[rklein]

Hi All:

I am interested in getting back into vinyl again.  I believe the last time I played an album was about 20+ years ago.  I have saved all of my records (between 500-750 albums).  I located a Luxman PD-272 which has been gone over and looks to be in very good condition.  The seller has posted the following description: 

This is a Luxman PD-272 turntable.This Luxman table is direct drive and a manual table.The table is 2-speed with speed adjustment.The table was made from 1976-1980 and had a retail of $345.00.The table has a wood base,very good to excellent shape.The table also has a non-original dust cover..that fits very well and looks great!The table has had recent service.The motor was checked and operates perfect..no hum.The interconnects and ground wire are all working well.The table was balanced(tone arm),the counter weight adjusted,new anti-skate. The tone arm has a new arm clip to hold in place when not in use.Not many Luxman turntables out there..this is a high end table that works excellent.The Luxman has an Ortofon TM-14 cartridge and a new needle.

The TT comes with the original TA-1 tone arm (Micro Seiki??)as well.  The seller wants $195 plus $50 for packing/shipping.  Just curious to hear your thoughts from fellow AC'ers.

Thanks in advance

rklein

[Scott F.]

For $200 you could do far worse. Add a decent platter mat, watch your cartridge compliance and you'll have a great inexpensive way to reintroduce yourself to vinyl again 

[royphil345]

I think it sounds like a great deal on a very nice turntable and cartridge.


I don't think that counterweight will stay adjusted during shipping though...

You have to watch out for lines like that. It shows the person has no idea how to ship a turntable and probably knows little about them in general. Is such a person qualified to give this turntable (bearings, etc...) a clean bill of health?

In my experience, you could give this person step by step instructions on how to ship a turntable and you have about a 50/50 chance of receiving a box of smashed garbage. People generally don't seem to want to take responsibility for improperly packing their items either... Absolutely insist on an insured shipping method, but the shipper will not want to pay a claim on an improperly packed item.

I'd be extremely careful here. Even if you are, you still stand a good chance of being screwed. I have had several tables in a row damaged during shipping. None of the sellers even did the few things they promised to do as far as packing... I'm done buying used turntables online, unless the seller sells many of them, has an excellent track record shipping them successfully and can prove it.


You also have to take into consideration that you're buying electronics (direct drive speed control) at least 28 years old. The days of buying used 70's gear and expecting years of trouble-free performance out of it with no maintenance are about over. Electronics this old could absolutely use a going over and any parts not performing to spec (28 year old electrolytic capacitors?) should be replaced.

[rklein]

Thanks much for your comments and suggestions.  The seller actually deals quite a bit in vintage electronics.  He did not want to ship the TT.  I actually talked him into it.  He mentioned that it is a pain in the a** to pack a TT properly which is why he wanted only a local sale.  He said he would ship it insured, however I also agree with the comment about trying to collect a claim...

rklein

[doug s.]

i have not had direct experience w/that lux deck, tho i have heard it is decent.  however, if it were my money, i would be looking for something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280252707785

sometimes they sell for about what you can get that lux for, sometimes they sell for a lot more.  yust the weirdness of ebay.  these are fantastic decks, if set up properly.  and, if tweaked, they will compete w/far pricier decks, imo...

doug s.

[jmpiwonka]

i knew that ebay link was going to be for an empire before i even clicked it...

they are nice sounding tables...and quite attractive too.

[doug s.]

i knew that ebay link was going to be for an empire before i even clicked it...

they are nice sounding tables...and quite attractive too.

c'mon - how did you know that?     it could have been for one of these, but i don't have first hand experience w/it.  according to those who do, it's another over-achiever, especially after mods...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280252844188

doug s.

[rklein]

Hello:

I just wanted to update those who responded to my initial question about the purchase of a Luxman TT.  I went ahead and took the plunge and sent a Money Order out today.  Hopefully, the TT will arrive undamaged.  Below are some pictures of the TT.  Thanks again to all who responded with their advice.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=1533

rklein

[bacobits1]

That's a very nice condition Luxman table for the $$'s.
Enjoy! It should sound pretty good.
Have him remove dustcover and pack open side up in a carton and use lots of bubble wrap on the rest.
Remove tonearm if possible and definitely the platter. Pack tight.

D

[rklein]

Hi:

Well, I was about to send a cashier's check to the person selling the Luxman when I discovered an Empire 598 Turntable for sale locally.  The seller wants $200.  The seller describes it as follows:

vintage Empire 598 Turntable with Vintage (NOS) Empire TC-40 cartridge, new high quality phono cable, manual, record stabilizer, spare bulb and spare belt. Turntable is in perfect working condition: comes up to speed rapidly and holds its speed accurately, tonearm pivots are smooth and unbinding, the hydraulic lift works flawlessly, the end of record lift works beautifully. Cosmetically the anodized deck, tonearm and pulley cover are about an 8 ½ to 9 out of 10 and the case is about a 7 ½ due to some nicks and veneer chips.

