Price, build quality, ease of setup, reliability, sound

wool mat a pain, not the most powerful drive motor in the world (bogs down when cleaning vinyl)

What can I say? I've owned this deck since 1985 and it is still an integral part of my system! Just added a Grado Reference Gold MM cartridge to replace a Nagaoka that finally died. I use the stock arm that came with the deck. Very good match. Was even able to mount the cartridge myself with the help of a photocopied protractor my dealer gave me.

My other source is a Rega Planet CD player. Amplifications is supplied by a nice Rotel 55W receiver driving Acoustic Energy Aegis 1 speakers and an NHT 100W subwoofer/amp combo.

Sound is liquid smooth. Sure, compared to the Rega the highs and lows are rolled off a bit but most music lives in the mid-range and my deck/arm/cartridge combo performs admirably here. Getting so much enjoyment out of the turntable that I've taken to prowling used record stores for vinyl again. If audio is supposed to be a fun hobby, the Systemdek is helping me achieve this goal.

Could the resolution be better? Sure. Could the bass be a bit tighter? Sure. But hey, we are talking cheap here and the table delivers. Loads of fun.

If you can find a used one in good condition, it will be a welcome addition to your system. Just make sure your system has a phono pre-amp!

Similar Products Used:

LP12

Great sound for a great price

I know there are several "tweaks" out there for this table but it is hard to find info on it

My Systemdek has an alphasom opal arm on it with a Sumiko Bluepoint Special cartridge and I love it. I've heard many other tables and "high" end Cd players but the dek blows them away. If you find onecheap buy it but get rid of the stock tonearm that came with it and put a better one on. And also...This table MUST be wall-mounted,..the sonic diferrence is huge when this is done!!

I replaced Thorens 166 MK II with Systemdeck IIX, about year ago. I dont know
much about the history of the product, but i will be happy to share my
thought about this table. I replaced the original cable with "phoenix"
and bought AQ mat (sorbotane?) and finaly mounted the "Ortophon MC 15 fl"
Systemdeck have a glass plate, so it really benefited from the new mat.
And the new cartrige added the speed and transparentcy to the sound.
Unfortunately or fortunately, i discovered that the table was "unforgiving"
toward the less than the perfect records, ultimately limiting my LP colection
and forcing me to purchase new records.It is clean, fast but not ofensive.
Equaly good, for the classical and rock. I am driving them with the Linn Majic
and the Tukans (Velodyne sub) i believe that would sound even better if ther is
were behind the good tube set-up.

musicality and audio quality

service is hard to find

I got this nice table used for 360 $, already fitted with a Rega RB 300 arm. My version is the IIX E, wich has a glass platter and a separate power supply wooden box, with also the speed select switch.

Unfortunately the pulley is a little off axis, and this causes a little trembling of the platter. I have tried to find a replacement for the Philips MB 05 motor, but it seems unpossible to find. Anyway, I found tat lowering the platter with the Allen wrench strongly reduced this, so I'm Ok for now.

I added a Van den Hul MM2 cartridge and a Michell clamp. At first I tried also the Rega cartridge that I had on my former Rega 3, and noticed that it seemed to work better on the Systemdek. Anyway, I was a little tired of the Rega sound, so went for the VDH, and I am very happy about it.
Curiously, the system did not sound right to me until I added the Michell clamp. The sound now is a lot more controlled and tight, with more precise soudstage. This also allowed me to get rid of the felt mat, and now my records are spot clean.

As for the sound, I find a little difficult to talk about it, since I am totally happy about it. I do not feel the need for futher upgrades, and just enjoy the music through it. I learn that there should be "better" and more expensive turntables, and this is why I give it 4 stars in overall rating. But if you can't afford to spend really mega-bucks, try and find one of these beauties, and you'll be totally satisfied.

Similar Products Used:

Rega 3