('73-'76)  $325

In absolutely pristine cosmetic condition and fully operational, this gorgeous PIoneer PL-15D-II is one of the semi-automatic versions of the very popular and successful (112D / 115D / 117D) series of turntables from the industry leading Pioneer electronics in the mid 70's.

This completely original PL-15D-II is a 2 speed, belt drive turntable with a new belt installed.  It has an elegant look with the faux walnut veneer base and dark grey plinth. 
This unit has a speed detecting auto-return mechanism that will smoothly return the arm to rest even with a warped record.  The tonearm is a static-balanced, S-shaped pipe arm with a highly reliable anti-skating device. Mounted on the headshell is an Audio Technica AT-500e cartridge &new stylus.
The cabinet of PL-15D is strong, howling-free and typical of the kind of fine craftsmanship that has earned the impeccable Pioneer reputation of quality. Its solid surface panel features such excellent properties as optimum inner loss, impregnable strength and high density. Completely free from resonance, this material is one of the most ideal for acoustic cabinet construction. The turntable platter has a custom aftermarket "Corkey" cork n' rubber mat. 

The PL-15D-II operates at both 33 1/3 and 45 speeds. The platter is aluminum alloy die cast. The belt drive uses a 4 pole synchronous motor with wow and flutter at 0.07%.
The damage-free dust cover has solid metal spring loaded hinges that seemingly will last forever.  

Basic specs:
Motor: 4-pole synchronous
Speeds: 33 and 45rpm
Wow and flutter: 0.07% WRMS
Dimensions: 17.4"W x 14.3"D x 7"H
Weight: 16.5 lbs 

('72-'74)  $275

In excellent cosmetic condition, fully serviced and tested, this Pioneer PL-12D was one of Pioneer's early 70's turntables that looks and operates like a "fancy" version of the famous and highly respected AR-XA.  

The PL-12D is a beautiful, manually operated deck that has great features and extras including:

~Simple and clean, it has a fine synchronous motor (low wow and flutter)

~Steady belt-drive (with a brand new belt), speed is spot on at both 33 & 45 RPM

~Damped cueing with simultaneous movement with the start lever

~Beautifully balanced s-shaped tonearm with an aftermarket timberwood headshell mounted with a Shure M55e cartridge and new stylus

~An aftermarket "Corkey" (cork & rubber) platter mat is included~The original dust cover is pristine and has solid metal hinges

Essentially, the Pioneer PL-12D is a beautiful example of the vintage quality that made Pioneer so highly desirable.

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(Holland, 1978) $500 (highly customized)

After an extensive restoration and several upgrades, this beautiful Philips GA-312 is in perfect cosmetic and operating condition. Described as a "mid-century-modern design", the Philips GA-312 was made in Holland during the late 70's.  

Services & upgrades:
~New Gold plated RCA connections (choose your own quality cables)
~New Grado Black cartridge & stylus
~New upgraded power button assembly
~All new LED lamps for speed selection
~Brand new belt

As a semi-automatic unit, Philips designed this turntable to operate by simply pushing the cueing button down allowing the arm to do a slow descent onto the record, then at the end of play, the arm lifts up off the record and the motor shuts off.

The 312 is a sprung chassis, belt-driven turntable with electronic speed control.  Stylus force on the GA312 is set by means of the slide weight on the pick-up arm after this is balanced with the counterweight.   The "photo-sensitive" light touch function buttons have brand new green LEDs to indicate the platter is on or off plus the selection of either 33 or 45 RPM.  In addition, there are topside pitch controls for adjusting actual platter speed if necessary.

The unique proprietary tubular tonearm has a convenient slide-out "carriage" that contains the Grado cartridge and stylus.   

The player is equipped with an adjustable anti-skate which applies a pre-set force to the arm.  The motor speed is continuously controlled and kept constant by solid state circuits in combination with a tacho-generator which is directly coupled to the motor shaft.  The platter and the pick-up arm are mounted on a sub-chassis, which is damped, spring suspended from the rigidly mounted main chassis, absorbing mechanical shocks and external vibrations.  

