Part 1: Iconic turntables (which one makes it to our listening room?)

Just great Harley and thank you. I look forward to the rest of this series. After owning several decks from the 1970's (yes we are probably the same age), and then a long absence from LP's and perhaps music in general, I recently put together a system thinking I would go all digital. It started just fine and enjoyable. When I was then presented with the opportunity to purchase a turntable, a Nottingham Analogue 294 Space. I find it remarkable for it's philosophy of design and execution. Both aspects being focused on simplicity. Of course the game of getting the digital side up to level with the analogue side begin immediately after, A new streamer directly hard wired to a modem, a new (and expensive) DAC from Bulgaria, of course new interconnects, and I have to say it has not yet been able to catch up. Although I have a theory about why, I'm simply not knowledgeable enough to explain to present it here. But i do know what I hear and I'm astonished by the sound of analogue. As if I never heard music before.

I love the range of turntables you introduced here from the simple AR-XA and P3, the entry level PL-12D and Garrard 301, the slightly higher end LP-12 and Brinkman to finally some very beautiful and more complicated turntables. Excellent list and great description of the history of turntables.

Superb video as always but this was even more poignant for me as the owner of A Transcriptors Hydraulic Reference with an SME arm that was restored for me by Michael Gammon (David’s son). Just looking at it gives me unbelievable pleasure but listening to it sends shivers up my spine when you realise it’s about 40-50 years old. The design was so unlike anything else which is why it was so iconic and for me, still is.
Michael is still hand building versions of these and has a very loyal following for them. He delivered the restored unit back to us personally and we had the most wonderful conversation and history from him. British Design and Engineering at its best and iconic and long may he continue to create these beautiful turntables.

That was really fun! Back in the 80's when I was setting up my system, I wanted a SOTA, but ended up with a P3 (with the straight one-piece tonearm, like in the second photo). Using a sorbothane mat for a little better isolation, clamp, a mid-range cartridge (dynavector) and rewiring the back end (because of cable corrosion), I have really been quite happy for a very long time now. A while back I switched to a McIntosh pre-amp, and I think I get all the reveal I need with my older ears! From the looks of it, the P-10 has improvements on all the best parts of the P3 formula.

I have owned a Linn Sondek LP 12 (#8 on your list) since the early 90's and never ceases to amaze!! I did not hear you give a shout-out to Ivor, a true Revolutionary in the way we look at Audio Systems today. I had a chance to meet him years ago and he was both a Cynic and a Genius.

Had my Rega P3 (with the straight RB300 tonearm) since 1986 and apart from replacing the band it's been brilliant. It's probably the one component that hasn't been upgraded or will be over time. Nice round up!

As always, I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and knowledge.

Thank you very much for this. I’m now going to my music room to listen to my Thorens TD 160 while I look forward to Part 2 of your three part series.

I'm very happy you included the Garrard.
We have had Garrard for many years.
From a cheap basic in a Dansette player to my current player a Zero 100 which I bought new in 1973. I know the Zero has known issues. A true classic in terms of being unique but not the best of kind.
I would love to hear you talk about cables a very touchy subject.

In my return to vinyl 14 years ago, I purchased an entry level Rega RP1 to see if the vinyl experience was worth it. Since them, I have modified this table with an aluminum sub-plater, acrylic platter and an RB330 arm. This simple setup will be a part of my system for many years to come.

I have the AR XA turntable. It is an amazing record player, so simple and well executed. MOMA has one in their permanent collection. Compared to my Oracle/Alphason it is close in performance. Remarkably easy to use, dead accurate, silent wow & flutter and very dynamic- you must hear one! Remarkable…

Fantastic show.Thanks all. So interesting and I was surprised rgat I'd heard of four of them! Your'e a great host Harley .Captivated me from start to finish.X

I came across this video yesterday, and I love your presentation I have since watched quite a few, you have a great way of explaining things, also I have a Rega RP6, so I was surprised when it was a Rega that came out on top. Looking forward to seeing parts 2 & 3

I sometimes dream of owning a P10 so I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts about it. My wonderful P25 is really a dressed up P3 and I love it. And I always appreciated how you could play a Rega out of the box - no tinkering required!

Nice presentation, always enjoy hearing about decks. I have a fairly high-end Linn Sondek that's evolved since I bought it back in '94, I love how it sounds. That said if I could have any deck it would be an SME model 60, that thing is a pure event in every aspect.

