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BuildOrBuy Group Network
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BuildOrBuy News -
  1. images/bullet2.gifAudio
  2. images/bullet2.gifProAudio
  3. images/bullet2.gifAudio Restoration Tools
  4. images/bullet2.gifAudio Processing  / Digital Audio Editing Applications
  5. images/bullet2.gifWavToMidi Conversions
 
Audiophile Turntables, Turntable Resources & Digital Audio Restoration:
  1. Harmony-Central.com - Acoustica 3.1 Update Adds LP-to-CD Transfer Tools: (3/4/2004).
    1. www.AconDigital.com - Acon Digital Media - Acoustica Audio Editor:
  2. TDK Electronics - Knowledge Bank - veloCD - Archiving Vinyl to CD-R-RW: Sound Cards (5/30/2002).
  3. images/bullet2.gifDJ Times Magazine & DJ Expo (3/7/2002).
  4. images/bullet2.gifThe Laser Turntable from ELP (Formerly BSR Japan) Now a profitable operation!
    1. images/bullet2.gifOrder Free Demo CD For Respective, Qualified Buyers (1/24/2002).

 

This page (below) has not been updated in some time. We will, in time do so, as required by our BuildOrBuy Members. Please let us know if you're interested in our Research.  Gill Boyd

BuildOrBuy Resources

The purpose of this page is for the Playback of Records and Vintage Recordings for archival purposes to Record Digitally before those sounds are forever lost to memories of the past. We will ask a few questions worth consideration then provide possible solutions. Please let us know if this research was beneficial.

    Audio Restoration... From Turntable to Digital Delivery... Archiving (78 rpm) Transcription Discs, acoustic and/or electric recordings? Looking for a Belt Or Direct Drive Turntable? Need Multiple Playing Speeds... 33, 45 & 78 rpm +? What speed of 78's - there is a difference! Which is better, Direct Drive or Belt Drive? In the affordable class of Turntables, Belt Drive is best. The very best turntable available to date appears to be the Rockport Technologies System Sirius III turntable featued below under what else, Direct Drive Turntables. Go figure!

    Need a Direct Drive Turntable with Digital Interface? Denon and Stanton each have a new model worth considering for 33's and 45's both affordably priced. Though both Denon and Stanton claim 78 RPM capability the specifics elude us from data we've researched. To properly play 78's, a variabe speed Turntable is essential.

    Direct Drive may be convenient for DJ's who scratch a Turntable while playing, however, for audiophile restoration and archiving on a budget, Belt Drive has the advantage when playing different flavors of 78's.

    Now how much are we looking to invest? Anywhere from $80,000.00 down (Rockport Technologies System Sirius III). Get serious! Prices listed here average $400.00 to $1,200.00. Other models NOT listed here average $2,500.00 and up. Some Turntable aficionados prefer to Build their own Turntables. Each category depends upon the need of the user and your ultimate goal. Really, if you're a professional and this is your business, the ELP Laser Turntable and Cedar Audio System might be one direction to go. It's only m-o-n-e-y! Consider your alternatives and do your research before proceeding. Audi Restoration is an art in its' self.

    If you're more into reality economics, consider either Rega Research Turntables from UK (UK Web Site - No? US distributor - Yes. See him @ CES Exhibits) or my current preference of Esoteric Sound Turntables in the US. Esoteric Sound Products Dealer, Nauck's Vintage Records [78rpm.com] (Spring, Texas!) appears to have taken Esoteric Sound's Ramses II Turntable along with Esoteric Sounds' Transcribe (REK-O-KUT) Transcription Tone Arm to create a unit worthy of almost any 78 RPM Recording you might encounter, including 16 inch Disks.

    A quality Turntable is only a small part of the equation. The Belt Drive Turntables listed all require a phono pre amp. The two Direct Drive Turntables mentioned from Denon and Stanton with Digital Interfaces can go straight to your PC's 24/96 Digital Audio interface (S P/DIF) if you have one.

    And you'll need Audio Restoration software too! Sonic Foundry Sound Forge 5.0 plus their Noise Reduction DirectX Plug-In 2.0 may be what you're looking for in 24 bit / 96 KHz audio processing as a host program. You may also need other plug-ins (DirectX or VST) for possibly DC-Offset and the usual snap, crackle and pop noise you'll need to filter. For DC-Offset, consider DirectX Audio Plug-ins from AnalogX:- DC Offset. AnalogX also has great prices too!

