Turntables anyone?

[Saint Nick]

I'm interested in buying a turn table so I can listen to my dad's old vinyls and buy some of my own. What brands and models do you guys reccomend? I heard Technics are pretty good. Looking for something on the cheap, but still sounds great. Probably will be buying a used unit.

Thanks!

 

[Billb2]

The turntable just spins the record. All it has to do is to spin the record at a constant speed.

It's the phono cartridge that converts the mechanical record grooves into electrical energy. That's where you should spend your money!

Phono cartridges vary in price/sound about as much as speaker do. So about the same effort should be expended in choosing a cartridge as would be in choosing speakers.

Turntables that are supplied with cartridges are about the equivalent of buying a prebuilt (Dell/Gateway/HP) computer. You can do a lot better putting together turntable/tone arm/cartridge combination yourself. Of course, just like building a custom computer, it takes a lot more time and effort!

There are also USB turntables.

And, opposed to choosing computer components (it will either run 15,000 3Dmark06 or it won't), with speakers/cartridges you're talking about sound. Just because a reviewer liked it, doesn't necessarily mean you will, nor that what you buy will even sound the same as it did in the reviewer's system.

 

[iRONic]

Billb2 has given you the most important information.

I prefer a direct drive turntable since the motor is decoupled when the power is off. That makes it easier to spin up the platter for cleaning the album. This has gotten me flamed by some tt snobs on other forums but they can lick my assscrack.

My Technics SL-7 linear tracker is over 25 years old and still going strong. I'm currently running an Ortofon TM 14 cart/stylus that's a bit long in the tooth. Time to get a replacement.

SL-7

 

[Saint Nick]

I don't understand. Are you saying I should build my own turntable?

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: NightDarker
I don't understand. Are you saying I should build my own turntable?

You could do that or buy a base model and upgrade/modify it.

Rega P3-24 Turntable

 

[EvilYoda]

The new P3-24 is supposed to be quite good with the external PSU. i haven't heard it yet, but I read the original Stereophile review...I've yet to check out the local hifi shops in Phoenix, maybe I'll do that this week...

 

[herm0016]

i picked up a B&O 1900 off ebay in excellent shape with a nice cart for $100. the older marantz and denon models get good reviews, the B&O stuff is good quality but the carts are very expensive because they don't make them anymore. my setup: http://ajherman.deviantart.com/art/the-TT-67437038

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: NightDarker
I don't understand. Are you saying I should build my own turntable?

What you are calling a "turntable" is a combination of a turntable, a tone arm and a phono cartridge.

You can buy a "prebuilt" one. just like you can buy a prebuilt Dell.
Or you can do the research and put together the components yourself. But, unlike computers, at any price level above the junk level ($150??) you will be a lot better off with wisely chosen components.

Your best bet is probably a turntable/tonearm pre-assembled combination, and then just choosing a phono cartridge to add.

 

[mshan]

If you've got LPs that haven't been optimally taken care of, don't want to meticulously clean them before playback, and you just want to enjoy music on those records, I highly recommend the Audio Technica AT-PL50 (under $70 with free shipping from Buy.com on eBay).

Yes, it has a plastic chassis, cheap cartridge, etc. but it is also voiced very musically.

Unless you are going to buy a true entry level audiophile turntable in the $300+ range (Rega, Music Hall, Pro-ject, etc.), I highly recommend it.