Help on buying a record player

[ninetynine]

I've really gotten into listening to vinyls lately but I don't know anything about turntables. Can anyone suggest something they think would be good? I don't want to go overboard and spend tons of money I just want something efficient and that does the job. Any recommendations?

[Leeway]

Recommended: Rega P2; Music Hall MMF 2.1; Pro-ject 1.2. All can be checked out at:

www.redtrumpet.com (Red Trumpet)

Any will do a good job at a budget price.

[3pointdeli]

i couldn't get that link to work. what is the price for those?

ninetynine, you should be able to find a perfectly good new turntable for $100 - $150. ask around at record stores that sell vinyl and check pawn shops (a friend recently found a great one at a pawn shop for $25).

[Leeway]

Red Trumpet is at www.redtrumpet.com. Click on equipment, then turntables.

The TTs I mentioned run from $296 (with cartridge) to $495.

Used is an option, but you need to make sure they are in top condition (or have a friend who knows how to fix them
;)

[3pointdeli]

i'm not sure what "top condition" means, but i find that "working condition" is perfectly adequate. of course, it's important to have a needle that's either new, or in good shape.

here is a perfectly good new turntable for $99:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1062632448002&skuId=5801251&type=product

[ninetynine]

I was thinking of going with a technics turntable I had seen at around 150 dollars. I figure I'll go with Technics knowing they have a good reputation with turntables.
I just don't get the difference between 100 dollar turntables and 600 dollars and up ones.

[Saundra Hummer]

I don't know enough about record players to contribute here, so I hope that you keep telling what it is that all of you know about good sound systems.

Our daughter bought a DVD player to give to her daughter for Christmas, and got into a discusson about DVD recorders, about the quality and the cost, and he told her that after Christmas the prices on the new ones that will be coming out will drop tremendously, a huge drop, or so he says.

I would love that, as I don't want to buy just a player, I really do want and need a recorder, as I record a tremendous amount of things, so I can go back and watch it later, like Nightline, sometimes Letterman or Leno, a lot of PBS specials on artists, or just something that I want to make sure I don't miss. I like to record the better artists when they are on, which is seldom now, as funding it hurting for PBS. I do have a lot of things that I would like to transfer to disk, and clear out the old video tapes.

What is the deal on Tivo? Any of you have it, and if so how do you like it? I hear it is pretty complicated, but a lot of VCRS are also, I still haven't tried to learn all of the functions on our Sony. It is as though an educated idiot conformed its functions.

Anyway, what have you heard about prices, and which ones do you advise, or even let us know which ones you think we should avoid?

[Leeway]

Originally posted by ninetynine
I was thinking of going with a technics turntable I had seen at around 150 dollars. I figure I'll go with Technics knowing they have a good reputation with turntables.
I just don't get the difference between 100 dollar turntables and 600 dollars and up ones.

Of course, you need to buy what you can afford and what fits your system. The difference between $100 TTs and $600s TTs is-bottom line--: sound quality. Don't know what the rest of your system is like, but if you have a lo-fi or mid-fi system, the Technics should be OK. As for Technics reputation for TTs, don't know where you picked that up, but if you think that's true, go ahead.

As for TIVO, keep in mind that there is a monthly service charge, beyond the initial cost. Other than that, if you do record a lot from the TV, it's mighty useful. Might be a good idea to have the dealer either set it up, or give detailed instructions on how to do so.

[Tenorman]

Ninety Nine

Firstly where are you from. I am from the UK, and there is no point in my recomending kit and suppliers which may not be available where you are.

Secondly, what is your amp and speaker set up. Does the amp have a phono cicuit. If it doesn't you are looking at a phono amp connected to a set of spare line inputs

[ninetynine]

Originally posted by Tenorman
Ninety Nine

Firstly where are you from. I am from the UK, and there is no point in my recomending kit and suppliers which may not be available where you are.

Secondly, what is your amp and speaker set up. Does the amp have a phono cicuit. If it doesn't you are looking at a phono amp connected to a set of spare line inputs



yah it does its actually a technics amp from the 70's
and I have a simple 5 disc sony changer for the other person wanting to know what I had and I live in montreal.

[Tenorman]

Hi Ninety Nine
The general advice when buying a system is to split your costs evenly over Speakers, Amp, and each source.

I don't know whether or not you can get Pro-Ject deck over there, but it comes highly recommended in all the Hi-Fi mags in the UK. It starts around £100 in the UK.

There is a point in going up the scale on price, but only if you are going to spend equivalent amounts on all the rest of your kit. I upgraded my kit over a number of years, which meant that for a few years, I had an expensive turntable working through an old midi system amp. I didn't actually get to hear the turntable properly until I had upgraded the amp and speakers, but I certainly could not afford to go out and buy the complete kit at one go

[ninetynine]

Originally posted by Tenorman
Hi Ninety Nine
The general advice when buying a system is to split your costs evenly over Speakers, Amp, and each source.

I don't know whether or not you can get Pro-Ject deck over there, but it comes highly recommended in all the Hi-Fi mags in the UK. It starts around £100 in the UK.

There is a point in going up the scale on price, but only if you are going to spend equivalent amounts on all the rest of your kit. I upgraded my kit over a number of years, which meant that for a few years, I had an expensive turntable working through an old midi system amp. I didn't actually get to hear the turntable properly until I had upgraded the amp and speakers, but I certainly could not afford to go out and buy the complete kit at one go


I don't want to upgrade my kit I just want to add a turntable.

