Which Hi-End, Long-Term deck?

[Infiniteloop]

I'm looking to get back into Vinyl ( I bought my last LP in 1988! ) and want a deck that I will, most likely, never need to replace. I've been looking at the Linn LP12, Roksan Xerxes 20 plus and the Thorens TD550. ( The Thorens is in the lead at the moment ).

I want something that isn't going to date and has excellent sound quality.

- Any further suggestions?

 

[bigfish786]

I'm looking to get back into Vinyl ( I bought my last LP in 1988! ) and want a deck that I will, most likely, never need to replace. I've been looking at the Linn LP12, Roksan Xerxes 20 plus and the Thorens TD550. ( The Thorens is in the lead at the moment ).

I want something that isn't going to date and has excellent sound quality.

- Any further suggestions?

id say go for a Gyrodec SE. Probably the best deck you could have. With limitless ability to upgrade etc. and looks the dogs danglies.

 

[CnoEvil]

What was your last Deck?

Have you heard anything recently that you have liked?

I love the sound of Linn, but while being musial, they are not really neutral. They are expensive and whether you get one, would (imo) depend on whether you had a good dealer near by.

Will it be connected to the Devialet or UR?

Other sensible brands (that haven't been mentioned), would be:

Clearaudio

Avid

Wilson Benesch

Thorens (Acrylic Series)

Lumley (Heliosphere)

Palmer Audio

Townshend Rock

SME

Oracle

Notingham Analogue

Well Tempered Lab

VPI

Funk Firm

Sorry for the big list, but it might trigger some interest in a direction you weren't expecting.

 

[Al ears]

I think you'll find two on your list have indeed been mentioned....

 

[drummerman]

I'd probably would go for something that has 'dated' already, proven its worth and has had custom attention from leading firms, bringing it up to date with a complete refurbishment. Should keep its value well too.

I'd love to have a professionally refurbed Garrard in a custom plinth.

As for new and money no objective high end for life ... it has to be an Air Force 1 or 2 by TechDas

 

[Al ears]

I'd probably would go for something that has 'dated' already, proven its worth and has had custom attention from leading firms, bringing it up to date with a complete refurbishment. Should keep its value well too.

I'd love to have a professionally refurbed Garrard in a custom plinth.

As for new and money no objective high end for life ... it has to be an Air Force 1 or 2 by TechDas

Indeed either them or the Continuum Coliburn....

Me I'd be happy with the AirForce 2

 

[Al ears]

From your list I would have to choose on which would be pretty easy to set-up and offer long term reliability, it would therefore be the Roksan Xerxes 20+ (I have been looking at one of these myself. More specifically I would point you at the Xerxes conversion done by Inspire HiFi, because it looks better and apparently sounds better than the original).

However I think I have made up my mind to stick with an Origin Live set-up as, to my mind, they have a classic (though non-conventional) looks. They are extremely underrated I feel and although not cheap the equivalent priced deck will knock spots off any LP12 I've heard (however heavily modified - which tends to be a problem with these decks and always was).

As suggested above the Michell line looks different and I'd suggest the Orbe over the Gyrodec if you have the funds.

Others to look at if you are spending that sort of money would be Avid, SME, or some of the German makes such as TW Acustic or AMG.

With all of the above though, for the long term, I would strongly suggest you get one either fitted or as an extra, an acrylic dust cover.

To me the Thorens, along with the LP12 look dated before they start.

Ultimately it is all going to depend on what you consider to be good looking and, of course, your budget.

 

[Infiniteloop]

What was your last Deck?

The last time I had a turntable, I was a student ( mid - late 80's) and fiscally challenged. I'd wanted an LP12, but settled for a Dual CS505.

Have you heard anything recently that you have liked?

A good friend has an LP12, which I've heard through Naim Amps. I'm considering taking the Devialet round to him to listen to the combination. Only thing is, I don't think the LP12 is very sexy and considering the Devialet and Linn are going to live next to each other, well, I think you know where I'm going with this...

I love the sound of Linn, but while being musial, they are not really neutral. They are expensive and whether you get one, would (imo) depend on whether you had a good dealer near by.

