Turntable Advice

[MATT WILLIAMS]

I have an old Dual 504 that I have owned for the last 25 years. It works
well and sounds pretty good. I have a Grado Green cartridge on the unit. I
have about 2000 albums all in very good shape that I have been getting back
into. I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
dollars to play around with for the upgrade. Should I keep the Dual 504 and
upgrade the cartridge (Maybe Grado Red ?). or Buy a Music Hall MRF 2.1 (I
hear some good things, but some Audio Review folks don't think much about
this table. ) or buy a used Thorens turntable on ebay (like a 160 ) and hope
that it gets to me in one piece and the phono cartridge is not shot. I am
leaning to the new Music Hall turntable, but I am not sure if it is that
much of an upgrade from my old Dual. Any input would be appreciated. I am
sure that if I wanted to spend up to $500 dollars I would get a better
table, but $350 is the max I have for this experiment. Matt

[[email protected]]

MATT WILLIAMS wrote:
> I have an old Dual 504 that I have owned for the last 25 years. It works
> well and sounds pretty good. I have a Grado Green cartridge on the unit. I
> have about 2000 albums all in very good shape that I have been getting back
> into. I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
> dollars to play around with for the upgrade. Should I keep the Dual 504 and
> upgrade the cartridge (Maybe Grado Red ?). or Buy a Music Hall MRF 2.1 (I
> hear some good things, but some Audio Review folks don't think much about
> this table. ) or buy a used Thorens turntable on ebay (like a 160 ) and hope
> that it gets to me in one piece and the phono cartridge is not shot. I am
> leaning to the new Music Hall turntable, but I am not sure if it is that
> much of an upgrade from my old Dual. Any input would be appreciated. I am
> sure that if I wanted to spend up to $500 dollars I would get a better
> table, but $350 is the max I have for this experiment. Matt


Check these out.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1122778500
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1120710262



Scott Wheeler

[[email protected]]

MATT WILLIAMS wrote:
> I have an old Dual 504 that I have owned for the last 25 years. It works
> well and sounds pretty good. I have a Grado Green cartridge on the unit. I
> have about 2000 albums all in very good shape that I have been getting back
> into. I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
> dollars to play around with for the upgrade. Should I keep the Dual 504 and
> upgrade the cartridge (Maybe Grado Red ?). or Buy a Music Hall MRF 2.1 (I
> hear some good things, but some Audio Review folks don't think much about
> this table. ) or buy a used Thorens turntable on ebay (like a 160 ) and hope
> that it gets to me in one piece and the phono cartridge is not shot. I am
> leaning to the new Music Hall turntable, but I am not sure if it is that
> much of an upgrade from my old Dual. Any input would be appreciated. I am
> sure that if I wanted to spend up to $500 dollars I would get a better
> table, but $350 is the max I have for this experiment. Matt



Ebay items to watch.
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3283&item=5777868065&rd=1






Scott Wheeler

[Margaret von B.]

"MATT WILLIAMS" > wrote in message
news:B9Rne.13105$615.2096@trnddc08...
>I have an old Dual 504 that I have owned for the last 25 years. It works
>well and sounds pretty good. I have a Grado Green cartridge on the unit. I
>have about 2000 albums all in very good shape that I have been getting back
>into. I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
>dollars to play around with for the upgrade. Should I keep the Dual 504 and
>upgrade the cartridge (Maybe Grado Red ?). or Buy a Music Hall MRF 2.1 (I
>hear some good things, but some Audio Review folks don't think much about
>this table. ) or buy a used Thorens turntable on ebay (like a 160 ) and
>hope that it gets to me in one piece and the phono cartridge is not shot. I
>am leaning to the new Music Hall turntable, but I am not sure if it is that
>much of an upgrade from my old Dual. Any input would be appreciated. I am
>sure that if I wanted to spend up to $500 dollars I would get a better
>table, but $350 is the max I have for this experiment. Matt
>
Try to find a used Denon DP-59L. It is very good if properly set up and
supported.

Cheers,

Margaret

[Jenn]

In article >,
"Margaret von B." > wrote:

> "MATT WILLIAMS" > wrote in message
> news:B9Rne.13105$615.2096@trnddc08...
> >I have an old Dual 504 that I have owned for the last 25 years. It works
> >well and sounds pretty good. I have a Grado Green cartridge on the unit. I
> >have about 2000 albums all in very good shape that I have been getting back
> >into. I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
> >dollars to play around with for the upgrade. Should I keep the Dual 504 and
> >upgrade the cartridge (Maybe Grado Red ?). or Buy a Music Hall MRF 2.1 (I
> >hear some good things, but some Audio Review folks don't think much about
> >this table. ) or buy a used Thorens turntable on ebay (like a 160 ) and
> >hope that it gets to me in one piece and the phono cartridge is not shot. I
> >am leaning to the new Music Hall turntable, but I am not sure if it is that
> >much of an upgrade from my old Dual. Any input would be appreciated. I am
> >sure that if I wanted to spend up to $500 dollars I would get a better
> >table, but $350 is the max I have for this experiment. Matt
> >
> Try to find a used Denon DP-59L. It is very good if properly set up and
> supported.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Margaret

I agree, Margaret. I love my old DP-62L. Those who miss out on these
'tables because the audiophile press only likes belt drives, are missing
out, IMO.

