Price Paid:  $150.00 from from friend (origina

Summary:
Harman/Kardon Rabco ST-& Turntable. Thanks Audio Review for this forum. Your member reviews enlightened me and helped me troubleshoot my problem. The tone arm was not tracking on account of the tracking roller having disintegrated into a jelly bean like blob after sitting in storage for 25 years. I phoned Alpha Tech in St. Louis as mentioned in a member review and they carry all three rubber turntable parts for the ST-7; drive belt, tracking shaft pulley and tracking roller. How do I get to the tracking roller to get it out? I'll need to send it to Alpha Tech so that they can install a new ring. Thanks.
Whin
whineryop@hotmail.com

Strengths:
Handsome machine, way cool. Twenty two pounds of quality.

Weaknesses:
must keep fine tuned but like any well running machine, the results are well worth the trouble.

Price Paid:  $110.00 from ebay

Summary:
I recently picked up this deck at a very reasonable price on ebay. Everything that people say about the fiddly set up is true- this is a challenging deck to get right, but probably not too much effort for suspension deck owners used to fiddling with their turntables. nevertheless, even when the deck is going right, I have found that on occasion the arm will lead or trail depending on the material on the disc. This could be frustrating for some users.

I got mine going with the help of a ruler to ensure that the stylus lined up with the midpoint of the record. I have found that the verticle (height) adjustment is important but not as critical as aligning the stylus to the midpoint. When set up properly you should be able to set the downforce low and still track comfortably - I managed to get my OM 30 to track reliably at 1g, below the recommended tracking force. Of course it is not neccessary to track your records with such low force, but I think it is a sign of a well designed tone arm that this is possible.

Sound quality is excellent. In my experience it is well above the standard of Thorens suspended decks, and manages to shame even my Thorens td 124 Mk 2 with SME 3012 tone arm in many areas of performance. It will also comfortably surpass most Japanese DD linear trackers, even if it is nowhere as easy to use. Bass extension (up to Japanese DD standards), timing and midrange clarity are all excellent. DC motor adds to the silence of this deck during quiet passages. It is only let down by a veiled treble response, and an occasional lack of 'musicality.' (My theory is that linear tracking encourages 'centre channel imaging', thus reducing the stereo effect in comparison to conventional arms). Definately sounds miles better than it should at the price.

Definately recommended, but probably it is best not to consider this deck unless you are willing to be patient during set up.

Strengths:
Build quality.
DC motor.
Arm combination floored but can work brilliantly.
Sound quality.
Looks great.

Weaknesses:
Will take some fiddling to get right.

Price Paid:  $799.00 from Meyer-Emco, Wash. DC

Summary:
I have had this turntable from new in 1977. I have NEVER stoped using it. It has given me no trouble other than a broken hinge on the top plexi cover. I still use an Ortofon cart. and the sound is fantastic.My choice back then was the ST 7 or the B&O. I chose the Rabco due to less cost and I must say I'm not dissapointed. Modern styling still looks good today. I guess I've been lucky as I havn't needed any parts other than a belt about seven years ago. Tone arm stays on track and no problems with the rubber turning to glue(from lack of use maybe?). I still recomend this unit to anyone and again have had great luck with it.

Strengths:
Proformance, durability, Super good looks, and of course, the sound quality

Weaknesses:
Some rumble if not isolated.

Similar Products Used:
Revox reel to reel, Mac system.

Price Paid:  $225.00 from ebay

Summary:
I purchased this Harman Kardon ST-7 Linear Tracker from ebay with very high expectations. I installed my top of the line Shure cartridge in the unit so to transfer my irreplaceable vinyl to CD. This turntable has given me more headaches than I’ve had in my entire life. It has made my blood pressure go through the roof, my hairline recede a few more inches, put me on Zoloft, and almost ruined my marriage! The freakin sensitive low-mass tone arm cannot be adjusted properly, ever! I couldn’t tell how many freakin grams I was laying in my precious grooves because it has no freakin tone arm weight markings printed on its “1970’s mod-style tone arm” (give me a freakin break), and the stupid que lever never worked right. I needed to push it down 2 or 3 times before I could be sure it would stay in the freaking record groove. So I removed my expensive Shure, got out my hammer, and smashed this “too many moving parts” piece of crap into a beautiful pile of brushed aluminum rubble. Now I’m back to my Harman Kardon T-60. I’ve lined-up my Shure as best as possible and will not ever waist my time and ruin my health on another ST-7 again! P.S. It felt so good smashing the ST-7!

Strengths:
It took many heavy strokes of my steel hammer to smash its frame.

Weaknesses:
Piece of garbage.

Similar Products Used:
My $70.00 all-in-one Soundesign that I got for my 12th birthday.

Price Paid:  $700.00 from mail order

Summary:
I love this turnatble. It has linear tracking to eliminate anti-skating and to reduce record wear. Took this piece out of storage 2 years ago. Needed a new belt which (Alpha Tech) here in St. Louis had on hand. In fact, they carry many parts to the Rabco turntables. They bought all these parts prior to discontinuance.
This table has great sound and is very well built. Would probably sell for around $2,500 in today's dollars. Performance is wonderful. Forgot how good vinyl can sound over the CD format.
My table is in great shape other than a scratch on the dustcover. I am using a Rega Elys cartridge on this table. I have 5 turntable at home currently, and my wife calls me insane. Therefore, I am sure I will regret it, I may put this table on e-bay or on audio gun to make more room and make my wife happy. A classic table that (enhances sound)

Strengths:
Well built and sounds great.

Weaknesses:
Does have many moving parts but works well.

Similar Products Used:
Dual 701, Rega p-3, Rega p-25, and Denon 47-F