I'm in the market for a turntable, and was wondering what a good brand is. I'm looking for something that sounds great, looks like artwork/architecture, and is not overly expensive. By that I mean only a few hundred dollars.

Any help with the corresponding equipment (speakers, amps, etc) is appreciated too.

AND -- what are your "prerequisite" LP's to own?

Thanks!

Don't know if you can get them in the US but over here in the UK, the Limit turntables are damn popular. Whatever you get, buy some direct drives not belt drives!

Essential vinyl:- Prince "Dirty Mind", David Bowie "Hunky Dory", The White Stripes "Elephant" and the new Mum album has been recorded on analogue equipment and specialy mastered directly to vinyl without any digital treatment to give it that sound that only vinyl can manage.

I have an earlier version of this table and I love it!!
Though it is fully manual, there are no switches only on and off. To change the speed you have to lift the disc plate and move the belt. No big deal really. Oh yeah and the plates all glass, very cool!!

It's not high high end, I only paid $500, they do have other models that are much more expensive and better of course.

It all depends on what you plan on running it through, I guess.



http://www.audiovisionsf....uct_id=269

My grandpa might sell you his old gramaphone. He keeps it in the attic with all his Al Johlson records.

My boyfriend is a DJ, and he only uses his Technics.

theVelvetRoper said:

Technics are only good if you're a dj and travel with your tables alot, I wouldn't use it as part of a home system, though It would be
nice to have a pair sitting around cause sometimes I get in the mood to make mixes, which they are perfectly designed.

sinisterpentatonic said:

Well, all he does is mix all the time, but he never would bring his precious turntables to a rave. He spins house and a little hip hop.

theVelvetRoper said:

I don't blame him, I have countless stories of friends having their system ripped off at parties, raves, shows, etc.... It's always risky muling that stuff to strange places.

sinisterpentatonic said:

The Technics SL-1200 series does satisfy Se7en's requirement of "looks like artwork/architecture," methinks. The design, which was introduced in 1979, is timeless.

matt said:

Cool!!

But all them gadgets on it will still cause humming

sinisterpentatonic said:

I Spy with my little eye... 12" of Art of Noise "Paranoimia" feat. Max Headroom.



INPUT ON THIS THREAD: Whatever you buy, make sure it is a "direct drive" turntable (spins with magnets or something) and NOT belt-driven.

matt said:

That turntable is a sexy, sexy beast.

sinisterpentatonic said:

Thanks - I like them both! The $500 is a little steep. Hmmm. I don't mind switching the belt - it would mostly stay on 33 1/3.

The Technics one - how much does that run?

Se7en said:

You'd pay about the same price for the Technics, though I've seen them go for as high as $700.

sinisterpentatonic said:

$700 is a bit high IMHO. Here's a good source for most of the SL-1200 models:

http://www.hollywooddj.co...hnics.html

If you want the new M5G "Grand Master" model, though, this site has a significantly better price:

http://www.turntablelab.com

I have no affiliation with either site, but I did buy my Technics from Hollywood DJ a few years back. Note that while I ordered an M3D, they sent me a grey market MK3D intended for sale in Japan. But aside from the owner's manual being in Japanese, it's substantively identical to the US M3D, and the price was the cheapest I could find on the Internet at the time.

matt said:

Oh. Thanks for clearing that up.

matt said:

I used to have a Technics stereo system. It's a good make.

sinisterpentatonic said:

....SIN', this is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL equipment ive seen ina long time my sweet!!!

2the9s said:

Some folks might not want to buy from a place that sells grey market goods. For one thing, the warranty is usually void. And the owner's manual being in Japanese is an issue if you can't read Japanese. This turntable is not a "plug and play" device... among other things, you've got to calibrate the tonearm (tracking, anti-skate, and height). Had I not been able to find an English manual online, I probably would have had to call a DJ friend for help.

Se7en said:

sin is right, the acoustic research turntable is infinitely superior to the technics model
the whole idea of listening to vinyl is primarily because of its superior sound quality
compared to that from compact disc
therefore when buying a turntable, the most important aspect should be how it sounds
not what it looks like
reputable hifi retailers allow you to book listening sessions where u can take your chosen piece of vinyl
and listen to a range of players, thus being able to chose the best one that suits your pocket
as well as your ears

CinisterCee said:

I totally agree with the direct drive turntable. Belt-drivens suck ass.

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

naa all that gimmickry adds a background humm, that detracts from the
reproduction of music, belt drive turntables recreate the music more faithfully

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

I don't know about that, this AR was a standard for many years.


My dad still uses his to this day.

To Se7en:
You might consider one of the auction sites.
It's possible that you get a good deal on a higher end unit.
If you go that route, factor in the cost of a new cartridge.

This MMF-2.1 model is available from Acoustic Sounds Online
http://store.acousticsounds.com for $299.



or when money is no object, go after the Model 30/2-SME for $29K

blackcherry said:

theAudience said:

sinisterpentatonic said:

Heh, heh, heh.
I thought that would get YOUR attention.

theAudience said:

Man, that's wicked!! Now I have to make a decision between food or sounds.

sinisterpentatonic said:

That's a lot of my brother. What continent are you trying to feed?

theAudience said:

Let's see for just 69 cents a day I could feed a child in a impoverished nation

Damn, that's a lot of meals!! better stock up on the Ramen Noodles.