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Hi Roger: I usually don't bother responding to ignorant blanket statements, but since I've seen one of those Crosley things in person, I can tell you for sure that the "Stanton" (and Music Hall and Numark, all similar things) is of vastly superior design and build quality. The Crosley has a "tonearm" that almost hangs in space and seems to be made of solid plastic like a toy. I'm not even sure it has a magnetic cartridge. The "tonearm" also acts as an on/off switch. It doesn't track as heavy as I bet your old 60's console record-wrecker (changer) does, but it has no tracking weight set or anti-skate mechanism that I could see. Meanwhile the "Stanton"/Music Hall/Numark turntables are all reasonably close knockoffs of the Technics 1200 series. They have a similar S-shaped tonarm with a knockoff gimbel pivot, spring-loaded anti-skate system and adjustable/stable counterweight. They also accept standard Technics-style screw-in headshells and the alignment length is the same as Technics so a handy Technics alignment gauge works for any of these turntables (plus the "Stanton" 150 model, I'm betting). As I clearly stated, it's not a Technics, but it's a pretty good knockoff for the price, especially since Technics has now exited the turntable market. Also, I did not specifically criticize you for loving an old console stereo, but I sure won't loan you any of my records to play on it! What's it got, one of those Garrard puck-drive monsters that can't hold speed (especially when the puck is 50+ years worn out), slams records on top of other records and then grinds down the grooves at 3+ grams tracking weight? The _only_ 1961 vintage turntables I'd ever let my records near are the light-tracking non-changer models like the Thorens, which were a whole other cut of price and class compared to the console stereos. -- Tom Fine ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Kulp" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2012 8:35 PM Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Stanton Turntables Geez a Stanton USB turntable.Not much better than a Crosley in my opinion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo6y2S-MTpo And you criticized me for loving my 1961 Magnavox Imperial console.Which,while not a Concert Grand,mops the floor with most component turntable systems of the last forty odd years or so. Roger ________________________________ From: Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Tuesday, August 7, 2012 8:11 AM Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Stanton Turntables Hi Martin: Mine is a T.92USB, and the built-in preamp and USB generator are definitely not very good. I take the straight output from the tonearm (it's available via a switch on the back -- one way routes the tonearm to the RCA jacks directly, the other way routes to the built-in preamp board, which then outputs to the USB and the RCA jacks). Agree that switching tonearm-level audio is NOT good practice, but this thing doesn't buzz or hum, it runs as quiet as the preamp (I use a Cambridge Audio preamp with a Stanton 681EEE cartridge to listen to LPs, swap in a Stanton 500 with 78 needle for wide-grooves -- so again nothing too audiophillic about any of this but it works fine for my needs). I would say the overall build quality of this thing is not up to Technics, but it's not terrible. I think it's more rumbly (as measured by me) basically because the tonearm isn't quite Technics quality and therefore might resonate or otherwise transfer more motor rumble, and the isolation isn't as good as Technics. However, for listening enjoyment in the workshop (with near-field Wharfedale speakers) and definitely as a handy way to preview records from the library shelves in the same room, it's very handy. I bought it as B-stock from ZZSounds in NJ, so it wasn't very costly. The 150 model seems to be a better unit overall. ZZSounds seems to have it in stock, including a resealed one for even less money: http://www.zzounds.com/item--STAST150HP I can't tell from the photo if this unit has a cue-lifter, but otherwise the tonearm looks more solidly Technics-like than the T.92's. One thing I did that cut the rumble down considerably was replace the crapola felt "slip-mat" that came with the unit. I swapped in a real-deal Technics heavy rubber mat, and I also use the KAB clamp. Between the two measures, it does not produce audible rumble on the smaller speakers but looking at a frequency spectrum shows there is rumble present, although not at terrible levels. Higher rumble levels than a Technics playing the same records (especially at 78RPM) but nothing like an old puck-drive broadcast TT from the 60's. As for torque and startup, the T.92 is plenty peppy, and I assume the ST.150 is the same or moreso. One thing I recommend is look at similar (obviously made by the same Chinese outsourcer) turntables from Numark, Music Hall, and I think others. In fact I think I just saw a version of this from Pro-Ject and/or Rega, but I can't remember where. -- Tom Fine ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Fisher" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 9:39 AM Subject: [ARSCLIST] Stanton Turntables > Hey Tom, > > Which Stanton turntable model do you have and what do you mean by "more-rumbly"? I've been > considering a Stanton ST.150 (the one with the S tonearm) for some special project work but can't > find a retailer who carries them in my area to test drive one. I've already got a Techniques 1200 > modded for 78 by KAB which I'm quite happy with. The major considerations for the Stanton are the > boosted torque and expanded speed deviation. > > Thanks! > > Martin > > -----Original Message----- > From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf > Of Tom Fine > Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 8:13 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Styli > > The "Stanton" turntables of recent vintage were clearly outsourced from a Chinese supplier. I say > this because similar versions of their Technics 1200 knockoffs are sold by Numark, Music Hall and > others. I bought a "Stanton" version of that turntable a year or so ago and like it very much in > my workshop/library room. It behaves like a more-rumbly 1200 but has the advantage of built-in > 78RPM. > > Good to know about the end of "Stanton" catrdiges (which I would bet have been outsourced in > recent years), so I'll buy up a couple extra stylii for my Stanton 500. > > -- Tom Fine > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Seubert" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 5:37 PM > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Styli > > > Coincidentally I just talked to both Full Compass and Esoteric Sound this morning about Stanton > cartridges. I was told that Stanton is technically still an operating division of Gibson, but that > it is very difficult to get anything from them. I also was told they shuttered the factory, so > that > may explain the long lead times (aka forever) in securing stock. Their product is still listed as > available on websites like Full Compass since it's technically still being made. Esoteric does > have > Stanton product in stock, Full Compass was all special order. > > I like Shure better anyway so I'm not really crying over this, but it's always nice to have > options. > > David Seubert > UCSB > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Breneman" <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Friday, August 3, 2012 1:28:35 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Styli > > > From: Kevin P. Mostyn <[log in to unmask]> > > >> I recently tried to order some more custom styli from Expert Stylus for a >> Stanton 500 but was informed that Stanton has essentially left the phono >> cartridge business, at least for now and perhaps forever, due to their >> purchase by Gibson Guitars. Expert suggested that I turn to Shure or >> Ortofon. Ortofon is out of my price range, so I'm looking at Shure. I know >> that some U.S. dealers still have Expert-Tipped Stanton styli available but >> I would like to find a long term solution. > > Interesting. I just checked Broadcast Supply's web site and they > list four Stanton cartridges available, the 500V3, 520V3, 505V3, > and 680V3MP4. Also 78 styli for their 500, 600 and 800-series > cartridges. Also several Stanton turntables. Nothing in their > closeout area. > >