What do I need to know about turntables?

[alfa147x]

I've always enjoyed how records sound so I've started to look around. What should I look for when buying one?

 

[NutBucket]

Get one from the 70's. Seriously, you get much more turntable bang for your buck by going vintage. If we're talking new, most anything you'll find in a big-box store is crap. They're made completely of plastic and just don't have the stability of higher end models. I'd recommend a Pro-Ject turntable as a "not crazy expensive" start:
http://www.sumikoaudio.net/project/products/essentialphono.htm

Other things to consider. Does your receiver have a phono input? If not you'll need an appropriate pre-amp. And naturally, will your speakers/amp highlight the warmth of the sound?

 

[alfa147x]

Get one from the 70's. Seriously, you get much more turntable bang for your buck by going vintage. If we're talking new, most anything you'll find in a big-box store is crap. They're made completely of plastic and just don't have the stability of higher end models. I'd recommend a Pro-Ject turntable as a "not crazy expensive" start:
http://www.sumikoaudio.net/project/products/essentialphono.htm

Other things to consider. Does your receiver have a phono input? If not you'll need an appropriate pre-amp. And naturally, will your speakers/amp highlight the warmth of the sound?

Lets set the max budget around $80. The receiver is a Denon 1912 with the front LR being polk r50's

 

[NutBucket]

Ok, for $80 smackers used is the way to go.

And I suppose since you'll need a preamp the budget is really about $60. I'd start looking at CL and your local thrift stores. The big catch is, once you find one the condition of the needle/cart is highly variable.

For example, the TT I use cost me $25 at a swapmeet. Spent $10 on a new belt and $60 on a new cartridge. There goes the budget.....and still no preamp.

 

[alfa147x]

Ok, for $80 smackers used is the way to go.

And I suppose since you'll need a preamp the budget is really about $60. I'd start looking at CL and your local thrift stores. The big catch is, once you find one the condition of the needle/cart is highly variable.

For example, the TT I use cost me $25 at a swapmeet. Spent $10 on a new belt and $60 on a new cartridge. There goes the budget.....and still no preamp.

$100 with pre amp seems like a workable budget. I do have some amazon gift cards. How big off a difference would it be between a $100 budget vs $500 amazon budget?

 

[CallMeJoe]

Get one from the 70's. Seriously, you get much more turntable bang for your buck by going vintage.

I agree on the advantage of vintage turntables, but do not so readily discount turntables from the '80s. I have particular affection for the Harman Kardon belt-drives, especially the T35/T45/T55/T65 series. There were also a number of very respectable Technics direct-drives me in the '80s, despite the audiophile snobbery regarding their products. I have no personal experience of vintage Denon turntables, but have read some favorable accounts of them.

Lets set the max budget around $80. The receiver is a Denon 1912 with the front LR being polk r50's

$80 is not much more than the price of a good cartridge, and with an AVR-1912 you'll also have to budget for a phono preamp.

 

[NutBucket]

If you know what you're looking for and find the right deal $100 can certainly get you something decent.

Being that its impossible to know how ebay auctions will end and what's available in your market in the CL/thrift/swapmeet world, you're better off going new.

Here's one I saw on Amazon that looks like it would fit the bill:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica...227710&sr=8-36

Compared to the $100 models from Sony/Pioneer/etc this should be much better. Certainly serviceable for the casual listener. And, it has a built-in preamp and even a USB option. While it is billed as "DJ" table, it will serve perfectly well for listening.

 

[alfa147x]

Well since I would hate to break the look of my room. I am considering a Red Pro-Ject RM 1.3.

Is that a bad idea?

 

[NutBucket]

LOL, back to the $400 range eh? Anyway, definitely a good choice.

A couple of things. First, you'll need a pre-amp. Second, this isn't an automatic table so it will not stop playing when you finish a side..it'll sit there and keep spinning. Third, there's no dust cover so you'll have to figure out how to keep it clean.

There is some setup involved as shown in the manual but most that is based on the cartridge you install; the correct settings will come from the cartridge. I'm guessing it should be setup correctly from the factory but it doesn't hurt to check.

 

[alfa147x]

LOL, back to the $400 range eh? Anyway, definitely a good choice.