    Also, does your audio card measure up to specs? From Build Or Buy member Tom Tyner who found this in a news group message @: alt.binaries.sounds.utilities - http://www.algorithmix.com/home/index_downloads4.htm

Please see our SiteMap Index for other Audio related pages of interest.

Information Resources:

Nauck's Vintage Records, 6323 Inway Drive, 
Spring, TX 77389-3643 | Fax (281) 251-7023

Record Cleaning - Washing / Vinyl Cleaning Solutions:

This is a whole different topic requiring further research! How much do you want to spend? How important are those recordings? Read on to see what level you need or require. For 78's, please be careful as they require extra special care!

Belt Drive Turntables:

Manufacturer:

  • Rega Research, UK - No URL!?! - Audiophile Quality

Appears to be one of the best for the money. Data was scarce @ the time of our research. Further study suggests - CES attendance.

  1. Rega Planar 2 - Priced: $495.00 (With RB 250 Tone Arm)

  2. Rega Planar 78 - Priced: $495.00 (With RB 250 Tone Arm)
  3. Rega Planar 3 - Priced: $695.00 (With RB 300 Tone Arm)
  4. Rega Planar 3 2000

Rega Source: Audiogon high end audio auctions, classifieds, hifi chat - Brooklyn Audio - Priced: $750.00 (With RB 300 Tone Arm)

 

Manufacturer:

  1. RAMSES II ($485.00)

  2. RAMSES ($369.00)
  3. ATEN ($565.00)
  4. VINTAGE ($394.00)

Turntable: RAMSES II CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE SPEED BELT-DRIVE

Specifications:
Hum/Noise (relative 7cm/sec): -70dB, -63dB (LN)
Speeds: 33.33, 45, 71.29, 76.59, 78.26, 80, 90 rpm
Pitch Control: variable from 60 to 105rpm
Wow & Flutter: 0.15% (WRMS)
Warranty: 1 Year from date of purchase

 

Esoteric Sound Sources:

Nauck's Vintage Records 78rpm.com, 6323 Inway Drive, Spring, TX 77389-3643 | Fax (281) 251-7023 

  1. MURRAY II: Turntable Priced: $450 US From: w.78rpm.com: Murray 78 rpm Turntable

  2. 78 rpm Audio Components - Transcribe (REK-O-KUT) Transcription Arm - MSRP: $375.00; Priced: $340

Other recommended 78rpm.com  Esoteric Sound components...

  1. Esoteric Sound Disc Stabilizer Clamp - Priced: $39 US

  2. Sorbothane "BIG FOOT" Isolator Silencing Feet - MSRP: $69.00 for a set of four (+$1.75 shipping); Priced: $65 US
  3. Recommended Cartridge: Stanton 500EL - Priced: $89 US

RecordFinders.com - (Ramses) Vintage Turntables (Six Speed) - Priced: $394.00 (Speeds: 33.33, 45, 71.29, 76.59, 78.26, 80rpm**) 

Manufacturer:

Direct Drive Turntables:

Manufacturer:

  • Rockport Technologies System Sirius III turntable - Coming Soon!

Air-bearing, servo-controlled, direct-drive, pneumatic-suspension turntable with linear-tracking air-bearing tonearm and integral stand, compressor, 50' of air tubing, and 3 counterweights.

Priced: ($73,750 with tonearm) State-of-the-Art Analog PC Turntable!

(50% deposit required with order, balance to be paid one week in advance of shipment). Factory-direct only. Warranty: 2 years, parts & labor.
StereoPhile.com - The 2000 Products of the Year: Analog
Review: (review) August 2000 |  Specifications

It takes sixty vendors and six months to create and assemble a Sirius III, which, after testing, must then be broken down and crated for shipping. (Gov't Project!?!)

Address: Rockport Technologies, 229 Mill Street, Rockport, ME 04856. Tel: (207) 596-7151. Fax: (207) 596-7151.