The light bronze tinted original dust cover has been hand polished and has adjustable hinges. There is a very fine, wrap-around walnut veneer on the lower base that adds a touch of class to this beautiful turntable.

About Philips High Fidelity International...
Philips goes way back to the early 1900's and has always been a respected name in Europe and the Netherlands.  Their early development of loudspeaker technology pushed them into the high end section of audio.  A little known fact: They also invented and developed the cassette tape among other things.  Before they became well known in America, they were a leading maker of turntables, speakers and higher end electronics all over the rest of the world.  When they moved into the North American market, they dropped the "High Fidelity International" and became "Philips" and/or "Philips Laboratories". 

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('77-'78)  $500

Obtained from the original owner, this Sony PS-X6 is a fully automatic, direct-drive turntable in absolutely excellent cosmetic condition and fully operational.
It has been completely and thoroughly serviced; that included all the internal controls checked, cleaned and lubricated.  This was one of Sony's best mid-fi designs in the late 70's.  The original dust cover has been hand polished and appears as new.

The S-shaped tone arm comes with a Shure M44e cartridge and new stylus.  Also included is the original (and unique) factory headshell for use with a different cartridge if so desired..

Second only to the TOTL *PS-X7, the PS-X6 is a stunner which sold extremely well worldwide back then and still astonishes those who can't believe the sonics of this cool-looking piece of enduring Japanese engineering.
At first glance, you might think the PS-X6 looks like a lightweight turntable. However, after you pick it up and feel that 25 lbs of solid engineering, that thought goes out the window. 
*NOTE:  The PS-x6 and PS-X7 are essentially the same except the PS-X7 came with a carbon fiber tonearm. 

The dark gray satin plinth is made of Sony's Bulk Molding Compound (BMC).  Long a fixture in Sony's anti-resonant design, BMC is carefully formulated for high strength and high internal loss.  Like steel, it has the rigidity required for its structural purpose. But unlike steel, BMC steadfastly resists vibration and resonance. BMC consists of calcium carbonate (a principal component of marble), glass fiber reinforcement and unsaturated polyester.  To securely and safely keep that heavy plinth rock-steady there are Sony's patented anti-resonant, gel-filled, fully adjustable feet. 

Some of the PS-X6 features:
~Sony's tried-and-true speed locking technique which is a barium-ferrite magnetic imprint
~8-pole reading head
~X'Tal locking by phase loop 
~Very reliable brushless / slotless motor.
~Dynamically balanced diecast aluminium platter, 
~Optical end-of-disc detection and mechanism,
~Non-resonant SBMC enclosure (Sony Bulk Mold Compound) 
~Original factory height-adjustable gel-filled feet.

The controls are at a minimum and very easy to operate. 
First, there's the "power on/off" push button.
Right above the power button is the dial switch which lets you choose the record size (7" / 10" / 12") or, if you wish, you can select "manual" which lets you move the arm onto the record wherever you want it instead of the auto setdown.  Even in manual mode, the arm will still return at the end of play and the unit shuts off.
NOTE: We always prefer the "manual mode" for two simple reasons:  it saves the auto-start mechanism from wear and it just feels good to DIY.

A slight touch to the capacitive "start/stop" control (on the front edge) starts the motor and activates the arm onto the record; it gently sets down at the exact starting groove of the record.   At the end of play the arm returns and the unit shuts off.  If you need to interrupt the playing for some reason, just touch that same "start/stop" control one more time, the arm lifts up, returns to rest and the unit shuts off. 
The "repeat" control (next to the "start/stop") allows for continuous repeat of the record if so desired.
On the left are the simple 33/45 RPM speed buttons.

Basic specs:
Motor: DC servo controlled
Drive system: direct drive with crystal lock system
Wow and flutter: 0.025% WRMS
Dimensions: 17.5"W x 6.5"H x 14.8"D
Weight: 25 lbs

Sony turntable history...
Sony’s turntable history spans from pioneering high-fidelity direct-drive systems in the '70s to modern Bluetooth-enabled models in the '20s. Renowned for innovation, Sony introduced landmark models like the quartz-locked PS-8750 (1975) and the iconic vertical PS-F9 "Flamingo" (1983). Following a hiatus, Sony returned to vinyl, releasing new, highly-regarded consumer turntables in 2019 and 2026. 

