Turntables

[ktmog6uk]

My venerable Linn Axis is reaching the end of its days, and there are no local service agents left for them round here so into the minefield for a replacement I go! My thoughts are to look for a decent used deck £200-400 but any thoughts on what to look for or maybe a good quality newbie?

[xxnick1975]

Rega seem to be the favourite these days. My P2 has been fine

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[vulcangascompany]

Another vote for Rega, i have Planar 3 which i bought secondhand within your budget. Pro-ject seem to offer a lot for the money, a bit of a budget Rega.

[Martylaa]

Regs Planer here, top notch.


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[pete-r]

Rega and Project seem to dominate that price point

[bwest76]

I have the Rega Planar 2 in white

It has really improved my music system in both sound and my enjoyment.

Much better than the rival with all the balancing things and the like.

[Daddelvirks]

Try a professionally restored Lenco L75 sounds like a dream.

[notnowkato]

Had my planar 3 for about 20 years, can't imagine replacing it, easily serviced, new belts are cheap and easy to fit. The cartridge will be the bit which evokes most discussion, I imagine.

[notnowkato]

Try a professionally restored Lenco L75 sounds like a dream.

Oh, now then, that was my first good deck, my fussy flatmate then allowed me to borrow his record ,now I had a good thing to protect them.

[notnowkato]

Had my planar 3 for about 20 years, can't imagine replacing it, easily serviced, new belts are cheap and easy to fit. The cartridge will be the bit which evokes most discussion, I imagine.

[markl]

My venerable Linn Axis is reaching the end of its days, and there are no local service agents left for them round here so into the minefield for a replacement I go! My thoughts are to look for a decent used deck £200-400 but any thoughts on what to look for or maybe a good quality newbie?

Chris Books Audio in Warrington serviced my LP12 a year or so ago , and did a good job.


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[Bravo73]

Gotta be a pair of 1210s, shirley?

Or is this the wrong thread?

[pete-r]

Bravo on the 1's and 2's 😄

[walkerwek1958]

Have you tried asking Fanthorpes in Hull if they know of anyone who services these?

I would favour getting it restored if possible rather than replace it.

[Rod]

Rega seem to be the favourite these days. My P2 has been fine

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Second that. Rega P2 is a great sound. It'll take an upgrade for the cartridge for something like an Ortofon Red too

[Michael 38]

I had a linn axis 15 years ago even then there were problems getting spares and finding people to work on them back then, all the spares and expertise is for the lp 12s now I have a base model project and can’t tell any difference from the linn

[Andrzej]

Replaced my Thorens TD150 (after nearly 50 years) with a Pro-Ject and certainly happy with the new one.

[MattMM]

Rega Planar 3 has done me (and my son) sterling service for over 20 years. We live literally 2 miles from the Linn factory in Waterfoot ;) and I’ve worked there for a couple of days, met the people who built LP12s.

[blackal]

I still have my Linn Sondek with Akito arm - from around 1982

don’t break out the vinyl as often as I should.

[Rod]

Back in the 80's when the Linn Sondek was out it was £69.95 plus arm and arm board. Fitted a lot of SME3009 arms with a Shure V15 cartridge to them.
It was known in the trade as the 'Grim Condek'😁

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Back in the 80's when the Linn Sondek was out it was £69.95 plus arm and arm board. Fitted a lot of SME3009 arms with a Shure V15 cartridge to them.
It was known in the trade as the 'Grim Condek'

They sold loads on the back of the hi-fi press swooning over them!

[SimonH]

Back in the 80's when the Linn Sondek was out it was £69.95 plus arm and arm board. Fitted a lot of SME3009 arms with a Shure V15 cartridge to them.
It was known in the trade as the 'Grim Condek'

I'm pretty sure a LP12 in the 80's was way more than £69.95! My Rega Planar 3 from 1985 (which I still own ) was £250!

I owned a late 70's LP12 with a SME3009 for a bit, but concluded my Thorens TD125 with TP16 tonearm sounded better, but some people say that the TP16 was actually a nicer sounding arm than the SME . The SME was of course heavily promoted by the UK press and a thing of great beauty in my opinion.

Still have the Thorens and the Rega but need to sell one, the Rega was bought for me by father so will probably keep that even though the Thorens sounds much better.

[ktmog6uk]

Have you tried asking Fanthorpes in Hull if they know of anyone who services these?

I would favour getting it restored if possible rather than replace it.

