Source - TT and Tonearm are in use in the US, if by chance these designs were local to the OP, I would like to think there was a Demo' that could be offered. 

From recollection one Set Up was spoken about as using a rebuilt Ortofon Cartridge and being in the Washington area, but the Down Stream System is unknown. 

With the Op's budget, a very nice TT source will be put to use. 

I just went thru the Sony PS-X700 DD Manual. That is quite a collection of advanced technology, which, if all is well, ,,,, Visually it does not appeal to me.

I’m not sure I like the turntable having automatic control of anti-skate, however, if, in practice, it gets it right, well what could be better?

I don’t see any mention of azimuth adjustment, and it seems the finger lift is on the inside of the headshell, to allow the dust cover to close I suppose, so my headshells with azimuth adjustment might not fit inside the dust cover when closed as their finger lifts are on the easier/safer outside edge. (or did someone inadvertently put a separate lift piece on backwards?)

Weight, not a heavy platter, or plinth, it seems similar to the Mitsubishi LT models I mentioned above. I would choose the Mitsubishi for it’s Linear Tracking over the Sony’s Auto Controlled Pivoted S Arm, as a 2nd system, spare, not main TT.

I find the Thorens TD125 utterly boring looking, I helped Steve at VAS by having some new solid wood bases made by my woodworker, that helped a little, but still no appeal for me, so I never bothered to read about it’s technology, or actually listen to one.

Steve loves his huge VPI, with uni-pivot arm base with mini-din/rca junction box, a nearby shelf with several arm wands with a variety of cartridges ready to set in place. 

I am sitting in my listening room in our NH home, marvelous to be here really, and I am listening to my old faithful HW-19 MKIII fitted last summer with an Audio Technica AT20.  It sounds quite good all in all.  I cannot directly compare it with my two DD TTs, which are in FL, but I think I can provide some general sense of the differences in the characteristics of the sound of direct drive, belt drive, and idler drive turntables.  I am going to equivocate, though, leaning on the late Thurgood Marshall, who when asked to define pornography said he could not do it, but assured the questioner that he knew it when he saw it.  Likewise here goes.  Idler drive first.  I posted yesterday that it has more slam than belt drive.  Lewm asked what that means.  The English language is so imprecise that it is difficult to explain.  If you heard it, believe me, it would be an ah ha moment as the difference is not subtle.  Belt drive has a softer character whereas idler drive is more visceral sounding.  The music sounds harder hitting when played on an idler drive TT.  Direct Drive is perhaps somewhat neutral between the two, but that is not correct either because DD has none of the soft character of a  belt drive and really none of the slam of an idler drive.  Sorry there is no other word that conveys the sense of the difference quite as accurately.  I encourage anyone interested to try to hear examples of each of these for themselves.  BTW, all of my comments are predicated on the assumption that the comparison is made between TTs that are all at the correct speed, the records are flat, preferably using the same record, that the record is well made, concentric with the hole in the center and so on.  One last comment is related to quietness.  For many years belt drive TTs were generally considered to be the quietest, but DD has erased that advantage.  idler drive is still noisier than the others, although a carefully built one is not too bad.  All are fun.  

I read about the TG-125 MKII LB (Long Base), here is what it looks like with an SME 3012 arm

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

Now this starts to appeal visually, and I always liked my SME 3009, I always want a dust cover however

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116748217893?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=3d533958-8ccd-11f0-9b55-343763653635

A unique looking J. A. Mitchell Transrotor

https://www.ebay.com/itm/297596581595?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=5e3bdfa2-8cce-11f0-83c4-393036313037

Not this variety, but I'll never forget the 1st time I saw one