I bought a (new) Thorens 160 back in the 1970s and loved it . When I got back into vinyl a few years ago I was lucky enough to get a pristine Thorens 165 for a great price. I like this 165 better as it uses just gravity for stylus presure instead of a spring like in the 160.

Well done. We all expected to see a massive turntable weighing more and costing more than our daily driver. I am hooked. Looking forward to part 2.

I first got into vinyl in the early 90s, I did everything in reverse - I had a cassette deck first, then I got a CD player, then I got a record deck. I plumped for the Thorens TD166 (a budget derivative of the 160) which stood me in good stead for many years. The other option at the time was the Rega and back then I think you could get a basic Rega Planar for a little over £100, incredible value.

Wow your story telling really took me into the scene , Thank you for taking the time and sharing part of your Audio Journey

Fantastic video and always very educational. Looking forward to parts 2 and 3!

Very informative and well laid out! This is going to be one of those videos I'd forward to buddies looking to get deeper into learning about the turntable histories!

Thanks Harley. Interesting choice. That Rega P10 looks awfully close to their $50k statement unit which I got to see and hear once. I guess that by making the top ten the Ariston and Heybrook had to be ommited 😊

I hope that in part 2 there will be discussion of record care/cleaning as that aspect of playing LPs etc to their full potential seems to be crucial. I have watched Michael Fremer's efforts in the fight against static & grime with various contraptions, and hope to see your recommendations. ps I wonder whether the old dust bug company is still going and can I buy shares?

Thanks for an interesting video! I don't have a Thorens TD160 but I have a TD150 that I bought new in 1972 and has given me 50 years of continuous service. I recently refurbished it with a good polish and clean, new belt, acrylic arm board, new acrylic cover, new modified Rega arm and a re-veneer of the plinth. I have never considered replacing it with anything else and it will now outlive me. I'd say it was iconic 😀😍

Thanks you very much, Harley! My first TT was the Dual 1019, followed by the Thorens TD-160 and later the TD-125 with SME 3009 Which I still use). Perhaps my favorite was the Pioneer PL-530X!

I have a Technics SL-1100A which I bought in early 1974 which predates the SL-1200. The SL1100A was claimed to be the first “integrated” (with tonearm) direct drive turntable in the world. I still use it.

Very nice list, and a joy to learn about the background of LP playback some more and the timeline especially of the sub-chassis players. Had no idea that 1972 was such a pivotal year :) But hey, I was only 4 years old then, so not in the market for any hifi gear.
In my opinion, I think the Goldmund Reference turntable from the 80's (with the tangential arm) is missing from your list. To me, that has always been a milestone in analog playback. Made an unforgettable impression on me the first time I heard it.

I am really glad you included the PL 12D .I have had one for years and I love it .

Thank you for yet another insightful and informative video! I am wondering what is your opinion on heavyweight models like Kronos Sparta or Kuzma XL Air turntables? Looking forward to pt. 2 of this fantastic series.

I knew that AR looked familiar. I had one in the mid to late 70s. I was living off campus with roommates. Someone they brought in liked it along with all my other gear. Never saw it again. I eventually replaced it with a B&O a few years later. It still works. Luckily, they left all my records. Some of those are irreplaceable.

Excellent video. I am glad to see a couple of turntables I have owned. One of my biggest regret is selling my LP-12. However, I am back to vinyl with a VPI Scout. Looking forward to parts and 3. Well done!

Interesting list. Personally my journey was Technics SL-D1 in about 1980, Rega P3 1990, Linn LP-12 2000, Brinkmann Bardo in 2014, with which i'm extremely happy, especially after upgrading to the tube power supply.

I had an AR XA turntable that I bought for about seventy dollars when I was about sixteen years old. I knew nothing about stereo systems, but I liked its minimalist looks. (It was perhaps TOO minimalist, because if you wanted to go from playing 33 RPMs to 45s, you had to lift the platter and then move the belt from one pulley to another).

I have/had all of the first 5 on this list. Using a Howland West test LP I found that the AR-XA has the superior tracking even with a £20 stylus. Thanks for a great series of videos!

