[BC] Turntables (WAS:Achieving good S/N)

[Kevin Tekel]

Bob Orban wrote:
> Other than that, I don't know of any high-quality automatic turntables;
> I don't think there would be enough of a market for them. They would be
> an anathema to audiophiles, who have looked down on "record changers"
> (mostly with good reason) for long before Harry Pearson created the
> "high end" concept.

There were quite a few space-age turntables in the '80s, attempting to
compete with the CD by introducing new playback technology, such as a
microprocessor-controlled linear-tracking tonearm with a P-mount
cartridge.  On all of these that I've seen, no manual handling of the
tonearm is allowed; you can either let it play automatically or position
and raise/lower the stylus by using pushbuttons on the control panel.

Needless to say, audiophiles rejected the whole idea of a computer-
operated turntable, and also of a "plug-and-pray" P-mount cartridge.
Unfortunately they threw out the baby with the bathwater, and also ended
up rejecting the entire concept of linear-tracking tonearms and automatic
playback.  I saw the last of these geekified turntables around 1991, as
Radio Shack closeouts and Drew Kaplan's BSR bargain specials in his
infamous DAK catalog (also featuring plenty of breadmakers and obsolete
8088 computers).

So far, the closest I've found to a "hi-fi" fully-automatic turntable is
the Pioneer PL-990:

http://tinyurl.com/78wmu

It's based on the same chassis as my Sony, but also offers a pitch
control.It actually is a surprisingly good turntable for the price, but
would benefit greatly from an upgrade to an elliptical stylus:

http://tinyurl.com/76nfg

p.s. Isn't it interesting that most of the recent topics on this board
have revolved around 80-year-old (AM radio) and 100-year-old (phonograph)
technologies?  What's next, discussions about which brand and model of 
telegraph key is best? :-)



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com