[lord_glum]

Hola.  Right now I have an old Pro Ject 1.2 I think it is.  I am running it with the cambridge 640P.  Overall I am happy with it.  I have the shure 97 cart that i actually am not that excited with.  It all gets pushed by a DIY 2A3 (I call him ducky...inside joke) running some hawthorne SI's.  Overall its laid back and polite....and needs some work.  I actually got the table for free from epay.  It was broken and i ended up keeping it.  Well i am ready to do my last upgrade before the baby is here.  I am opening up the discussion on TT's.  It has been done before but I could not find a recent post on tables so here it goes.

TT must be plug and play.  I set up my TT since it was dropped (that is why i got it for free) and i think that may be part of the reason for its laid back demenor.

I am leaning towards the pro ject debut 3 w/upgraded platter, OM20 and speedbox 2.  I have heard good things about the rega P1 but I can find more off the shelf upgrades for the pro ject.

Budget is no more than $600.  Here is what i have looked at and researched online.

Some Nad table...
TT60 from cambridge
Rega P1 and P2
Pro ject debut 3
REALLY like the xpression but its $700 and i will not splurge.
Music hall 2.2

Anything i am missing or any feedback?  All opinons welcome since i am not 'sold' on anything yet.

Thanks,
Jvo

[Wayner]

How about the Technics SL-1200 MKII?

Wayner

[lord_glum]

I can't say i ever looked at the Technics SL-1200 MKII.  Upgrade options?  Can't say i know much about it.

[WGH]

Well i am ready to do my last upgrade before the baby is here. 

Baby? Then I would suggest something bulletproof, able to take abuse, and still sound good. Wayner's suggestion of the Technics SL-1200 sounds spot on.
And you will be able to give it to your kid in 20 years and it will still be working perfectly.

[TheChairGuy]

Musicians Friend Scratch n Dent for SL-1200 Mk. II: http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=807053X

This leaves you $200 for enhancements.  #1 is replacing the stock feet with brass toes ($25/4 at Parts Express).  #2 is a 3.5" thick maple cutting board underneath (approx. $100 on ebay) and #3 is a top mat from Herbies Audio Labs($70 or so)

For $600, you'll be stylin' like in no other way that I can think of (if you are wanting to buy it all new).

There are other upgrades out there, but they will blow your budget and I found them to be less important to sonics than the three above.

There is an AT-PL120 table made that is a near clone of the venerable Technics for only $200 (new) out there...but reliability seems to be it's issue, tho sound quality seems quote good on it:

Under $200 with stock cartridge: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-PL120-Professional-Direct-Drive-Turntable/dp/B00012EYNG/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233536085&sr=8-1

Under $300 and set-up: http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=ATPL120HIFI&Category_Code=TURN
 
Regards, John

[lord_glum]

Anybody have any ideas on comparisons between the 1200's and the Rega or Pro ject?

What about the panasonic 1200?

Know where i can go to check up on the AT 1200 reliability?  That looks interesting for $300.

I don't use maple, i actually use 2 cutting boards with rubber/foam balls in between them.  Similar to the pro ject ground it.  Its fairly cheap and effective.

Thanks for the info,
Jvo

[Scott F.]

.....Overall its laid back and polite....

Budget is no more than $600.

I hate to break up this Technics love fest but if "Laid back and polite" are the terms you really meant, a table is not the answer to your problem. The answer is a new phonostage and cartridge.

Since you have a fair budget to work with I'd look towards something like a Dynavector DV-20X cartridge. New they are about $500 or so, used they are about $375 (one at Agon right now). If you go used, you can pick up a used Graham Slee 2se and the upgraded power supply for about $200. The Slee will be a significant step up from your Cambridge. I'd Sell your Cambridge on Agon to help finance a few isolation tweaks for your Project.

Not trying to pooh-pooh a new table because those are always fun but if laid back and polite is your issue, a better cart and phonostage will cure those ills.


...just my $.02

[doug s.]

if my budget was $600, i would be looking for a wintage empire.  you will likely have a few dollars left over...     if you wanna tweak w/upgraded arm, it's easier to do on the earlier unsuspended empires...

doug s.