durable turntable

[[email protected]]

I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?

David Callan

[Harry Lavo]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
> was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
> retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?
>
> David Callan
>

I don't in any way want to destroy your happiness at having such a
long-standing "friendship" but frankly that is probably average for Dual's.
They are exceptionally well-built and capable machines, and if used
regularly and not abused, like Timex they just go on.....spinning, and
spinning and spinning.

I've got a 701 bought used in 1985 and never serviced. And a 601 bought used
in 2000, given a brush-up service, and still going strong. Plus a quartet
of CS704's and CS721's that populate the houses of my kids and an
ex-girlfriend, with nary a problem between them.

[Jenn]

In article om>,
wrote:

> I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
> was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
> retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?

(so to speak?)

[[email protected]]

On Aug 21, 7:38?pm, wrote:
> I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
> was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
> retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?
>
> David Callan

Some Duals had problems with the headshell assemblies falling apart
after a few years, but other than that, they are very durable.

I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased in the early
'60s that are still in use, though.

Boon

[Arny Krueger]

> wrote in message
oups.com...

> I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased in the early
> '60s that are still in use, though.

So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?

[George M. Middius]

The Krooborg begs for punishment.

> So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?

Maybe it's like your church, Arnii. All the other members tolerate you.

[ScottW]

On Aug 22, 11:56 am, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
> > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
> > I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased in the early
> > '60s that are still in use, though.
>
> So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?

One of the catalog outfits was selling XAs and XBs when I was in
high school for about $80 with a Shure M91.
I knew 3 people who bought 'em and none of 'em survived college.
That hand cueing thing always catches up to you sooner or later.
The XB had cueing but one day the owner turns around with a perplexed
look on his face as he was holding a tone arm only connected by the
wires. As college kids were prone to do.... we held an Irish wake
in memory of his departed AR.

ScottW

[Arny Krueger]

"ScottW" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> On Aug 22, 11:56 am, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
>> > wrote in message
>>
>> oups.com...
>>
>> > I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased in the early
>> > '60s that are still in use, though.
>>
>> So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?
>
> One of the catalog outfits was selling XAs and XBs when I was in
> high school for about $80 with a Shure M91.

Been there, done that. Far too compliant of a cartridge for such a
high-friction arm.

> I knew 3 people who bought 'em and none of 'em survived college.

Mine did.

> That hand cueing thing always catches up to you sooner or later.

Don't drink and try to play your stereo! ;-)

> The XB had cueing but one day the owner turns around with a perplexed
> look on his face as he was holding a tone arm only connected by the
> wires. As college kids were prone to do.... we held an Irish wake
> in memory of his departed AR.

My AR/XA arm was almost ripped off the base, in frustration!

My next arm was a SME 3009...

[ScottW]

On Aug 22, 12:39 pm, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
> "ScottW" > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
> > On Aug 22, 11:56 am, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
> >> > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
> >> > I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased in the early
> >> > '60s that are still in use, though.
>
> >> So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?
>
> > One of the catalog outfits was selling XAs and XBs when I was in
> > high school for about $80 with a Shure M91.
>
> Been there, done that. Far too compliant of a cartridge for such a
> high-friction arm.
>
> > I knew 3 people who bought 'em and none of 'em survived college.
>
> Mine did.
>
> > That hand cueing thing always catches up to you sooner or later.
>
> Don't drink and try to play your stereo! ;-)


I loaned it and the guy I gave it to killed it within a few weeks. I
had tired of waking up to the endless sound of runout groove so
a Technics SL22 replaced it...that was a pretty bad idea.
There are worse TTs than the XA.

ScottW

[Arny Krueger]

"ScottW" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> On Aug 22, 12:39 pm, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
>> "ScottW" > wrote in message
>>
>> oups.com...
>>
>> > On Aug 22, 11:56 am, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
>> >> > wrote in message
>>
>> oups.com...
>>
>> >> > I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased in the early
>> >> > '60s that are still in use, though.
>>
>> >> So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?
>>
>> > One of the catalog outfits was selling XAs and XBs when I was in
>> > high school for about $80 with a Shure M91.
>>
>> Been there, done that. Far too compliant of a cartridge for such a
>> high-friction arm.
>>
>> > I knew 3 people who bought 'em and none of 'em survived college.
>>
>> Mine did.
>>
>> > That hand cueing thing always catches up to you sooner or later.
>>
>> Don't drink and try to play your stereo! ;-)
>
>
> I loaned it and the guy I gave it to killed it within a few weeks. I
> had tired of waking up to the endless sound of runout groove so
> a Technics SL22 replaced it...that was a pretty bad idea.
> There are worse TTs than the XA.

The turntable part of the XA was fine...

...and there were worse tone arms, too.

[Sander deWaal]

said:

>I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
>was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
>retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?


Hardly.

I know of people still using EMTs, Thorens TD150s and even TD124s.
The latter goes back to the '50s.

--

- Maggies are an addiction for life. -

[[email protected]]

On Aug 22, 11:56?am, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
> > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
> > I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased in the early
> > '60s that are still in use, though.
>
> So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?

No, many replace the tonearm with something better. I've seen many AR-
XAs with Rega and SME arms. Surprised you didn't know about that.

Boon

[[email protected]]

On Aug 22, 3:16?pm, Sander deWaal > wrote:
> said:
>
> >I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
> >was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
> >retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?
>
> Hardly.
>
> I know of people still using EMTs, Thorens TD150s and even TD124s.
> The latter goes back to the '50s.

Absolutely. Not to mention all the Garrard 301s and 401s. A few
weeks ago, I tried to put a Signet cartridge on Steve Hoffman's
TD-160, but we didn't have the right hardware. We wound up throwing it
on his TD-124. I put a Shure on the TD-160. Both turntables sounded
surprisingly nice (although we did hook them up to a very expensive
system).

He's using a Continuum Criterion/Copperhead/Einstein analog rig right
now, so I'm not sure if those Thorens are getting any use...

Boon

[Arny Krueger]

> wrote in message
oups.com
> On Aug 22, 11:56?am, "Arny Krueger" >
> wrote:
>> > wrote in message
>>
>> oups.com...
>>
>>> I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased
>>> in the early '60s that are still in use, though.

>> So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?

> No, many replace the tonearm with something better.

I considered it, but found moving up to a TD-125 to be more attractive.

> I've seen many AR- XAs with Rega and SME arms.

I've seen a few.

> Surprised you didn't know about that.

Surprized you'd fall for this opportunity to make yourself look like the
small man you are, Boon.

[[email protected]]

On Aug 24, 4:33?am, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
> > wrote in message
>
> oups.com
>
> > On Aug 22, 11:56?am, "Arny Krueger" >
> > wrote:
> >> > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
> >>> I bet there are quite a few AR-XAs that were purchased
> >>> in the early '60s that are still in use, though.
> >> So many people can tolerate a tone arm that bad?
> > No, many replace the tonearm with something better.
>
> I considered it, but found moving up to a TD-125 to be more attractive.
>
> > I've seen many AR- XAs with Rega and SME arms.
>
> I've seen a few.
>
> > Surprised you didn't know about that.
>
> Surprized [sic] you'd fall for this opportunity to make yourself look like the
> small man you are, Boon.

Really, how? Or is that just another knee-jerk reaction of yours that
has no basis in reality? You're slipping into oblivion, Arny.

Boon

[[email protected]]

On Aug 24, 9:27?am, ScottW > wrote:
> On Aug 23, 11:43 pm, wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Aug 22, 3:16?pm, Sander deWaal > wrote:
>
> > > said:
>
> > > >I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
> > > >was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
> > > >retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?
>
> > > Hardly.
>
> > > I know of people still using EMTs, Thorens TD150s and even TD124s.
> > > The latter goes back to the '50s.
>
> > Absolutely. Not to mention all the Garrard 301s and 401s. A few
> > weeks ago, I tried to put a Signet cartridge on Steve Hoffman's
> > TD-160,
>
> Where'd you come up with a Signet cart?
> Is AT bringing back the Signet line?
> These things
> http://www.adelcom.net/SignetCart1.htm
> are not the Signet carts I remember...
>
> ScottW- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Nope, it was an older one, but it was one of Steve's favorites to use
with Thorens. The problem was the headshells were so old that they
didn't really mate well with modern cartridges. I could have done it,
but I would have had to go out and hit the hardware stores.
Surprisingly, the newer TD-160 was the one with the idiosyncratic
headshell. I was able to mount it more easily on the older TD-124. I
haven't had much experience with Thorens until now...but they're both
nice tables. They just need new arms. (Both were the stock arms that
came with the table originally).

