From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!duke!unc!brl-bmd!wmartin Newsgroups: net.audio Title: Re: Linear Tracking Turntables Article-I.D.: brl-bmd.248 Posted: Fri Jul 2 15:51:03 1982 Received: Sat Jul 3 06:54:27 1982 I recently got an SL-7 as a second turntable for the main system, and have high praise for it. It does its job quite well, and the Ortofon cartridge sounds fine. I enjoy listening to records on it as well as on the Linn with a Supex SDX-1000 and modified Marcof headamp, and the SL-7 cost about as much as the Supex alone did at wholesale! (I got my SL-7 for $254 including shipping from Wisconsin Discount Stereo, a fairly reliable mail-order source.) I haven't noticed any sonic aberrations due to the linear tracking making any corrections or over-correcting, and I had read about that problem with other machines in various reviews. I actually chose the SL-7 based totally on its external characteristics --its small size allowed it to fit in a specific spot on my shelving without moving or rearranging any other gear. The only bother is cleaning records. If you want to use a Discwasher or the like prior to each play, you have to spin the turntable with a fingertip on the edge to use the cleaner on the disc; the interlocks and sensors defeat attempts to make the motor run with the lid up. I manage to do it and haven't really minded it yet. I don't think that there is much difference between the SL-7 and the cheaper SL-5; the 5 has fewer controls and simpler cosmetics, and comes with either no cartridge or with some Audio-Technica (I think). (I believe the dealer determines this point, and I think I have seen the 5 listed both ways by mail-order discounters.) Probably you will be as happy with the SL-5 as with the more expensive model. Regards, Will Martin