Keeping Turntables

January 29, 2005 3:03 PM

TurntableFilter: In the never-ending battle against having too much stuff, I am looking to sell one of the three vintage turntables I currently own. (The jukebox, the 60s console and the 50s mono player all are staying.) Would appreciate any advice to help me choose which two to keep! [+]

Of the 2 tables I plan to keep, one will be upstairs (casual listening - Nakamichi receiver, Polk speakers) and the other will be used for digital transfers (via a Behringer DJ mixer and an M-Audio Firewire 410 interface into a G5, Alesis self-powered monitor speakers).

These are the model #s on the 3 tables - all are in good working order:

1. Yamaha PX-3 [link1] [link2]
   Tangent-tracking, direct drive, full automatic, massive base. Ortofon VMS-30 Mk.II cartridge


2. Bang & Olufsen Beogram RX [link]
   Belt drive, semi-automatic. B&O MMC-5 cartridge.
   


3. Philips 212 [pic]
   Belt-drive, recently-purchased (ebay). Has an Empire cartridge body mounted, but would need a stylus.

If I keep 1) and 3) then I would also like to hear your recommendations on a cartridge (< $100) for the Philips, or if I should switch the Ortofon to the Philips instead & get a new cart for the Yamaha. I am not inclined to keep the Empire, and willing to look on ebay.

Would also consider going for an improvement on the preamp as well, though what's in the Behringer certainly works fine.

So what's (in your collective opinions) the best combination of these units to hook up to the computer system for optimizing my reasonably high "fi"? Thanks!

posted by omnidrew to media & arts (2 comments total)

I would use the Phillips for casual listening (with a cart like the Shure M92E), sell the other two, and use the Ortophon with a brand new high-end direct-drive turntable with digital out to hook directly into the G5, bypassing the DJ mixer entirely.
posted by Jairus at 6:49 PM on January 29, 2005

I would keep the Bang and the Yamaha. Just personal preference really.
posted by trbrts at 3:55 PM on January 30, 2005