tmajni@sequent.com (05/09/91)
I am looking for a good used turntable. I will probably be using a high
output MC cartridge which may have some bearing on the arm selected.
Here are the tables I have considered:
Used Oracle Delphi Mark II with Fidelity Research arm
Used Sota Sapphire III with MMT arm, vacume mat, flywheel
Used Sota Sapphire III with MMT arm
New Well-Tempered turntable (can't find one used, pricey)
New VPI Mark III w/ MMT arm (none used, pricey)
Other tables I considered, but rejected as too "Mid-Fi":
New Rega Planar 3 with Rega arm
New VPI Jr with PT5 arm
I would like to spend less than $1000 for a table with arm and cartridge.
Any comments on these tables or suggestions as to others I should consider
are greatly welcome.rshapiro@arris.com (Richard Shapiro) (05/13/91)
In article <11992@uwm.edu> tmajni@sequent.com writes: >I am looking for a good used turntable. I will probably be using a high >output MC cartridge which may have some bearing on the arm selected. >Here are the tables I have considered: > > Used Oracle Delphi Mark II with Fidelity Research arm > Used Sota Sapphire III with MMT arm, vacume mat, flywheel > Used Sota Sapphire III with MMT arm > New Well-Tempered turntable (can't find one used, pricey) > New VPI Mark III w/ MMT arm (none used, pricey) This is quite a good sample. In your price range (which I personally regard as the optimal price-performance point for turntables) I don't think you can do better with any other models (eg Linn). Assuming you're buying from a reputable dealer who will give you a warranty and good service, and assuming that the used tables are significantly cheaper than the new ones, I'd get one of the used ones; and among the three used tables listed here, certainly the SOTA + vacuum is the best. You should only buy the basic Sapphire if it's considerably less money, or if you can get it with a better arm (an FMT, for instance, or even an SME 3.9). Be sure the basic Sapphire comes with a clamp. Oracle makes very nice tables which are easily the most stylish of the bunch, but I'd have to rate SOTA a little higher sonically. I would *not* buy a used turntable without some kind of warranty, however.