[Tenorman]

Sorry, the point I was trying to make was that if you are not intending to upgrade everything, then there is no point in spending £500 on a deck to go with £100 amp and speakers.

Try the Pro-Ject deck and even cheaper there is a Bush deck which came out well in tests, bearing in mind cost

There is also a Marantz TT42 deck - haven't seen any reviews on it, though

[ninetynine]

I'm actually thinking of buying one from a pawn shop but I don't know what, also its going to be hard to know if its defective.

[3pointdeli]

never buy any stereo equipment without trying it out, especially from a pawn shop. if they won't let you try it out, walk out the door (and make sure to tell them that you'll never spend your money in their store).

i almost bought a kenwood turntable for $35 this weekend, but i don't really need another one yet.

i got a beach boys record ("surfer girl") for $1 yesterday and it sounded amazing through my crappy turntable and low end stereo.

[JPW]

Originally posted by 3pointdeli

i got a beach boys record ("surfer girl") for $1 yesterday and it sounded amazing through my crappy turntable and low end stereo.
And it always comes as a surprise to people when they hear the same record through something "quite good".
I used to have crappy TTs. Now I have a reasonable one (Rega P25) and the difference is not subtle (and neither is the difference in size of my record collection).
A used Rega P2 or the Projekt Basic (which has a built in phono stage - handy) are good places to start. Add to that a basic Audio Technica or Denon cart and you're ready to rock 'n' roll.
Under no circumstances buy a used piece of audio - especially a turntable without first listening to it.

[Bev Stapleton]

I've had a Rega 2 since 1980. Something went wrong with it in 1991, I took it to a dealer, he swapped something in five minutes and wouldn't let me pay him anything. It's been going ever since!

[3pointdeli]

still, if i had $250 to spend i'd rather buy more records (or a nice ride cymbal, or a guitar amp, or a bass, or a few microphones, or a record cleaning machine) than something i already have and am more than satisfied with.

i'm sure i'll upgrade to a newer, better turntable one day (i'll probably have no choice in the matter), and i appreciate the suggestions from all of you. however, i feel strongly that if you have a turntable (even a $35 akai) and a local record store that sells records for cheap you'll be enjoying all sorts of music you might not have ever considered listening to. that, to me, is infinitely more fulfilling than crisper highs and deeper lows.

[JPW]

Originally posted by 3pointdeli
still, if i had $250 to spend i'd rather buy more records (or a nice ride cymbal, or a guitar amp, or a bass, or a few microphones, or a record cleaning machine) than something i already have and am more than satisfied with.
I have discovered to my (not inconsiderable) cost that this is not a zero-sum game.
I buy way more music now than I did when my main source was through my computer or when I had an ancient and creaking Technics TT (not one of the good ones either).
Check out www.audiokarma.org for some amusingly non-BS audio talk and tips on finding audio bargains (mostly Japanese and mostly from the 70s and 80s - the time that audiophools forgot)
However, that said I agree that if a $35 akai (or whatever) is the choice, go for it and start snapping up those vinyl bargains now.
oh did I really say that... New Year's resolution #1: Do not encourage competition in the used vinyl market :D

[ScreaminJayHawkins]

I very much like those "cheap" turntables :

http://www.redtrumpet.com/hardware/item.php?item=20955&dept=59&sid=1123368799

[Frank Mullen]

Nobody has yet mentioned the phono cartridge. If your amp has an input for a mag, be sure your turntable has got one. You don't want to put the output from a crystal or ceramic cartridge into the one on your amp made for mag.

[Tenorman]

Right Frank:
There are two types of cartridge Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil MC. Of the two Moving Coil produces a lower output than Moving Magnet. Neither of them produce the same output as a normal source from a CD or tape deck and so need additional amplification. You need to check that your amp has a Phono input and whether or not that Phono is switchable or only set to either MM or MC

[Fran]

I have to get a new Turntable.
I have a reasonably good Amp, (An old Sherwood), and a great speaker system, (Paradigim), BUT, the old AR turntable is on it's way out and I want to get something decent for the LPs I play occasionally. I've got most of my active music on CD now.
I saw a fair looking player at Radio Shack that also offered 45RPM (I have a ton of those too), It is an RCA, It worries me that it is only $99- Complete------ so---

1) Recommendations please on reasonably inexpensive players.
2) Anyone have opinion on the Radio Shack players?

[Frank Mullen]

I really don't know about Radio Shack turntables but I'm sure they're not top notch hi fi. Lots of guys will tell you about their own rig and so will I. But if you can possibly swing it,--get the absolute best you can afford. And that goes for the phono cartridge as well. I bought mine about 20 years ago and both the turntable and the cartridge are still doing fine. Before you buy--go to the library and read the issues of Audio and Hi Fidelity-then visit your audio shops and do what you're doing---get peoples opinion. (many of them)

[wolff]

I have to get a new Turntable.
I have a reasonably good Amp, (An old Sherwood), and a great speaker system, (Paradigim), BUT, the old AR turntable is on it's way out and I want to get something decent for the LPs I play occasionally. I've got most of my active music on CD now.
I saw a fair looking player at Radio Shack that also offered 45RPM (I have a ton of those too), It is an RCA, It worries me that it is only $99- Complete------ so---

1) Recommendations please on reasonably inexpensive players.
2) Anyone have opinion on the Radio Shack players?


Look around for a Pro-Ject tt. Review (http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/review_read.asp?ID=864)

Avoid the Radio Shack unless you DJ. :lol: