Do vintage turntables offer enough features for a better listening experience than expensive modern turntables? Undoubtedly, some vintage turntables offer superior build quality and reliability, but you have to pay a heavy price if they need repair or parts need replacement. Vintage turntables are widely popular even in this vinyl era, but we believe everyone needs to know what’s in store for vintage turntables. Vintage turntable is a marketing term, but you need to buy something from a more realistic point of view.
Only some vintage turntables are worth buying. We could have added the Linn Sondek LP12, Michell Gyrodeck, Well Tempered Lab turntable, SOTA Sapphire, etc., like iconic vintage turntables, but we wanted to keep our list within budget. We want our readers to buy something worth every penny. Our mentioned products are from existing brands, parts are available, companies repair them, and they offer excellent sound quality.
The Five Best Vintage Turntables
Thorens TD-125
This is one of the most iconic belt-driven vintage turntables of the 1970s. Thorens TD-125 still has serious demand today. Vinyl Nirvana restoration companies can’t work quickly if customers find some online or at a garage sale. According to the numbers, Thorens sold over 100,000 TD-125 units in 1975 alone. There are still many units floating around.
Electronic speed control was the major feature that made the TD-125 unique. The pitch control was the feature that high-end customers demanded. It makes the turntable stable for a myriad of tonearms. They originally sold it for its tonearm, but customers switched to SME tonearms for their great performance. The heavy suspended design is made to last with a 7-pound platter.
The TD-125 is easy to service, change, and restore, making it popular with audiophiles who still remember its excellent speed, stability, and pleasing tone. It doesn’t offer the same low-end extension as modern decks, yet it’s excellent, like Ortofon 2M Black, Denon DL-103, etc. The suspended design requires isolation, so it is better to use a heavy rack or wall-mounted turntable shelf wherever you put it.
Dual 701
Dual is a brand that produced its first turntable in the late 1930s. They went international in the late 1960s with the 1009 idler wheel table. They added belt-drive and direct-drive turntables to the product line in the 1970s. The 1009, 1219, and 1229 are the best-known products of Dual. All these idler turntables competed with the period’s expensive and classic Garrard, Lenco, and Thorens tables. The first direct drive unit was the 701. Idler-drive vintage turntables lure customers because of their drive and warm tonal balance. Their complex mechanisms can also make maintenance challenging.
The 701 (1973–76) is incredibly simple, with a platter sitting directly on top of an innovative, electronic, low-speed motor. There is no need for isolation mounting because the motor is quiet, resonance-free, and secured directly to the chassis. It was known to be the “quietest turntable ever made” upon testing by independent laboratories.
It features a straight tonearm, a shuttle cartridge mounting system, internal grounding, a 2.9 kg (6.4 lbs) non-magnetic, dynamically balanced, detachable platter, auto-start and return, stroboscopic pitch control, and a beautiful wood plinth. It weighs 24 lbs. The 701 has a dynamic sound with a big, robust tone. The slightly forward presentation and excellent pace make it viable for any music genre.
Technics SL-1700
The Technics SL-1700 was introduced in 1977–78 from a long lineage of workhorse turntables. It is semi-automatic, has a direct drive turntable, and has a strobe light with speed adjustments to ensure accuracy during playback. The SL-1700 offered an “S”-shaped tonearm and removable headshell to facilitate cartridge changes. Ease of setup and operational simplicity made it famous. It has excellent speed, stability, and thrust because of the direct-drive motor. Technics checked the turntable market with the SL-1200GR and SL-1210GR direct drive models, which are much more expensive now. At the time of its introduction, it qualified as a high-end “entry-level.” Maintenance is not very difficult.
The gray metal and plastic base aren’t viable choices in the present. But it visually bears a resemblance to vintage audio products from the 1970s. Finding a suitable one is a minor deal, even today. You can undoubtedly enjoy quality.
VPI HW-19
VPI is a famous brand that was introduced on the very first turntable about 42 years ago. HW-19 was introduced in 1980 with the choice to pick from Jelco Profile or AudioQuest PT5 tonearms. It is a well-engineered heavy turntable that includes different variants (MK II, MK III, and MK IV) with a serious cult following around the globe. VPI has become the premier American turntable manufacturer, from the entry-level Cliffwood to the $40,000 Titan.
HW-19 has little resemblance to handmade New Jersey modern turntables. However, VPI is committed to quality, reliability, upgradability, and customer service. If you find one used online, the HW-19 MK III and MK IV are perfect for high-end SME or Jelco tonearms. The stainless steel/acrylic sub-chassis offers perfect isolation. The VPI also has parts to repair or update these iconic vintage turntables forever. It has excellent speed stability because of the isolated motor. You can find HW-19 online, but be ready to pay a heavy price.
Dual 1229
Dual introduced the Dual 1229 in the early 1970s, a golden era of turntable designs. It is readily available on the used market at a reasonable price. It may be the most reasonable choice in the secondary market compared to other vintage turntables. This is a solid performer for any genre of music.
It features a heavy platter, which means steady and accurate playback with no flutter. Regardless of the format, the stackable design allows you to load multiple records for continuous playing. However, the tonearm is longer than other turntables to minimize friction between the tonearm and vinyl records.
Wrapping up
Eventually, you will be right about the vintage turntable on our list. However, the Thorens TD-125 rises to the top because of its solid design and swapped components over decades of development.
FAQs
How much do vintage turntables cost?
You can spend as much to purchase the best vintage turntable. However, you can find affordable turntables in the primary and secondary markets. If you have the means, your hunt will be highly rewarding.
Do vintage turntables offer better sound quality than modern digital audio?
Vintage turntables have a natural, analog warmth and humanity that modern digital audio can’t produce. It is enough to justify the expense of modern and vintage sources.
Can vintage turntables play new records?
Yes, they can set new records. Ensure they can play 33.3 and 45 rpm records; these are the most common formats.
How long can vintage turntables last?
As a market experience, they can even last a lifetime if you take great care.
Which is better, direct-drive or belt-drive turntables?
Well, everybody will tell according to their choice. We recommend using your experience for sound quality. You can better understand what will sound better.