Here's How I'd Spend $500 on a New Turntable...

I checked out the Vinyl Nirvana site this morning and found this beautiful Dual 1019 for just $475. Not every old Dual sounds magical, but this is one of the three Duals, all idler-drives, that do--the other two being the 1219 and the 1229. It's been decades since I've seen one this perfect--just look at that plinth!

The 1019 can also serve as a great 78rpm or mono deck when you choose the right cartridge. For stereo playback, I'd choose an Ortofon first unless you can find a Shure V-15, any generation, in perfect condition. (That's getting close to impossible in 2014.) I used a V-15 Type III on my Dual 510 back in the '70s, and it was my first taste of great audio.

Seriously, if you're looking for a great turntable for under $500, this is a very cool choice.

An Embarrassment of Riches at Vinyl Nirvana

I stopped by the Vinyl Nirvana website today and was surprised at how many worthy vintage turntables David Archimbault had for sale. As you probably already know, David is one of the leading restoration specialists in the US, and he always has a handful of AR, Thorens and Merrill TTs on sale. But this ridiculous...I could easily own any one of these and be deliriously happy.

First up is this rare red AR The Turntable, which David has dubbed "The Spitfire," with an SME arm and an M-H speed control. This is just $1895 plus shipping.

Next he has a Merrill Heirloom turntable with a Linn Akito arm for just $1495 plus shipping. This is one of the early Merrills, which were based on heavily-modified AR designs. George Merrill went on to make more ambitious designs, many of which are considered the finest turntables ever made.

This one really caught my eye--it's a customized Thorens TD-150 with a tiger maple plinth and an armboard that's made from tiger's maple but stained red. It's stunningly beautiful, especially those dovetail joints. It's just $995 plus shipping and comes with the legendary Rega RB-300 arm.

Finally we have a gorgeous Thorens TD-160 with a perfect African mahogany plinth crafted by David's own plinth-maker. This is about as mint as a TD-160 gets. It comes with a Rega RB-251 tonearm and is just $1295 plus shipping.

David has a few others available such as a beautifully restored AR-XA for $325 plus arm, a Thorens TD-150 with another beautiful custom base and a nearly mint AR ES-1 with a walnut base. You can see them all here. Amazing gear, David, as usual!

A Very Special Thorens from Vinyl Nirvana

David of Vinyl Nirvana has a very special Thorens ready for a lucky vinyl lover--this "long base" TD-125! Designed for 12-inch tonearms (which are becoming more and more popular these days), this one comes with an SME M2-12R already mounted. As you can see, this beautiful turntable comes with a rare African mahogany plinth that David has installed himself.

As David himself says: "In the back of my mind I knew that there was a Thorens TD-125 turntable that accommodated a 12 inch tonearm, however, it wasn’t until a faithful customer named Scott D started talking about the “Long Base” model that I realized it was something that Thorens actually produced themselves, direct from the factory. At first, I spent a few weeks trying to search out a TD-125 Long Base that Scott could purchase. There were various owners who had pictures of their prized possession on various forums and websites. One long base model even came up for sale on eBay, but it turned out to be just a chassis, with no plinth.

"In my research, I began to realize that there was very little difference between the stock TD – 125 in the Long Base model: 1) larger plinth; 2) larger armboard; 3) larger aluminum switch/fascia plate. The first two differences were very minor, a matter of woodworking. However, the larger switch/fascia plate was going to take some planning to implement. First there was the actual manufacturer of the plate, and then there was the reproduction of the silk-screening. After three months, working with a variety of companies getting estimates and discussing various plans for implementation, the switch/facia plates were done and looked fantastic.

"While that process carried onward, I had extended plinths made and a series of extended armboards. The plinths were three-quarter inch mahogany, African mahogany, and black walnut. The armboards were three-eighths birch plywood painted satin black. As a final touch, because I have always hated the battleship gray/green color of the 125’s top plate, I had the tops sandblasted and then powder coated in what’s called 'Grey Sparkle.'"

David plans on restoring more of these, but on a very limited basis. This one is just $3395 shipped, which is a great price considering that cosmetically it is nearly perfect. David, who grades very, very tough, ranks it as a 9.5 on a scale of 10. He plans on building just one more this year, so contact him now if you're interested.

You can find out more about the Thorens TD-125 Long Base here.

A Great Father's Day Gift from Vinyl Nirvana

Billed as a great Father's Day gift on the Vinyl Nirvana site, this beautiful Thorens TD-166 Mk. II turntable, complete with arm and a Grado Blue cartridge, is also the perfect starter 'table for anyone trying to get back into vinyl. Over the years I've said that $500 is the magic price for getting a vinyl rig that puts most mass-market CD players to shame. Well, this Thorens is going for just $525, and it's a plug and play solution that's perfect for vinyl newbies.



David Archimbault of Vinyl Nirvana describes the 'table this way: "Cosmetically, this table is an 8.5 on a scale of 1-10. (I’m a hard rater.) The brushed aluminum sides are in very good shape, with some light scuffing. The top plate is in very nice condition overall, lettering crisp and clear. There is a dustcover in overall fair condition, with many light to medium scratches and some light scuffing. Hinges are there and work. What makes this an extra special starter package is the inclusion of a NEW Grado Blue cartridge, all mounted and aligned for your easy set up. The Blue is my personal favorite of the under $200 Grados."



Now this Thorens won't have the same magic as a completely restored TD-124 with a massive, custom plinth--those 'tables will cost you at least a couple of grand. But if you're trying to decide between one of the cheaper new 'tables out there, this is a worthwhile alternative. Thorens are built to last forever, and some of those other 'tables aren't.