This video has been a wonderful trip down audiophile memory lane.
My late father was an electronics and recording engineer.
I do remember at a very young age listening to his Garrard 303 fitted with the Ortofon arm and m/c cartridge.
These were connected to his Quad valve amplifier and electrostatic speakers in the living room.
A wonderful combination to own back in the day.
I also remember many of the upgrades and subsequent improvements to most of the components over the following years as the technology improved.
I have owned and am familiar with most of the turntables you feature, and agree with your overview.
Personally I found that the Logic DM 101 turntable fitted with the Alphason titanium arm to have been "head and shoulders" sound wise above the rest of the bunch that I owned.
I still have my old Linn, it's a lovely turntable, but a tad overrated in comparison.
I held on to the Thorens and the Logic turntables too.
I alternate between them to save on the wear on the expensive m/c cartridges.
I'm not so fussy as I was anymore as I suspect that my hearing has diminished a bit over the years.

Very nice presentation. I purchased a SL 1200MK2 in the mid 1980’s and used it continuously for 30 years then sold it fir more than I originally paid. A fine piece of engineering. But as my other kit was upgraded… it definitely was holding back the sound. I’m super happy with my new red P3 with Ortofon Bronze. Much more detail and separation.

Thanks for another great video. I have at home the Linn LP12 and the Michell Orbe and enjoy them both. I was born in 1972 so your observation of it being a significant year wasn’t lost on me!

Another wonderful and informative video, I am looking forward to the other episodes, thank you for taking the time to make them.

Loved your video. Can't argue with it. I sold stereos while in college and after graduation in the early to mid 70's. Later I went to work for a loudspeaker company. While a poor student I had a few very tired used Garrard's. My first good new turntable was a Dual 1219. I loved it. Built like a tank and looked fantastic (to me anyway.) Saw a few 301's/401's and TD -124's but never heard them. To me they looked like old washing machines (guess I should have listened to one!) At the time, they were almost free. Same for the AR's. We all thought that they were toys. I literally sold hundreds of the Pioneer PL12's. If you wanted a good table but didn't have much money you couldn't go wrong. $99.00 US at the time. After the 1219, I acquired a Dual 701, a Sony 2251, a Transcriptor (I didn't care what it sounded like, it looked so cool!) and a Ariston RD 11s with a Grace 707 arm (poor man's Linn.) That was my last good table for a long time. My own personal favorite was the the AC direct drive, Sony 2251. It was beautiful (kind of art deco) and sounded fantastic. Mine had the SME 3009 type II Improved on it with a Shure V15 type III. I always regretted getting rid of it (it was replaced by the Ariston.) When I started listening to vinyl again I found a 2251 on ebay and am now listening to that exact combination again. I also use a Thorens TD-126 (an awesome table in its own right) when I want the arm to lift at the end of the record. Anyway, I always that that the Sony was better than the SL-1200. Just my opinion. Maybe if your list was just a little longer.

Nice video. I like the very calm and relaxed mood. And a great walk down memory lane.. having owned Lenco L75, Pioneer pl12d, Thorens td160, and Technics sl 1300 - the automatic 1200. Thanks a lot 🙂

Wow! I currently own two of the turntables on your list - the Pioneer PL12-d and a '90s Rega Planar 3. Great video.

I enjoyed this video so much! We are of an age. I think, and your recollections and reflections on early hi-fi were great - thank you!

Harley, thank you for sharing your passion for music, music reproduction and your love for audio gear.
Enjoyable video as always.
Regards,
Brian

Very nice, the Lenco L75 gave me a big smile, as a student I had one and I was very proud of it 😊 it was sparkling beautiful an looked like it was double the price it costs. This was followed by a technics SL 150, which was a version with tone arm mounting plate of a SL 1500 direct drive.
I had an SME 3009/ II Improved with fluid damper mounted on it. Then came a Transrotor AC which I bought with an SME 3009/ III arm but I changed this to my old version II for the better looks. I still use ist today and had to replace the belt last year, a real scandal…. It was running only 45 years ! 😎

Thank you for a very sober and honest video - I am looking forward to part 2 and 3.
I were there when Rega Planet and Rega Planar was fist introduced in Denmark. Also I can confirm that Technics SL-1200 is back in production and as far as I know there is even a SL-1400 now.
One of my dear old friends had both the SL-1200 and a Planar and just a few month before his pass away :-/ he asked me to find time to pick them up, together with his 400 LP's - undfortunately he was an alcoholic and just about everything of value disapeared from his home in the last two month of his life.
So - when a dear friend ask you to help take care of some of his most loved possessions - don't try find the time - take the time no matter what

Must be said that this is a very cool post. I had an original Planar 3 until it finally broke down around 3 years ago. After a temporary TT and auditioning many other TTs, for the money,........ I bought the newest Planar 3. I put a Goldring E3 on it, I prefer a replaceable stylus, and it sounds great. I have yet to listen to a TT that sounds this good for so little, although Pro-ject came close with two of their models. Finally I recently heard the P10 and the Vertere TTs (costing about the same) and I'm totally torn. They both sound excellent, but different flavours of excellent. Once again thanks for the great post.

