Is there a turntable measurement database?

[just1n]

Hey community,

My wife would like to collect vinyl for the nostalgia and artwork. She’d like a little music station for herself and I can pick the speakers, phono preamp, etc through the sources here, but the turntable not so much. Is there a trusted source for reviews? I just could find mention of one on the forum.

I’m looking at Technics and while the SL-1200 get a lot of love here, it’s a little pricy in this circumstance. I was looking at the SL-40 and SL-50. Is it “measurably” inferior?

Thank you!

 

[just1n]

Giving this a little bump. I’ve looked further and haven’t found what I’m looking for if it exists.

 

[JSmith]

This may assist a little;

Fun with vinyl measurements

I think Vinyl people in other forums do not want to know about turntable and cartridge measurements as they may get disappointed. I like accuracy and good design but that does not prevent me from listening to vinyl or measuring it. Measuring is a way to learn,understand and improve. Let us...

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

 

[Chrispy]

You want just the basic tt only, or with an arm, and what about cartridge? I'm still using my SL1200mk2 for 40 years myself. No great database of third party measurements I've seen and subjective reviews aren't worth much IMO.

 

[levimax]

Take a look through this thread https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...esponse-measurement-script.41148/post-1453813. Lots of measurements from a lot of different TT, carts, and tone arms.

 

[DVDdoug]

I've never heard a difference from a "proper" turntable that's in working condition. I've heard "rumble" from cheap plastic "record players" and I've heard slipping belts & drive wheels that cause the record to play slow and a varying speed.

If the turntable wasn't broken or "too cheap" I've never heard wow, flutter, or rumble. The sound quality is mostly limited by the analog record itself.

The cartridge makes a difference but it's mostly frequency response which can be tweaked with tone controls/EQ. And some cartridges are better at tracking hard-to-track records so you can get less tracking distortion.

If I was buying a turntable I'd probably get the AT LP-120USB. It's direct drive so there are no belts or drive wheels to wear out, it comes ready-to-play with a cartridge and built-in phono preamp. Plus it's got USB if want to digitize a record. For me, the one thing it's "missing" is auto-lift at the end of play.

I've got 40-year old Technics direct drive (not the expensive one) and it still works perfectly. ...But it hasn't been in continuous use for 40-years. I now only use it to occasionally digitize a record that I can't find in digital format.

 

[just1n]

Take a look through this thread https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...esponse-measurement-script.41148/post-1453813. Lots of measurements from a lot of different TT, carts, and tone arms.

I’ll start reading through it now. Didn’t realize it including turntables. Appreciate the heads up.

 

[just1n]

I've never heard a difference from a "proper" turntable that's in working condition. I've heard "rumble" from cheap plastic "record players" and I've heard slipping belts & drive wheels that cause the record to play slow and a varying speed.

If the turntable wasn't broken or "too cheap" I've never heard wow, flutter, or rumble. The sound quality is mostly limited by the analog record itself.

The cartridge makes a difference but it's mostly frequency response which can be tweaked with tone controls/EQ. And some cartridges are better at tracking hard-to-track records so you can get less tracking distortion.

If I was buying a turntable I'd probably get the AT LP-120USB. It's direct drive so there are no belts or drive wheels to wear out, it comes ready-to-play with a cartridge and built-in phono preamp. Plus it's got USB if want to digitize a record. For me, the one thing it's "missing" is auto-lift at the end of play.

I've got 40-year old Technics direct drive (not the expensive one) and it still works perfectly. ...But it hasn't been in continuous use for 40-years. I now only use it to occasionally digitize a record that I can't find in digital format.

Thank you for the feedback. Yes, I too intend on only direct drive. I’d be going stock for the table, arm, and cartridge. Only maybe change the cartridge if there was some truly objective justification.

 

[somebodyelse]

I’ll start reading through it now. Didn’t realize it including turntables. Appreciate the heads up.

Only in so far as the cartridge measurements by this method have to include a turntable and arm. It's recommended that details of the hardware and cartridge loading are included with the measurements. There's nothing in there about wow, flutter, rumble and so on that are properties of the turntable rather than the cartridge.

 

[spiral scratch]

Have you looked here?: https://www.vinylengine.com/

You can click on database, enter make and model in the fields and see what comes up. It will give a list of factory measurements based on the liturature. Not saying it's totally accurate but it give you an idea of performance so you can do this:

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1200.shtml

and this:

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-50c.shtml

You'll have to sign up to download the manuals

 

[somebodyelse]

You'll have to sign up to download the manuals

Unfortunately they haven't been allowing people to sign up for some time now, as I found out when I wanted to upload some documentation scans.
https://www.vinylengine.com/register/register.php

 

[Chrispy]

Unfortunately they haven't been allowing people to sign up for some time now, as I found out when I wanted to upload some documentation scans.
https://www.vinylengine.com/register/register.php

Yes, seems both vinylengine and hifiengine don't take new subscribers and they make a point of any current member not sharing the downloads. I have SL1200mk2 manuals if you want, tho, message me..

 

[spiral scratch]

I hadn't realized those sites were still blocking registration, you can still look up the basic data like in the screenshot I posted and read the reviews

There doesn't seem to be any posted measurements for sl-50 online, I didn't look for sl-40

I think one of the general ideas of this site is if it doesn't have measurements, don't buy it

There are cases where the actual measurements are well below what's stated, I think there was a DD Thorens a few years ago like that, but it does give you something to consider. I've read the Technics have generally been very good at quality control and they generally meet or exceed specifications, maybe part of the reason they are sought after.

 

[DWPress]

Just chiming in that my Technics SL-D2 is also working as usual for over 30 years. Old decks are certainly worth checking out but condition of the needle may be suspect.

 

[spiral scratch]

Yeh the used market can be a good option for those willing to do their research and due diligence I think. Like others more knowledgeable than I around here have suggested, maybe not so much for a first time turntable buyer. For the price of an new sl-50 there's lots of nice options out there.