They don’t touch them, I last had it serviced about 10 years ago at The Audio Room on Savile Street but it looks like it’s closed down.
Warrington is realistically too far for me as I don’t drive.
I think the board is on the way out, needs to warm up for about 30 mins now before it runs at the correct speed, thought it was belt stretch but no difference with a newbie fitted😢

[Grandiloquence]

Been looking for a reasonably priced deck myself recently. Somehow I have ended up with about 60 records and nothing to play them on! Popped in to Richer Sounds earlier today but the ones they had in stock were a bit underwhelming. I don't want Bluetooth or USB, I just want to plug it into my old Marantz amp and listen to some records!

[Kingstepper]

I'm pretty sure a LP12 in the 80's was way more than £69.95! My Rega Planar 3 from 1985 (which I still own ) was £250!

I owned a late 70's LP12 with a SME3009 for a bit, but concluded my Thorens TD125 with TP16 tonearm sounded better, but some people say that the TP16 was actually a nicer sounding arm than the SME . The SME was of course heavily promoted by the UK press and a thing of great beauty in my opinion.

Still have the Thorens and the Rega but need to sell one, the Rega was bought for me by father so will probably keep that even though the Thorens sounds much better.

Original price £59 in 1973, https://www.psaudio.com/blogs/copper...table-part-one.

[Michael 38]

They don’t touch them, I last had it serviced about 10 years ago at The Audio Room on Savile Street but it looks like it’s closed down.
Warrington is realistically too far for me as I don’t drive.
I think the board is on the way out, needs to warm up for about 30 mins now before it runs at the correct speed, thought it was belt stretch but no difference with a newbie fitted

It was the board that was the problem on mine it used to judder on start up spent a fortune on it with 3 separate repairers replacing various components but couldn’t fix it and all the independent hi fi shops and repairers near me went out of business years ago

[bambam]

My venerable Linn Axis is reaching the end of its days, and there are no local service agents left for them round here so into the minefield for a replacement I go! My thoughts are to look for a decent used deck £200-400 but any thoughts on what to look for or maybe a good quality newbie?

Whereabouts are you based? I have come across an old school hifi repairer that has done various work for me over the last few years. Maybe worth a try? He is based near Reading if that is any good to you?

[Rod]

To set up a Linn and it's suspension properly, a dealer needs a Linn jig to set it up to Linn standards. Seek out a specialist dealer

[bambam]

To set up a Linn and it's suspension properly, a dealer needs a Linn jig to set it up to Linn standards. Seek out a specialist dealer

Fair enough!

[Tony]

These folks have a turntable specialist who services turntables on the premises.

It's an analaogue Aladdin's cave.

https://hifivintage.co.uk/

[ktmog6uk]

To set up a Linn and it's suspension properly, a dealer needs a Linn jig to set it up to Linn standards. Seek out a specialist dealer

Looks like The Audio Room is in fact still in business, must have been having a refit or something when i went for a look a few weeks ago. the website has new updates so i'll enquiring this week. Still a Linn dealer too so there is still hope for it....must leave the credit card at home though when i take it in otherwise they'll tempt me into spending money on a Sondek, followed by a hospital bill and a divorce!
For the curious it's on the same street as Blowers..... https://www.theaudioroom.co.uk

[SimonH]

Original price £59 in 1973, https://www.psaudio.com/blogs/copper...table-part-one.

Yes no doubt but I'm fairly sure 1973 isn't in the '80s!

[RossC]

I have a Fluance RT85, and can be had for £4XX from Amazon, usually.

As standard it has an acrylic platter, Ortofon 2M Blue and it reviews very well. Outstanding value IMO.

[blackal]

Yes no doubt but I'm fairly sure 1973 isn't in the '80s!

Trying to remember what year I bought the LP12 - probably around 1982 and if memory serves it was £386 bare, and £426 with the Basik arm and cartridge.

I auditioned it against the Dunlop Systemdek, and while I admit - the dealer may have skewed the test towards Linn - it was and is, a fine turntable.

Bought Meridian 101/103/psu amplification at the time too. Still got it all. Tempted to use the Meridian amps with the TV.

[xxnick1975]

Trying to remember what year I bought the LP12 - probably around 1982 and if memory serves it was £386 bare, and £426 with the Basik arm and cartridge.

I auditioned it against the Dunlop Systemdek, and while I admit - the dealer may have skewed the test towards Linn - it was and is, a fine turntable.

Bought Meridian 101/103/psu amplification at the time too. Still got it all. Tempted to use the Meridian amps with the TV.

Bit of bargain really considering the time it's lasted and that they are about £20k now!

