Musical, Musical, Musical!!!

Isn't made any more.

This an update on my previous review 6 years ago. Well, the Heybrook PS gave up the ghost. I've replaced the Grado's with the Rega Elys - 1&2. I've bought a Extreme Phono mat, got a Michell finger nut for the RB300, installed a Naim/Wiremold power strip, bought a new belt from LP Gear and after 20+ years it sounds better than ever!
I've also removed the bottom plate completely. Who needs a Linn?! No wonder Audio note bought up Systemdek. After all these years(20+remember!) I still marvel at how GOOD this turntable is. Such a pity it didn't survive the digital age. One interesting thing: the E.P mat alieviated the footfall problem markedly. Not perfect but...also putting it under the Acrylic Supermat gives my 'Dek another octave of Bass! To you hunters out there, keep those eyes peeled! This is the Analogue bargain of the Centuries!

Similar Products Used:

Garrard SP25 Mk11; Pioneer PL-12,PL35; Rotel RP1500; Trio(Kenwood) KD-3070; Linn Sondek LP12/Nirvana/Valhalla; NAD 5120.

Soaring electric guitars, controlled yet dedep bass. Try listening to jazz including tight drums and a double bass, you cannot get reproduction like this with any digital source. Suspended sub chassis means it's not particularly vulnurable to vibrations.

Takes time to set up.

After deciding that even with a cheap Memorex (Radio Shack) turntable my records somehow sounded more satisfying than my CDs I went on a mission to purchase something better. Magazine reading and listening lead me to the Systemdek IIx900 which I bought in late 1991. I have never looked back. This deck has the ability to make people's jaws drop, and with the right music has bass that travels *through* the foundations of a detached house and into next door. I have throughout the years hooked it up to my Harman Kardon 330c receiver which has a high current amp, and is partially responsible for the enormous dynamic range. But even with CD players (and I once owned a £500 model) there is something missing compared to the Systemdek. I have a Rega RB300 arm and have always used Goldring G1042GX cartridges. There are reasons why this model won "What HiFi" magazine's turntable of the year award several years running.

Similar Products Used:

none recently, there's no point. I had a Marantz 6210 when I lived in the states for a short time which was nice...but I love the systemdek!

None at this price - ok, I thought it looked great at that time..

Look above.

I always wished this player. I thought it looked great, so I had it with a acryl table for upgrade. I love the TT until that day I heard a Garrard 401 in comparison. From that day I could not enjoy this TT anymore. Sound was compressed, slow, muddy, non palpable and a lot more that I can not write here. The Garrard was a stunning player and I bought one afap after and never regret a single moment. The System deck I sold afap. This player is terribly!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Garrard 401, EMT, Moerch, and a lot more.

Music dynamics. That sound from LP player that you do not get from CD:s. If you find one, buy it!

Well it's not highend. It lacks details soundstage and feeling compared to the best (Well Tempered)I may sound a tendency towards harshness in the highs but that's more dependent upon the combination of equipment. I now use a McCormac DNA1 power amp Audio Research SP9 preamp and a audio technica AT152MLP with 2 way pyramid spekaer and that combination is High End.

I bought the Sytemdek II 1986. It was equipped with a Hadcock unipivot arm and a Goldring 1022 pickup. The preamp was NAD 3020 and the power amp NAD 2400. First speakers were QLN signature later QLN reference and then Renaissance. The value for the money is excellent. But the real juice came after tweaks. As previously stated for the Systemdek IIX, but even more for the Systemdek II is the need to damp the metal chassis of the Systemdek II. I used bitumen car damping in combination on the bottom with chalk board, the stuff you use for houses. I also wounded the thin arm with electric tape, but this improvement may have to do with the cartridge. Well it sounded great, but of course it doesn't have those last improvements that make High End. A very musical and auditionable combination. Great improvements came after I rebuilt the preamp to work in the real class A area, and eliminated the coupling capacitor.

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Made a own record player similar to Well Tempered that sounded better. Not strange though when the Well Tempered costed 10 times as much

After tweaking: 1) Deep, tuneful and articulate bass; 2) Smooth, detailed and effortless midrange; 3) Extended, spacious and airy highs; 4) Wide, deep and firm soundstage.

Because of the renewed popularity of analog, they are becoming scarce and expensive (relative to its cost when it was new). It also requires that you spend time tweaking it to obtain the best performance out of it.

