The turntables I posted evoke to me the type of “ pride of craftsmanship” one sees in sometimes surprising areas, for instance in early TV or audio consoles, or mid-century designs, the kind of thing where it looks like somebody actually cared how something looking and felt when they didn’t really need to, and it elevates the object.
Having owned too many AR turntables (and their ilk) my point of view is that electronic solutions to engineering problems are better than mechanical solutions, and digital solutions are better than that. Turntables designed around a suspended sub-chassis are subject to going out of alignment, having parts wear out and so on. I think Technics direct drive turntables address the usual problems of LP playback with the most direct approach.My concept of good design is totally utilitarian. That is my definition of good design.
Sturdiness is utilitarian. My first turntable was an AR. It was not sturdy. It has no anti-scathing.
So despite having many genius engineering features, it was not ideal.
But an ideal turntable would start with all the AR features and correct it’s few deficiencies.
There's a blast from my past ... my first 'proper' TT. Long gone now but I always enjoyed it.Tempted by this one at the moment, just for looks!
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Beautiful veneer and finish. Looks like you are into Art Deco. Good for you.
You were right to buy this I think, it's really beautifulI’ve had many turntables over the years. The majority being vintage Thorens, which are easy to come by in Sweden, where I live. They are electronically and mechanically quite easy to restore, and also look very nice imo.
But the best looking table I’ve owned (and still do) has to be this 1979 direct-drive Hitachi HT-840 that I acquired only a couple of years ago. While not the quietest nor the most accurately running in terms of speed and w&f, it is still decent in all those aspects, with a really nice tonearm that tracks superbly, and a quartz lock function. But it was the looks that sealed the deal for me.
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I just want to say how very much I envy you your workbench. My workbench doubles as our dining table, which puts limits on project time, offers me too few outlets to run adequate lighting, test equipment, and a soldering station at the same time, and means I have to be extra careful with adhesives and solvents.Pics on the bench
Why?This just in: DJ gear manufacturer Reloop releases the world's first direct drive 7" turntable in series production, the RP7
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How adorable! Also an old wet dream in some DJ circles like Reggae soundsystems, having a dedicated 7" turntable with all professional features.
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Who would've thought anyone would ever make this? There was the Technics SL-700, but it's a one-off pair that never went into production.
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I suspect that you do not go 'clubing' much, if at all.Why?
I am baffled why anyone would need/want a turntable dedicated to playing 7" records when a conventional turntable can play them easily - as well as 12" vinyl which is surely the 'common' vinyl format in DJ'ing.I suspect that you do not go 'clubing' much, if at all.
I'm also guessing that there is a market for it that you know nothing about.
If it doesn't apply to you, then, of course you should ask why?
Please correct me if I am wrong but I get the feeling that you are asking BECAUSE you cannot conceive of someone actually having a use case for this.
I hope that I am wrong (and, if that is the case): please accept my apology.
Exactly this. Whilst there may be a 'use-case' for a 7" only turntable, I too would ask why? I suspect it's because the manufacturer thinks they can sell them, and not because anyone actually needs one.I am baffled why anyone would need/want a turntable dedicated to playing 7" records when a conventional turntable can play them easily - as well as 12" vinyl which is surely the 'common' vinyl format in DJ'ing.
Hope the cueing device still works...Technics SL 1410 MK II .
If you want you can
pitch the speed +9.9 or -9.9 %
Disable the auto return.
Adjust the tonearm height for the VTA.
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Exactly. In a world where there is too much unecessary junk it is depressing that stuff like this is made. More e-waste in the making.Exactly this. Whilst there may be a 'use-case' for a 7" only turntable, I too would ask why? I suspect it's because the manufacturer thinks they can sell them, and not because anyone actually needs one.
Wants rather than needs.
S.