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Buying a used Oracle Delphi Mk_ ?

Any comments on what to look for and/or to avoid in a used Oracle - or whether to look for or to avoid a used Oracle in the first place? The idea would be to pay a modest price and then to upgrade gradually as the budget welcomed, enjoying the music in the meantime.

Our system hasn't been complete in over a decade, as we moved around too much to 'do it right': A humbly exquisite little modified Dynaco 70 in triode is all there is of it at present; in the past it included a Walker turntable with Audioquest (which we thought were listenable under the circumstances) and Spika T-60 speakers (which we adored). Thank you all for any input you think relevant.
saffron
kana813
956 posts
 
Before you buy a used Oracle, check out a new Nottingham
SpaceDeck.
motorpsychos
38 posts
 
A rebuild kit is available for all series of Delphi. Which is way cool. But To up grade to the late style bearing it must be at least a MkII. A MkII or MkI will take the bearing but the subchassis must be machined. The derlin towers and chassis subweight modifications, it must be at least a MkIII. Look for potencialy warped pliths. It does not happen often but it does happen. Oh by the rebuild kit is a good deal at $150.00. I love my MkII although the early ones are a little more of a hassle to set up properly. Patience is needed. A Delphi will accept any tonearm known to man.
sean
6,229 posts
 
Motorpsychos, i was wondering about the mounting situation on these tables as i too had been curious about them. Will they easily accept an ET II or a Souther / Clearaudio ? Maybe you or Jeff can chime in on this one. Sean
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jeffloistarca
1,004 posts
 
Sean,

I've only used the SME arm but in looking at the mounting plate it appears to accept pretty well anything. I'm not familiar with the ET or Clearaduio arms but I'd be quite surprised if thet didn't fit...may be work asking the arm manufacturers if they've had any trouble mating with an Oracle. The Delphi is an unusually flexible 'table but like all analog rigs does take some patience to get set up properly.
saffron OP
1 posts
 
I'm wondering about Arthur Salvatore's statement, in his 'Recommended Components,' that the entire 1980's/early 1990's Delphi-s were difficult to set up properly ('meaning no wobbling'), which is critical in optimizing their sound: Does anyone know where, say, the Mk III falls in this categorization? - or any personal experience with this difficulty (or not) of set-up with the earlier models?
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