Having owned three Linn Sondek LP12s of various vintages, a Thorens TD-126 Mk. III and an AR Turntable, here are my observations of the Systemdek IIX. This deck is, without question, the finest sub-$1200.00 unit available, period. I initially purchased it to replace an LP12 that had died for the third time and which I was getting very weary of repairing. Having been an audiophile for over twenty years, I was familiar with the Systemdek, having listened to it in my friend's store. When I saw that Hollywood Sound had a used one for sale, I jumped and bought it. Upon arrival, I set it up (a lot easier than an LP12!) and began to play some records. A few tweaks and a couple of hours later I had sweet music playing. On high quality recordings, the deck's bass is tight, articulate, well controlled and tuneful. Its midband is smooth and detailed and the highs are airy, extended and clean. Its performance is kind of akin to a SET amp; the extremes leave a little to be desired but the midrange is glorious! The soundstage is spacious and wide and the sound is effortless. It's a bargain at 1/10 the price of a TNT. A few necessary tweaks: (1) remove the "stock" mat, discard it and replace it with a "real" mat, like the Audioquest Sorbogel or the Merrill Lead mats; (2)get a quality record clamp (I use the J.A. Mitchell) and use it religiously; (3) remove the foam rubber from the springs (they make the deck more sensitive to vibration); (4) remove the bottom cover and; (5) minimally damp the subchassis. It's also been told me that changing the armboard to MDF or acrylic also greatly improves the sound but I haven't tried it.

Similar Products Used:

Linn Sondek LP12 (Basik and Valhalla) SOTA Star Thorens TD-126 Mk. III CJ Walker CJ-55 Oracle Delphi (Mk. II, III, IV and V) VPI HW-19 Jr.

Solid build; Flexibility with different arms; Fit and finish. Value for the money.

None that I can think of. Perhaps a little to plain for most peoples tastes.

I've just about pee-peed in my pants when I finnaly got a hold of one of these babies after seeing them in high end hi-fi stores in the mid-eighties (one was Bel-Air Camera & Hi-Fi in Westwood, CA). The guy I bought it from had it sitting with a layer of dust in his living room along with some other hi-fi equipment he was auditioning for us (Jeff, if you're reading this, you know who you are and thanks for selling this to me---too bad I didn't snatch up that Straight Wire Maestro tonearm cable you instead sold to my friend!). After some intial cleaning, and minor tweaking, I finally had in my possession a nice Systemdek IIX with a Linn Basik arm. My unit has been refinished in a classy satin walnut finish. Unlike the black or chery/oak finishes widely available, it was certainly quite peculiar looking yet it stood apart from most similar decks out there (you can email me for some jpegs of it). I eventually had it fitted with a Grado Prestige Gold at a local dealer and to this day, I have never been more pleasd at the way the dek's sound. The dealer even tested for speed accuracy and it tested dead-on for speed and stability. I'm sure there are other solid and more musical table out there in the market, but considering when this was made, it was nothing short of hi-end in the best sense of the word, regardless of price. The Grados sounded sweet with a well extended top end. The only problem is that--I'm not entirely sure why--there's a low hum as the arm reaches the lead-out groove of a record. This is only audible when the arm has been lifted. I currently have it hooked up to a Premier PIB-1 interface box which allows flexible use of any kind of interconnect, but I'm in search of one of those Straight Wire Maestro cables or similar ones from AQ or Kimber. Lasly, I welcome your suggestions, tips, questions regarding this hugely undervalued unit. Is there a Systemdek club out there waiting to happen?

Similar Products Used:

Denon. Dual. NAD

A superb all-rounder. Plenty of ''hi-fi'' and lots of music.

Generally lacks the power and precision of really expensive kit.

I don''t own one of these myself, but my brother''s owned one since the mid eighties, and he''ll never write a review... With the benefit of hindsight, and having owned some good turntables myself (Thorens, Linn, Townshend, Roksan...), I think the Systemdek IIX was probably the best turntable ever made. Not the best sounding in absolute terms, of course, but coupled with a Rega RB300 and a decent cartridge- these days something like a Goldring G1042 or an Ortofon MC15S, it was, IMHO, the best value. Properly set up, which is very easy to do, the sound of the Systemdek is clean and crisp sounding with good bass extension, stable, spacious imaging and excellent dynamic expression. The Regas always got the lion''s share of the press, at least in the UK, but the Systemdek seemed to have far better bass, in terms of both pitch solidity and depth. The Regas always sounded a bit ''small'' by comparison too- a bit constrained dynamically and spacially (Pitch definition on the newer fixed motor P3s is reputed to be better than the old Planar 3). The other major deck in the near-budget sector, the Thorens TD160 series, were generally somewhat ''deader'' and fuzzier sounding- less engaging to listen too. Both of these were still good for the money, but the Systemdek was better, and much closer to the sound of much more expensive turntables like the Roksan and the Linn. The Systemdek did get some good reviews, but I''ve always felt that it was rather undervalued. Thankfully these decks are still available in slightly upgraded form as Audionote models, but they make superb second-hand buys in their original form. My brother is still very happy with his and buys new LPs in preference to CDs when he can. Quite a lot of ''indie'' type bands continue to release on vinyl in the UK. The ideal deck for anyone who wants to get a really high-quality, involving sound out of their LPs, cheap!

