Your observations are quite correct, but do not address a very important aspect of purchasing a used turntable. In my experience, after large, floor-standing speakers, turntables are by far the hardest audio item to pack and ship correctly. I have bought many used turntables over the years and cannot stress this enough. Even the manufacturers original packing is often inadequite, Rega would be a good example. At this stage of the game, the advice I give to dear friends and those bigger than me who might hurt me, is to buy a used table locally, or a new one. I live in Portland, OR and have driven North as far as Seattle, and South to Salem just to avoid shipping tables. I would also add that if some arms are mishandled, the bearings can become flat-spotted, this is called Brinelling and is typically due to tortional forces applied during cartridge mounting. Many arms are pretty variable in terms of bearing play as well and the only way to determine this is in person. I am not sure that this is a game for the uninitiated.
Turntables New vs Used
Thought I would post this as possible food for thought. Have been in this hobby since 1957 and have owned a great many tables both new and used. My first audiophile table was a Dual 1019 and it has evolved from there.
I deal a lot in turntables both new and used, sort of a hobby business. With that in mind in recent years there has been several new tables to hit the market such as those from Music Hall,Project, and so on. Not all but most of the tables in the sub $1,000.00 range are just horrid to say the least. For what one pays in this category,one can find true stellar turntables in the used market.
Used tables from Sota,VPI and Rega will clearly outperform anything from Music Hall, Project and others.
This is not meant to disparage Music Hall or Project or others of the same category. But when one truly looks into what is available in the used market,it becomes readily apparent that the higher end used tables will sonically be superior to the new offerings.
I know for the last few months have had several of the Music Hall and Project tables as well as others come and go through the door.
To be candid there is no black art or voodoo science in turntable design. Physics and Geometry are basic law and are absolute with debate not being possible.
But many of these new tables have seem to have forgotton these basic laws and some of the new tables are pure dreck and I am being kind there.
Turntables from VPI,Sota,Rega,Nottingham,Bluenote,Clearaudio,JA Michell,and Simon Yorke offer tables that firmly place them among the best in the world,with sound engineering principles.
Plus the upgrade path is clearly there for future sonic improvements as materials and science come about.
In addition the price one will pay for one of the used tables make these some of the best bargains for today and tomorrow. However with all things used do make sure of whom you get it from and that you are getting what you pay for.
Don't overlook many of the excellent direct drive used tables from Denon,Kenwood,Yamaha,Technics and others. But do concentrate on thier upper end models forgoing the lower model line up.
All in all the current used market represents far greater value than most of the mass produced new tables.
For instance a Rega P3 is in my opinion is vastly superior to a Music Hall MMF 7 and at less cost, new price to new price. I know I have had both here in recent months. Used the Rega P 3 is a hands down winner in this category.
Both VPI and Sota are easily accessed via phone or e Mail and are most helpful in their product line.
The choice is yours and it is your money.
I deal a lot in turntables both new and used, sort of a hobby business. With that in mind in recent years there has been several new tables to hit the market such as those from Music Hall,Project, and so on. Not all but most of the tables in the sub $1,000.00 range are just horrid to say the least. For what one pays in this category,one can find true stellar turntables in the used market.
Used tables from Sota,VPI and Rega will clearly outperform anything from Music Hall, Project and others.
This is not meant to disparage Music Hall or Project or others of the same category. But when one truly looks into what is available in the used market,it becomes readily apparent that the higher end used tables will sonically be superior to the new offerings.
I know for the last few months have had several of the Music Hall and Project tables as well as others come and go through the door.
To be candid there is no black art or voodoo science in turntable design. Physics and Geometry are basic law and are absolute with debate not being possible.
But many of these new tables have seem to have forgotton these basic laws and some of the new tables are pure dreck and I am being kind there.
Turntables from VPI,Sota,Rega,Nottingham,Bluenote,Clearaudio,JA Michell,and Simon Yorke offer tables that firmly place them among the best in the world,with sound engineering principles.
Plus the upgrade path is clearly there for future sonic improvements as materials and science come about.
In addition the price one will pay for one of the used tables make these some of the best bargains for today and tomorrow. However with all things used do make sure of whom you get it from and that you are getting what you pay for.
Don't overlook many of the excellent direct drive used tables from Denon,Kenwood,Yamaha,Technics and others. But do concentrate on thier upper end models forgoing the lower model line up.
All in all the current used market represents far greater value than most of the mass produced new tables.
For instance a Rega P3 is in my opinion is vastly superior to a Music Hall MMF 7 and at less cost, new price to new price. I know I have had both here in recent months. Used the Rega P 3 is a hands down winner in this category.
Both VPI and Sota are easily accessed via phone or e Mail and are most helpful in their product line.
The choice is yours and it is your money.
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- 42 posts total
- 42 posts total