Tech: Turntables made in the USA

Subject: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: keberoxu
Date: 21 Apr 16 - 03:50 PM

The Boston Globe just did a feature story about this company, as they are based in Woburn, in the greater Boston area. They have their own website.

https://store.uturnaudio.com

Not all the parts are US made; according to the Globe article, the electric motor which drives the turntable comes from China.

Anybody heard of these guys? Tried their products?

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: cnd
Date: 21 Apr 16 - 06:26 PM

Never heard of them or used one of their products, but modern turntables tend to not be good sound quality, aimed mostly at the "hipster" market and not at the quality-listening audience, as far as I've experienced. I personally have a Yamaha P-200 turntable which, despite being described as "low end" has always served me well. So I guess my point is they could be good but more than likely not.

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: keberoxu
Date: 21 Apr 16 - 07:29 PM

For some reason this company is good at courting the Boston Globe. They may be small, but there have been three feature articles about them.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2012/03/31/lexington-high-grads-get-grant-design-new-turntable/kBPv5MGP7Cn3k0JUjDbOxM/story.html

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2012/12/27/affordable-vinyl-turntable-edging-closer-market/RcyaSjkOrjX8XpXLxbFmL/story.html

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 21 Apr 16 - 09:25 PM

No built in pre-amp/usb, be sure to budget that in if needed. Not very easy on the eye. Deal breakers for me:
1. Two-speed (gotta have my 78s.)
2. No cueing (at my age?)
3. Exposed belt drive. (see previous.)

This will give you some idea:
Digital Trends review on Youtube.

Upside: They sound pretty good, better than +95% of the boot sale "VG+" stuff that might get played on them. Not heard either way on reliability.

Re video: The acrylic platter and Grado cartridge means they're reviewing the Orbit Plus which runs closer to U$300 (v. U$180 Basic.)

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Apr 16 - 10:59 PM

That exposed belt drive is a deal breaker, along with RCA plugs only. I also have 78rpm albums - that would probably weigh down that turntable and strain the belt.

They're pretty colors, but that's overkill.

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Apr 16 - 02:19 AM

78 rpm albums??

Weren't 78s singles? I don't remember any 78 albums.

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: BobL
Date: 22 Apr 16 - 02:49 AM

There were 78 albums all right - literally. The paper sleeves were bound together in book form between hard covers, rather like stamp albums. The term stuck when LPs came along.

BTW for UK readers, this month's "Which" magazine reviews turntables. Best buys (including a 3-speed one) start at £229, there's a Great Value pair at around £100, but avoid cheapo ones like the plague.

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: DaveRo
Date: 22 Apr 16 - 03:11 AM

I have a belt drive turntable - Thorens TD150 II. That belt drive looks fine to me. The Thorens has a speed-switch mechanism which doesn't work at all well - I usually have to lift the platter to change speed anyway - so I approve of the manual action. I would like a cueing lever too, but I see that's an option. And RCA plugs is pretty standard, isn't it? - assuming they're the same as 'phono' plugs.

Unipivot arms can be a bit delicate - I'm not sure if I could live with that. And it's not clear to me whether it has anti-skating - I suspect not.

I was surprised that there was no mention in the specs of compliance when matching cartridges to the tone arm. Back when I bought the Thorens, in the '60s, that was widely studied and reported. Perhaps it's been discredited.

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 16 - 05:39 AM

Dave: "And RCA plugs is pretty standard, isn't it? - assuming they're the same as 'phono' plugs."

RCA (and now USB) is standard but current designs are switchable between Line & Phono. The Orbits are phono level only. First-timers will need a pre-amp to use with powered speakers; computer or most home entertainment systems. RIAA funsies.

I settled on an Audio Technica LP1240-USB. It sounds like a dream (removed the pre-amp completely.) 78s take longer to changeover the headshell than the speed settings and you could fight your way out of a bar with the thing.

Subject: RE: Tech: Turntables made in the USA
From: G-Force
Date: 22 Apr 16 - 06:35 AM

I'm still happily using my Goldring Lenco GL75 bought in 1972. It has four speeds (16, 33, 45 and 78, and anywhere else in between you want to put the lever), cueing, antiskate, but unfortunately no automatic stop. A decent automatic stop was quite a pricey item in those days, and a cheap one was a no-no.