Similar Products Used:

Thorens TD160, Rega Planar 3

A fairly Neutral sound,, very reliable,, keeps speed allmost perfectly,very nice wood finish

Very sensitive to touch, as long as you have a light touch you will have no problem

A very good sounding and dependable Turntable,, I bought mine from a friend five years ago and I don,t think I will ever need another one, it gives you the feeling that with proper care it will last. I have a Profile tonearm and a Grado [Red] cartridge and the match is Quite good for the Turntable.I get a sound that is to me open and clear and the Bass is good,what more can you ask? So if there is anybody out there that has a nice size collection of LP,s , and you happen to see one at an auction or exchange store by all means pick one up..

Similar Products Used:

BIC-980,,,

Makes Music, NOT sound, responds to upgrades and tweaking, suspension adjustable for different sounds. emphasis/preferences. Reliable - 15 years old and running strong - no repairs!

Overly sensitive suspension - footfall fool! Speed change almost a nightmare - belt positioning for 45rpm almost not worth the effort.

Bought this as a stopgap to cover for my original LP12 which I was forced to sell. Once I realised you could adjust the suspension to make it sound like a LP12(!), I've never looked back!
The TT is a classic suspended sub-chassis design with a teak base reminiscent of an LP12. The suspension and motor mounts are adjustable from the integral wooden top-plate via Allen keys. The top plate is cut for both the spindle and arm plate. The sub-chassis is a machined aluminium triangle with coil springs fastened to the top plate with adjustable mounts. The 16-pole synchronous AC motor has adjustable mounts also. The "DEK" It has an half-diameter plastic platter mounting a removable tool-steel spindle set into a oil-bath bearing cup. On top of that comes a hefty Glass platter surmounted by a felt mat a-la the LP12. Mine came with an okay Profile detachable Headshell Arm in the US. The deck weighs about 20 lbs, so is not insubstantial. It could be considered a poor man's LP12! I'm poor!
I bought a Heybrook T/T power supply which "Valhalla"d the "DEK", then both the Reflex Clamp and Acrylic "Supermat" from SOTA. Finally, I invested in a RB300 arm.
I think it comes within 90% of a LINN in every respect. Only lacking in that last ounce of Bottom-end "Slam" Linns are famous for. Okay, I've spent some $650 over the $399 original purchase price and it's possible the new Rega 25, Basis 1400 and Gyrodek SE equal or better it; but I've auditioned SOTA's and VPI's against it and come away with the trusty old Systemdek IIX and a disinclination to change. I also have observed how much a Linn costs these days. AARRGGHH!!
Every time I put on a CD on my "Best Buy" Phillips CD721 unit, I run screaming to my faithful IIX and my record collection expands apace! If you can find a used one (NOT mine!) snap it up; you'll be glad you did.
It sounds best with the original felt mat between the bottom Glass and Acrylic platters. Get a turntable base/table - I use a 20 year old Sound Organization Table.
What a Hi Fi component should be, but rarely is. In UK it's successor is also rated highly. why they don't import 'em into the US I don't know. Come on Roy Hill, DOOO IT!

Similar Products Used:

Linn Sondek LP12 Valhalla

Outstandingly beautiful, rich, sound

Very, very sensitive to vibration

You CD purists don't know how much you are missing by not listening to vinyl!!! I bought this unit in 1985, while a student in London and did I ever make the right decision!!! Getting right to the point - today I use a Rega Jupiter/IO CD player. A very good, higher-end CD player and costs over CND$2,500 with taxes. I have to admit that well recorded material on vinyl sound better on the Systemdek IIX.

It delivers a warm, rich sound and creates a pleasant illusion of depth in the listening room. I simply love the turntable and have enjoyed countless hours of listening. I am quite accustomed to guests thinking that I am playing CD, when in actual fact I am playing a vinyl on the Systemdek.

This is a very sensitive instrument (a slight tap on the plinth while it is on, will show what I mean) and I have found over the years, that there is no alternative to placing it on a wall mounted shelf. Otherwise it picks-up any and every vibration off the floor. I also find that balancing and weighing down the tone-arm has also got to be very precise. Incidentally, I use a Lynn BASIK arm and I think the cartridge is also Lynn.

When I moved to Canada and had to start using a step-up transformer, I also had to order a different pulley to adjust for the difference in cycles (you Electrical engineers would know more about this than me). This made the belt more unstable and playing 45's simply impossible (belt keeps slipping off).

Similar Products Used:

None worth mentioning