Your turntable history

Bought my first Monkees Album during the latter half of the 70's decade, not quite a Teenager.

It was not cool enough for a teen, and is no longer in my care, as are all albums not lost which were purchased as a teen.

Are all albums purchased as a teen still owned? Things were messy, all album titles are owned, but to be sure, one comes home with their actually purchased Album? As said 'messy' is a good description.    

1973 - BSR lathe (well that’s what I used to call it) LOL

1975 - Pioneer PL-10

1978 - Denon DP-51F

1984 - Systemdek IIX

1989 - VPI HW19 Jr

1995 - VPI HW19 Mk II (upgrade)

2001 - VPI HW19 Mk III (upgrade)

2010 - VPI HW19 Mk IV (upgrade)

2023 - VPI TNT Series 3

1960. Grew up with a TT. Grandmother was playing James Brown. 
 

Dad was running a Garrard. I bought my first TT in 1973, after joining the Navy. Everyone had their own system aboard ship. I had a nice Technique. Direct drive helped to keep everything stable out at sea. Those were the days. 
 

Bought an Oracle Delphi in the late 80’s. Oh boy. I had no idea sound could be so good after that. I still have that table, as well as 5 different JVC DD’s. I’m thinking of getting a VPI. But since my Delphi brings the goods I’m hesitant. 
 

I listen to albums everyday. Retired and nothing but time and music on my hands. I’ve used the same VPI 16.5 for over 30 years!

First: Benjamin ELAC Miracord, Not sure of the model but it had this huge, wide metal tonearm and I think a Shure cartridge. I got it as part of a tube system about 1971. It rumbled like a freight train through the high-efficiency speakers, but the setup was loud so we didn’t mind.

Sold it all to my brother and got a real system about 1975 with an AR Xa table,  Finally tired of the totally manual table 10 or 15 years later and told my local dealer I was interested in a trade in. His eyes lit up, and he gave me $95 for it, which as I recall is what I had paid. Got a Yamaha P400 automatic with a Signet cart, and by then there were kids and CDs and at some point it got boxed up and stored along with boxes of vinyl..

By 2014 I retired and we made one of the kid’s bedroom into my music room. I decided to break out the Yamaha, but its gimbal had deteriorated, so along with a new Rogue Sphinx and Magnepan .7s, I got a Project Debut Carbon with the 2M Red cart. It was fine but I always felt it had a little motor noise. I sold it and, after much research, got a Schiit Sol and Grado Opus 3 cart — and they discontinued it a few months later. But it does a good job and I don’t play LPs enough to justify $$$ for a fancy turntable.

First table was a GE Wildcat I got for Xmas.

First one I bought was a used Dual 601 w/ Shure V15 in 1976.

Was stolen in 1979 and replaced with Dual 1258 girlfriend bought me that Xmas. Used that until 2017. Listened to CDs mainly from 95 on. Never really had a place to set up table where it wouldn't jump when kids ran by. Finally in 2000 bought a place where I have a solid floor for system. 

In 2017 I bought a Music Hall 5.1se that I now use with a HANA sl mk2/ Black Cube Statement. I also got a Dual CS 606 a couple of years ago that I put an OM Super 40/ Music Hall PA 15.3 on.