Your turntable history

Pioneer PL2, Shure M97 ED

Revolver Rebel, Grado Signature Jr

Rega RP3, Elys II, Exact

Rega Planar 8, Apheta 2, 3

Luxman PD151 MKII, Hana ML

Nice thread - brings back lots of memories!

1969-71 - hand-me-down GE portable changer with speakers, metal case

71-75 - BSR 610 changer, Shure cart

75-78 - BIC 980 changer, Grace F8

78-80 - B&O pivot arm (don’t remember the number)

80 - Sansui DP something, wouldn’t quartz lock

80-81 - Revox B795, Empire cart (stolen)

81-84 - Rega Planar 2, RB arm, Ortofon Concorde (awful), later Dynavector 23R (awesome)

84-present - Sota Sapphire III, Magepan arm, DV23.  Mostly upgraded to V in 2012 (platter, bearing, suspension, power supply - motor still original), now Graham Phantom Supreme and DV XX2 Mk II

Second tables

88-2022 - Pioneer PL-15 II, Ortofon LM15, then OM10. Gifted to a friend’s son (if you know who produces Ice Nine Kills, you know who he is).

2022-present - mid 80s era Rega Planar 3, Grace 505 arm, ATC 440 ML.  Did the platter speed fix with a rubber band from a head of Romaine lettuce.  Works perfectly.  Least expensive fix for a known problem ever.

Decades of happy listening!

My first "turntable" was part of an all-in-one record player by Zenith in about 1958.  I had a Dual turntable after that, in college, but I do not remember the model.  I went into the Army in 1967 and still had the Dual until about 1977, when I purchased a Thorens TD 126 MKII while stationed in Germany.  I "retired" it in about 1990 when I purchased a CD player.  In 2021, I began upgrading my 1990s system, and three years ago I brought the Thorens out of retirement and had it thoroughly serviced and an Audio-Technica VM540ML cartridge installed.  It is now getting frequent use--I have several Sheffield and 45 rpm LPs I purchased in the late 1980s that sound incredible(!), and I am considering upgrading the cartridge.

1. High School: Motorola Portable Suitcase (the original boom box?), detachable speakers, flip down turntable, flip over stylus 33/78.

2. College: BSR from Sam Goody’s, I don’t know what cartridge it had

3. Age 25: Garrard Changer (in the Fisher President II I inherited) (still had the BSR).

4. Working Youngster: Gift, to repair: Thorens TD124 with SME 3009 II

Helped my elderly friend choose/setup new stuff for himself. (also gave me his Fisher 500C). This is when I started buying better MM cartridges, up to Shure V15VxMR & AT440ML. Avoiding MC, they all hummed back then.

5. My ’CDs are Better’ Era: Audio Technica AT-120 (with adjustable arm height). Replaced my Thorens because it’s bearing didn’t like my springy wood floor. This is still my recommended ’starter TT’ to prove you will stick with vinyl. Still MM.

6. Covid Era, joined Audiogon 2019, with help here: Overhaul Everything: My current beloved JVC TT81 with 3 tonearms. Finally tried MC with SUT, no hum.

7. Office Overhaul: Mitsubishi LT-5V Vertical TT

8. Garage Shop: Technics Compact Programmable SL-J33 (gave to my son)

9. Garage/Shop Overhaul: Stackable Sony FL-1 with upgraded cartridge with ML stylus, allowed a taller stack below (no need to open the top of the SL-J33). My Vintage ’everything’ system: 8 Track; Dual Cassette; CD Changer, Full Featured Yamaha Receiver. Of course a Chase RLC-1 for remote volume and mute while working down there.

Receivers back then were wider than other components.

Here's my list, early to current:

Sony- TTS 3000

Transrotor- Forgot the model 

Technics- SP 10

Goldmund- Studietto

Luxman- PD 444

Current: J A Michell GyroDec