Great guide to many of the iconic turntables of the last 60 years, Harley. My journey went from SP25 IV through Thorens TD160 / Hadcock Arm to Systemdek /SME III (the original Transcription model). The Thorens was great insofar as it was well engineered and with the Hadcock arm was consistently musical. The Systemdek was chosen for its quality engineering, suspension and SQ - it was never iconic (despite of or perhaps because of the love-it-or-loath-it Nextel finish), but I never felt tempted to change it in favour of the more hyped Linn LP12 - as much as I respect the latter. Happy days, when putting on a 12" slice of vinyl felt like an event! Looking forward to hearing more about the Rega in your listening room :)

Thank you for a very intelligent walk through history.
I still have a Rega P3 but I use my Soulines Kubrik DCX mostly. It has one huge nicety - that I can switch cartridges in a jiffy.
I would not buy a Linn (though I have had one) because all their equipment is way too expensive for what one gets

Thanks for a great video once again, Harley! Always enjoyable and informative! I agree that each turntable merits their place on the list, but I'm missing 2:
- the Ariston RD11, on wich the Linn Sondek LP12 was based (well...) - not a commercial success, but a great story....
- the Dual CS-505. Back in the 80s, they were hugely succesful, and, to me at least, they are a trough mark of the era...

A wonderful presentation littered with icons of my youth. Growing up in the 70's I couldn't afford many of these benchmarks. However, my choice came down to two direct drive turntables, the Technics featured and a Sony PS X65. The latter is still with me all these years later but the automatics failed during lockdown. A Technics SL1500C has taken up the baton and I've been delighted with it. I must get the Sony looked Someday. I look forward to the remainder of this series.

Your videos are just so interesting and educational. It was great to see a few turntables I have direct experience with, namely the TD-160, PL-12D and the P3 which I purchased in 1981. I got rid of it when the motor started running in reverse and Rega wanted £200 to replace it. What a mistake that was. I loved your reveal, was fully expecting a great big heavy beast of a turntable and it turned out to be the P10. That made laugh. I have never heard this particular turntable but of course its known to be a great piece of engineering. Looking forward to part 2 of this series. Thanks for the journey, most enjoyable.

This is a very nice overview of the Top 10 Iconic Turntables. I love my Linn Sondek LP12. Has the rest of the series been released yet?

Great and informative video. I bought a PL12D back in 1978 and apart from changing the cartridge, stylus and headshell within a few months, all I ever changed were styli, belts and acrylic lid. I serviced it regularly and finally sold it in 2018.
I replaced it with a higher end modern turntable but I really miss that wonderful Pioneer.

I picked up a Technics sl1700 mk2 semi automatic and ive paired it with an AT 150 SA cartridge and Vista phono stage and the marriage is simply awesome. This setup rivals my digital chain which costs 10x the price.

My first turntable when I was a teenager was a Garrard - the SP25 Mk IV. Then as a student I also upgraded to the Pioneer PL12D/Shure M75EJ. After my student years, when I had more money, this was replaced with a Rega Planar 3/AR cartridge, followed by a Linn LP12/Linn Ittok/K9 setup. I now stream music from Qobuz via an Apple Mac mini and dream about going back to vinyl! C'est la vie : )

Been a Lenco GL75 user and musican. I beleive the use of transcription was meant that you could slow the record down to help transcribe notes which may have been played too fast to pick out. Also records where not always pressed at standard pitch so you could also fine tune the record to the correct pitch( not speed. )

Just like Duofold (below), the vain pursuit of perfection kept me poor for a number of years - from 1974 till the end of 1979 when the plug was finally pulled. In the mid 70s, the turntable/arm/cartridge was ThorensTD125/SME 3009/Shure V15 type 3. There was an outfit here in Australia named Garrett Bros. advertising "The Parabolic Stylus" . They would remove the original stylus, and replace it with a parabolic stylus ground and polished by someone in Weinz (was it?)in West Germany, returning the original stylus mounting with the replacement stylus mounted on it. I took a punt, and tried it...the differences were obvious, all of them GOOD! Channel separation, signal-to-noise ratio, thd...etc, etc,etc. Now 68yo.

