While reviewing isn’t shopping and shopping isn’t reviewing, there are times when something or some things come in for review that let us know what we cannot live without.
And there are times when we buy something that makes us want to share our enthusiasm which can lead to a career in reviewing as it did for me. In either case, pleasure is the main motivator.
Which brings me to my latest purchases, three things in all, whose purpose is playing 78s which will bring happiness and mainly happen on the Barn’s B-Side because its set up for group listening and listening to 78s is more fun with more people than 1.
Let’s begin with the oldest—the Technics SP-15 OUARTZ Synthesizer Direct Drive Turntable was manufactured from 1979-1988. Capable of 597 different quartz pitch controls available for 3 speeds of 33 1/3, 45, and 78.26 rpm up to ± 9.9% in increments of 0.1%, the SP-15 can start and stop in 0.4 seconds.
Specifications
General
Power supply: 120 V, 50 or 60 Hz
Power consumption: I1W
Dimensions: 34 .9 x 9.3 x 37 .2cm (W x H x D) (13-3/4 X 3-21 /32 x 14-41/64 inches)
Weight: 6.2 kg (13. 71b)
Turntable Section
Type: Quartz synthesizer pitch control, Direct drive
Drive method: Direct Drive
Motor: Brushless DC motor
Drive control method: Quartz-phase-locked control
Turntable platter: Aluminum die-cast, diameter 33.9 cm (13-11/32 inches) weight 2.7 kg (5.9Ib)
Moment of inertia: 380 kg·cm2 (130 lb. ·in2)
Turntable speeds: 33-1/3, 45 and 78 rpm
Turntable speed fine adjustment: Adjustable up to ± 9.9% in 0.1% increments by digital indication
Starting torque: 3 kgcm (2 .61 Ib ·in)
Build-up time: 0.4 sec. to 33-1/3 rpm
Braking time: 0.4 sec from 33-1/3 rpm
Braking system : Electrical and Mecanical braking
Speed fluctuation due to load torque: 0% within 2.5 kg . cm (2.2 lb· in)
Speed drift: Within ± 0.002 %
Wow and flutter:
0.025% WRMS (JIS C5521)
± 0.035% peak (IEC 98A Weighted)
Rumble:
– 56 dB (IEC 98A Unweighted)
– 78 dB (IEC 98A Weighted)
I found my SP-15 on eBay, thanks to a tip from a friend, and it came with most of what you see including the Audio Technica AT-1503 MKII Tonearm all sitting in that lovely Technics H-15B2 plinth. Besides dropping a few drops of Technics Lubricating Oil down the motor shaft, once after every 2000 hours of operation as per the manual, and adjusting the tonearm, the only thing this beautiful beast needed was a good cleaning. My cost: $426.50
You can read all about the two other new pieces of Barn-Fi in my recent review where I talked about playing 78s and used a new Technics ‘table mounted with what is now my Ortofon SPU Mono CG 65 Di MkII cartridge and my Aurorasound EQ-100 Variable Equalization Monaural Phono Amplifier to properly decode and play my (growing) 78 collection. [footnote 1]
To my mind, ears, eyes, and fingers, all three of these new additions are classic, lovely, solid and sumptuous performers and by happystance, the SP-15’s plinth looks like it inspired the EQ-100s wood wrap. A visual conversation across time between like minds. Nice.
Why invest the time and money into playing 78s? 100+-year old tech? Because I love the entire experience which is unlike any other in most every way including how they sound—glorious pure pleasure. I’m also in love with much of the music created during the 78’s reign and listening to discs cut in the 1940s and 1950s adds to the experience, rooting me more firmly in history than tapping “Play” on my iPad. And there are more 78s containing music I love than I have time to listen to let alone afford. In other words, a limitless selection.
I will also share that the review process answered a question that had been lurking in the back of my mind ever since I first heard 78s played back properly many years ago—do I want to live with 78s? And the experience of playing them in the Barn answered loud and clear—I do not want to live without the ability to play 78s whenever the feeling moves me.
In some imagined future filled with books, art, and music, listening to 78s with friends and family is a heartwarming dream coming true.
1. I’ve read all kinds of comments about reviewers, the gear we buy, and how we pay for it. The gist of the silliest of these comments suggests that since we typically don’t buy at full retail cost, our opinions are not as valuable as they’d be if we had to pay full price. I say silly because according to this same ‘logic’, the opinion of anyone who buys used gear, demo gear, sale gear, or b-stock is worthless, and only people who pay full price can speak without prejudice about the gear they own.
If you want to know how much I’ve paid for the gear I own, it’s none of your business because it’s none of your concern. But if you feel you deserve an answer, then I’ll say I’ve paid 2x retail for everything (I haven’t, but that’s your answer). Or more! This way my opinion, according to this ‘logic’, is at least 2x more valuable than anyone else’s.
