Your turntable history

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. 

Garrard SP25

Connoisseur BD1 

Linn Axis

SOTA Sapphire

[email protected]

Revealing my age (indirectly)...

Garard 301 (given me by my father when I was in high school: long gone)
C.J. Walker (a VPI-like table: gone)
VPI HW 19 Jr (very few hours on it: saved it in the event I want to use the motor)
VPI HW 19 Mk 1 (bought from a fellow forum member)

End of the line in TT purchases for me.