A couple of things. First, you'll need a pre-amp. Second, this isn't an automatic table so it will not stop playing when you finish a side..it'll sit there and keep spinning. Third, there's no dust cover so you'll have to figure out how to keep it clean.

There is some setup involved as shown in the manual but most that is based on the cartridge you install; the correct settings will come from the cartridge. I'm guessing it should be setup correctly from the factory but it doesn't hurt to check.

Will it damage the cartridge if it spins for a few minutes? Also how do I verify the settings?

Thanks!

 

[NutBucket]

It won't damage the cart. I was just making you aware of the design. The settings are based inn the cart that's installed. The manual tells you how to adjust things. Honestly, it should be useable out of the box even if the settings aren't spot on.

 

[alfa147x]

It won't damage the cart. I was just making you aware of the design. The settings are based inn the cart that's installed. The manual tells you how to adjust things. Honestly, it should be useable out of the box even if the settings aren't spot on.

Awesome! Thanks

I combined my speaker budget for my desk + HT / audio (turn table) budget and bought the Red Pro-Ject RM 1.3 with a Musical Fidelity V-LPS. I'm really excited... It'll be here Tuesday

 

[NutBucket]

Nice. Sure beats the heck out of my turntable I want to upgrade...but I want a house first

 

[lkjhgf]

What should I look for when buying one?

Just one word: SL-1200MKII or SL-1210MKII, depends on which colour you like the most :wub:

 

[NutBucket]

Meh, the one the OP bought is better if all you're interested in is playing an LP.

 

[alfa147x]

I'm really looking forward to it. I'm considering either wall mounting a shelf for it OR painting my half finished subwoofer project box black and using that as a stand.

 

[EvilYoda]

I don't know how the 1.3 is damped but a shelf isn't always a great idea in terms of isolating the table...and placing it on top of a subwoofer (or is it non-operational?) would definitely be a bad idea.

Oh, and YGPM regarding your Hackintosh ^_^

 

[lkjhgf]

Meh, the one the OP bought is better if all you're interested in is playing an LP.

Well, it looks that OP wants to put the turntable on his sub, so, there's no competitors: 13 Kg of stability, precision and no belt of transmission ()
I got 2 babies like these at home since I was 15, still working - I used them in all kind of situation :awe:

 

[alfa147x]

I don't know how the 1.3 is damped but a shelf isn't always a great idea in terms of isolating the table...and placing it on top of a subwoofer (or is it non-operational?) would definitely be a bad idea.

Oh, and YGPM regarding your Hackintosh ^_^

Oh it's just a MDF box. I never had a chance to finish it. (Lack of tools and time)

I'll have a good time balancing it though. My biggest worry is setting up the tonearm.

 

[mmntech]

Get one from the 70's. Seriously, you get much more turntable bang for your buck by going vintage.

This. Modern turntables are either very expensive or very low quality. If it has a USB thing sticking out of it, I wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole. I have a Dual model from the early 80s. Not high end, but not bad either.

If you need a phono preamp, you can buy external ones. They plug right into a modern receiver. You still need to plug them in though. If you do get a preamp, make absolutely sure it supports accurate RIAA Equalization for the best sound reproduction.

 

[alfa147x]

This. Modern turntables are either very expensive or very low quality. If it has a USB thing sticking out of it, I wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole. I have a Dual model from the early 80s. Not high end, but not bad either.

If you need a phono preamp, you can buy external ones. They plug right into a modern receiver. You still need to plug them in though. If you do get a preamp, make absolutely sure it supports accurate RIAA Equalization for the best sound reproduction.

The turntable doesn't have any USB function. I didn't want to deal with getting scammed with a crappy model from the 70/80's plus having to search for them. I guess that's why the one I got cost so much.

The phono preamp is a Musical Fidelity V-LPS. It does support accurate RIAA Equalization.

 

[alfa147x]

I need to find a real table for it. The MDF box looks ugly!

 

[NutBucket]

I'm jelly

 

[Howard]

Was hoping you would buy a Technics SL1200. They are, after all, now collectables.

 

[alfa147x]

Was hoping you would buy a Technics SL1200. They are, after all, now collectables.

The biggest factor is that it would break the look of the room. I'm not collecting crap. That's for horders.