I have a good dealer nearby and I'm fortunate in that they are both Valve and Turntable nuts!

Will it be connected to the Devialet or UR?

I bought the Devialet 200 over the 120 late last year with the intention of getting back into Vinyl. ( The 200 has a very good phono stage as one of the owners of Devialet is a Vinyl fan. The Devialet even allows you to match your cartridge to the built-in phono stage.)

I don't think the Unison has a phono stage, ( it has a phono input ) so that would be another project....

Other sensible brands (that haven't been mentioned), would be:

Clearaudio

Avid

Wilson Benesch

Thorens (Acrylic Series)

Lumley (Heliosphere)

Palmer Audio

Townshend Rock

SME

Oracle

Notingham Analogue

Well Tempered Lab

VPI

Funk Firm

Sorry for the big list, but it might trigger some interest in a direction you weren't expecting.

I've considered many of the above, but a lot of them are styled in a, shall we say, way that doesn't make them practical in a household with three cats and a whippet!

A cover of some sort is a must, free belts etc are too much a temptation for inquisitive paws. The Mitchell turntables, for instance, would provide hours of amusement and a paw between those flying, hanging weights would probably cost me the cartridge!

I'm a bit anti-acrylic. I'm sure over time that these are going to scuff with the inevitable cleaning. Dust covers can be replaced, chassis? - that's going to be another matter. I'd ideally like a good aesthetic match for the Devialet. I think the Roksan Xerxes or Thorens TD550 could work, with the Linn a reasonable ( but perhaps boring ) runner-up.[/b]

 

[Infiniteloop]

From your list I would have to choose on which would be pretty easy to set-up and offer long term reliability, it would therefore be the Roksan Xerxes 20+ (I have been looking at one of these myself. More specifically I would point you at the Xerxes conversion done by Inspire HiFi, because it looks better and apparently sounds better than the original).

However I think I have made up my mind to stick with an Origin Live set-up as, to my mind, they have a classic (though non-conventional) looks. They are extremely underrated I feel and although not cheap the equivalent priced deck will knock spots off any LP12 I've heard (however heavily modified - which tends to be a problem with these decks and always was).

As suggested above the Michell line looks different and I'd suggest the Orbe over the Gyrodec if you have the funds.

Others to look at if you are spending that sort of money would be Avid, SME, or some of the German makes such as TW Acustic or AMG.

With all of the above though, for the long term, I would strongly suggest you get one either fitted or as an extra, an acrylic dust cover.

To me the Thorens, along with the LP12 look dated before they start.

Ultimately it is all going to depend on what you consider to be good looking and, of course, your budget.

I think all the decks on my shortlist look 'classic'. - That could also mean 'dated' of course. - The thing is, I'm going to keep this deck for a long time.

 

[CnoEvil]

I think you'll find two on your list have indeed been mentioned....

Apologies.....I was under a time constraint when posting, so missed some. *blush*

 

[Infiniteloop]

I'd probably would go for something that has 'dated' already, proven its worth and has had custom attention from leading firms, bringing it up to date with a complete refurbishment. Should keep its value well too.

I'd love to have a professionally refurbed Garrard in a custom plinth.

As for new and money no objective high end for life ... it has to be an Air Force 1 or 2 by TechDas

Indeed either them or the Continuum Coliburn....

Me I'd be happy with the AirForce 2

Hmmm. £115K for the Continuum or £45K for the Airforce 1. - It's not worth me risking Mrs Loop getting all narrow-eyed and thin lipped over.*shok*

- Trust me.

 

[Tear Drop]

I don't own this but in many areas of analogue playback this is the best I have heard, easily bettering the more expensive 'names'

http://www.high-end-direct.com/GAINSFORD_TURNTABLE/p1238209_5808042.aspx

 

[CnoEvil]

What was your last Deck?

The last time I had a turntable, I was a student ( mid - late 80's) and fiscally challenged. I'd wanted an LP12, but settled for a Dual CS505.

Have you heard anything recently that you have liked?

