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Best vintage DD turntables from the 70's and 80's?

Howdy folks-

We’ll I’ve got the vinyl bug for sure. 6 months ago, I bought my first TT, a nice Technics 1200 GR along with some killer vintage MM carts like Audio-Technica, Stanton and a few Grace. I love my GR! I love that little silver bastard A LOT as a matter of fact. A couple weeks ago, my second table arrived, a minty fresh Luxman PD-444 from Japan. This is a Micro Seiki built TT and was the "tits" in the mid 70’s. I can mount 2 arms on the Luxman. I’ve got a nice Victor 7045 arm coming soon along with a Victor X-1IIe MM cart which work quite well together.

I’d like to add another Vintage TT from the 70’s or 80’s and probably phase out the GR. I like the look of the old Pioneer, Denon and Victor tables. I’d like to get a vintage table that can be serviced if needed, something I can add a sweet vintage arm too. 3 arms are better than two!

I’d like to hear suggestions and comments on some fantastic, cool as crap, vintage turntables that you think should sit next to the Luxman.

Thanks again for your help!

Brent




128x128knollbrent
edgewear
119 posts
 
@lewm,

The tonearm of the PL-70L II is very similar to the one on the P3 and P10, but not identical. The most obvious difference is that the P3/P10 arm is dynamically balanced, whereas the PL-70L II arm is statically balanced. The P3/P10 armlift also has its own lever on the armbase (instead of a push button on the plateau rim, like on the 70L).
It may have been available as a separate product, but I don't remember ever seeing it for sale. So it must have been quite rare, which would then go a long way to explain a $4k asking price. 


downunder
1,328 posts
 
The Exclusive P10 is reportedly very close sonically to the P3 and should give you more leeway financially.

I own the P3 and have owned two P10's.  the P10 is a very nice table, however the P3 is in another universe as far as as sound quality goes. 

Outside of the parts of the tonearm - its very cool being able to swap arm wands between both tables, everything else on the P3 is built exclusively for the P3 and is the best table Pioneer knew how to make and it sounds amazing.   
chakster's avatar
chakster
2,482 posts
 
There are two versions of P3, the best one is P3-A - right ? 
edgewear
119 posts
 
According to the vintageknob the signal-to-noise ratio went from 78dB on the P3 to 95dB on the P3A, so I suppose it is correct to assume it is (much) better. The P10 was also high up on the list of that Japanese turntable shoot-out in Stereo Sound magazine in 1980, but the P3 was the clear winner.

jpjones3318's avatar
jpjones3318
117 posts
 
According to the vintageknob the signal-to-noise ratio went from 78dB on the P3 to 95dB on the P3A, so I suppose it is correct to assume it is (much) better.

There's also a footnote explaining that.  
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