WHAT TURNTABLE SHOULD I BUY?

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in my tree 76
in my tree 76 The city by the lake Posts: 261
edited May 2014 in The Porch
I'm getting some speakers Acoustech Platinum Series PL-89 II and was wondering about a turntable to go with it.
Can anyone help me with this?
Soldier Field 7/11/95 Alpine Valley 6/26/98 United Center 6/29/98 The Ice Bowl10/8/00 United Center 5/17/06 United Center 8/23/09 Verizon Wireless 5/7/10 EV Chicago Theater 6/29/11 PJ20 9/3/11 9/4/11 Wrigley Field 7/19/13 Memphis 10/14/14 Moline 10/17/14 Wrigley Field 8/20/16 Wrigley Field 8/22/16 Wrigley Field 8/18/18 Wrigley Field 8/20/18> 17× United Center 9/7/23
Post edited by in my tree 76 on
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Comments

  • aurynsdad
    aurynsdad Posts: 863
    Maybe a music hall mmf 5.1? That's my dream, and it may be in your budget.
    10/31/93 Berkeley (Baba!) • 10/1/94 Bridge School • 9/16/96 Seattle (In My Tree!) • 10/19/96 & 10/20/96 B. School (Alt Corduroy & Alt Porch!) • 10/25/03 B. School • 6/1/03 Mtnview (Crazy Mary! You Are!) • 11/29/13 Portland (All Those Yesterdays! Even Flow!) • 10/25/14 Bridge School (Rain! Fuckin Up! TOTD!) • 5/13/22 Oakland (had to leave early, but W.M.A.! Immortality!) • 5/13/24 Sacramento (Light Years! Picture in a Frame!) • 5/25/24 Bottle Rock (Last Kiss! Maybe It’s Time w/Bradley Cooper!)
  • in my tree 76
    in my tree 76 The city by the lake Posts: 261
    Lmfao I'm looking for a 300 dollar budget
    Soldier Field 7/11/95 Alpine Valley 6/26/98 United Center 6/29/98 The Ice Bowl10/8/00 United Center 5/17/06 United Center 8/23/09 Verizon Wireless 5/7/10 EV Chicago Theater 6/29/11 PJ20 9/3/11 9/4/11 Wrigley Field 7/19/13 Memphis 10/14/14 Moline 10/17/14 Wrigley Field 8/20/16 Wrigley Field 8/22/16 Wrigley Field 8/18/18 Wrigley Field 8/20/18> 17× United Center 9/7/23
  • aurynsdad
    aurynsdad Posts: 863
    Well, the entry level Project and Music Hall units would fit that budget and are very well regarded. Lots of people recommend Rega, but my audiophile guru doesn't like them for some reason.
    10/31/93 Berkeley (Baba!) • 10/1/94 Bridge School • 9/16/96 Seattle (In My Tree!) • 10/19/96 & 10/20/96 B. School (Alt Corduroy & Alt Porch!) • 10/25/03 B. School • 6/1/03 Mtnview (Crazy Mary! You Are!) • 11/29/13 Portland (All Those Yesterdays! Even Flow!) • 10/25/14 Bridge School (Rain! Fuckin Up! TOTD!) • 5/13/22 Oakland (had to leave early, but W.M.A.! Immortality!) • 5/13/24 Sacramento (Light Years! Picture in a Frame!) • 5/25/24 Bottle Rock (Last Kiss! Maybe It’s Time w/Bradley Cooper!)
  • in my tree 76
    in my tree 76 The city by the lake Posts: 261
    I looked on amazon and they run a 1000 bucks.
    Soldier Field 7/11/95 Alpine Valley 6/26/98 United Center 6/29/98 The Ice Bowl10/8/00 United Center 5/17/06 United Center 8/23/09 Verizon Wireless 5/7/10 EV Chicago Theater 6/29/11 PJ20 9/3/11 9/4/11 Wrigley Field 7/19/13 Memphis 10/14/14 Moline 10/17/14 Wrigley Field 8/20/16 Wrigley Field 8/22/16 Wrigley Field 8/18/18 Wrigley Field 8/20/18> 17× United Center 9/7/23
  • in my tree 76
    in my tree 76 The city by the lake Posts: 261
    I found one Music hall brand under 300 bucks I don't really know if it's worth it? Tho?
    Soldier Field 7/11/95 Alpine Valley 6/26/98 United Center 6/29/98 The Ice Bowl10/8/00 United Center 5/17/06 United Center 8/23/09 Verizon Wireless 5/7/10 EV Chicago Theater 6/29/11 PJ20 9/3/11 9/4/11 Wrigley Field 7/19/13 Memphis 10/14/14 Moline 10/17/14 Wrigley Field 8/20/16 Wrigley Field 8/22/16 Wrigley Field 8/18/18 Wrigley Field 8/20/18> 17× United Center 9/7/23
  • spaceball
    spaceball Posts: 9
    check out U-turn Audio. they make a nice table for $200-$300. i'm waiting on one now. they're backordered.
  • SVRDhand13
    SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,996
    spaceball said:

    check out U-turn Audio. they make a nice table for $200-$300. i'm waiting on one now. they're backordered.

