Author Topic: Fixing Old Turntables  (Read 2760 times)

ewriter3

  • Member
  • Posts: 37
Fixing Old Turntables
« on: July 13, 2004, 01:08:00 pm »
A friend of mine has an old "circa-1984 Panasonic linear-tracking turntable?" and he is looking to get it repaired.  Anyone know of a place in the DC area that could fix this?

markie

  • Member
  • Posts: 13178
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2004, 01:49:00 pm »
That turntable must be worth all of $2. Why not just look up a working turntable off of ebay. It has to be cheaper and better than getting a not so great turntable repaired.

ggw

  • Member
  • Posts: 14237
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2004, 01:53:00 pm »
Try calling the dude at Record Mart in Old Town.  I remember him telling somebody about some place in Clarendon that fixes turntables.  He loves to talk about turntables.  Actually, I think he just loves to talk in general.
 
 Record Mart - 703-683-4583

Mongo

  • Member
  • Posts: 267
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2004, 02:24:00 pm »
You can take it to Sound Images in Bethesda or Falls Church but they might laugh at it.  Seriously, if you want to listen to vinyl do yourself a little justice and get a better TT.  There are tons of used ones on ebay for cheap.  Orpheus in Clarendon always has a few used TTs in good working order for sale too.  What is the problem anyway?

thirsty moore

  • Member
  • Posts: 6131
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2004, 03:00:00 pm »
The records sound staticy compared to CD's.
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by Mongo:
 What is the problem anyway?

Mongo

  • Member
  • Posts: 267
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2004, 04:37:00 pm »
Quote
Originally posted by thirsty moore:
  The records sound staticy compared to CD's.
 
   
Quote
Originally posted by Mongo:
 What is the problem anyway?
[/b]
yeah thats one big thing against vinyl.  Still there are a lot of folks out there who would argue that a pure analogue source sounds more "organic" than any digital source, but those people are the same ones who will spend thousand of dollars on a turntable and clean their records all the time.

thirsty moore

  • Member
  • Posts: 6131
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2004, 04:41:00 pm »
Oh, I was just kidding.  I'm a big fan of vinyl.  I just have too many CD's and not enough money to warrant me replacing everything with vinyl.

joz

  • Member
  • Posts: 492
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2004, 12:37:00 pm »
i agree with mark...they should just trash that turntable and buy new.  if your friend's not a freak about vinyl, he/she can buy a pretty decent cheaper belt-drive (e.g., denon) for around $100. and, if he's a true audiophile, why waste time on an '84 panasonic?...splurge on a direct drive stanton or technics.

sonickteam2

  • Guest
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2004, 12:45:00 pm »
i would be one that argues that vinyl sounds better when in good shape than CD.  
    I even have a turntable in my car.  it skips a lot though.

chaz

  • Member
  • Posts: 5111
  • este lugar es una mierda
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2004, 01:27:00 pm »
Off topic, but anyone remember the Mr. Disc portable record player from the 80's?  It was this ridiculous record walkman type thing you were supposed to carry around with you.  It was one of the prizes on this cheesy arcade game show from the early 80's called Starcade.  I remember thinking at age 10 how stupid that thing was.
 
 Not sure why, but apparently that thing made quite an impression on me.

thatguy

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 1268
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2004, 02:08:00 pm »
Quote
Originally posted by chaz:
  It was one of the prizes on this cheesy arcade game show from the early 80's called Starcade.
they show starcade on g4, the gaming network.  check your local listings.

Mongo

  • Member
  • Posts: 267
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2004, 02:22:00 pm »
Quote
Originally posted by joz:
  i agree with mark...they should just trash that turntable and buy new.  if your friend's not a freak about vinyl, he/she can buy a pretty decent cheaper belt-drive (e.g., denon) for around $100. and, if he's a true audiophile, why waste time on an '84 panasonic?...splurge on a direct drive stanton or technics.
I was always under the impression that belt driven was the better choice since the platter isn't directly atached to the motor (which can result in vibrations and noise).  I've been thinking about getting into vinyl and here are the options I am looking at.  
 
 1.  Get a used Thorens or Dual off ebay for cheap, replace some parts and have fun.  
 
 2.  Get a New P2 or NAD 533 (essentially the same TT) very bare bones TTs that have many upgrade options.  
 
 3. The cheapest new TT worth getting is probably the Project 2.1 from Sumiko which can be bought for about $300 at any Tweeter in the area.  
 
 Anything else out there worth looking into?

markie

  • Member
  • Posts: 13178
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #12 on: July 14, 2004, 02:33:00 pm »
Quote
Originally posted by Mongo:
 
I was always under the impression that belt driven was the better choice since the platter isn't directly atached to the motor (which can result in vibrations and noise).
 
 
 Anything else out there worth looking into? [/b][/QUOTE]
 
 I agree with the former....
 
 as for the later I hear good things about:
 
 http://www.gcaudio.com/products/reviews/inforegatables.html
 
 dont know about their US price and availability

markie

  • Member
  • Posts: 13178
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #13 on: July 14, 2004, 02:38:00 pm »

chaz

  • Member
  • Posts: 5111
  • este lugar es una mierda
Re: Fixing Old Turntables
« Reply #14 on: July 14, 2004, 02:49:00 pm »
I highly recommend this record player:
   <img src="http://i23.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/20/54/83_12_s.JPG" alt=" - " />