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I recently purchased an Optonica turntable model # RP-7205. It kind of resembles the older Denon DP and higher end JVC turntables (except this is belt driven). Apparently Optonica was Sharp's high-end name in the mid-late 70's, and it didn't last very long.
Any thoughts on the table or tonearm would be appreciated. I'm actually thinking about putting a mono cartidge on it (I have a half decent mono record collection, and have been looking for a dedicated player). Also, any suggestions for a mono cartidge?
I attached a link to the only picture I could find.
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Listed in 1979 Stereo Review Buying Guide. Retail price was $190.
I don't know that model at all. But if it works, I say go for it.I have never figured out whether Optonica was actually made by Sharp using parts sourced from someone else or whether it was made for Sharp by someone else. I am pretty sure Sharp did not develop in-house technology.
Optonica = Sharp
Otto = Sanyo Electric
DianGo = NEC
Aurex = Toshiba
Lo-D = HitachiThese were not high-end brands per se. These were simply these manufacturers' audio brands (like Diatone for Mitsubishi (the "hishi" in "Mitsubishi" is commonly called a 'diamond' so you can see the link)).
Optonica's best effort, to my knowledge, was a DD table in the mid-70s which had a big marble plinthtop making it look a little luxurious and they had all kinds of tests showing it reduced rumble. That table was aimed squarely at mid-fi, despite the marble top. I don't know of any Optonica tables made after about 1980 or so when Sharp had seemingly ceded even most of the mid-fi audio ground in order to concentrate on the world of video/TV. Even now, Sharp has no audio products (well, they have a few things, and until reasonably recently, they had been playing around with digital amplifiers and 1-bit technology.
Out of the names above, only Aurex and Lo-D ever ventured into the higher-end of TTs as far as I know, with Lo-D's top-of-the-line player being a VERY good player but also being rarer than rare - one of the rarest top-end direct drive tables out there.
Edits: 01/19/10
Hi I'm a newbie here. Are you familiar by any chance with DianGo AUP 5500. Can't seem to find a lot of info online. Your reply will be very much appreciated. thanks.
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