Buying a used Oracle Delphi Mk_ ?

I can't tell which model Oracle I have. What appears to be a serial number on the bottom of the platter draws a blank with the folks at Oracle.

If anyone has a photo of any of the Delphi series, please help.

I would like to know where to begin with upgrades.

If the suspension towers look different from the mk5, then it could be a mk1 or mk2. If yours does not have a 33/45 rpm switch, there is a huge possibility that it is a mk1. Hope it helps. Any questions, please email me.

I owned the original Oracle Delphi MK1 (upgraded to the MK2) for over 20 years and just recently sold the whole setup. In my honest opinion, I think you can do a whole lot better than a used Oracle. While this table was good, I cold never quite get over the notion that it was a prototype design that was hard to setup properly and hard to keep running right. And, I never had much luck dealing with the original Oracle company (you never knew if they were in or not in business). Their customer service left a lot to be desired. I replaced the Oracle with a VPI Aries/JMW10/SDS setup. This combination blows the Oracle setup away, hands down. You didn't mention your budget, but you should consider the new VPI Scout or, if you can swing it, the Aries setup. You will not be disappointed. VPI is a first-class company that makes great products that are constantly upgradeable and their customer service is second to none. Just my 2cents based on my past experience. Good Luck in your serach!

Many moons ago I owned a Delphi Mk3. It came with a SME Type V and Van den Hul One and was more musical than the Linn LP12 which it replaced. I also found the setup, once done right stayed set up unlike the Linn which seemed to play itself out of true. Eventually I replaced the Delphi with a VPI HW19Mk3 (kept the arm and cartridge) and found it had much better bottom end and more engaging mid but the Delphi was more detailed in the high end. The VPI was simple to set up and never went out of true. I would own either the Delphi or the VPI again without regret.

I think you can get more table for less money by getting a Linn LP12 Valhalla/Ittok. During the '80s when I worked at an audio shop, several dozen Oracle owners over several years, brought their Oracles in to compare to the LP12. None ever topped the LP12. Now, I admit we were playing in our showroom, with Naim electronics and Linn DMS speakers, but, source-vs-source, that's how it always came out. Even at best, it is a close call, and the Linn can be bought used for considerably less money. With the Valhalla version, I never found the setup to be very fussy. It is a very good table for very low cost on the used market. It doesn't look as flashy, but it plays very well. If you want a flashier looking table that will easily beat out the LP12 or the Oracle, look at the Teres Audio website. For $1350 w/o arm, this table will really get your motor running. It looks alot like the Clearaudio Reference, and sounds comparable to it and others in the $6k-$8k range. You have to do a little assembly work and polishing of the acrylic. I now have one of these Teres TT's and it really stomped my Valhalla LP12. The Teres is probably the best new TT for the money that you can buy today. If you don't want to do any assembly/polishing, you can get a fully assembled/polished one for a few hundred dollars extra. They also offer exotic wood bases, if you prefer that over an acrylic base. Also lead-shot weighted platters and bases. And they look really cool. Check out the info and pix at their website, www.teresaudio.com.