By the way, the AR turntable I blogged about last week is listed, too. I predicted it would cost more than a grand--the official price is $1695. Believe me, that's a fair price.

Once again, I'm not shlepping 'tables for David--he didn't even discover my blog until a few months ago. It's just that I dig what he's doing, and he's probably one of the best turntable restorers in the United States, if not the world. Just check out his site, click on the section for "Vintage Turntables for Sale" and start drooling.

AR The Turntable Baby Grand Version

Check this out from David Archimbault of Vinyl Nirvana...an AR turntable in a piano black finish! As David says, "Thought I would share pics of this gorgeous table I just completed...something about that piano gloss finish that gets me so excited."



He hasn't set a price for this one yet, but it should be well over a grand considering its rarity and the rather nice Rega arm that's been mounted. If you want to find out more about Vinyl Nirvana, check out their website.

Vinyl Nirvana's Top 10 Vintage Turntable Projects of 2011

David Archimbault of Vinyl Nirvana has just posted his ten favorite vintage turntable projects of 2011 here.

If you follow David's work at Vinyl Nirvana, you'll know he's one of the premier turntable restorers in the world. His list is full of the usual suspects from AR, Thorens and more. Unfortunately all of these beauties have been sold, but you can certainly reserve a 'table for 2012 by checking out his list of current projects which is listed on his website.

Enjoy!

Thorens TD-160 Super w/Incognito-wired Rega RB-250 from Vinyl Nirvana

Here's another gorgeous 'table for sale at Vinyl Nirvana. This one is an absolutely beautiful Thorens TD-160 Super with a Rega RB-250 arm that's been rewired by Incognito. Here's what David Archimbault of VN has to say about this gem:

"Okay, you can tell from my website and my descriptions that I get pretty excited about turntables and the peripheries…even after all these years. Well, multiply that excitement tenfold and you will know how I feel about this specific turntable. It has been a long time since I even offered a Thorens TD–160 Super on this for sale page because I usually have a waiting list for them. Some years I come across a couple if I am lucky, and other years I don’t see any. That’s what makes this particular TD 160 Super even more thrilling: it is in amazing condition…easily the nicest to cross my bench. Cosmetically, this table is a solid 9.0 on a scale of 1-10. (Those who follow my sales know I rarely use a 9.0 rating.) The red mahogany veneer is in outstanding shape with not a single blemish to report. The metal portion of the plinth is in excellent condition, with absolutely no scuffs or scratches, and only very very slight signs of wear. The dust cover is in very good to excellent condition: there are minor blemishes, light scratches, and some circular scuffing."

Here's what he has to say about the arm:

"If you have never compared a stock Rega RB – 250 to one that has been rewired with the phenomenal Incognito upgrade wiring, it is a night and day difference… a cliche I rarely use., but in this case it’s true. The Incognito upgrade features one-piece pure copper wiring with Faraday Cage shielding. The grounding scheme removes the arm ground from the signal path. the RCA plugs and cartridge pin clips are of high quality. You can search out reviews and see this upgrade is universally praised. The re-wired arm and custom Sound Supports armboard are a $500+ value.

Overall, this is a stunning table with a serious arm capable of handling cartridges in the $500 to $2000 range with ease. I would be happy to mount any cartridge for the new owner for $40. If I install the cartridge, it makes set-up incredibly easy for set-up."

David is selling this one for just $1195 plus shipping. This is another Thorens that will probably sell quickly due to its excellent shape, and David isn't kidding when he says this TT will compete with modern turntables in the $2000 range. For more information, check out the Vinyl Nirvana website.

Another beautiful AR turntable at Vinyl Nirvana

David Archambault at Vinyl Nirvana is offering yet another heavily modded AR ES-1 turntable at his site (www.vinylnirvana.com). This one has been modded by Steve Frosten, a gentleman who works with Dave to restore many of these vintage Thorens and AR 'tables.

This one has been fitted with a Linn Basik Plus arm. I've never heard this combination before, but I have a lot of respect for Linn and I have a feeling this is one special TT.

Here's David's description of the 'table:

"I am delighted to offer this turntable on Vinyl Nirvana on “consignment” for Steve Frosten. Steve and I have been collaborating on various AR projects for years, and he does first quality work. More than that, he adheres to the same philosophy as me: he’s not happy unless you are happy.

On to his turntable…cosmetically, this table is an 8.o on a scale of 1-10. The walnut veneer has been refinished and is in excellent shape. The metal portion of the plinth is refinished state as well. There is a dustcover in almost new condition, but for one minute scratch.

The table has been highly modified. Steve writes: “it’s dated ’87 and ser# 06069. It has a NOS motor, SS studs and wing nuts, Linn springs, Merrill subchassis, Vinyl Nirvana SS platter spindle, Platter Matter 1/4” mat, and Monster tip toes on 3/4” bottom cover. ”

All I know is it’s gorgeous and I am pleased to have it offered here. If interested in purchasing, email Steve. sjf111454@gmail.com."

These pics show the extent of Steve's mods. When I owned an AR turntable, the first mods I attempted involved flipping this table over and trying to improve the vibration control inside the base. If you have a stock AR ES-1, the first thing you'll notice is the cheap piece of MDF that is screwed to the bottom, obscuring the innards. I immediately removed this and noticed a huge difference in the quality of the sound; it was quieter and the silence between the notes was darker and more liquid-sounding. Steve has obviously taken this several steps further.

Both the arm and table are available for $1249. Just choose a great cartridge (anything but a Grado, which will hum) and you'll have an analog rig that will be very competitive with the likes of Rega, Pro-Ject and other more modern TTs. Plus, it's beautiful!