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[in_denial]

That price sounds about right; I bought my Pink Triangle PT1 in 1985 for £450 (£50 extra for rosewood) so the Sondek must have been £400 or so armless. Big pluses for me were that the it sounded better (to me) than the Sondek, and you could adjust the suspension yourself; no taking it back to the dealer for tuning. If you can find a PT1 now they are very reliable; mine is still going strong, and simple to service if you are happy to do it yourself.

Outside of that, for your price range I would suggest a new or used Rega; there is a thriving ecosystem around them, so it is easy to find new belts, people to repair them, and plenty of upgrades if they take your fancy.

-- Tim

[mondie]

What is your budget for a replacement? Here's a couple at different price levels:

A classic but lacks an arm. You may be over old decks after your Axis.

https://www.hifiwigwam.com/threads/n...ntable.119638/

A modern Kuzma at a great price, and for less than a Seamaster.

https://www.hifiwigwam.com/threads/k...al-psu.121300/

There are loads on eBay at all levels, I can't claim direct experience with most of them but am happy to help where I can.

[ktmog6uk]

Anyone got a Systemdek? Someone local to
Me has one for sale and also buys old Linns, I’m tempted to px but not familiar with the brand…
I’m
Looking at a Systemdek IIX 900 turntable New Rega 220 tonearm, Audio Technica VM95E cart

[pugster]

i gave all my vinyl and cd's away a long time a go , everything i have is in digital lossless format and has been for many years , i do like the look of the michel gyrodec but it would mean spending a fortune on vinyl for stuff i already have in digital form :/

[blackal]

Anyone got a Systemdek? Someone local to
Me has one for sale and also buys old Linns, I’m tempted to px but not familiar with the brand…
I’m
Looking at a Systemdek IIX 900 turntable New Rega 220 tonearm, Audio Technica VM95E cart

Dunlop Systemdek came to being around 1980 and were up there with Linn, Pink Triangle, Ariston on quality. Like others - they have produced more affordable turntables since then.

Not sure if you can arrange an audition of the turntable, but it should be good !

https://www.vinylengine.com/turntabl...mdek&model=IIX

[ktmog6uk]

Dunlop Systemdek came to being around 1980 and were up there with Linn, Pink Triangle, Ariston on quality. Like others - they have produced more affordable turntables since then.

Not sure if you can arrange an audition of the turntable, but it should be good !

https://www.vinylengine.com/turntabl...mdek&model=IIX

Cheers chap, plumped for a Rega Planer that was up for a decent price nearby, picking it up tomorrow. I’ll then take the Linn to the repairers and have a look at the Systemdek, if all goes well I’ll sell the Rega in a bit and either the Linn will come home fixed or be used in a deal for the Systemdek.

[wildheart]

You can have my old Thorens for well within your budget, it will need a service. I bought it back in 1974. As good or better than Rega back in the day. PM me if your interested

[blackal]

Cheers chap, plumped for a Rega Planer that was up for a decent price nearby, picking it up tomorrow. I’ll then take the Linn to the repairers and have a look at the Systemdek, if all goes well I’ll sell the Rega in a bit and either the Linn will come home fixed or be used in a deal for the Systemdek.

You can have my old Thorens for well within your budget, it will need a service. I bought it back in 1974. As good or better than Rega back in the day. PM me if your interested

He's listening to the rega by now, I reckon

[ktmog6uk]

He's listening to the rega by now, I reckon

I am indeed, it’s better than I was expecting but not quite up to the Linn. After a bit of Googling it appears fitting a Rega 2 glass platter (about £50) changing cart to an AT n95 nude ( which I already have on the Linn) will yield good results. I’m yet to speak to the repair guy so
Might do this and see where we are before making a decision, the Linn is about 40 years old after all and the Rega is just a year so tempted just to stick with it if the upgrades work.

[klunk]

Apologies for going slightly off topic, does anybody know where I can get an old Quad FM4 tuner repaired?

[mondie]

You won't find better than Graeme, based in Didcot

https://www.ampregen.com/

[klunk]

You won't find better than Graeme, based in Didcot

https://www.ampregen.com/

Fab, thanks very much

[Rod]

Apologies for going slightly off topic, does anybody know where I can get an old Quad FM4 tuner repaired?

Send it to Quad in Huntingdon.

[DONGinsler]

Linn are not cheap anymore and a check on the company web site shows loads of retailers in the UK

Somebody must be able to service it

Email Linn and see if they recommend someone

Loved TT's

Best I had was an Systemdek llX with Infinity Black Widow TA. Used arm now costs more than I spent for the complete set

[stiglet]

I bought a package a few years back via Gumtree which included a Revolver deck with Linn arm etc. I gave my Ariston to my son who is really into vinyl - both TTs are still going strong and sound OK to my aging ears