My Dual CS 503-1 has seen better days. Dry connections, broken arm clamp, a perishing drive belt, in need of a new stylus and it needs a push to get started! So, I need a replacement. Something that's no worse but also I don't want to spend a fortune. Your recommendation please ladies and gents.
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I've had a Rega Planar 3 (glass platter) for years and it is very basic but a decent turntable as are most of the RPs. -
I used to have one of those too. Recommended.Comment
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When I was looking this up it seemed to be like the Rega Planar 2 or 3 or a Technics SL-1200 would be the best bet for under ?150.Comment
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Hmm, Rp seems to be ?229 these days which is the top end of what I'm prepared to pay at the moment. Sevenoaks in town have them though so I'll pop in lunchtime.
I might take a soldering iron to the Dual and re-do all the wiring to see if I can breathe some more life into it. It's about 20 years old but it does still sound pretty good.
An SL-1200? That gonna sound any good? It's a DJ deck.Comment
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What does that have to do with anything. It's a DJ deck because it's direct drive instead of belt driven - I think.
It wasn't originally intended to be used by DJs, that is, I think.Comment
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Irrelevant anyway now as it was discontinued in 2010 and costs a fortune second hand. You're right though, wasn't originally designed for DJs.Comment
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You're looking to buy new? They were around ?150 used when I last looked, guess the price has gone up since people have realized they're not made now.Comment
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I didn't realise the RP3 was still made. There are a few on ebay for around ?150.Comment
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Grabbed a fairly good replacement cartridge for now. I *think* the rest of the kit is either ok or fixable. If it fails in the short term then I can at least pick up a 2nd hand table and know that I have a new cartridge for it.
Initial used prices for 1200s were between ?450 and ?1k from a quick google
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I got a Technics 1700 for next to nothing a few years ago from eBay. It's the model a few years before the SL-1200/1210s [from 1974 I think?], is built out of a solid hunk of metal, and is basically indestructible. It doesn't have the speed slider [a knob instead], or the start-stop button, so isn't much use for mixing but perfectly good for straight listening -- which also means it's dirt cheap, as nobody who buys vinyl these days seems to want a deck you can't mix on. Just grab a new needle and you're good to go. Looks good too!Comment
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Cool. Will look out for one
Of those. However, just fitted new cartridge. Wow! Sounds incredible. I used a protractor to set it up properly so I think I've got it sounding as good as I can. Will try with my headphones and a known good vinyl pressing later.Comment
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Goddamnit why did I click on this thread?
I have no room for such pleasures
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