Entry Level Turntable

[Telemin]

I know very little about the good and bad brands of Record Player and did not live through the time being only 19 but since I have access to a large number of very good classical recordings on LP, I thought I might invest in a turntable for myself.

So my question really is which turntable should I get? I'm okay with new or used that isn't important, just a decent quality player for a reasonable price. Say less than £200, ideally less than £150.

I realise asking about best players opens a huge can of worms but any and all wisdom people could impart to me is hugely appreciated.

-Telemin-

[Holger Barske]

With a limited budget, I'd go for a Rega P1.
You might come further with a used Thorens , Lenco or Dual, but this very much depends on the condition of the unit and your DIY skills.

[d to the g]

Without question, your first turntable should be a Technics sl1200.

1. They're easy to find.
2. They're very tough to damage, and if you do, they're easy to service.
3. They still manufacture the table and parts for it.
Besides that, they have pretty good sound and engineering that is orders of magnitude better than pretty much anything you can buy new.

[orangeshasta]

I use a Music Hall MMF-5 that I picked up from an Audiogon auction for about $250 US a couple years ago. I've been extremely happy with the sound, and it's a beautiful looking table to boot.

Otherwise, I'd second the vote for the Technics. Very easy to find in good shape, and a rock-solid great sounding table as well.

[brianco]

You have mail in case this link does not work:



Go for a Lenco GL75 and look at this site:

http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php

They can be very very good!

[dnewma04]

Originally posted by d to the g
Without question, your first turntable should be a Technics sl1200.

1. They're easy to find.
2. They're very tough to damage, and if you do, they're easy to service.
3. They still manufacture the table and parts for it.
Besides that, they have pretty good sound and engineering that is orders of magnitude better than pretty much anything you can buy new.

I have made a DIY turntable using parts from a rekokut, have owned three Oracle turntables with nice arms, a Nakamichi Dragon CT, a couple of Denon and JVC with the rosewood bases and I can unequivocally give a +1 to your recommendation of the the SL-1200.

It's a tank, sounds good to very good, and has many upgrade paths through KAB if the mood strikes you to upgrade.

[EC8010]

As you're in Nottingham, there should be lots of dealers stocking Nottingham Analogue turntables. They will certainly be out of your league but it would be worth hearing something good to understand why you should be choosy about what you get for your valuable collection of LPs. Your budget is very limited, and you're going to need to spend quite a bit of it on a cartridge that has a good enough stylus not to ruin your LPs. If your mechanical skills are up to it, you could consider building a turntable like the Altmann (do a search). By the way, although Altmann says you need a lathe to cut the platter, this isn't essential - it could be done by a router pivoted on a piece of wood (known as a trammel). I made pick-up arms when I was 14 with no Internet assistance, so making a complete turntable at 19 is perfectly feasible.

[flavio81]

Originally Posted by Telemin

I know very little about the good and bad brands of Record Player and did not live through the time being only 19 but since I have access to a large number of very good classical recordings on LP, I thought I might invest in a turntable for myself.

So my question really is which turntable should I get? I'm okay with new or used that isn't important, just a decent quality player for a reasonable price. Say less than £200, ideally less than £150.

Buy a second hand turntable. For example any technics from the 80s with direct drive. Technics pickups are very decent and you can get hyperelliptical styluses for them at lpgear dot com for US$40, that combination will sound very, very good and will fit your budget.

IMHO there is no decent NEW turntable for your budget. Stay totally away from those "USB turntables" and the like. Avoid them like the plague.

[planet10]

Originally Posted by flavio81

Buy a second hand turntable. For example any technics from the 80s with direct drive. Technics pickups are very decent and you can get hyperelliptical styluses for them at lpgear dot com for US$40, that combination will sound very, very good and will fit your budget..

I agree on getting a used TT. I can't cotton the direct drives. Not even the more expensive ones. I had an SL1200 and found it boring. I did rip a really nice tonearm off of one of its older brethern... it will be going on a diy belt-drive (perhaps based on the LP12 bearing & inner platter i have (Linn will be horrified about my plan thou )

When the great direct drive boom happened we were selling tables new, and even budget belt-drives handily outperformed the more expensive direct drives.

Being in the UK you should be able to pick up a used Rega II or III for well within your budget. Probably still leaving you with sufficient cash to buy a new Grado or Audio Technica cartiridge.

dave

[Panicos K]

A thorens TD166 should be easy to find in UK.With a decent cartridge can kill P1 any day.A good motor unit for future tonearm upgrade.TD160's also sell at nice prices in UK,but a good tonearm will take you out of your budged for now.