Newbie turntable Upgrade

@elliottbnewcombjr TD-403 DD

@elliottbnewcombjr 

Us Technics owners are very sensitive about our precious 1200s.

Kevin is a great guy.  Never met him but he has been very generous with his advice on the phone over the years. I would love to hear his system. I don't think there is anyone in the more knowledgeable about  the Technics 1200 line.

lewm is right,

go for the Technics, add a wood base

on hifishark, there are zero Thorens 403 DD for sale in usa, only 18 total for sale, all in Europe. Which means no one in USA is likely to have seen or serviced one.

actually, I’m surprised you or someone following along hasn’t bought the amber colored acrylic slab with the JVC Victor TT101, with Micro-Seiki Arm that Vlad has in Canada. Last Forever: The cutout would fit a TT81 or TT71 if the TT101 became problematic. There are plenty of them, all Quartz Locked.

here’s one with a scratched dust cover

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/650267192-sl1200-50th-anniversary-technics/

and a NOS dust cover

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/650266996-technics-sl-1200-mkii-mk2-original-dust-cover-newunused-nos/

prefer black, this says NEW, 1 left

https://reverb.com/item/91428756-technics-direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1200mk7

Decades ago, I owned the first SL-1500. Previously, I had owned a $100 Pioneer belt drive. The Technics was twice as expensive, but in my opinion, not as musical, or expressed differently, I enjoyed it less.

I haven’t heard or owned any VPI tables less than $4500 or so, but in my opinion, the 1200G and 1500C are not as enjoyable to listen to as a VPI Prime, Prime X, my old Aries, or a Dr. Feickert Volare. For me, it’s not even close.

I currently own a Prime X and a Dr. Feickert Volare (among others). Unfortunately, those two are out of your price range.

A Denon DP-3000NE, however, is almost in your price range. Last year, I auditioned turntables to use with various low compliance cartridges (Ortofon SPU, Denon, Phasemation, etc.) After auditioning, I purchased a Denon DP-3000NE instead of the Technics 1200G or 1500C. In my opinion, the more expensive Technics 1200G is worse than the Denon. I auditioned all tables with an SPU and two Denon cartridges (DL-103 and DL-103r). With the Technics tables, I could sometimes clearly hear arm resonance which caused certain frequencies to jump out unnaturally. Not instruments jumping out...notes and sounds jumping out. In addition, when I wasn’t hearing resonance issues, I still preferred the Denon. I also prefer the look and feel of the Denon. Aesthetically, it’s not close in my opinion.

Your mileage might vary. I listen to classical, jazz and rock music. Not everyone does. If you don’t, you might hear things differently. Good luck in your search.