Manufacturer:

PR - Dated February 4, 2000 http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/WNAMM00/Denon/DP-DJ150-DJ100.html (product sheet (pdf))
Features... MSRP: $599.99; Street: $449.99 

Sam Ash.com - DP-DJ151 DJ Turntable
Street: $479.99 Music Factory - Your Complete DJ Gear & Music Source
Professional Quartz Synthesized Direct Drive Turntable

3 Platter Speeder: 33.3, 45 and a rare 78 rpm for those older collections 
Key Adjust 
Coaxial Digital Output 
Dual Output Selectable: Direct Line Level or Phono 

Manufacturer:

Features... MSRP: $449.00;
Street ?  $299.99 - Music Factory
Street ?  Guitar Center, Inc.
Street ?  MarsMusic.com:
Priced: $299.95 www.garage-a-records.com - Stanton Turntable
Direct drive motor
3 speeds: 33, 45, 78 rpm (Reverse function) 
Key adjustment 
S P/DIF digital output 
3.5mm line input built-in (for portable CDs, MDs, or any other line source) cable included.

Wow and Flutter Less than 0.20% WRMS (JIS WTD) with 33 1/3 RPM
S/N Ratio More than 50dB (DIN-B) 
Channel Separation 16dB 
Skip-proof straight tone arm!!! 

Comes with Stanton 520 SK cartridge premounted on silver headshell!

Manufacturer:

  • Numark: PRO TT-2

Features... MSRP: $580.00; Street: $399.99
High torque direct drive turntable
33,45, & 78 rpm forward and reverse 

  • Numark: Pro TT-1+ 

Features... MSRP: $499.99; Street: $389.99
High torque (Direct Drive) magnetic platter motor
33/45/78 RPM speeds (forward and reverse) 

  • Numark Pro TT 100 

Features... MSRP: $499.00; Street: $218.50
Direct Drive Turntable
33/45/78 RPM speeds, forward and reverse direction 

Manufacturer:

  • Gemini: PT-2400 II w/ SHURE SC35C CARTRIDGE 

Features... MSRP: $599.99; Street: $349.99
High-torque Quartz Direct Drive Professional Turntable
3-Speed Design: 33, 45 & 78 RPM 

  • Gemini: PT-2400 

Features... MSRP: $499.99;
Street: $319.50 Music Factory - Your Complete DJ Gear & Music Source
Street: $369.95 American Music - DJ / Lighting - Turntables - Gemini PT2400 Direct Drive Turntable

High-Torque Direct Drive Quartz-Lock Professional Turntable 
3-Speed Design: 33, 45 & 78 RPM 

  • Gemini: PT-2410 Limited Edition 

Features... MSRP: $599.99; Street: $338.00
High Torque Direct Drive Quartz-Lock Professional Turntable
3 speed design 33, 45 and 78 RPM 

The Ultimate Audiophile Experience...?

The record player without a needle!
Manufacturer: 

  • ELP LT-1XA Laser (Optical) Turntable! - Features... MSRP: $20,500!!!

www.StereoTimes.com Review: http://www.stereotimes.com/turn030300.shtm
http://www.keyserve.net/elp  (Formerly A.K.A. BSR) Specs, Order Form, Q&A, etc. This domain appears to no longer be functional. See: images/bullet2.gifThe Laser Turntable from ELP - Slow Loading Site!

North American Distributor: 
Andy Obst, 5 Timber Ridge, Los Alamos, NM 87544; Phone 505/662-1415, fax 505/661-9068, e-mail: andyobst@aol.com

  • Model LT-1XA: 30-50 rpm and 60-90 rpm 

ELP rates their Laser Diodes at 10,000 hours (replacement cost = $1500) Ouch! Nothing lasts forever... Stockpile Laser Diodes if you buy it!

Would you care for a $500.00 Demo? Credited toward the purchase price of course!?!  The ELP Laser Turntable includes the VPI Record Cleaning machine.

US Distributor:
Nuclear Physicist, Andy Obst, (505-662-1415)

Andy offers the Cedar Audio DC-1 Series 2 De-Clicker (Priced: $10,000.00) for use with ELP players. See Series X (DCX declicker) instead. Request a Free Demo Tape!

Copyright © 1992, 1994, 1995-97, 2000-2001, BuildOrBuy Group Network News!
Web Development, Gill Boyd & Team - Posted 12-20-2000; Corrections 08-22-2001; Revised 04/25/2008