[[email protected]]

Matt
I have a Tecnics SL1200MK II direct drive that is for sale. It's in
mint shape if you're interested. Very nice TT favored by DJs but quite
capable as a high quality playback unit properly set up.

Ben >

[w.elison]

"MATT WILLIAMS" > wrote in message
news:B9Rne.13105$615.2096@trnddc08...
>I have an old Dual 504 that I have owned for the last 25 years. It works
>well and sounds pretty good. I have a Grado Green cartridge on the unit. I
>have about 2000 albums all in very good shape that I have been getting back
>into. I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
>dollars to play around with for the upgrade. Should I keep the Dual 504 and
>upgrade the cartridge (Maybe Grado Red ?). or Buy a Music Hall MRF 2.1 (I
>hear some good things, but some Audio Review folks don't think much about
>this table. ) or buy a used Thorens turntable on ebay (like a 160 ) and
>hope that it gets to me in one piece and the phono cartridge is not shot. I
>am leaning to the new Music Hall turntable, but I am not sure if it is that
>much of an upgrade from my old Dual. Any input would be appreciated. I am
>sure that if I wanted to spend up to $500 dollars I would get a better
>table, but $350 is the max I have for this experiment. Matt

I recommend posting your request in a group called the Vinyl Asylum at the
following URL:

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/bbs.html

The people over there have a lot of experience in giving that sort of
advice.

Best regards,
John Elison

[jeffc]

"MATT WILLIAMS" > wrote in message
news:B9Rne.13105$615.2096@trnddc08...
>I have an old Dual 504 that I have owned for the last 25 years. It works
>well and sounds pretty good. I have a Grado Green cartridge on the unit. I
>have about 2000 albums all in very good shape that I have been getting back
>into. I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
>dollars to play around with for the upgrade.

First of all, you have to get a real record cleaner as part of this
"upgrade". On your budget, you'll have to get one used, probably around
$100.

[Michael Conzo]

"MATT WILLIAMS" > wrote:

> I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
> dollars to play around with for the upgrade.

Lots of great CD players for $350 or less.. . Some even play movies!

[[email protected]]

I have a Rega Planar 3 in excellent condition that I have not used in
many years. Sumiko Blue Point cartridge. Let me know if this interests
you and we can discuss it further (I'll be away until 13 June)

[[email protected]]

Unlike Margaret, is Jenn a RG?

Anyway, it's with good reason direct drive tables are avoidium by
audiophile magazines. Any of the common ones can be bested by a
properly set up AR with only the most essential mods.

Direct drive tables are necessary for turntablists, but are to be
avoided for audiophile use.

[Jenn]

In article om>,
wrote:

> Unlike Margaret, is Jenn a RG?

I'm sorry... what is a "RG"?

>
> Anyway, it's with good reason direct drive tables are avoidium by
> audiophile magazines. Any of the common ones can be bested by a
> properly set up AR with only the most essential mods.
>
> Direct drive tables are necessary for turntablists, but are to be
> avoided for audiophile use.

I agree that, in general, belt drive is better. I've had in the past,
for example, the Oracle Delphi, and the VPI TNT. But, I no longer have
them, so I had an old Denon cleaned up, installed a sticky mat and new
Grado, and it sounds quite good for my present purposes.

[ric]

MATT WILLIAMS wrote:

> I have an old Dual 504 that I have owned for the last 25 years. It works
> well and sounds pretty good. I have a Grado Green cartridge on the unit. I
> have about 2000 albums all in very good shape that I have been getting back
> into. I have been thinking about upgrading, but I have only about $350
> dollars to play around with for the upgrade. Should I keep the Dual 504 and
> upgrade the cartridge (Maybe Grado Red ?). or Buy a Music Hall MRF 2.1 (I
> hear some good things, but some Audio Review folks don't think much about
> this table. ) or buy a used Thorens turntable on ebay (like a 160 ) and hope
> that it gets to me in one piece and the phono cartridge is not shot. I am
> leaning to the new Music Hall turntable, but I am not sure if it is that
> much of an upgrade from my old Dual. Any input would be appreciated. I am
> sure that if I wanted to spend up to $500 dollars I would get a better
> table, but $350 is the max I have for this experiment. Matt

Slap one of these on to your 504 - quick!

http://www.amusicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?cat=&sku=ASHUV15

[Surf]

"Jenn" > wrote...
> wrote:
>
>> Unlike Margaret, is Jenn a RG?
>
> I'm sorry... what is a "RG"?


real girl?

[Jenn]

In article >, "Surf" >
wrote:

> "Jenn" > wrote...
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Unlike Margaret, is Jenn a RG?
> >
> > I'm sorry... what is a "RG"?
>
>
> real girl?

I see...thanks