[jparkhur]

I want to play my parents old records.  Maybe once a week, suggestions for under 500 dollars.  I have no phono, would like out of box and ready to go. 
MH 2.1
Project 1.3
Project USB
?.....

[bside123]

Try contacting Wayne. This one's ready to go. Good table, good cartridge, good AC member, good seller:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=91062.0

[orthobiz]

I also recommend used. Picked up a Dual 1216 for nothing, refurbished with new stylus for around 200. Picked up a Denon DD for less than 200. They are out there, check Audiogon, eBay, etc. Hopefully someone will chime in from this group. I also once bought a TT from Wayner (and John)!!!

Paul

[Miney]

I got back into vinyl a few years ago, dusting off a Technics SL-QD33 that had been mothballed some time in the early '90s - they're often available on eBay for ~$50.  @ John's (TheChairGuy) suggestion, I stuffed her full of plasti-clay ($20), and per Kevin's (@ KAB) recommendation, I put a nice Ortofon OM-20 on her.  Really nice, no nonsense direct drive for under $300.

John or Wayner can probably suggest a few other Japanese DD's of similar ilk that'll help you achieve your goals equally well or better.

[95Dyna]

Hi jparkhur,

I have a Thorens TD160 sans cartridge looking for a good home.  Check your messages, I PM'd you with the details.

Bill

[doug s.]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120679588075


sometimes a feeding frenzy will drive these over $500, but not usually.

doug s.

[Ericus Rex]

This is a 'Kick-Ass!' table and a great price.  Sounds really good with a Grado Green (what I have on mine).

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1302316688&/Oracle-alexandria-mk-ii-

[Berndt]

Ditto for the empire!
When you are ready for a replinth for a modern ARM let me know.

[doug s.]

i really love the oracles - my main deck is an original delphi, upgraded completely to mkv specs, all except platter and motor.  motor is origin-live w/hewlett-packard lab-grade power supply. 

that said, if i had the choice between an empire and any oracle other than a delphi or premiere, i would choose the empire hands down.

ymmv,

doug s.

[Delta Wave]

i really love the oracles - my main deck is an original delphi, upgraded completely to mkv specs, all except platter and motor.  motor is origin-live w/hewlett-packard lab-grade power supply. 

that said, if i had the choice between an empire and any oracle other than a delphi or premiere, i would choose the empire hands down.

ymmv,

doug s.

I will be getting a Delphi (don't know what model but it's mint) in the near future, I know nothing about them so I will probably have some questions for you when I take possession of it.

As for the Empire, that is a spiffy deck, I'm watching it too... I always wanted an Empire.

[Berndt]

There is a 208 that is a later model. The motor armature is silver instead of gold and the spindle bearing is bronze bushed instead of being only cast iron. It is my experience that these silver armature motors are quieter than the gold armature motors. You might ask the seller for a picture of the motor. I also have a few extra sets of motor mount grommets.

[BaMorin]

This is a 'Kick-Ass!' table and a great price.  Sounds really good with a Grado Green (what I have on mine).

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1302316688&/Oracle-alexandria-mk-ii-

Strap on a 8MZ stylus, or a MCZ stylus to that Green body, and you'll put it over the top.

[Mitsuman]

Strap on a 8MZ stylus, or a MCZ stylus to that Green body, and you'll put it over the top.

Someone  had promised me one to try way back when. 

[Ericus Rex]

...if i had the choice between an empire and any oracle other than a delphi or premiere, i would choose the empire hands down.

I own both an Alexandria Mk I and an Delphi Mk II and I have to say the sound of each is remarkably similar.  Considering their prices, I think the Alexandria is a better buy, bang-for-buck wise.  The Mk V upgrades and motor must put the Delphi over the top!  I must admit, though, that I've never compared the two using the exact same arm (Prelude on Alex, Audiomods S-IV on Delphi).  I have put the same cartridges on both.  And I've never heard an Empire so I can't comment there.

Doug, what changed sonically after all those Delphi mods/upgrades?

[doug s.]

I own both an Alexandria Mk I and an Delphi Mk II and I have to say the sound of each is remarkably similar.  Considering their prices, I think the Alexandria is a better buy, bang-for-buck wise.  The Mk V upgrades and motor must put the Delphi over the top!  I must admit, though, that I've never compared the two using the exact same arm (Prelude on Alex, Audiomods S-IV on Delphi).  I have put the same cartridges on both.  And I've never heard an Empire so I can't comment there.

Doug, what changed sonically after all those Delphi mods/upgrades?

eric, i really am not sure i am the best one to give an ewaluation of the mods.  w/exception of the new-style pillar mods, done relatively recently, i had the rest done at time of purchase - counterweight, new bearing, internal pillar upgrades.  the new-style pillars, to be honest, seemed to be only an aesthetic mod, after the innards were already modded.

i can say that getting the o-l dc motor kit, which was done a coupla years later,  was an unexpected improvement, over the original stock motor.  i did it only cuz the old motor was starting to make funny noises; i wasn't looking to upgrade.   i have the first series delphi - pre mkll - and i think the old motor was simply wearing out.  the o-l motor gave an added smoothness, better dynamics, lower noise floor and better detail.  adding the lab-grade p/s a year or so later, replacing the stock o-l p/s, took things even further.

i had an empire 208 that i picked up on ebay, and w/the old wintage wood grado arm that came w/it, and especially w/a rs-labs rs-a1 tonearm that i tried w/it, the performance was amazingly close to that of my done-up delphi, tho i admit i never had them set up in the same room...  the empires are simply stunning overachievers, imo...

doug s.

[BaMorin]

Someone  had promised me one to try way back when. 

I think I have one across the pond........I have a new one in box here looking for a good home.  Start a new thread on "stylus bicycle"  we'll see where we can get.

[Berndt]

Empire prices had begun to.escalate but seem to have tapered off.
That is great news. Thank god the audio rags continue to wax eloquent about idler wheel decks. Empires get to stay the underground scene.

[Mitsuman]

I think I have one across the pond........I have a new one in box here looking for a good home.  Start a new thread on "stylus bicycle"  we'll see where we can get.

WTF is stylus bicycle? 

[Ericus Rex]

Thanks for the explanation Doug!

I sure would like to hear one of them-there Empires!  Any of you Empire owners live around Boston?