Thanks Harley, that brought back fond memories of my time selling HiFi gear in Sydney Australia back in the late 60s through to the mid 70s. I've since moved on to be a graphic designer in New York, but I digress. I too was a great exponent of creating a quality source signal. My favorite speakers were the Ira Gales (with the big chrome ends), inefficient and pricy, so personally I settled for Tannoys and then Linn Cans when I moved to a smaller unit with intolerant nieghbours. What I wanted to share, is in demos my focus was on pick up cartridges as I could create good margins on sales with pricy pick-ups while discounting the amp and speakers. I loved the sound of the Fidelity Research moving coil and used in in a AR XA turntable (which I had bought for myself). I would compare that with a Linn Sondek/SME arm with a Shure pick up and the cheaper AR AX/ Fidelity Research sounded better. Crazy how I gave up my vinyl when I can the New York 20 years ago. I wish I had it now. And I can assure you now, that digital doesn't have the soul in its sound compared with analog. Those subtle inaudible harmonics just aren't there. I could bring tears to customer's eyes listening to Dusty Springfield's Spooky or Coleman Hawkins', Softly. And see the hair stand up on the back of their necks. I never heard a CD or MP3 that could do that.
I think one of the real issues for home audiophiles is feedback with vinyl. The Linn Sondek was definitely superior to the AR XA in that regard. I think the Rega came available around the same time I was heading back to college so I'm put that choice on my list when I get to reinstate vinyl in my life. I have designed an interesting concept for speaker stand that isolate vibration (if you're interested).

Wonderful video as usual, my very first deck I got as a young man in the 1970s was that Pioneer in your list and later I upgraded to the Michell one with an SME Arm.
Happy days but my longing was always for the LP12 and I now have Linn Klimax so I guess I got there in the end Harley 😋

Really enjoyable and looking forward to more.
A few of my favorite developments in vinyl playback;
Once I heard really good copper center weights and periphery rings then platter matts from Larry Denham at TTW I couldn't go back. It really lowers the distortion in vinyl playback and takes care of warps. Then I bought his full table, the momentous supreme.
The next revelation was the Strain Gauge phono cartridge from Peter Lederman at Soundsmith. So low mass you can can play acetates 100 times with no loss, and sports car like precision tracing every corner of the groove to deliver master tape type sound.
The final development for me was discovering active vibration cancelling platforms. I got into them a long time ago, from labs closing, etc. Just like how they focus an electron microscope, it focuses the turntable's sound.

Stumbled on by accident, and….. what a nostalgia trip. From my late teens the first “hi fi” I heard was my girlfriend uncle’s (301) which got me started. My very own starter was a TD-150, and then on. The LP12 (original) on the sideboard now in pristine condition but now ornamental (see below). Somewere along the way the LP12 was “borrowed” by my son, then Rega 3, Technics SL? (Parallel tracking) which I had till around 2009, when the LP12 was returned to me. Must be close on 1000 lps in our store room languishing, all classical save a few including Dark Side of the Moon. And then there was the rest of the varied other components from Quad 303, Stax headphones, Naim, ESL57, KEF “Daleks”(can’t remember the number), and even a pair of Leak mono valve amps refurbished by Leak themselves outside Leeds where we lived. Now……. A pair of Apple HomePods but all my listening is through Phonak P90 hearing aids 😥. The best? Naim, LP12 SME Ortofon MC, and magnificent stacked Quad ESL 57s 1975-1979. Look forward to your next instalment.

What a treat to be educated in this way, I still hear music but rarely make time to really listen, I guess as an old club DJ it's a bad habit. I was disappointed not to buy a Technics 1200 on my travels but I did get my mitts on a Technics 1210 mk2 and it more than does the job when I fire it up. To make matters worse I have the Technics SL-P1200 loitering in the darkness of my cellar....both of them in beautiful condition.
The SL-P1200 was a nightmare to mix cd's with BTW as any DJ will know.
It's not the price value that I considered so much (although it does help) it's just to actually look, touch and feel these heavy duty beasts that I was so happy and proud to be in control of in front of an audience. Sadly my kids will never understand the pleasure the Technics bring me ...philistines that they both are, I guess you can't have everything ha!🎚🎛🎧

Very, very interesting. So pleased, you chose to include the PL-12D.Over the years I have restored a number of PL-12D's and sold them on to young people just discovering the pleasure of listening to vinyl. These people call them 'retro' though - not vintage... Personally I play on a PL-71 and a PL-31D - both with Pioneer MC pickups.

