This is one of the most attractive budget systems I have seen. Price with shipping is incredibly low. Can it be upgraded, though?
Mixed reviews due to damage while shipping, no top cover on some sold on Ebay;
Bush Classic Retro Combo Turntable With Bluetooth, CD, FM Radio TT1862
Also on Amazon: listed, but not available.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bush-Classic-Micro-Combo-Turntable/dp/B07H7N4BCP
Mixed reviews due to damage while shipping, no top cover on some sold on Ebay;
Bush Classic Retro Combo Turntable With Bluetooth, CD, FM Radio TT1862
Also on Amazon: listed, but not available.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bush-Classic-Micro-Combo-Turntable/dp/B07H7N4BCP
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Thanks. From what I see is it's a nice looking turntable, without those little black blocks stuck around the edge, this one has a smooth rim.
The Victrolas and Crosleys seem to have an undetectable level of wow, I am beginning to suspect that music was back then composed taking into account the natural rhythm of the 33 1/3 record playing, so any effects would be not noticeable. In any case these are contenders for Phase 2.
Vintage record players show values of 0.07 and whereabouts. 0.20% or lower is good, my USB machine is on the edge, without a record that is.
The Victrolas and Crosleys seem to have an undetectable level of wow, I am beginning to suspect that music was back then composed taking into account the natural rhythm of the 33 1/3 record playing, so any effects would be not noticeable. In any case these are contenders for Phase 2.
Vintage record players show values of 0.07 and whereabouts. 0.20% or lower is good, my USB machine is on the edge, without a record that is.
Big factor in bad looking records playing quietly is difference in styli. The newer narrower stylus cuts are probably contacting a different portion of the groove than the older bi-radial, conical and elliptical styli.
eso
So you recommend newer styli to play 'bad looking' records or those listed as 'good' condition or 'with scratches, plays, one skip' etc?
No, the "Bush Classic Retro Combo" includes the same OEM turntable deck as is incorporated in all the China sourced briefcase record players.
We're talking about a cheap ceramic cartridge tracking at 8 g in a non-counterbalanced, non-adjustable pick up arm - aka a record grinder!
There's tons of this rubbish on the market, choose your particular poison from this list:
https://www.made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Turntable_Player.html
A telltale sign of a low quality turntable is this same red ceramic cartridge and turntable mechanism inside a different shaped housing:
https://budgetvinylcollector.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/cheap-turntables-to-avoid/
https://budgetvinylcollector.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/cheap-turntables-to-avoid/
Sure it can be upgraded...recycling! VTF can be altered too...if I'm not mistaken, the thing uses a spring instead of a counterweight, so...
Thanks for the link. There is even a Technics turntable included with some of these.
This one is quite a steal. CD included.
Imagine 300 of these (Minimum order) flooding the market - but where? I have not seen them around here. Asian countries, possibly? Europe?
Argos? At least they offer the Audio Technica
https://www.argos.co.uk/browse/tech...araoke/record-players-and-turntables/c:30137/
Oh, I finally get it...stupid me! Thanks for the masterclass in trolling. 👍
That same site lists turntables that are actually good, and that they say will not damage your records.
None of these listed on Amazon will ship to my location, but will keep looking. Only the 'ones to avoid; can be shipped here. Thanks for the information, I know what to avoid now.
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This is most definitely NOT a Technics turntable! 😱
https://dosound.en.made-in-china.co...yl-Record-Player-with-Technics-Turntable.html
Even if a brand name is on it, there are countless fake products around.
Cheap and good just won't both apply to the same turntable.
Cheap and good just won't both apply to the same turntable.
The website does recommend turntables with the Audio - Technica cartride, full size platter, and looks like an adjustable tone arm as well. All of these recommend ones seem to have these, surely this is a step up from the small platter ceramic cartridge ones?
The Wikipedia article seems to contain some inaccuracies.
Statistics:
Ippantekina, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_revival
Statistics:
Ippantekina, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_revival
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The Audio Technica AT-3600L is a budget moving magnet cartridge with good sound and good tracking abliity.
It tracks betwen 2.5g and 3.5g and is far superior to those cheap, red ceramic groove cutters!
There's a comprehensive review of its capabilities here: https://phono-cartridge-reviews.co.uk/reviews/audio-technica-at3600l-at91/
After all this I can't remember if you have set some kind of a budget. I don't recall seeing anyone cast their net quite so wide in terms of type, price, and quality.
What I'm driving at is that combining discussion about audio engineering and potential limitations of vinyl and then ogling a system of the type you mention in #142 isn't really going anywhere. There's vinyl-curious and then there's too vinyl-curious.
I'll assume you're focused mainly on the inexpensive end of things. Your location does make your case more difficult. However, it is possible to pick up good turntables cheaply. I'm referring mainly to Japanese 1970s and 1980s models (because that's what I have experience of hunting for), and I'm talking about prices like $20 to, well, wherever you'd like to go. But I can quite easily find turntables in the $20 to $80 range and many many more up to about $200 or $300, and none of them are models that you or I need be ashamed of.
People from North America and Europe do buy directly from Japan. It may be a little easier for them, but I don't think there's anything in particular to stop you shipping to the Maldives if you find a seller who does that. And Japan isn't the only country to buy from. Some actual costs of shipping to the Maldives have already been mentioned. That location is probably going to increase your cost no matter how you do it, whether attempting to buy locally, or having something sent out to you.
The real question is how you will line this up. You mentioned one possibility, which is to buy in person in (?)Bangkok or somewhere and carry it back, which for a lightish turntable is fairly feasible. Though I have my doubts whether Bangkok is a turntable paradise, either for new or secondhand models. The best way to have access to the largest selection is to buy from a country where there is a big market in secondhand turntables and have it shipped over to you. You'll perhaps get burned a bit on shipping and associated fees, but you can benefit from old-skool build quality, the labour costs of which were already paid for by the original owner several decades ago.
Numbers pulled out of the air a bit here, but you might be able to find something for $200 (arm included), have it shipped for $300, get a cartridge sent over from just about any country, and (probably after a little maintenance) you're ready to RPM.
Whether I would actually do this in your shoes, I'm not sure. That's not because of the hardware though, but because of the costs/challenges you'd be facing when buying records. But if I recall correctly, you said that wouldn't be too much of an issue.
I have just completed listening to a record, after a space of about 25 years. Has it been that long? Yes.
I am totally sold on the concept. Here is a link to the "USB turntable review"
I have been offered a JVC turntable (has a broken belt) from a relative in Canada, he knows an expert who repairs turntables, get it checked out, and repaired, and shipped here, I think it might be about $100 for shipping. He casually mentioned that he had installed a $300 cartridge in it.
Several things are clear:
I had to see for myself, though.
Bye bye budget turntables!
A representative used Audio Technica can be shipped here for $220. Will check out the Japanese sales sites.
I am totally sold on the concept. Here is a link to the "USB turntable review"
I have been offered a JVC turntable (has a broken belt) from a relative in Canada, he knows an expert who repairs turntables, get it checked out, and repaired, and shipped here, I think it might be about $100 for shipping. He casually mentioned that he had installed a $300 cartridge in it.
Several things are clear:
- The quality if used records is good enough to mandate taking care of them properly
- A quality tone arm with proper tracking force and anti skating adjustments is essential
- A tone arm cue lever is essential to softly place the tone arm on the record.
I had to see for myself, though.
Bye bye budget turntables!
A representative used Audio Technica can be shipped here for $220. Will check out the Japanese sales sites.