WHAT TURNTABLE SHOULD I BUY?

AndySlash · May 2014

i have the lp120 as well and have no complaints for what you get.

PJ_Soul · 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!

callen · May 2014

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.

davidvanb · May 2014

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.

pjradio · May 2014

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?

callen · May 2014

Right........ so always thought no harm.

PSUS2H · May 2014

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.

aurynsdad · May 2014

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.

scurtis · May 2014

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.

AO253126 · May 2014

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.

Alpine Bound · May 2014

I swear by Rega's as do many other threads on this topic around these parts. I'm actually looking to upgrade my TT to a higher model rega (RP3 or RP6) and might be selling my P1 with a glass planar.

If you do your research and decide on a Rega, PM and maybe we can strike a deal.

tempo_n_groove · May 2014

scurtis said:
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.

But you restore them and can't comment?!? C'mon Man!!!

scurtis · May 2014

tempo_n_groove said:

scurtis said:
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.
But you restore them and can't comment?!? C'mon Man!!!

Haha i've never heard a new one. I have an old Dual and an old Technics. I've never looked at or heard a new turntable. For all I know I'm missing out, but for now ignorance is bliss.

evsgjamm · May 2014

AO253126 said:
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.

Here is a fantastic read on all things LP Primer, including tracking force. Read this whole article.

http://www.harryshifi.com/images/vinyl_tutorial.pdf

AO253126 · May 2014

evsgjamm said:

AO253126 said:
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.
Here is a fantastic read on all things LP Primer, including tracking force. Read this whole article.

http://www.harryshifi.com/images/vinyl_tutorial.pdf

Thanks for the link! I'll give it a read later this week.

Vedd Hedd · January 2015

So, finally getting around to getting a new turntable....for those that have the Denon DP-300F, do you still like it, and do you use a pre-amp? I know this model has its own pre-amp, but I see reviews where some people continue to use an external preamp for better sound. is that true?

For those that dont have this model, is there something else you recommend?

jbrownie · January 2015

I've had a Bang & Olufsen Beogram RX2 Table for decades, thrown through a stack of Boston Acoustic speakers. Never any distortion save for the occasional pop on the old platters. Has always surfed every LP abnormality...until LB, LOL. There are plenty of vintage turntables to be had for cheap, and, yes, I know there are plenty more that would kick my ass.

lolobugg · January 2015

Vedd Hedd wrote: »

So, finally getting around to getting a new turntable....for those that have the Denon DP-300F, do you still like it, and do you use a pre-amp? I know this model has its own pre-amp, but I see reviews where some people continue to use an external preamp for better sound. is that true?

For those that dont have this model, is there something else you recommend?

had that Denon for a few years. Great TT. like others have said- upgrade the cartridge. I used a Shure but Ortofon and Grado are good as well. Only reason I sold mine was that I found a vintage table in an estate sale, otherwise would probably still be using it today.
Also a tube preamp will make a huge difference.

Zod · January 2015

Vedd Hedd wrote: »

So, finally getting around to getting a new turntable....for those that have the Denon DP-300F, do you still like it, and do you use a pre-amp? I know this model has its own pre-amp, but I see reviews where some people continue to use an external preamp for better sound. is that true?

For those that dont have this model, is there something else you recommend?

I've been really happy with my Denon-300f. The sound quality is really good and I liked that it was an automatic (opposed to most of the low end audiophile tables which are all manual). When I bought the Denon every review said the stock cartridge blows. I ended up ordering mine online with an Orotofon Red Cartridge pre-installed so I can't comment on the stock cartridge. I do use a preamp but it's mostly out of being lazy. I had it there for my old table so I never bothered to turn on the Denon's. I probably should to see if the internal one sounds better. My external one isn't exactly high end.

Suziemay · January 2015

Vedd Hedd wrote: »

So, finally getting around to getting a new turntable....for those that have the Denon DP-300F, do you still like it, and do you use a pre-amp? I know this model has its own pre-amp, but I see reviews where some people continue to use an external preamp for better sound. is that true?

For those that dont have this model, is there something else you recommend?

I just got a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Esprit SB and love it! This guy: http://turntablelab.com/products/pro-ject-debut-carbon-dc-esprit-sb-turntable-white

I started by narrowing down to white turntables (for aesthetic reasons lol) then I read a ton of reviews. The Pro-Ject gets solid reviews, and I initially limited myself to $500 for the table. However, I went with this one which is a bit more because it came with a built-in speed box (no need to lift the platter to adjust the belt to spin 45s) and an acrylic platter (again more for aesthetics but it actually improves the sound quality and I no longer need a mat).

This is the same model for cheaper if you get it without the two add ons, which you can always get later: http://turntablelab.com/collections/pro-ject-alpha/products/pro-ject-debut-carbon-dc-turntable-white

In researching turntables online, I found this to be a good read: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-turntable/

WHAT TURNTABLE SHOULD I BUY?

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