High Quality Semi-Automatic 'Table: Really Impossible?

[ZenArcher]

Hi folks,
I've been thinking about upgrading my fully automatic turntable (Braun Atelier P1), but honestly, the requirement to jump up and do something after every LP side turns me off to manual turntables. Is there really no good automatic turntable on the market? Is there really no way to make an automatic turntable that sounds good? If we can put a man on the moon....

Thanks for any pointers or insights!

[Sckott]

A few manufacturers tried making an auto-reverse turntable, and it worked to some extent. After the 1st side was over, the arm would go back and flip underneath the record. The platter was only 4" wide, so both the top and the bottom of the record were exposed, and a mechanical arm. Friend had one. It was swell, in a Beaver Cleaver way, but that's about it.

Vinyl is a little more serious than a CD changer, and does demand that respect. Automatic turntables aren't that hot for playback stability.

So, no. You can play vinyl on the moon, but it's not going to move you. You won't like it as much, and even wonder why you invested bad money.

Again, it's about what you put in it, to get out of it. If turning over vinyl sounds like a bore, stay away from vinyl until you're ready to understand what makes it a beautiful thing. There's a difference between 'playing records' and 'enjoying vinyl'.

[ZenArcher]

Oh, it's not turning the record over - I'm not asking for a changer. I would just like, at least, for the stylus to lift and motor to stop at the end of a side.

It's a bit late for me to stay away from vinyl, I'm afraid, with over 3000 LPs that I play almost daily. To me, the requirement to get up and remove the tonearm from the record at the end of a side (which can come at very inconvenient times ;-) ) detracts from the glorious illusion.

[Sckott]

Ah, you mean Semi-automatic. The better tables are manual. That's for sure.

Most tables you buy these days that are semi's, they're not that expensive. Maybe someone else can help you find a Semi....

[Sckott]

I changed the thread title for you....

[JohnT]

I'm a few months into a low end music hall and kind of thought the same thing about the manual part of it. But I don't mind too much anymore as it makes me pay attention to what's playing.

Plus, making CD-R's for the car was a big reason for going back to vinyl and they don't need to be flipped if played on my main system. De-clicking and cleanup during editing make listening more enjoyable too but it's probably more effort than most want to spend.

Congrats on 3k LP's! That's a library. I've just started out and grabbed about 300 used ones this year and already I'm wrestling with storage.

[Lord Hawthorne]

Some time ago I read that every turntable manufacturer that looked into a "plays both sides" unit found high amounts of accoustic rumble without a full platter up against an lp, whether it was clamped or gravity held. I think that explains why a scant few ever were offered.

[quadjoe]

ZenArcher,

I have both a manual TT (Sony PSLX350-H, ca. 2001) and a Semi-Automatic TT (Technics SLDD-22 ca. 1987). The Technics beats the Sony hands down for speed accuracy, as it is a direct drive unit, but its tonearm, a P-mount, is only fair. The auto-return mechanism uncouples from the arm except when returning the arm to its rest (I know this for a fact as I've had to repair it once). If I'm not mistaken, there are several vintage choices out there which do this as well, and would have better tonearms; I'm thinking of the classic AR turntable which lifted the arm at the end of the side, but didn't return the arm to its rest, I forget the model #.

My Sony TT has a much better tonearm, and I find that I don't really mind having to get up to turn the unit off. The arm is an S-shaped static balance type which accepts a variety of cartridges and is nearly identical in its suspension to my old Pioneer PL-10, it's really too bad that the speed accuracy is not as good as my Technics (the difference is extremely audible especially on piano music) or my old Pioneer (which I no longer have :( ). BTW, Sony still offers the PSLX350-H for sale at around $200, if I remember correctly.

I suppose my point is that if you are looking for a new Automatic/Semi-automatic TT that is high quality, there really isn't anything new being made. It is certainly possible to make a high quality unit, but people just aren't willing to pay the price for the most part because every time you add mechanical complexity, you decrease reliability (moving parts do wear out, etc...)

[Damián]

There are always those 'lifter' aftermarket devices which you set on the plinth and lift the arm (but can't do anything about the motor) at the end of a side.

[Casino]

I've had semi-autos from Dual (idler-drive) and Denon (direct-drive) and both did a good job. I know you can't compare them with a $1500 Rega manual, but they were solid, reliable pieces of equipment that met my needs. Equipped with Shure Type IV's and type V's, they sounded fine.

[NealW]

well there is one high end table that lifts (but don't think it returns the arm) the arm and that is a nakamichi dragon. very rare to find though i almost got one but then bought a goldmund studio.

my second table is a micro seiki BL10X and it does lift the arm at the end but agian won't return and doesn't switch off the motor.

its a pretty good turntable better than rega p3 for instance

[Damián]

my second table is a micro seiki BL10X
This would make for a good bumper sticker :D.

[NealW]

all i need is furry dashboard and go faster stripes