Vinyl Junkies …

PMed

Vinyl junkies of LFGSS, I’m after some turntable advice.
I’ve recently sold my remaining SL-1200, which was too big for my needs - just relocated all my records and need a more svelte turntable. I’m thinking of something like a Nad 533. Are they recommended? Anything similar I should be looking at? My price range is something like 100-200. I need to be able to play 45rpm and also I need to be able to play 12”s at 45 and 7”s at 33 - which meant I had to pass up a lovely Beogram 3000 locally at a good price.

Something like this Denon DP-29F is probably as small as you’re going to get new, outside of things like the Soundburger. Looks to be the same turntable at the Audio Technica LP-60, which you can get for more money than the Denon variant.

They’re not going send as nice as your Technics did though.

I'm not planning to buy new - at my budget it just doesn't seem like there's anything thats much good to be honest. It doesnt need to be super small (I have a vestax handytrax somewhere I think, If I need super compact!). Just a bit more shelf-friendly and less over-built than a technics.

Not sure there's much to recommend in that area. I've swapped out an SL1200 for a rega 3 but it's not much less space consuming than an SL1200 and you need to lift the platter to change speed. I suppose the vertical deck that project do might fit the bill.

There's a reason the SL1200 is a design classic..

Telling me I shouldn’t have sold my 1200 is not the response I’m looking for - especially as I suspect you are correct 😂

Rega Planar is a nice alternative to an SL1200, with a different engineering philosophy.

I have a Rega and a 1210. At the moment the Rega is plugged in.

Christmas tunes

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You could look for a Linn Axis - compact, sounds nice, easy to set up, push button 45rpm.

If you get the add-on Rega power supply you can push a button for 45 or 33. Another £100 or so (probably more now)

@AlexD
I'd recommend something like the Pioneer PL-12D - if you fancy that "vintage" look.
I paid (only) £120 for mine (had to go to Brighton but was definitely worth it). It's still a full size TT, but will play 45 and 33 RPM at the flick of a lever (belt-driven).
Much more solid sounding that the flimsy Rega if you ask me (I used to have a couple of Rega's.).

flimsy Rega

Interested in which Regas you are referring to.

I've seen a few and couldn't describe any as flimsy, but I've not looked at any of the newer ones.

Yeah, Regas aren’t flimsy.

Anyone got one of these? Are they any good?

https://www.spincare.co.uk/products/spincare-vinyl-record-lp-cleaning-machine-system-accessories-inc-drying-rack

I skipped that step after reading a lot about them. Seems like some people develop a method that works including the drying, complicated methods though.

I went for a vacuum based type, the Project VCS. Still a pain and it's needed repairs, the design isn't great and the whole process is a rabbit hole of special cleaning fluids etc.

However I've cleaned thousands of records with the vacuum system and although it's noisy and takes space and time to maintain I'm happier with it than without.

They are difficult to replace but I like the Planar 3 that I inherited. Definitely a different quality to the SL1200, and much less industrial.

If you didn't have a budget there are a lot of good looking great sounding decks that take up a bit less space and don't look so industrial.

I started off with a P1 Plus (iirc) and that was maybe adequate. But once you start looking at what's available from the 1970-1980s (I) quickly realised that you get a lot more bangs for your buck. And yeah, I thought the P1+ and the P3 I got were rather cheaply made and a bit lightweight literally.

To me, a modern Rega and a Japanese deck from the '70s or '80s are just different, rather than one being better than the other; both options have pros and cons.

Edit: The Pioneer PL-12D does look like a nice deck, just did a bit of googling on them.

I know what you mean about lightweight. I'm not sure it impacts hugely on the sound but I don't have a lot of reference points as I've been using SL1200's for so many years.

Lightweight rigid design is the core Rega "philosophy" in their turntables.

Not everyone agrees with it but they aren't lightweight by accident or specifically to cut costs.

I was going to say the same, their whole deal at Rega is making turntables light weight and rigid as Roy Gandy who formed Rega always believed that to reduce vibration more effectively you remove mass and increase rigidity. They’re one of the few turntable brands that go mad on development and don’t rely solely on mass to reduce vibration. I believe a lot of their high end breakthroughs trickle down to the lower end turntables like Shimano do with their products.

If they feel lightweight, it’s intentional.

The lightweight ethos is particularly evident in the planar 8 and upwards. The Naiad is the flagship one with quite a lot of interesting technical elements.

A stack of records turned up today from @EagleEyez. Great to deal with and records in superb condition.

I'm pleased to hear @eskay.
Enjoy those beats!

Don't hesitate to come back for more 😂😂

Been playing this one all day... so good!
I now feel like I need to go and listen to the rest of those Late Night Tales.
Hivemind, do you have a favourite in the series?

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Not sure if this is the right thread but on a Morris Levy tip, this is an interesting read on 70s tax scam labels..

https://shit-fi.com/interviews/AaronMilenski