I have a lot of pristine vynil from back in the day when all I had was a new Pioneer SX-1250 and a pair of L-65s. I want to try the vynil again. What is a good new turntable w/cartridge for $300 - $600?
I have a lot of pristine vynil from back in the day when all I had was a new Pioneer SX-1250 and a pair of L-65s. I want to try the vynil again. What is a good new turntable w/cartridge for $300 - $600?
That's enough to get something nice.
I kind of like these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW
When buying a mechanical device like a turntable I think I would avoid eBay especially if they don't have the original packaging!
The two budget priced turntables that come to mind are those by Rega and Music Hall. Rega will be a bit over the price point with a good cartridge.
Check these out.
http://www.musichallaudio.com/products/index.asp
Widget
Man, I gotta cast my vote: 200% in favor of the Music Hall MMF5. You should be able to get one of those in that range, and IMHO, it just KILLS everything else I've used in that price range. REAL SUSPENDED PLINTH, a GOOD arm, and a GOOD cartridge. There's some amazingly sophisticated and well-executed engineering in those things!!
I also second NOT buying ANY used turntable from Ebay. That's how turntables get destroyed. Nobody seems to know how to pack a turntable- I've seen too many of them, with platters LEFT ON the spindles, just tossed into a box. As soon as the box gets turned upside down a couple times, the platter goes flying around like the proverbial bull in a china shop, with spectacularly destructive results. And I'm sorry to say, this seems to be the NORM for Ebay!!
Regards,
Gordon.
I've bought s few tables on ebay and haven't had a problem yet. If you can be sure the seller knows how to pack the think, I would check out the late 80's AR (XD I think) on the lower end of your range, or the classic Linn LP12 on the higher end. There are also a few killer Yamahas that I've been watching based on some reviews I've read at Audiogon. The linear PX2 or 3 are excellent as is the PF800.
You won't go wrong with a new Music Hall, but you can duplicate (or exceed) its performance with an older table if you're willing to roll the ebay dice...
jblnut
PS - I stopped upgrading at a Luxman PD264 using a Ortofon MC200. I've got about $350 the combo and love it....
If you head back into vinyl you'll quickly realize that your phono preamp is almost as important as the table/cartridge. Be prepared to upgrade your preamp or purchase a separate outboard unit. It really makes a difference...
jblnut
buying from ebay is best when you can pick it up locally. just click the distance nearest first under time ending soonest arrow. you may have to wait awhile for certain pieces to come around but then you know what its worth in your area afterwords. i also would not have a turntable shipped to me.
I don't know the 'used' market for turntables in the States, so I can't say anything about what's available or not, but what I can say is that you should choose one which has an arm that can be adjusted for various cartridges. Particularly, the arm height adjustability becomes a factor if you're planning to use a cartridge that is thick vertically. The Technics SL1200 series, I believe, have this feature, and they're direct drive so you don't have to worry about belt tension and other what-nots. Hope this helps.
love my Technic 1200 series tables, as does almost every other "DJ type" out there...
don't know if that is a good thing or not.....
but the Technics tables are workhorses....
I've used a Denon DP-37F for 20 years and I am happy with it. I had an Audio-Technica LS400 on it for a long time and recently went to a
Shure V-15 type V xmr. Sadly they are no longer made.
The Denon had electromagnetic dampening to keep constant pressure on the stylii. I know all about those high end tables but for general use with old vinyl I think this is good enough.
In my experience DJ Turntable=Destroy Record+Bad Sound ReproductionOriginally Posted by louped garouv
love my Technic 1200 series tables, as does almost every other "DJ type" out there...
don't know if that is a good thing or not.....
but the Technics tables are workhorses....
Paragon
Olympus
L-100's
4311's
Linn or Thorens. I especially like the Thorens 125 with a Linn basik arm.
Paragon
Olympus
L-100's
4311's
A turntable setup that I like is a Technics 1200 with an Ortofon OM30 stylus on a Concorde cartridge. There is no cartridge set-up to speak of and getting parts couldn't be much easier.
Of all the setups I've heard, There is nothing that tops an EMT turntable. There is not a new one (that I have heard) that can dish out the music and details like one of those ugly old things can. I've not even heard the top line EMT either!
Nate
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