askbob1 Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 i have a 20 year old or so jvc belt drive cheapo turntable that sounds just bearable. i am looking for something that would be a vinyl comparable to the oppo dvd player- i.e. best bang for the buck. i'm thinking $300 or so. any input will be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Look into a Technics SL-1200 (or SL-1210 if you prefer black instead of silver). You can get a used MK2 or a new MK3 or MK5, all for under $500, maybe as low as $200. Good sound and very reliable. My 1978 SL-1400MK2 still works and sounds fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryO Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Email sent Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 If HarryO does not have what you want, you should consider Islander's suggestion, re: Technics SL-1200/1210/ 1400 MK whatevers. Very heavy, very reliable and will work very well with highe quality cartridges. IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 With out doubt get the Technics sl 1200.....Plenty of them used for about 300 on Craigslist...they are built like a tank and hold their value!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
consistent Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Kenwood KD500 (heavy mother from the 80's) comes with ability to stick in different arms. Get a good arm and you are laughing. Put some 1/2 cut squash ( I think you call them racket balls) under each leg and you have a $400 turnable with arm that anything under $1,000 would be hard to beat. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InnerTuber Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 I like these - http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Debut-III-Turntable-Multicolor_5?sc=7&category=947 For about 100 bucks more you can get a USB version for ripping vinyl w/o an analog to digital converter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 I have a heavily modified AR ES1 for sale. I have over $1,800 hundred in it. It sounds almost as good as the Thorens that replaced it. I think the sound of these suspension tables rivals tables in the $3,000 range. The bluenote tone arm is an elegant design that sounds great. I would keep the tone arm but the upgraded armboard is already drilled for it so I will let it go. I tried a rega rb300 on the table with a MDF armboard and the bluenote sounded better. See my previous post at: http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/108759.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Bliss... I though that AR ES1 would have sold in a heart beat... the ES-1's from Sound of the Wood are all $2600-$3600 .....Which thorens do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 TD-150...new armbaord...dampened...rega rb300...micro benz ace...eastern electric mini max phono. I keep looking for a TD124 but I have to sell the AR first. I may keep the bluenote tonearm and sell the table only. The bluenote could go on a TD124 some day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Picture of the Thorens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Gorgeous TD 150 Bliss!!! I too wish for a 124 at a reasonable price...but looking at your 150 makes me go hmmmmmmmm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
askbob1 Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 very nice equipment indeed! i don't think i'll be listening that intently to vinyl, just on occassion. everyone seems to give a thumbs up to the technics. how about the old school hard to find jvc's? harry has a super nice one that i don't think i can refuse. also, what should i expect sound quality wise as compared to digital? it seems all the old vinyl i played as a kid had a warmer, or be it fuller sound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliss53 Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Yes I got back into it with the same intention. I thought I would get a basic AR and listen to my old collection of LPs. Then the old collection rivaled the sound of my HDCD player. I put lots of money into AR upgrades and it sounded alot better. I upgraded my phono pre amp...way better. Upgraded to the Thorens and it improved a little more. I now listen to LPs 80% of the time. The other 20% is when I want to listen with the dogs around. Dog tails and low lying turntables do not get along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vahorns Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Another vote for the concrete resin base, direct drive - Kenwood KD500. I have one with a low mass English Mayware tonearm with a Sonus Blue cartridge. Sound is excellent, and these can be located for cheap $$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Another option would be a Thorens TD165 or similar. I had one a few years ago before I went totally nuts with vinyl. You can get a nice one for about $100, add a shure M97E or an inexpensive Grado for under $100 and you have a very respectable setup. I'm not a fan of the DD Technics. I owned an SL1800 for 25 years and was blown away by how much better the suspended Thorens sounded. Many will disagree but that was my experience. BTW - I now listen to vinyl about 99.99999999999% of the time. I bought a very nice Eastern Electric MiniMax tube CD player recently (best CD player I've ever owned by far) and I haven't turned it on in about 6 weeks since I got my TD124/SME3009/Zu Modded DL103R set up in the same system. Good luck! P.S. Buy a few good quality records!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David H Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I second the Debut 3, but do not agree with the USB version as it uses proprietary phono section. I purchased this table a few months ago and it is a great low $ TT... However the cartridge it come with is less than good, I much prefer the Sure M97xe although it requires the larger counter weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
askbob1 Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 I figured I would dig up this old thread and update instead of starting over... When work picked up, I lost interest in getting into vinyl. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I replaced the belt on my old jvc and bought a couple of new albums. I figured it would be something to play with in the garage system which uses an older pioneer sx receiver. I have to say, maybe I really forgot how good an lp could sound, but wow! The bug has bit on wanting to hear a good to great turtable on my main system. I am a little torn between buying an older vintage table, and a new one such as a rega, or similar. A few of the older tables I have looked at are: pioneer pl-530, thorens, b&o, technics, and others. I suppose I am looking for a comparison of a few different models. Garymd, how would you describe the sound of your turntable setup over your cd's? What types of music do you listen to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ69 Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 It takes a fairly decent TT to match even an el-cheapo CD player (for good bass and low rumble). A good used Thorens would be the minimum standard for my ear. I think some of the lower priced modern tables might be a better choice. Like this Music Hall: http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHMMF2%2E2 There are lots of choices but none of the older big name Japanese tables are very good. TT's can be very good but it takes a good one to beat a modest CD player. Thanx, Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David H Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 I like these - http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Debut-III-Turntable-Multicolor_5?sc=7&category=947 For about 100 bucks more you can get a USB version for ripping vinyl w/o an analog to digital converter. I agree the Project Debut III is a great turntable, for the $$$. I would steer clear of the USB Version, and go with a good phono stage. for the $$$ the Nad PP2 is among the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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