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Post by julesd68 on Oct 10, 2018 18:11:47 GMT
So nobody has owned a Pink Triangle or Thorens?
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 19, 2018 21:41:06 GMT
I messed about with a few Thorens TD-150 and 60s, Jules, but never with the intention of them being part of the main system. I do have a very soft spot for them both. When we bought my daughter a turntable, the 160 was an obvious choice. After my long association with the Acoustic Research decks, in the early 1990s, I set about getting myself a new deck. After a long time auditioning the available options, my shortlist was Xerxes, Pink Triangle and Gyrodec. They were all great sounding but I was concerned about the construction of the Xerxes. Knowing a little bit about medium density fibreboard from my Timber Utilisation lectures during my days studying forestry at college, I just couldn't see how this design could have got past first draft stage. I was assured that it wasn't a problem but I couldn't be swayed. Turns out I was right as the problems that Martin experienced with his deck testify. So it was a final shoot-out between the PT and the Michell. At the time, the Gyro was deeply unfashionable among hi-fi enthusiasts, kind of seen as something that looked great but didn't really perform. PT had recently introduced the Anniversary and it sounded better than the PT TOOs I had been listening to. The Gyro won out, and it was the soundstage that sold it to me. Some people thought I was mad but I never once regretted the decision. I still own it and still use it with the Zeta arm that came off my old AR Legend.
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 19, 2018 22:30:25 GMT
Great post Chris!
I'd like to hear an Anniversary, they go for serious wedge these days ...
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Post by MartinT on Oct 23, 2018 10:04:36 GMT
I wish now I had bought a Gyrodec instead of the Xerxes.
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 23, 2018 13:35:20 GMT
There's no way John Michell would ever have abandoned his customers in the shameful way that Roksan did to you Xerxes owners.
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Post by shuggie on Oct 23, 2018 15:02:04 GMT
My first deck was some sort of shitty BSR, followed around 1977 by a Thorens TD-165 (or was it a TD-166?) with a JVC Z1 cartridge. That saw me through to 1983 when I bought my LP12/Ittok/P77 from Malcolm Jones (of KEF/Falcon fame) at Basically Sound. The LP12 stayed for around 20 years and it was a good deck - certainly flawed but the quality and usability was so much better than the Logic/Pink Triangle alternatives that I auditioned before deciding on the Linn. I did much later buy a Logic DM-101 and that was a nightmare in terms of quality, operation, adjustment. Selling the Linn set me on a bit of a wandering path, starting with a Bix turntable kit from DIY HiFi Supply. The platter was a loose fit over the bearing so that was never going to work, and it was not long before I bought a Spacedeck with Spacearm, latterly upgraded with Heavy Kit and Wave Mechanic PSU. The Spacedeck was great in most respects, apart from its rather pedestrian approach to any music with a sense of 'drive' and rhythm, where it rather fell flat. In the meantime, service life took me to Germany, without my audio gear, but I did pick up a Kenwood KD-770D from a chap in a grotty block of flats in Bochum. The arm's lift/lower system did not work so I took the arm off and sold it, rightly or wrongly. It was ages before I put an arm on the KD-770D and much to my surprise it sounded rather like the Spacedeck, but with a sense of drive, rhythm and urgency. I used the KD-770D with a Michell TecnoarmA (nasty, grey, dismal sounding thing) and much more successfuly with a Jelco SA-750D. In parallel, I hopped briefly on the Technics SL-1210 thing, buying a virtually new one from my mate Tony who hated it - I upgraded the PSU, mat, feet and stuck the Jelco one and it pretty much failed to play music, although I can understand why so many people like them. With the same Jelco arm, the KD-770D was much, much better, a truly musical, lyrical performer. I still have the KD-770D but the SL-1210 found a new home in Scotland with Paul Hynes. Fast forward a couple of years and on the basis of loving the KD-770D, I picked up a Kenwood KD-990 in good condition. This is the one with a cast alloy spidery chassis that's hidden by its pretty much cosmetic, shiny black plinth. Even with the stock arm, fitted with an Ortofon Kontrapunkt B cartridge, the KD-990 is a class act, with a much better sense of musical solidity and flow, detail etc. On a whim I decided to liberate the KD-990 from its plinth and fit a 10" Jelco SA-750E, resulting in a magnificent uplift in all aspects of musical replay. I subsequently fitted a Fidelity Research FR-64S arm, then a lovely 12" Reed 3P, and in both cases the sounds were exquisite. the KD-990 may have played second fiddle to the L-07D in its day, but it was more expensive than an LP12 and its pedigree is clear to hear. I still have the KD-990!
On another whim I bought a Thorens TD-124 which I still own. That's a fantastically musical deck - far better than its complex design might suggest. Not exactly silent, as is the case with any idler deck, but so enjoyable to hear. I still have the TD-124!
Business needs dictated that I needed one of the new Technics SL-1200GR turntables to finalise development of my modular machine alloy Technics armboards. Out of the box, the GR is hampered by a tonearm that is quite bad in all respects apart from looks. When Technics make a new turntable in Japan and sell it for £1100 including tax, dealer margins etc, something clearly has to be compromised and the GR tonearm is very compromised. Don't confuse it with the slightly better article fitted to the SL-1200GAE and G. Anyway, when fitted with a decent tonearm, the GR turns out to be a stonking performer and a million miles from the unmusical SL-1200/1210s of old. Technics' new motor design is very good, and you can hear it in the music. I've put a Timestep linear PSU on the GR, which actually lifts it by a significant margin, and replaced the rubber mat with an Achromat. Sometimes it sports a Jelco TK-850S, which is very good and much more 'grown up' than the old Jelco SA-750 arms, but presently my 9" Glanz MH-94S is on the GR, with either Miyajima Saboten L stereo, Miyajima Zero mono, or various Ortofon SPU cartridges. That the GR can do justice to a tonearm costing 5 times as much is all credit to Technics and what they've achieved with the new decks. So, I'm very happy with the SL-1200GR but I'll admit that I love the KD-990 more. I'm fond of the TD-124 but it will be sold in due course because I cannot justify keeping decks that won't frequent use. On the journey, I have owned a Pioneer PL-71 which is lovely, and a totally mint but rumbly PL-12D that I bought purely out of nostalgia.
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Post by John on Oct 23, 2018 16:18:39 GMT
A interesting history of Turntables Thanks for sharing
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 23, 2018 18:14:17 GMT
Yes, very interesting indeed!
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 24, 2018 7:45:53 GMT
A few years ago, I was offered the chance to buy a Goldring G99 from a friend at an extremely good price. It was an offer I couldn't refuse, as I had fancied a G99 since I was in short trousers. The deck came in a home made box plinth made from mahogany and had a Decca ffss arm and Decca Mk4 cartridge on it. As it was, it sounded great, offering a different presentation to the one I was getting from the Michell. Although the Decca was utterly compelling to listen to, I had to move it on because the practicality of using it was too troublesome. It's something I may well revisit at some time in the future though. I bought a second Zeta arm and mounted a spare Koetsu Black on it - the same arm and cartridge combination as the one on the Gyrodec. I also had a huge solid plywood plinth made for it.
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 24, 2018 12:16:11 GMT
Nice pic Chris!
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Post by John on Oct 24, 2018 14:35:06 GMT
I nearly bought 1 a few years back I yet to hear one
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