Also recommend a non-suspension turntable from Audiogon. However, as with any substantial purchase online I'd recommend use of paypal. A purchase I made last year on Audiogon went south and paypal made it fairly easy to get my money back. I only lost out on the 3% fee I agreed to add on.

I've been using a Linn LP12 for the last 8 years, but it was a local sale and within weeks of being professionally tuned up. Not a great table to trust with any courier company.

The LP12 is my dream machine.

But, instead this has been holding me over pretty well for almost six years.

Technics SLBD20D

Look for a used DUAL 1229 or DUAL 1219. You should have no problem finding one for under $300. The only possible problem may be finding replacement parts if needed, but these turntables are quite plentiful. Way better than anything you can get new for under $400 IMO.

somniferum wrote:Look for a used DUAL 1229 or DUAL 1219. You should have no problem finding one for under $300. The only possible problem may be finding replacement parts if needed, but these turntables are quite plentiful. Way better than anything you can get new for under $400 IMO.

nope, sorry. an ancient idler wheel dual is a nice antique, with a crap tonearm, crap suspension and an inferior and noisy drive system and main bearing.

a rega 2 will kill it.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209408042 a rega 3 for $375

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209328870 a rega 3 for $395

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1208182250 a new rega P1 for $429

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209019562 a new rega p1 for $395

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209269537 a rega p2 for $395

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209838934 a rega p2 for $325.

the$inmusicisallmine wrote:

somniferum wrote:Look for a used DUAL 1229 or DUAL 1219. You should have no problem finding one for under $300. The only possible problem may be finding replacement parts if needed, but these turntables are quite plentiful. Way better than anything you can get new for under $400 IMO.

nope, sorry. an ancient idler wheel dual is a nice antique, with a crap tonearm, crap suspension and an inferior and noisy drive system and main bearing.

a rega 2 will kill it.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209408042 a rega 3 for $375

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209328870 a rega 3 for $395

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1208182250 a new rega P1 for $429

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209019562 a new rega p1 for $395

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209269537 a rega p2 for $395

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209838934 a rega p2 for $325.

I agree. I just got rid of my noisy, unreliable, record-gouging ELAC, which has a simlar design to the DUALs (idler wheel, automatic, German). My new Pro-ject sounds much better, has better speed control, and lacks the crusty vestigial automatic features.

eephour wrote:The LP12 is my dream machine.

But, instead this has been holding me over pretty well for almost six years.

Technics SLBD20D

this is the clunker that i replaced with a 1200 years back.

night and day my friend. and all the time in between...

Don't throw the baby out with bathwater on the Dual thing. Idler's have made a huge comeback in the audio world. Usually you see Lenco's and Garrards re-done in the marketplace but Duals are the same story, albeit not as good a deck to start with. Guys re-plinth idlers and turn them into incredible TT's with state of the art vintage and modern arms mounted on them. My Lenco is so big (over 85 lbs) you can mount two arms: a mono and stereo arm or whatever you prefer.

Many guys have replaced super high-end TT's with these machines that many have re-done themselves for a few hundred dollars in sweat equity.

Idlers are usually non-suspended TT's.

Here is a wiki on the Lenco:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LENCO_Turntables

A trip to Vinyl Asylum or any other audio nut forum will have more info.

Here is a Lenco, Garrard and Thorens rebuilt by an enthusiast:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1208489078

I'm using one of those colored Pro-ject Debut Carbon turntables;I'm hearing static-y clicks; I though it might be dust on the record, but I let the motor/platter spin without dropping the needle and I still hear the clicks.Is this dry winter carpet static type noise?Is that what they make those funny Zerostat zappers for?I'm curious whether there's any other simple remedies for this.

Something I have never thought or learned about: should I buy a turntable mat? I have seen cork, cowhide, acrylic, all sorts and colors. My turntable isn't exactly top of the line, but would acquiring one of these benefit me at all?

Whoops! Yep, you're correct. Thought everything on the Turntable Labs record mars page was either a weight or a mat. There is a cowhide one though!