As I stated in another video about turntables, I guess I am in the "cheap" range because I still use an older Technics SL-D1 direct drive turntable. It is quiet, solid and noise free. And yes, I do own and use the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge but I also own several others and due to the SME headshells I can easily swap them out for the sound I am looking for. My usual cartridge for records in the mint or near mint condition is the Shure V15 Type IV with the hyperelliptical stylus which can be really rough on the wallet to replace. I replaced my Pioneer PL-112D belt driven turntable with the Technics as my main turntable but I love both of them. Nothing automatic, both are full manuals. I just got a great deal on the Technics and saw it as a step up in my system. Bottom line, it's what you can afford that will give you good service and do the job for you. This is NOT a hobby for keeping up with the Jones', it's a hobby to let you enjoy your vinyl on a budget you an afford.

Another great episode. Thanks for taking the time to put these together.

Really enjoyed this my fellow music buddies wouldn't last for this but it was great... I love turntables I think I can blame this one Pops he had a massive setup so as a kid I really got into it. Happy New Year, PeaceLove&GodBless

Lovely video, very much looking forward to parts 2 and 3!

Great video as always. Thank you.
The Technics 1200 is in fact still being produced.
The 1200G is very high on MY list of potential turntables and may very well be “the one”. Time will tell though.
Thanks again. Looking forward to parts two and three !!

I could not wait to write! My first turntable was a Dual 1009 that I used it while I was in highschool. Later, while I was in the military service, I read all of the magazines and, before I left Viet Nam, I ordered an AR XA turntable, as well as some AR 4x speakers. I was off to the snob-races! I couldn't wait to unpack it when ai got home. As you say, it is SO simple and the hammer test is true! I used to bang on the deck for people, to prove it. In the end, what I found a bit annoying, was the motor; it ran with synchronous-precision but it started as if it were a clock-motor because that's essentially was that. Another feature AR pushed was the "viscous-damping" in the tone arm and suspension. Eventually, I had to clean and re-lubricate the tonearm-pivot. Not really a big deal and I kind of miss it for the novelty of that simplicity. (People really used to laugh at it!) but I would not buy one now; they just take up too much space. Eventually, unless you're running a turntable museum, You'll wish for some advancement-in-technology.
I searched again and decided on a Thorens TD-145 MK 2., which had a Hysteresis-Synchronous motor that starts like a rocket..The 145mkII was being market-dumped by Leo's Stereo, in California, in the late '70's or early '80's. Ostensibly, it had the same suspensionas the AR but It would NOT pass the hammer-test. I now have two Thorens turntables, the second one is a TD-124 and I love that one too. It sits right next to me in my recording studio.
I also have a Technics linear-track-arm turntable which I bought for my recording studio, where I do re-mastering but it did not have the ability to choose individual tracks or come in in the middle of the record so, it languishes...waiting. It is not, in any way, in the league of turntables you're speaking of.
The worst turntable I ever bought was before the Thorens, when I was influenced by the DJ craze, was a Fisher DD; ("The platter is the motor!"). It had NO suspension and, in fact, would howl at me as a truck went by on my street! I returned it to Leo's and bought the TD-145MKII.
Great video, Harley. Thanks

I always thought the Bang & Olufsen linear-tracking turntables were cool. I still have a Technics SL-1700 direct-drive turntable. I always liked the orange neon light with prism variable-speed adjustment/tachometer.

A good overview of non-specialist turntables and Part 2 is eagerly awaited.
Apart from the AR XA and Taurus I have owned or at least lived with most of these turntables and am of the vintage of the 'snob and scam' period. Fortunately I trusted my own ears and those of occasional colleagues at the BBC.
Whereas the Garrard had a long run and big following in my native UK I could always hear the chugging and 'ringing' switch springs which did not usually get to the cartridges I liked but persisted from the actual mechanism, no matter how well maintained they were.
The perspex 'Transcriptor' was style over substance and several swaps by the distributor made no difference, mainly because of inherent vibration and terrible wow. These were just badly made but had a notably stable spindle. This solid aspect appeared later in Planars.
The Lenco 75 needs careful handling in setting up and the best I owned had a modified front end of tone arm from an SME 3009. If well maintained (not needed often) these remain superb considering that innards are similar to Garrard's wheels. Accurate speed correction has never been bettered and I have never encountered the problem you cite.
Yes, the Pioneer PL12 D was a modest classic and although the snake tone arm should not have worked (wear, resonance etc) it did work and was easy to set up when we were all chasing a 1.5 gm tracking weight. The Pioneer did not fare so well with Decca and Ortofon but was not designed for MC cartridges.
Technics produced two direct drive decks before the SL-1200 with marker holes to accept SME tone arms and I was lucky enough to acquire the vanilla model with a 3009 S2 to be fitted -- by someone else as I couldn't trust myself. Using Shure cartridges and occasional modern AT ones I can honestly say that nothing ever sounded as good -- well did NOT sound as that was the point -- except other Technics and a couple of lateral trackers. Like it or not belt couplings have inherent noise and stretch leading to wow and that is why I could never take the Linn as solemnly as most other people in the self-fancying 'audiophile' club. We were ridiculous.
The LP-12 was hugely overpriced and subject to power line problems which were never an issue on Thorens but I lived with a few off and on to test possible prejudice.
The appearance of the Rega P3 dealt a further blow to Linn in my mind, even Linn with power supplies of silly names and prices and (for belt driven) improved over the years. Rega seemed able to reduce wow by using a very high quality spindle and short belt configuration later refined by reasonably priced power supplies in the box.
I am really looking forward to Part 2.