Direct-Drive Focus:
In the '70s, Sony developed advanced direct-drive systems, often using their Brushless-Slotless (BSL) motor to reduce "cogging" or noise.

(1975) the PS-8750: 
Known as a, if not the, first fully integrated quartz-lock direct-drive turntable, providing superior speed precision.

(1983) the PS-F9:
A vertical "linear tracking" turntable that could sit on a desk or hang on a wall, powered by batteries, reflecting Sony's focus on portability and futuristic design.

Technical Advancements:
Sony utilized materials like carbon fiber for tonearms and introduced "Magnedisc" servo control to monitor and adjust speed with high precision.

(Today)
With the rise of CDs in the late '80s and '90s, Sony halted most turntable production.  As vinyl experienced a resurgence, Sony returned to the market with consumer-focused, user-friendly options, aiming to bridge digital convenience with analog sound.

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 (1976)  $1100

Literally in perfect cosmetic and operating condition, this very rare Optonica RP-3636MKii turntable is one of the most unique designs to come from Japan in the mid 70's.

The original Optonica branded headshell comes with a brand new Ortofon Blue cartridge & stylus. 
Also included is an extremely rare Omega One platter mat made of very thin 100% carbon fiber.

The RP-3636MKii was, without a doubt, the most notable Optonica product designed during  their initial offerings of high end stereo gear was this magnificent direct-drive, manually operated turntable.  It should be noted that while most prefer a turntable with some automatic functions, most of the time a manually operated turntable is generally considered the *best by most audio repair techs.

Today, this incredibly hard to find turntable is sought after by collectors and audiophiles for obvious reasons.

Its unique construction is called "Mikage Granite Stone" which was developed by Optonica for use in turntable design.  It is a compound of both granite and resin that virtually eliminates feedback thus preventing resonance (rumble) to reach the tonearm.  Therefore, it's literally as "solid as a rock" because it's built on 15.8 pounds of that Mikage granite stone. Which means that vibrations from the speakers are absorbed, reducing acoustic feedback and maintaining maximum signal to noise ratio.  A similar compound was later used by Kenwood for their KD-5xxx series of turntables, some of which are affectionately referred to as "The Rock".

The Optonica engineers were so concerned about resonance, they even added a unique round chrome weight attached to the rear top of the proprietary dust cover.  This weight keeps the dust cover solidly flat (vibration free) on the granite base during play.  The turntable itself is very heavy weighing in at 35.4 pounds.  

The longer-than-normal tonearm is a copy of an excellent Shure Brothers arm. It is a very simple, very precise and highly sensitive S-shaped tonearm. Which means that the stylus will pick up subtle sound signals as accurately as the cutter stylus that recorded them.  The arm design also includes an oil-damped cueing control that gently lifts and lowers the tonearm.  This composite metal tonearm was made strictly for the 3636 MKii.   Notably, the direct-drive motor is the finest that they could create at that time.  
Because there are output jacks on the back, you can pick and choose your own audio cables...another major plus on this very fine audiophile grade turntable.

Specs:
Motor: 6-pole AC Servo motor with 72-pole FG servo mechanism
Drive system: direct drive
Speeds: 33 and 45rpm
Speed control range: within +-4%
Wow and flutter: less than 0.05% WRMS
Rumble: better than 68dB
Platter: 12" aluminium die-cast with strobe marks
Cartridge weight range: 4 to 18g
Dimensions: 19.75"W x 7.5"H x 16.25"D"
Weight:  35.5 lbs

*NOTE:
Why is a manual the "best" ?
All the design technology applied to the better manual turntables goes into the construction of the base, motor and tonearm.  There are no additional mechanics to interfere and operate the movement of the arm or the auto start/stop functions. Pure and simple...that's what a manual unit does best.