    I ordered on of those too. The white build your own with the basic platter and the Grado Black Catridge. It cost me $255 with shipping and I can always upgrade to the acrylic platter later on. So I basically got the basic model but with an upgraded cartridge. So looking forward to getting this.
    severed hand thirteen
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  • musicsam3
    musicsam3 Posts: 238
    contact Jon at musicdirect.com.
    tell him Sam sent ya…
    I got a Rega, not bad.
    Music Direct has everything.
  • TinAnt
    TinAnt Posts: 343
    Get a used, older turntable, you get way more bang for your buck and they were built to last. For $300 you can get a nice Denon or Thorens. Go through craigslist and if you find one pop it into http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable-database.php and see if there are reviews or check out audiokarma.com.
  • pjradio
    pjradio Posts: 6,704
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/uturnaudio/the-orbit-turntable-0
    aqo2t.jpg
  • calvo17
    calvo17 Posts: 440
    Whatever you do, don't buy an Audio Technica. I made that mistake. The sound comes through only one channel and the platter is warped.
    If I knew where it was, I would take you there.
    11/20/11 San Jose, Costa Rica
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  • jerparker20
    jerparker20 St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,528
    Recently purchased a Dual 1264 that was refurbished with a new cartridge for under $150 from a local vinyl shop. I like it and it's built like a tank. Not a huge fan of the auto return but whatever... It gets the job done and it didn't cost an arm or leg.
  • a5pj
    a5pj Hershey PA Posts: 3,975
    pjradio said:

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/uturnaudio/the-orbit-turntable-0

    looks sweet

    Wouldn't it be funny if the world ended in 2010, with lots of fire?



  • RedMosquito02
    RedMosquito02 Posts: 2,560
    TinAnt said:

    Get a used, older turntable, you get way more bang for your buck and they were built to last. For $300 you can get a nice Denon or Thorens. Go through craigslist and if you find one pop it into http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable-database.php and see if there are reviews or check out audiokarma.com.

    Bingo! :-bd
    33...
  • TunnelThroughDenial
    TunnelThroughDenial Posts: 769
    These are $399 which is a bit over your budget but I think it's worth it. I've got one and it sounds great. Maybe find a lightly used one to get closer to $300?

    http://www.musicdirect.com/p-75872-pro-ject-debut-carbon-turntable.aspx
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  • dankind
    dankind Posts: 20,841
    calvo17 said:

    Whatever you do, don't buy an Audio Technica. I made that mistake. The sound comes through only one channel and the platter is warped.

    I'm a former Dual 1219 owner, and my AT-LP120-USB is dynamite. Did you contact them with your issue? I would think you just got a bum table that got dinged up a little too much in the factory or during shipping.

    The materials are certainly less durable than my Dual was, but it sounds great for a <$300 turntable.
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,887
    I use a Denon DP-300f. I think they go for about $300 and every review says its a really good table but the stock cartridge is garbage. I bought mine in a bundle from needledoctor which included an ortofon red cartridge. The sound quality is really good.

    The reason I went towards the Denon was it got good reviews and its an automatic table. I can't stand manual tables and for higher end tables they all seem manual. I have the attention span of a fruit fly so the last thing I want is for me to get distracted and having a record spin indefinitely on the lead out loop.. lol..
  • aurynsdad
    aurynsdad Posts: 863
    I have a Denon dp 33f and love it! Benz micro glider as cartridge.
    10/31/93 Berkeley (Baba!) • 10/1/94 Bridge School • 9/16/96 Seattle (In My Tree!) • 10/19/96 & 10/20/96 B. School (Alt Corduroy & Alt Porch!) • 10/25/03 B. School • 6/1/03 Mtnview (Crazy Mary! You Are!) • 11/29/13 Portland (All Those Yesterdays! Even Flow!) • 10/25/14 Bridge School (Rain! Fuckin Up! TOTD!) • 5/13/22 Oakland (had to leave early, but W.M.A.! Immortality!) • 5/13/24 Sacramento (Light Years! Picture in a Frame!) • 5/25/24 Bottle Rock (Last Kiss! Maybe It’s Time w/Bradley Cooper!)
  • aurynsdad
    aurynsdad Posts: 863
    That u-turn orbit does look cool
    10/31/93 Berkeley (Baba!) • 10/1/94 Bridge School • 9/16/96 Seattle (In My Tree!) • 10/19/96 & 10/20/96 B. School (Alt Corduroy & Alt Porch!) • 10/25/03 B. School • 6/1/03 Mtnview (Crazy Mary! You Are!) • 11/29/13 Portland (All Those Yesterdays! Even Flow!) • 10/25/14 Bridge School (Rain! Fuckin Up! TOTD!) • 5/13/22 Oakland (had to leave early, but W.M.A.! Immortality!) • 5/13/24 Sacramento (Light Years! Picture in a Frame!) • 5/25/24 Bottle Rock (Last Kiss! Maybe It’s Time w/Bradley Cooper!)
  • adusick
    adusick Posts: 1,389
    edited May 2014
    calvo17 said:

    Whatever you do, don't buy an Audio Technica. I made that mistake. The sound comes through only one channel and the platter is warped.