Some realy iconic decks described here. I'm not at all suprised that the Lin LP12 made the list as I recall at the time the Hi-Fi magezines did wax lyrical over it.
I would be interested to hear your view on the Pink Triangle deck.

Interesting choice at the price point its up there with the very best. I did get to hear the latest LP12 flagship back end of the summer, it was astonishingly good but of course its pricey too

Nice video and nice turntables selection.
Despite I prefer digital sources, because I believe you can get better quality with less investment, I always keep a turntable in my system, and 3 years ago I got a Garrard SP25 MK IV that belongs to my father in law, I repeared it, build a new plinth and I am enjoying it.
Really excited about the following 2 videos in the serie.

I was delighted you covered AR. Still listening to my XA that I bought in 1970. If I win the lottery I’ll hop on a flight with it so you can give it a listen! Thanks for the wonderful video. Oh, and by the way, my brother had a couple of AR 3a speakers - fantastic sound.

I still have, and love, my Rega Planar 3 from 1987 with its thick glass platter, Rega arm and original Linn K9 cartridge (currently holding a 95P Paratrace stylus).

Fabulous bit of history. So many of the younger listeners are discovering vinyl recordings this helps them appreciate progress. One thing I remember reading about Linn Sondek turntables, back in the early 80's, was they aged their platters for an extended period before they installed on their turntables and sold them. Whether there is any truth to that I don't know.

Great video, the only matter I have with Rega arms are their lack of height adjustment. I've owned a planar 2, two P3's, a P5, two LP12's, a Gyrodeck, a Garrard 401, a Project and now use a Technics 1210GR with an SME 309 tonearm, and I love it.

An excellent video Harley. I grew up a few years after you and was lucky enough to have an LP12 for some years. I sold it to fund university! I never sold my LP's and stored them carefully until Covid led me to a new turntable. I chose a Michell Gyro, but the Rega P8 was also on my list. I was a hifi snob as well and Rega was sneered at, until you heard one objectively. There are a number of fine machines available now, but the huge oil rig dimension machines don't excite me at all.

I bought a second hand P3 about 4 years ago. Absolutely no regrets, and I don't see much need to upgrade it any time soon.

I had the pleasure of touring the SME engineering works earlier this year, in the company of the CEO. They are currently completely refurbishing, upgrading and re-engineering Garrard 301 turntables - making them look and sound wonderful. You will need a spare £25,000 though!

Thank you for this stroll down memory lane and your effort putting this video together. My list would be similar to yours although I might have added the Pink Triangle as it also caused a lot of fuss as the first possible competitor to the Linn Sondek. I spent hours and hours in the 70s auditioning equipment at Graham's HiFi in London. This was an important sales technique that they had at the time: give a potential customer lots of listening time with no pressure to buy and they will come back to you. I always wanted an LP12 but couldn't afford one. (I ended up with a Rega Planar 2 as that was as much as I could spend at the time.) However, the demos of the LP12 were not lost on me. Even when switching to cheaper amps and speakers, the Linn system often sounded better.

I sold Regas from 83 to 2015 and was always impressed. I'm a member of an Australian Forum now and there is a creeping mendacity towards the cancelling of the brand on this Forum. Technics is the be all and end all. Glad to see someone in the business that appreciates Rega for what it is.