Boon

[Sander deWaal]

said:


>Nope, it was an older one, but it was one of Steve's favorites to use
>with Thorens. The problem was the headshells were so old that they
>didn't really mate well with modern cartridges. I could have done it,
>but I would have had to go out and hit the hardware stores.
>Surprisingly, the newer TD-160 was the one with the idiosyncratic
>headshell. I was able to mount it more easily on the older TD-124. I
>haven't had much experience with Thorens until now...but they're both
>nice tables. They just need new arms. (Both were the stock arms that
>came with the table originally).


There are 3 different types of tone arms available for the
classic" TD160 tables.
The TP16-I, II and III (how predictable).
The I has a detachable headshell at the tone arm end, the II with the
separation near the arm bearing is the most difficult with 2 mm
screws for cartridge and finger lift mounting.
The III also has the connection near the bearing, but a much improved
fixed headshell.

I fitted an AudioQuest PT-9 arm with a homemade arm base on my 160-II,
a very nice arm for audiophiles on a budget.
My DL103R is doing very fine in there, unlike with the Rega RB300 with
Michell mods.

For some reason, a TD160 II, a RB300 and a DL103R don't go well
together in my opinion.

--

- Maggies are an addiction for life. -

[RapidRonnie]

>
> I considered it, but found moving up to a TD-125 to be more attractive.
>
> > I've seen many AR- XAs with Rega and SME arms.
>

The AR was much modified and improved by Merrill, although Merrill
mods are no longer available. The full on Merrill was a unquestionably
better table than that other AR clone, the Linn Sondek.

If you want a basic table with three point suspension and a good
bearing I don't know what you'd buy today.

[[email protected]]

On Aug 24, 8:22?pm, RapidRonnie > wrote:
> > I considered it, but found moving up to a TD-125 to be more attractive.
>
> > > I've seen many AR- XAs with Rega and SME arms.
>
> The AR was much modified and improved by Merrill, although Merrill
> mods are no longer available. The full on Merrill was a unquestionably
> better table than that other AR clone, the Linn Sondek.
>
> If you want a basic table with three point suspension and a good
> bearing I don't know what you'd buy today.

www.soundofthewood.com

And George Merrill and his mods are still out there, if you know where
to look.

Boon

[Clyde Slick]

On 22 Aug, 22:20, ScottW > wrote:

> I knew 3 people who bought 'em and none of 'em survived college.

>
> ScottW

OTOH, you know me, and I bought one
and I survived college.

[Norman M. Schwartz]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
> was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
> retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?
>

I still use my Thorens TD-125 with its original SME-3009 (detachable head
shell) installed prior to 1972. Except for adding bearing oil and replacing
belts, it has never required any servive. I'm confident that it will outlast
me :-((

> David Callan
>

[GregS[_2_]]

In article >, "Norman M. Schwartz" > wrote:
>
> wrote in message
ups.com...
>>I bought a United Audio Dual 1218 turntable back in December 1972. It
>> was in the repair shop once, in the early 90s. Today I (reluctantly)
>> retired it from active use. Is this some kind of record?
>>
>
>I still use my Thorens TD-125 with its original SME-3009 (detachable head
>shell) installed prior to 1972. Except for adding bearing oil and replacing
>belts, it has never required any servive. I'm confident that it will outlast
>me :-((

I sold mine on Ebay some time ago. Also a Shure SME separate, it had some
English arm. Sure was hard to pack up. That belt spindle mechnism was
problematic for me. I had devised a thing to help it out but I could not tell
what I did without looking at it again, which I can't.