Lets see pictures of your Deck

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Originally Posted by 02audionoob

My approach to dust in the audio room is to let sleeping dogs lie. Vacuum cleaners get dust airborne. I do wipe individual areas. When I do finally vacuum, it's only with the machine cleaned out immediately before and with a high-efficiency filter in it. I also use high-quality filters in the central AC.

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be-careful with some of those high dollar filters...especially the real thick or stiff ones. Over time, they can make the motor in the air intake prematurely stop working....some filters make the motor work harder than what is necessary. And you don't want one that's to thin...it can get sucked up into the air intake.

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Originally Posted by Jack in Wilmington

I had a high quality filter on the heater and the heater guy who comes to clean it once a year told me to watch the real high end filter as they restrict the air flow too much. Maybe I need a whole house air purifier? What kind of filters do you use noob?

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Jack...your tech told you right.....the reason they restrict the air flow is because your air intake works to hard...has to pull more than it has to....putting a strain on the whole system.

The best whole house air cleaners we use to install was the Aprilaire air cleaners...worked great and they where also easy to install.

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Originally Posted by 02audionoob

We have two systems. The main part of the house is old and not built tight so we put an Aprilaire 2400 on it. I use the propriety replacements for it. In the addition where the audio system is, the construction is new and tight, so we have a setup that uses the 1-inch filters. I use the Filtrete filters with the red label ("Better"), which are one down from the one they call "Best".

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Sounds like you are set.

Here's a nice surprise for all of you. I'm gonna show you 3 "decks" and 1 "turntable".

Old "deck"

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z...0/FILE0004.JPG

New "deck"

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...0/FILE0005.JPG

A VCR counts as a "deck", right?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...0/FILE0001.JPG

A USB turntable is not the greatest TT, but it's convenient.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...0/FILE0011.JPG

Not the greatest TT ever, but it can play the greatest album ever

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A...0/FILE0009.JPG

My table currently with Denon 103 cart. Huge fun but I don't have a clue what to do if it breaks down.

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Originally Posted by daviethek

My table currently with Denon 103 cart. Huge fun but I don't have a clue what to do if it breaks down.

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You've got an elegant look going there.

Nice....if it breaks down go over to audiokarma or vinylengine and some one will be able to help you, if not here.

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Originally Posted by 02audionoob

You've got an elegant look going there.

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Thank you. It is a looker even by 2011 standards. I got the table for 150 on the Bay from an estate dealer with respectable reputation. Buying a well aged TT is a relatively high risk but I thought why not. I has not been used since the 80's because it was very dusty with a Grace F-9 cartridge and a broken needle. After some investigation, I set the Grace aside, considering a cost of 250.00 to fabricate a new tip. I am just not that curious about how the Grace would sound. I always used AT carts even in the 70's. I will give it away for postage to someone who really is committed to re-tipping it, but with so many great budget carts, I figured why bother.
The table is, I believe, a good mid-level table. It has adjustable feet, floating platter, center disc weight, not common for 1982. It also is a belt drive with an adjustable quartz loc. I figure it is better than most entry level tables today but not as good as a 1,500 table, which is what I am saving up for. I am tired of maintaining a system piece-meal and I think I will wait until I have maybe 3 or 4 K and just do it right. This will require discipline because I am a nervous upgrader. Cheers Audionoob, dk

Here is a picture of my Rega Planar2 with the Grado Statement Sonato.

Nice...I know it sounds good!

Don't know how this Dual stacks up to more modern TT but It's handsome enough to keep.

http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/...m/P6270024.JPG

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Originally Posted by Poultrygeist

Don't know how this Dual stacks up to more modern TT but It's handsome enough to keep.

http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/...m/P6270024.JPG

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Your Dual is in my opinion the best modern Dual. I like any tonearm with a lowered counterweight. When I replaced the stock counterweight with a lowered one it was obvious how much better the arm tracked. Having the counterweight in the same plane as the stylus also seemed to reduce surface noise.

I would be interested how an Ortofon Red or Blue and a high compliance Soundsmith cartridge might sound. A low mass tonearm and high compliance cartridge can make some wonderful music.

