Turn Table Recommendation

[HIFI]

I am thinking about jumping back into vinyl and, frankly, not sure where I will go with it. Looking for a recommendation on a turn table in the $1K USD price range. I am not sure if this is enough to get back into a deck and cartridge and I am not sure if a $500-$600 Rega or Music Hall would satisfactory for me. The last T-Table I owned was a Thorens TD-125 . . . 31 years ago.

 

Any thoughts?

[AudioDoctor]

I have some thoughts. First, have you considered a Technics SL1200? IMO it can be one hell of a deck. Second, have you considered second hand? There are some awesome deals out there from time to time.

 

and third: Needle Doctor

[esldude]

Either a $500 or so Music Hall or Rega would be a good turntable. Both are pretty simple. The Rega would be my preference though the Music Hall is maybe prettier if you like some of the colors. The Rega is about as simple as you can get, but capable of quite good sound.

 

You need a good cartridge and a good phono pre-amp. Some of the $100-150 cartridges aren't bad at all. The phono pre-amp might be the hard part. To get a good phono stage and keep it under $1k you might have to go to the second hand market.

[blw74]

I like my Rega P1!

[mitchco]

I had a Denon with a SME tonearm and Ortofon MC 20 many years ago. Should not have sold it... not that it was really high end, but was decent enough.

 

 

 

Project-Audio has nice tables in your price range. What attracts me is that you can get the table, tonearm, cartridge, and phono preamp as a matched system.

[Jud]

I am thinking about jumping back into vinyl and, frankly, not sure where I will go with it. Looking for a recommendation on a turn table in the $1K USD price range. I am not sure if this is enough to get back into a deck and cartridge and I am not sure if a $500-$600 Rega or Music Hall would satisfactory for me. The last T-Table I owned was a Thorens TD-125 . . . 31 years ago.

 

Any thoughts?

 

For somewhat over $1K there's the (German) Clearaudio Concept.

[Audio_ELF]

I'm probably just repeating the advise you've been given here... but I agree either Rega or ProJect make good packages in your price range.

 

Don't forget you'll also need a phono pre-amp - something like Musical Fidelity | V-LPSII Phono Stage or Rega Fono Mini - the Musical Fidelity offers more flexibility if you want to upgrade to a MC cartridge later. If you can stretch your budget slightly, a Rega RP3 ($1,100) with Elys cartridge and add the Musical Fidelity V-LPS MkII ($190) would be a great combination. If you want to stick within the budget I would look at Rega RP1 ($445) or ProJect Debut III ($430) with the same Musical Fidelity V-LPS.

 

If looking at second hand, remember that you may need to budget for a replacement stylus/cartridge.

 

Eloise

[spdif-usb]

Technics SL1200 because you don't want Rega speed issues and because the rest is either not worth mentioning, or too expensive. After you've upgraded the Technics with almost everything there is to upgrade, including a Trans-Fi Terminator tonearm and an AT33PTG cart, that's when you'll be so addicted to the sound of vinyl that, next, you'll want a VPI Scout.

[Audio_ELF]

Technics SL1200 because you don't want Rega speed issues and because the rest is either not worth mentioning, or too expensive. After you've upgraded the Technics with almost everything there is to upgrade, including a Trans-Fi Terminator tonearm and an AT33PTG cart, that's when you'll be so addicted to the sound of vinyl that, next, you'll want a VPI Scout.

 

Interesting suggestion... but the S tone arm is a piece of ***t and you can't fit a decent cartridge to it. So you need to get that replaced. Then there is the cost - for a good second hand example of the SL1200 you won't get much change from $800 from my quick research. And you still need a phono stage.

 

Anyway it's a suggestion but not really a $500-1000 suggestion...

 

Eloise

[DigiPete]

I am thinking about jumping back into vinyl . . . . Any thoughts?

 

Buy something great second hand rather than buying something decent new.

Let some one else pay the majority of the bill.

 

I got a great setup years back, at something equivalent to USD 1000 in todays prices.

I only set it aside because I just fell in love with the awesome sound quality digital can deliver

I never upgraded it, but I may buy a new belt ;-)

 

Thorens TD 321

Mørch UP-4 arm

Ortofon MC-2000 pickup (+ Ortofon MC-20 backup)

Ortofon T-2000 Step-up

 

All for a 1000 quid!

You can get lucky as well, if you work a little for it.

[whtwter]

If you are handy I picked up a Rek-O-kut N33H for $90. Sold the tone arm and plinth on Ebay for $120. Spent about $130 on materials for the new plinth. That leaves about $900 in your budget for tone arm and cartridge. I got lucky with a Grace 714 tone arm for $360 and am still auditioning cartridges from a friends collection. I would put it up against anything in the price range without hesitation. I know this route isn't for everyone but if you enjoy projects you can get a big bang for your money and the added enjoyment on telling your friends you built it. Tons of great info on Turntable Forum • Index page for DIY as well as very knowledgeable folks that can point you to the best TT in your budget new or used.

[jackfish]

I'd have Needle Doctor install a Nagaoka MP-150 on a Sota Moonbeam II turntable. For $50 more and a more than incremental difference for the better would be a Nagaoka MP-200.

[HIFI]

OK . . . thanks and lots of good advice.

I shopped audiogon and ebay for used. I have looked local and the only T-Table I found local, that I would buy, someone was able to pay faster than me. I have been looking for a couple months. I did up my price range and I paid for a new Music Hall that will be here next week. I must say I am happy to quit looking. I also have a close friend that guided me to a MMF-9.1. I know this is a GREAT first deck to get back into vinyl.

 

Now I need to buy a phono preamp, some good interconnects and a record . . . I need to get a record . . . that is important.

[spdif-usb]

I need to get a record . . . that is important.

You can play a CD on a turntable.

[Audio_ELF]

Now I need to buy a phono preamp, some good interconnects and a record . . . I need to get a record . . . that is important.

Not sure how it is in USA; but a trip to a charity shop in the UK often pays dividends...

 

Of course then you'll need a record cleaner too...

 

Eloise

[Mick The Kraken]

Get the Technics and be done with it. It's build quality and sheer heft will make the others (in that price range) look cheap and flimsy. There are all kinds of arguments over DD vs belt drive, but in the end if you don't have consistently dead-on speed then why bother... And the DD will always win, period.

[spdif-usb]

And the DD will always win, period.

One can argue that it's not truly worth the price difference but, when equipped with the right tonearm and cart combination, to my ears, the VPI Scout is still sonically superior to the Technics SL1200.

[Part-Time Audiophile]

I like the new VPI Traveler.