WOW! the Rega10 I would never have thought that. I bought a Rega 2 in 1977 with it's glass platter, it was a gorgeous TT. I have since moved on to using a Clearaudio TT.
That is a rerrific video, I enjoyed it immensely, thank you.
Seán

Looking forward to this series of presentations

Around 8 years ago I’ve had the incredible luck of finding a used Mark 3 Oracle Delphi with an Alphason arm, for what it turned up to be a little over 1200 Canadian Dollar. With the upgraded power supply as well! This is essentially as close to perfection one can get under 10 grand, and pretty close to perfection regardless of price. Phenomenal sound and phenomenal looks. Perhaps your video should have a few honourable mention entries? The Oracle Delphi would definitely be worth mentioning. And others, like VPI or Kuzma or Sota, if I think about it.

Glad to see the PL-12 make the list. About ten years ago I was looking for a good turntable and one day I found a PL-12 in the garbage near my home. All it needed was some TLC and now it's paired with a Pioneer SX-424 I bought for ten bucks in a thrift store, and both play absolutely great!

I always thought that the story was that Ivor Treffenbaum drove around from audio store to audio store with an LP 12 in his trunk. And only after demonstrating how the LP 12 truly change the musical experience, the modern high end audio segment was born. But I might be wrong about that

I’ve owned an XA; the table and suspension are really good. Some cartridges will hum like crazy (ie Grado) near the inner grooves. The arm is the design’s weakness though many swear by the arm to this day. I believe that going back to the late 50’s early 60’s tables could be quite good but arms and cartridges were primitive by modern standards
The Pioneer PL12D was a great lower priced table and in many ways similar to the Tri/Kenwood KD1033

What an excellent review of the important milestones of modern turntables. I was in Hi Fi retail in the late 60’s and early 70’s and it was the Garrard 301 and 401 and the space age Transcriptors that made a great impression on me, though I could never afford to own any of them. A superb presentation, thank you .

I still have my Garrard 0100C from 1970. It's the one with the tonearm like a car suspension to keep the needle alligned with the groove. I always thought that was a good idea.

Since my born language is Spanish, my pleasure is to understand every word you say. Clear pronunciation and right speaking speed! I have a Technics SL 2000.

Great video and nice to hear the background on turntables that I’ve heard, owned and some that I’d love to hear.
The pioneer is indeed a classic and have never thought about the ergonomics with the student in mind. Ha
A small correction. Michell is pronounced, Michelle. I still own a gyro deck and would never get rid of it even though I believe digital replay has improved immeasurably.
Cheers

Very enjoyable and some real icons there. I regret getting rid of my Pioneer PL960 some years back. Recently back into my vinyl and bought a secondhand Dual CS5000 which is a beauty both performance and looks wise.

This is a refreshing, well-spoken presentation and I enjoyed it. I bought a new turntable in 2020, in part because of concerns my current one at the time (a VPI) was old and I wouldn’t be able to afford a comparable replacement if it quit on me after I retired in a couple of years; I wasn’t playing records much and thought I needed a jolt. The VPI’s replacement is a Sota Sapphire VI but I still haven’t gotten back to playing vinyl. Videos like this one, however, will pique my interest. Maybe enough to re-engage my vinyl collection and get some use out of the Sota. Thank you.

Wonderful list of turntables, happy owner of a Rega P3, so glad you chose the P10, just a wonderful machine!

What a perceptive and thorough list!
Through the decades, I've owned a Garrard, a Thorens, a direct drive Technics, an LP12 and a Gyrodec. My Gyrodec sounds wonderful. My friend had a Rega P3, it was a super record player, I'll be fascinated to learn about your P10 in. Part 2!

Nice job. My LP12 dates to 1984 but I've only owned it for 15 years. Looking forward to episodes 2 & 3.

I was very happy with the Dual 2901 that I bought in 1975. I kept and used it until the mid to late 1980s. I bought the Dual 2901, a Crown DC300a, and a Crown IC150 at the same time. The store threw in a pair of bookshelf speakers for free (I don't remember the brand). In 1983, I upgraded to a pair of Magnapan MG1-bs and added a powered subwoofer. That system was VERY revealing, and the Dual 2901 never let me down.

interesting selection for your list. I can tell you that I was researching and buying vintage turntables in the the late 2000 before the craze, to listen to my 0riginal 80 Albums and 45 collections. I have also built up an extensive SACD collection. Digital is superior in many ways to vinyl, but I still buy vinyl cause I cannot find some songs in any other format. Vinyl can sound really good if it was well recorded. Same goes for any format. Enjoy.