I agree with the assessment that the CS5000 is the best modern Dual. I wanted one of those when they were available new. I sometimes consider buying one when they pop up on the used market.

I'm glad I am not the only one who likes the looks and function of these older decks. I think the Empire decks are good looking also. When I see one, I want to put on a Count Basie LP.

Thorens re-introduced the 160 and it is simple and good looking, but very expensive. The last table I had as my primary source back in the early 80's was a Thorens TD 190. Not the best Thorens but I liked it. I think I just like the sound of the suspended platter tables.

2 Channel System:
HK TD 60 TT, Denon 103 Cart
Sumo Athena Preamp
Adcom 535II Power Amp
Yamaha T1 Tuner
Gallo Ref. 3.1 Speakers
Anti-Cable Speaker Wires
Morrow IC's

This new DualCS 505-4 looks nice but I hear the arms arent as good as the older TT.

http://www.avmentor.gr/reviews/photo...cs_505_4_1.jpg

I think Dual and Thorens are now cousins which is not a bad thing..or share the same in some of the same designs....look at the arms on both tables..

http://www.thorens.com/uploads/tx_te...er-td190-1.jpg

http://www.avmentor.gr/reviews/photo...cs_505_4_1.jpg

And Pro-Ject had something to do with this Thorens....

http://www.thorens.com/uploads/tx_te...d295mkiv-1.jpg



And this one borrows from Rega it seems...with a Pro'Ject platter.

http://www.thorens.com/uploads/tx_te...-td160hd-1.jpg

I wonder if this is an all Thorens design? Chances are its not all Thorens...

http://www.thorens.com/uploads/tx_te...er-td550-1.jpg


But I betcha with the right gear and right cart....all of them will shine!

I think the deal is Thorens is outsourcing quite a bit. They're re-badging a turntable made by Dual and they're using tonearms by Pro-Ject and others on their turntables.

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Originally Posted by 02audionoob

I think the deal is Thorens is outsourcing quite a bit. They're re-badging a turntable made by Dual and they're using tonearms by Pro-Ject and others on their turntables.

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I agree....What can you gather from that last table?

And this one it seems has a modified Rega Arm as well.

http://www.thorens.com/uploads/tx_te...td309-2011.jpg


But its that last table in the previous posting that I can't see anything borrowed.... Can you? Sorta looks like an combination of two different Ortofon Arms.

http://www.ortofon.com/images/storie...-Tonearm01.jpg

http://www.ortofon.com/images/storie...nearm_d309.png

So it seems like Thorens are designing the plinths and every thing else and are borrowing arms from other company's...Personally I dont see anything wrong with that....IF some one can do it better than you, then why not?

I don't remember for sure, but I think the tonearm on the Thorens TD 550 actually says "Ortofon" right on top.

noob...look at the Thorens with the Pro-Ject arm....now think about my MH 2.1 or a Pro-Ject 1.2 .... I think that Thorens with the Pro-Ject arm is the same table...only dressed up abit. My MH 2.1 is a nice sounding entry level table....So im sure that Thorens must be better sounding than that...at least I hope so for the price they are charging for it.

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Originally Posted by frenchmon

noob...look at the Thorens with the Pro-Ject arm....now think about my MH 2.1 or a Pro-Ject 1.2 .... I think that Thorens with the Pro-Ject arm is the same table...only dressed up abit. My MH 2.1 is a mice sounding entry level table....So im sure that Thorens must be better sounding than that...at least I hope so for the price they are charging for it.

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That Thorens with the Pro-Ject arm has an electronic shut-off and 33/45 switch.

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Originally Posted by 02audionoob

That Thorens with the Pro-Ject arm has an electronic shut-off and 33/45 switch.

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Oh...well that sure ain't the same table....

There's a "Comfort" variation of some of the Pro-Ject turntables. The Thorens is more likely one of those.

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Originally Posted by 02audionoob

I think the deal is Thorens is outsourcing quite a bit. They're re-badging a turntable made by Dual and they're using tonearms by Pro-Ject and others on their turntables.

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I owned the Thorens TD 290 and it had it's issues. I must say my nephew is still impressing young women with vinyl on the Thorens. When you see the arm you can tell it was sourced from ProJect.