Your system?

[mojogogo]

thanks for the links. Time to do some reading.

I am in the US, near DC, so UK/Euro sources might be expensive shipping.

 

[eleelandc]

the guy who did mine -- is Jim Campbell

I took CollectorScum's advice and had Jim fix mine up. I figured that the plinth was the only time I would attempt to use my limited woodworking skills to try and make something pretty for my everyday life so like a "fat guy in the woods" episode, I went out to the garage and got started getting my middle aged self out of my element.
I think it came out nice. Did the core of it from 5 layers of 3/4" birch plywood, and then wrapped that in another 3/4" of hardwood. top and front out of purple heart, sides out of walnut and back out of some other more exotic brown wood (all the hardwood came from various estate sales over the last several years and it felt like I'd better make something out of it lest it just be a stockpile for my own eventual estate sale).

 

[eleelandc]

Also, I guess the "before" picture is sort of key.... This is what I pulled out of the junk shop (built into a plywood shelf)

 

[CollectorScum]

Before:

After (but before the cartridge was mounted:

 

[mojogogo]

The pictures and restoration work on those vintage tables is drool inducing.

 

[Outside_Lookin_in]

My system is just a random selection of unremarkable components, and therefore probably not worth listing. Here's a photo instead (You may be able to work some of it out):

 

[purple_pill67]

Tidy looking setup there

 

[Incajoe]

I am currently using (but this changes often):
Rotel RX 1050 receiver
Thorens TD 126 turntable
JBL L100 Century speakers, Klipsch KG4 speakers

On standby:
Fairchild 755 turntable with SME 3009 tonearm
Revolver Rebel turntable with SME 3009 tonearm
Thorens TD 145 turntable
Macintosh amp and pre amp which I can't remember the model numbers of at the moment (they need work).

 

[CollectorScum]

Turntable: Pro-ject 1.2 with 78 rpm conversion + Shure M44-7 with 78 rpm stylus

I found a Thorens E53PA turntable at an estate sale the other day, which is a rare 1950s direct drive model that pre-dates the TD-124. I'm looking to have it restored to replace the above as my 78s player. If anyone has a spare 1950s or 1960s tonearm that might be suitable for this project, I'm looking to buy, so please get in touch. I'd kind of like to get one of the Grado wooden arms of that era, but am open to other options like Rek-O-Kut. I just definitely want it to be all vintage.

 

[CollectorScum]

I found a Thorens E53PA turntable at an estate sale the other day, which is a rare 1950s direct drive model that pre-dates the TD-124. I'm looking to have it restored to replace the above as my 78s player. If anyone has a spare 1950s or 1960s tonearm that might be suitable for this project, I'm looking to buy, so please get in touch. I'd kind of like to get one of the Grado wooden arms of that era, but am open to other options like Rek-O-Kut. I just definitely want it to be all vintage.

I ended up with a Rek-O-Kut S-220 arm. Here it is after Jim Campbell fixed it up and built a plinth:

I put a cork mat on it and am changing out the feet soon for metal/rubber ones. It's about the loudest turntable motor ever, but you don't notice it once the music kicks in.

 

[eleelandc]

Speaking of Rek-O-Kut, I have a K33H that I am using for my mono player, but it sure would be great to have it play 45s too. Is there a company that produces a clip on or slide on motor shaft broadener to bring the speed up? Seems silly to spend hundreds for a speed controlled motor when all I really need is somebody to have done the math and made the ten cent item....

 

[soundog III]

I ended up with a Rek-O-Kut S-220 arm. Here it is after Jim Campbell fixed it up and built a plinth:

I put a cork mat on it and am changing out the feet soon for metal/rubber ones. It's about the loudest turntable motor ever, but you don't notice it once the music kicks in.

Here are pics of the Isoblock cork / rubber blocks that I have had good results with. The 2nd pic also reveals heavy brass 3 point footers that serve to further isolate the system from vibration.



Here's a link to the company I bought them from.

http://mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/template_isoblocks.php

 

[CollectorScum]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I prefer a less extreme solution. These just arrived from China and the quality is very good:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321783369907

 

[Alexander]

For years I've been running on Rega Planar decks and Arcam everything else, with some big old Mission speakers. Hardly high end I know. Earlier this year, we had some building work done and all the hifi had to be dismantled and is strewn around the house. I have a number of old valve record players from the '60s. When it got to the point where I couldn't stand not being able to play my records, I pulled out my old Hacker Serenade and started using that. When it is warmed up, the sound is tremendous, deep and rich, and plenty loud enough to fill the room with bags to spare. My old UK Decca 45s sound particularly good for some reason. I'm in no hurry to get the hifi up and running if the truth is told.
It is fun for now, but long term I do see the Rega coming back into play.

 

[Outside_Lookin_in]

This pretty much describes my setup.