[simoon]

I'm still in the market for an inexpensive but good table to get me by for about half a year, until I can get something great.

There's an Ariston RD40 on Audiogon (without arm) for about $400.

Is it worth it?

[neobop]

Without arm?

No. IMO it's not worth $400 with the arm. I think it might look better than it is.
neo

[BaMorin]

I'm still in the market for an inexpensive but good table to get me by for about half a year, until I can get something great.

There's an Ariston RD40 on Audiogon (without arm) for about $400.

Is it worth it?

What are you calling great?

And I agree with Neo, without arm it should be maybe 60% of the asking price........now, if it said RD11S

[rcag_ils]

what's wrong with this turntable with, or without arm? I'd like to hear more than just a yes, or no answer. Also there's no ariston table on Audiogon.

[BaMorin]

what's wrong with this turntable with, or without arm? I'd like to hear more than just a yes, or no answer. Also there's no ariston table on Audiogon.

Nothing really wrong with the table........but at $400.00 for a suspended belt drive without arm there are much better options.  A thorens TD160, or an AR THE TURNTABLE without arm would be a better buy, and roughly 60% of that asking price. Both tables in reasonably good condition are a better table.  The Ariston RD11 or RD11S is a better "Ariston"......is what i was saying.  Upgrading options for the other two tables I mentioned are much better as well......in price, availability etc.  What were you looking to spend on an arm (?) , and figure that into the equation.  New entry level arm such as Jelco 250ST or RB 300 is going to be in the $300.00 range.  So now you're looking at a 700.00 table........still without cart.

[neobop]

what's wrong with this turntable with, or without arm? I'd like to hear more than just a yes, or no answer. Also there's no ariston table on Audiogon.

There's a Systemdek IIX, w/MMT + Grado Silver on Audiogon now for $399.
I don't know about the Grado MMT combo, but the MMT is a pretty decent arm - Predecessor to the Jelco 750, maybe a bit longer and a hair lighter.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1306903433&/Systemdek-Iix--With-Sumiko-MMT-arm--

The Systemdek is also a better table IMO, much better. So if OP is looking for something like this for around $400 + shipping, I would say it seems like a good value. $400 for an RD40 w/o arm is not a good value - way overpriced   IMO.

It took me about 2 minutes on Audiogon to find this table. I don't really know what OP is looking for . There's a Luxman 441 w/o arm for around the same money. I'd be more attracted to that, but that's me. I have several arms and often make armboards. One could probably get more specific info from the seller about the existing armboard and suitability for other arms (hole size and distance).
neo

[rcag_ils]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Systemdek-IIX-EX-Condition-w-Rega-Armboard-/110667685940?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item19c44ee034

A systemdek sold for $409 without arm, what are your opinions on this?

[neobop]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Systemdek-IIX-EX-Condition-w-Rega-Armboard-/110667685940?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item19c44ee034

A systemdek sold for $409 without arm, what are your opinions on this?

Makes the one on Audiogon look like a good deal. That is, provided you want an MMT. The MMT is a pretty good arm. I used to see them on HW-19 and tables like that. It was often mated with MCs like the Sumiko Talisman, Alchemist etc. I'm not sure how good a combo it is with the Grado that's on there. Maybe BaMorin knows about that. It (MMT) now goes for around $250 by itself.

IMO the RD40  isn't near the quality of other Aristons. It's a whole other animal from the RD11 and the other one like it, the 110? I remember when they closed them out and advertised it in Audio magazine. They were selling them for something like $50 w/arm. It was a budget model. The design looks kind of cool, but looks can be deceiving.
neo

[BaMorin]

Makes the one on Audiogon look like a good deal. That is, provided you want an MMT. The MMT is a pretty good arm. I used to see them on HW-19 and tables like that. It was often mated with MCs like the Sumiko Talisman, Alchemist etc. I'm not sure how good a combo it is with the Grado that's on there. Maybe BaMorin knows about that. It (MMT) now goes for around $250 by itself.

IMO the RD40  isn't near the quality of other Aristons. It's a whole other animal from the RD11 and the other one like it, the 110? I remember when they closed them out and advertised it in Audio magazine. They were selling them for something like $50 w/arm. It was a budget model. The design looks kind of cool, but looks can be deceiving.
neo

In my personal experience, and what I listen for in arm/Grado matching, the Jelco based arms do not work well in full presentation of the soundstage. They track just fine, but there always seems to be a shortening of the sound field front to back. I found a Jelco 250ST to be pretty much the equal of a Roksan Tabriz
(300.00 vs 1200.00) The various Jelco arms i've had have been AR badged, Mission badged, Jelco, Sumiko (LMT) and the Roksan. The "pizzaz" or "snazzyness" is never there either. The bottom feeder Linn Basik Plus
bests any Jelco based arms I've tried in combination with Grado carts.

I agree with the RD11 vs the RD40.  selling a spaceship instead of a turntable.

[simoon]

Thanks for the advice all!

I was able to pick up a Ariston RD11 for just a little more than half the price of that RD40.

What are you calling great?

I will have the first option to buy an Origin Live Sovereign with arm from my cousin for real cheap at the end of the year. 

[BaMorin]

Thanks for the advice all!

I was able to pick up a Ariston RD11 for just a little more than half the price of that RD40.

I will have the first option to buy an Origin Live Sovereign with arm from my cousin for real cheap at the end of the year.

Good deal on both..........you won't lose money on the RD11.