A good friend has an LP12, which I've heard through Naim Amps. I'm considering taking the Devialet round to him to listen to the combination. Only thing is, I don't think the LP12 is very sexy and considering the Devialet and Linn are going to live next to each other, well, I think you know where I'm going with this...

I love the sound of Linn, but while being musial, they are not really neutral. They are expensive and whether you get one, would (imo) depend on whether you had a good dealer near by.

I have a good dealer nearby and I'm fortunate in that they are both Valve and Turntable nuts!

Will it be connected to the Devialet or UR?

I bought the Devialet 200 over the 120 late last year with the intention of getting back into Vinyl. ( The 200 has a very good phono stage as one of the owners of Devialet is a Vinyl fan. The Devialet even allows you to match your cartridge to the built-in phono stage.)

I don't think the Unison has a phono stage, ( it has a phono input ) so that would be another project....

Other sensible brands (that haven't been mentioned), would be:

I've considered many of the above, but a lot of them are styled in a, shall we say, way that doesn't make them practical in a household with three cats and a whippet![/b]

A cover of some sort is a must, free belts etc are too much a temptation for inquisitive paws. The Mitchell turntables, for instance, would provide hours of amusement and a paw between those flying, hanging weights would probably cost me the cartridge!

I'm a bit anti-acrylic. I'm sure over time that these are going to scuff with the inevitable cleaning. Dust covers can be replaced, chassis? - that's going to be another matter. I'd ideally like a good aesthetic match for the Devialet. I think the Roksan Xerxes or Thorens TD550 could work, with the Linn a reasonable ( but perhaps boring ) runner-up.

I got out of Vinyl in the early 90s where I owned a Linn LP12 (Valhalla)/Ittok/Asak. Back then it was Pink Triangle/Xerxes etc that I listened to.

The only TT I have heard recently has been an LP12. Lookswise, it may be incongrous with the Devialet, but soundwise it might be rather good.

 

[drummerman]

Hmmm. £115K for the Continuum or £45K for the Airforce 1. - It's not worth me risking Mrs Loop getting all narrow-eyed and thin lipped over.*shok*

- Trust me.

Just imagine how pleased she will be in what a bargain the AirForce Two is ... compared to the One at least

 

[Infiniteloop]

Hmmm. £115K for the Continuum or £45K for the Airforce 1. - It's not worth me risking Mrs Loop getting all narrow-eyed and thin lipped over.*shok*

- Trust me.

Just imagine how pleased she will be in what a bargain the AirForce Two is ... compared to the One at least

I can't imagine she'd be very pleased with a piece of equipment in our lounge that looks like it could control the SS Enterprise though.*nea*

 

[Al ears]

Hmmm. £115K for the Continuum or £45K for the Airforce 1. - It's not worth me risking Mrs Loop getting all narrow-eyed and thin lipped over.*shok*

- Trust me.

Just imagine how pleased she will be in what a bargain the AirForce Two is ... compared to the One at least

I can't imagine she'd be very pleased with a piece of equipment in our lounge that looks like it could control the SS Enterprise though.*nea*

Who says it has to be in the lounge? If you can afford one you can afford to build a substantial 'man shed' out the back.

 

[Al ears]

I think you'll find two on your list have indeed been mentioned....

Apologies.....I was under a time constraint when posting, so missed some. *blush*

De nada. That's quite a list you produced and I still feel you left out quite a few. It is quite amazing, when you look deeper into it, just how many good turntables there are about. Some lesser known German manufactures and some American (like Sota) are pretty much unheard of in the UK.

 

[jerry klinger]

If I had the OP's requirements I'd be looking at the Project Xtension 9 or 10. Both are fairly containable, have solid plinths with the sort of anti-resonance which should prove pet-friendly, and nice well-made lids. In other words they have all the virtues of the old-fashioned school while incorporating a lot of hi-tech innovations. Moreover they've very cost-effective. The Xtension 9 comes with a Quintet Black cartridge and costs £2200. A similar Roksan Xerxes 20+/psu/Tabriz/Quintet Black is, er, £4850 ish. The 10 would be nearer £3000 but from what I've heard is on a par with the Roksan setup.