I would love for your vinyl guys to come to my rescue.  I have heard great things about Empire TT's.  I wanted a Direct Drive because pitch is very important to me.  However, I am still afraid of the original seller shipping the Luxman to me as opposed to the Empire being a local sale.  AND it IS an Empire... aa

I would very much appreciate some guidance here.

Thanks,

rklein

[Wayner]

Here is my 598 II on a granite base.



The weak link to the Empire IMHO, is the removable cartridge mounting plate. Care must be taken not to over-tighten it or it will bow. The spring loaded contact wipes can sometimes be finicky, but a little Caig spray once a year keeps the contacts good. Also on the cartridge mounting plate are the cartridge wires. These are somewhat delicate and if you bust a wire off, you'll end up in soldering hell, but it can be done (without melting the plastic plate). The antiskate mechanism (spring) may now be suspect. I have neutralized mine and have put a deadman weight on fishing line, attached to the anti-skate screw in the top front of the pivot housing and around the housing, thru some fishing tackle eyelet that is taped to the record-lift (don't ever use that). Other then that, it's a great table. I have been tempted on replacing the stock tonearm with an Audioquest PT-9 but really don't want to destroy the machine just yet.



For $200, I'd take it, then that is just me. My Empire is also fitted with an Audio Technica AT440MLa MM cartridge that sounds mighty fine in this deck. Also if someone offered me $10,000 I wouldn't take it. I bought this deck when I was a kid, now that's old. 

Wayner 

[rklein]

Hi Wayner:

I am going to see the Empire TT in action tonight at 7 pm.  If I like what I see I have $200 in my pocket.
Thanks for your advice on what to be looking for.

rklein
Randy

[doug s.]

Hi Wayner:

I am going to see the Empire TT in action tonight at 7 pm.  If I like what I see I have $200 in my pocket.
Thanks for your advice on what to be looking for.

rklein
Randy

no contest, imo - the empire decks are the decks to get under $1k, imo.  i might say the lenco's are also there (or better, when modded?), as well, but that's from word of mouth, not from direct experience.  these are excellent turntables.  and $200 is a great price.

doug s.

[rklein]

Well, I went to the seller's house and walked into his living room to see a full rack of McIntosh equipment that he mentioned was around 35 years old that he used when watching TV.  We went down into his listening room where I was introduced to some fabulous audio gear including another full rack of McIntosh equipment(which included a 100 watt tube amp).  He had three turntables sitting on top of three different racks.  The first being a Mitchell GyroDec, the second TT being a Sota Cosmos.  The Empire 598 was sitting next to the Sota and it was in VERY GOOD condition everything was original and everything worked!!  The seller had a KAB  Speedstrobe Turntable Speed Tester and the Empire was dead on.  He played a Ray Charles album.  This is the album with Ray Charles and the Count Basie Band.  By the way the Empire was playing with an original Empire 40 cartridge!   It sounded great   He also included an extra belt along with some spindle oil, a record clamp, a level and other accessories.  I felt guilty giving him just the $200 he had asked for.(but not too guilty )

In another room he had a VPI Scout Turntable with JMW-9 Signature Tonearm complete with VPI phono cable, record clamp, alignment jig, damping fluid, original hardware, manuals and JMW-9 anti-skate assembly(never used) for sale for $1,500.

All I can say is I felt pumped driving home with this Empire.

Thanks again to all who responded to my thread.  I will try and post some pics in the not too distant future.

rklein

[doug s.]

awesome - you should feel guilty - you stole that!!!     please report back w/your findings...

doug s.

[Brad]

Hey RKlein -

Nice Empire.
That's exactly what I paid for my Empire 598 II (from the original owner who I work with)
I like the turntable light and just the overall feeling of solidity.
Speed control is very steady too.

The AT440mla is a nice match for the original arm.

It appears the guy selling was more concerned about finding a good home for the Empire than making the absolute most $$.
Did you take any pics of the vintage MAC gear?

Cheers

[rklein]

Hi Brad:

Unfortunately, I had no idea what kind of gear this guy had until I walked into his home.  I guess I could have used the camera in my Treo but it just never occurred to me.  I am glad that you posted in this thread, as you have seconded Wayner's recommendation of the AT440mla as a good cartridge match for the Empire arm.  I do have to say that when I heard the Empire at the seller's home he was using an Empire 40 cartridge and playing it through some SS Bryston equipment that also was about 25 years old.  It didn't sound all that bad.  However, I am going to assemble a tube system for the Empire.

rklein

[Brad]

For $100 when I bought it, the AT was an easy choice.

I do want to try a MC on the Empire, but I'm in no rush.  The sound is quite good for now.