Technics SL-1500mk1 Turntable

I've always enjoyed working on Technics turntables, especially the non-mkii, they are are more simplistic and easier to work on than the mkii which require a bit more work. The SL-1500mki was very easy to work since it's a pure manual turntable. While, it was the least expensive of the SL-1300/1400/1500, all it gave up was the return automation. It still had all the workmanship of the other two models.

The SL-1500mki is a well made machine. Excellent motor, nice metal plinth, heavy platter, very nice tonearm and bearings and simple to use. For some it had all the features one wanted. It has a selector switch for 33 and 45, pitch control and a cue arm. Of course, in case anyone didn't know already, it is direct drive unit.

It's been serviced, motor was re-lubricated, cue arm was re-dampened (very common issue), dust cover was lightly polished, new headshell with a NOS Piezo/spectrum YM-308ii stylus that I found in my box of miscellaneous styli.

How does it sound? Really nice. There's not a lot of information about the Piezo/Spectrum/Acutex cartridges, though they seemed to be quite common. It's a very well balanced cartridge. Definitely worth a new stylus if you have one.

I've always liked Technics, considering I've owned a SL-1300mki, a couple SL-1400mkii, a SL-1700mkii, a couple of SL-1600mkii and a plethora of the minor Technics like the SL-D2/Q2/D202/etc. The SL-1100-1800 either the mki or mkii are beautiful tables and are well made.

Technical Specification:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1500.shtml

Energy Encore 2 Speakers

My family were the original owners of these speakers. We actually had the entire Energy Encore 5.1 surround set, minus the integrated stands. Slowly, the rear speakers were sold. I kept the subwoofer to use with my sound bar, and the center channel broke. All that remained were these little guys sitting on the same shelving unit for the past 15ish years. I used them for a bit for my computer setup but, opted to use my Mirage Omni 350 instead. While these are considered "big box store" speakers, they are still great little speakers. These were made in Canada. Used their hyperdome aluminum tweeter that made Energy famous from the Pro22 days (thank you Burhoe!). A super nice black piano finish and sealed box, with a 4" long throw woofer. Some Specifications that I took from the web: System Type: Magnetically shielded acoustic suspension satellite Tweeter: 1" (28mm) Aluminum dome with cloth suspension Woofers: 4" (112mm) Multi-laminated aluminum polycarbonate c

Yamaha YP-66 Turntable

The rosewood vinyl wrapped twin sibling of the Yamaha YP-221, they are the exactly the same other than the colour of the plinth and instead of silver plastic bits on the YP-221 the YP-66 has black bits. This is your typical belt drive turntable of the mid to late 70s. It's a 2-speed with automatic return (semi-automatic). It's a nice entry level turntable with all the decent built quality that you find on majority of the Japanese made tables of that era. It has a good sized motor and a decent weight. Yamaha tables are like Sony tables, they always have decent quality components and they always look nice to the eyes. The slight smoked dustcover and the rosewood plinth makes it quite unique to look at. Sadly, the antiskate weight on our isn't original. It was missing when we got it. After a bit of research we found the appropriate weight and found an appropriate weight to retrofit into our table. We found a nice brass weight to fit with the design. And, as usual,

Dual CS-616Q Turntable

Finally doing a write up for a couple of turntables. So, let's start with the Dual CS-616Q. Made around the mid 80s when wood-grain design were no longer in fashion and the new sleek grey and black were in. This Dual is in really nice shape, and I mean real nice shape. While it's not from the 70s, it doesn't mean it's not quality. In comparison to other companies of the time that still made entry level turntables, this Dual is really well made. It has decent heft and it is German made so a lot of precision was still put into it. It is a direct drive, a true semi-automatic and quartz lock turntable. Why do I mean true semi-automatic? Well, before some of their earlier turntables had an auto-lift off at the end but the tonearm never returned to the rest post. So, having it returning is a nice feature to have! It also features Dual's ULM (ultra low mass) tonearm and their EDS motor. These tonearms are especially nice for higher compliant cartridges as

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