    I'm definitely going to disagree with this as well. I have the AT-LP120 and it's awesome, no issues whatsoever, and after doing plenty of research, seems like the most bang for around $235.

    Decision over, just get it!

    http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP120-USB-Direct-Drive-Professional-USB/dp/B002S1CJ2Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400191566&sr=8-1&keywords=LP+120
    Post edited by adusick on
  • AndySlash
    AndySlash Posts: 3,287
    i have the lp120 as well and have no complaints for what you get.
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,642
    edited May 2014
    Zod said:

    I use a Denon DP-300f. I think they go for about $300 and every review says its a really good table but the stock cartridge is garbage. I bought mine in a bundle from needledoctor which included an ortofon red cartridge. The sound quality is really good.

    The reason I went towards the Denon was it got good reviews and its an automatic table. I can't stand manual tables and for higher end tables they all seem manual. I have the attention span of a fruit fly so the last thing I want is for me to get distracted and having a record spin indefinitely on the lead out loop.. lol..

    I would have posted this exact same thing if Zod hadn't said it first. I love my Denon DP-300f; great sound (with that same upgraded cartridge from needledoctor), and the fact that it's automatic is really important to me. When I had a player that was manual I fell asleep during a record and woke up to find that my needle and my TT had just received 8 hours of wear for no reason. That bugged me. And while awake, I felt pressure to leap up and get the needle off the record the second it was done playing. Really annoying. Automatic is great. :) But a lot of people don't mind manual of course!
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  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    Have had manual as well as semi and fully automatics and though I love my SL Technics do miss having automatic return. Wonder though how much my needle is truly wearing as it spins and spins in last groove.
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  • davidvanb
    davidvanb Central Pennsylvania Posts: 73
    Adding my name to the list of PJ fans who researched a variety of options and ultimately ordered from U-Turn Audio. I used their "Orbit Builder" option to be able to upgrade to the Audio-Technica AT95E Cartridge for a total cost with shipping of $224. For my money, the "Made in the USA" aspect of the turntable helped with the decision.
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  • pjradio
    pjradio Posts: 6,704
    callen said:

    Wonder though how much my needle is truly wearing as it spins and spins in last groove.

    I wouldn't worry if you have a diamond stylus...record might take a hit though. But its in the runoff, right?


    aqo2t.jpg
  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    Right........ so always thought no harm.
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  • PSUS2H
    PSUS2H USA Posts: 2,388
    Dennon 400-F or the Pro Ject Debut III. Stay away from Crosleys or anything from Urban Outfitters, unless you want to destroy your albums.
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  • aurynsdad
    aurynsdad Posts: 863
    PSUS2H said:

    Dennon 400-F or the Pro Ject Debut III. Stay away from Crosleys or anything from Urban Outfitters, unless you want to destroy your albums.

    I would add to that to stay away from anything that doesn't have adjustable tracking force. The entry level Audio Technica falls into that category, despite all the love it receives online. The LP120 that people are discussing here is a much better, fully adjustable machine.
    10/31/93 Berkeley (Baba!) • 10/1/94 Bridge School • 9/16/96 Seattle (In My Tree!) • 10/19/96 & 10/20/96 B. School (Alt Corduroy & Alt Porch!) • 10/25/03 B. School • 6/1/03 Mtnview (Crazy Mary! You Are!) • 11/29/13 Portland (All Those Yesterdays! Even Flow!) • 10/25/14 Bridge School (Rain! Fuckin Up! TOTD!) • 5/13/22 Oakland (had to leave early, but W.M.A.! Immortality!) • 5/13/24 Sacramento (Light Years! Picture in a Frame!) • 5/25/24 Bottle Rock (Last Kiss! Maybe It’s Time w/Bradley Cooper!)
  • scurtis
    scurtis Posts: 2,476
    I've been into buying or getting old ones for free and then restoring them. Probably not as good as a new TT, but part of the fun for me. Just restored an old Dual.

    In terms of new ones, I have always heard Rega was good, but I really don't know enough about TTs to make a recommendation.
    "Born on third, thinks he got a triple."
  • AO253126
    AO253126 Posts: 366
    aurynsdad said:

    PSUS2H said:

    Dennon 400-F or the Pro Ject Debut III. Stay away from Crosleys or anything from Urban Outfitters, unless you want to destroy your albums.

    I would add to that to stay away from anything that doesn't have adjustable tracking force. The entry level Audio Technica falls into that category, despite all the love it receives online. The LP120 that people are discussing here is a much better, fully adjustable machine.
    Many thanks for all the advice in this thread. Is there anything you or anyone else would recommend reading about why/when to adjust tracking force? I bought the LP120 a few months ago, but have never adjusting anything after the initial setup/

    Thanks.

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