About OPTONICA (Sharp Electronics of Japan)...
The Optonica brand was created and first launched by Sharp in 1976 as a separate high-end brand to compete directly with Pioneer, Technics (Panasonic), Fisher, Marantz, Nakamichi, Sansui, Kenwood and Sony.  Sharp Electronics Corporation of Japan was founded in 1912 and takes its name from one of its founder’s first invention, the "Ever-Sharp" mechanical pencil. Obviously, they also designed and sold much more over the years.  By the mid-70's their electronic equipment (mostly gadget oriented items sold in catalogs and department stores) was well situated in the USA.  Major decisions were made to move into the select high-end stereo component market.  They absolutely hit a home run with their Optonica lineup. Unique, powerful and definitely well built, they are now very well known and commanding prices approaching the better Marantz and Pioneer units.

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 ('76-'78)    $750 (w/ Garrott P77 cartridge & stylus)

In beautiful cosmetic condition, fully serviced and operating perfectly, this stunning Miida T3115R is identical to the Denon GT-700.  Under the Miida badge it was destined for export only while the GT-700 was available only in Japan.  Unlike most turntables made in Japan by CEC, the Miida T3115R was built by Denon for Miida under a non-competitive contractual agreement. 

This very rare Miida T3115R stereo turntable is a manually-operated, servo-controlled, direct-drive, 2 speed (33, 45 rpm) table powered by a six-pole synchronous motor.

****BONUS Garrott P-77 cartridge****
This very well-built turntable is complete with the original Jelco S-shaped 8.5" static balanced tonearm and anti-skate.  The original headshell is fitted with an extremely high quality (NOS) *Garrott P-77 moving magnet cartridge & new stylus

*NOTE: The Garrott Brothers P77 technology:
The Garrott creates an electrical signal using a small magnet fixed to the end of a cantilever. As the magnet moves within a pair of coils fixed inside the cartridge body, an electrical current is created. The P77 has two models above it in the range. The output voltage is 4mv, compliance is medium, weight is 5.8 grams and the frequency response is 20-20'000Hz +/-2dB. On the end of the P77's twin aluminium cantilever sits an exquisite Garrott Microscanner diamond. Garrott recommended a tracking weight of 1.7 to 1.9 grams and I applied 1.8 grams with 50kΩ loading. The Garrott's styling can be described as retro.  But looks can be deceptive because underneath the microscope, the P77 displays a level of craftsmanship and quality control that easily equals the Ortofon Cadenza Bronze.

On the turntable, the speed adjustments and controls are all built into a large and elegant brushed aluminum plate on the tonearm section.  The opposite side features another smaller brushed aluminum housing containing a backlit strobe.  The 3.3 lb platter is a 13.3" diameter aluminum alloy injection molded platter with strobo marks.

Basic specs:
Power consumption 17 watts
Dimensions: 19.1W x 6.4"J x 15.9"D
Weight:  23 lbs

About Miida...
Miida was formed as a subsidiary of the ancient Japanese company Marubeni-Iida.  Miida was primarily a Japanese import-export company that specialized in exporting mid-fi electronics (and other goods) mostly to Europe, the Philippines and the Americas.  Their American headquarters was located in Lyndhurst NJ.  
Marubeni of Japan was founded in 1858 by Chubei Itoh.

Denon = Nippon Columbia Co.,Ltd;
The DENON brand was formed in 1947 and originated from the merger of Japan Denki Onkyo (commonly known as "Den-on"), one of the affiliates. Den-on was a group of engineers in business-purpose audio equipment, dating back to Japan Electric Recorders Mfg., which was established in 1939. The company was developing and manufacturing turntables and cartridge tape-recorders for NHK and other broadcast stations.

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('85-'91)  $400 includes new (NIB) *MMC3 stylus

This beautiful Bang & Olufsen RX-2 turntable is in splendid cosmetic condition, fully serviced and works flawlessly.  Designed by famed audio technician and creative director Jacob Jensen towards the late 80's, the RX2 is a fully automatic, belt driven turntable.

*As a major bonus, this RX2 comes with a brand new , NIB/NOS (new in the box/new old stock) genuine B&O MMC3 stylus. The MMC3 was originally available between the mid-80's and late '90's and its optimum tracking force is about 1.5 grams.   
Almost all of the MMC Series stylii are interchangeable with the cartridge already attached to the tonearm. 
Although B&O quit making replacements years ago, fortunately, replacement stylii are available online here:
https://www.sound-smith.com/bo-cartridges

NOTE: How long does a B&O stylus last?  Assuming you take good care of your records with regular inspection and proper cleaning, a new MMC3 stylus should easily last a minimum of about 800 hours and up to about 1000 hours.  Of course the correct tracking weight of 1.5 grams is essential as well.

Typical of the outstanding design that B&O is noted for, this RX2 is simplicity and elegance combined with an absolute minimum of controls.  A fingertip touch is all it needs to perform perfectly.  While the unit appears fragile, it's not.  The construction of aircraft grade aluminum combined with B&O's expertise in electronic design is the main reason why B&O turntables are a welcome addition to any high quality HiFi system.

Specs:
Wow and flutter, DIN 75 dB
Speeds: 33 – 45 rpm
Speed deviation < +/- 0.2 %
Power supply:  5833: 110 – 120V
Dimensions: 16.5"W x 3"H x 12.8"D
Weight: 13 lbs
Link compatibility: Data Link

From B&O's website:
This RX2 fully-featured radial record player brought an extra dimension to all kinds of music systems.
It was ideal for those who love partying, with automatic anti-skating to prevent distortion, and Bang & Olufsen’s special chassis suspension which made the record player virtually ‘dance-proof’.
There was also automatic registration of record size and speed. Fine quality sound reproduction was provided by the lightweight tone-arm.
This deck was the last of the B&O radial tracking decks and was closely related to the excellent Beogram 5000. This is an excellent choice as a source for vinyl in a modern system requiring very little in the way of set up yet offering good audio performance.

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(late 70's)   $275

Hitachi...a name some don't recognize when talking about vintage HiFi.  Regardless, they were a major player in Japanese electronics back in the day.
This Hitachi HT-356 turntable has been completely serviced and in excellent cosmetic condition.   Fully operational, it's a direct-drive, 2-speed, semi-automatic deck with a topside strobe that easily gives you a visual on the accurate speed.  
Its main feature would be the quartz lock which keeps the speed completely accurate without worrying about adjustments.  The motor is a highly reliable brushless DC servo attached directly to the platter itself.  

The S-shaped tonearm has a universal headshell equipped with a nice Ortofon VMS-3E cartridge and new stylus.  A second (original) Hitachi headshell (sans) cartridge is included.

The plinth (base) has a unique and customized graystone textured coating.  The original dust cover has reliable and strong metal hinges.
The original factory feet have additional custom 1/2" thick, anti-resonant foam cushions.

Features include:
~Quartz lock PLL servo motor
~auto-return
~auto-cut
~anti-skating
~strobe
~damped cueing.

Specs:
Type: 2-speed direct drive system
Motor: brushless dc servo direct drive motor
Speeds: 33 and 45rpm
Speed change: electronic
Wow and flutter: 0.03% wrms
Frequency range: 10 to 25,000Hz
Dimensions: 17"W x 15"D x 5.5"H
Weight: 13 lbs

About Hitachi...
Unknown to many people, Hitachi (like Sanyo and Toshiba) were major Japanese tech firms that either directly built systems for other electronic companies or had Hitachi high end parts (like output transistors) inside the competitors products.   Class G is just one example of Hitachi's leadership in vintage audio technology. Power MOS FET amplifiers, R&P 3-head system cassette decks, Uni-torque turntable motors and gathered-edge metal cone speakers are just some of the others. There's a lot more.  Hitachi of Japan was one of the companies that made their own filter caps, transformers, etc...in-house.  They also supplied many other famous names with Hitachi-made components (like Pioneer, Sony, even Marantz used Hitachi parts.)

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