Turntable advice needed

[VICTORIA PLUM]

Hi I hope I’m posting this in the right section! We’ve had so much fun buying vinyl for Christmas presents for other people that we’ve decided to invest in a turntable ourselves.

We’ve looked on line and been to curry’s but we’re not sure what to go for. We’ve got about £150 to spend. I got some advice on Bluetooth speakers on another thread which turned out to be brilliant so thought I’d raise another question. We’re not sure if we should get a Bluetooth turntable that could connect to the speakers we’ve already got or to go for a new set of speakers with the turntable as the turntable will be in another room. There seems to be quite a lot of choice in the sub £100 category but we don’t really want something novelty!

Any advice on set ups within our budget would be very welcome indeed.

Thanks in advance and I hope everyone’s having a wonderful Christmas!

[Audio Al]

That will be tough on your budget , You really need a TT , amp with a phonostage built in and speakers
Dont waste your money on the " Modern " usb type

Good luck in your serch

[VICTORIA PLUM]

Hi, can you explain why we should avoid usb, just a novice who doesn’t know

[Audio Al]

Hi, can you explain why we should avoid usb, just a novice who doesn’t know

All USB record players I have seen are built by accountants , Minimum value . maximum profit , cheap and nasty

[Haselsh1]

Hey, can't really comment on the turntable thing but I am so with you when it comes to loudspeakers by Q Acoustics. Of the lower cost and standmount type, I had a pair some years back and they were damn fine. If you are looking to get into vinyl in a very hobbyist way then you will certainly need a turntable/arm/cartridge and also an amplifier. My advice is to always buy second hand unless you really can't as buying brand new is a bit of a mugs game if you don't have money to throw away. There is plenty of really good highly trendy 70's stuff out there like the already mentioned Sansui SR222. Most of all whatever you do, never rush into a decision, just take your time and be patient. There are a lot of wealthy dealers out there from people who just cannot wait. You are making the best decision ever just by showing an interest.

[bob4333]

Vicki, I think what you are trying to achieve is to be commended and inevitably it's going to be a balance between budget, physically fitting it all in and sound quality per pound. Looking through the trend of responses so far I wouldn't disagree with any of them.

But if music and sound quality are important to you I would avoid USB and especially Bluetooth. I've only one experience of Bluetooth which is with a pair of £300 Sony headphones. On Bluetooth they were OK but not great, using the cable connection the sound lost it's edginess and the missing bass notes came back. So Bluetooth was good for convenience but poor for sound quality. If this translates into the same thing using Bluetooth speakers then ultimately you're going to be missing out and left wondering what all the fuss is about.

With your declared budget I'd definitely endorse the suggestions to consider buying used, just don't necessarily jump at the first shiny turntable that comes along. Keep plugging away at this thread and keep an eye on the Private Exhibitions section of the forum to see what others are selling. You can even post a "Wanted" Ad as well. Buy once and buy well.

Here's a view on USB turntables. https://www.cnet.com/news/usb-turnta...audio-product/ Couple of positive recommendations in the text are mentioned. Rega comes up again.

Further recommendations here, but remember you don't have to buy new.

https://www.whathifi.com/features/3-...ntable-systems

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/blog/in...arter-package/

http://www.harrowaudiohifi.co.uk/vinyl-starter-system

https://thevinylfactory.com/features...-your-records/

When you get it right the sound quality will draw you in like nothing you've ever come across in listening to music.

Good luck.

[VICTORIA PLUM]

Hey, can't really comment on the turntable thing but I am so with you when it comes to loudspeakers by Q Acoustics. Of the lower cost and standmount type, I had a pair some years back and they were damn fine. If you are looking to get into vinyl in a very hobbyist way then you will certainly need a turntable/arm/cartridge and also an amplifier. My advice is to always buy second hand unless you really can't as buying brand new is a bit of a mugs game if you don't have money to throw away. There is plenty of really good highly trendy 70's stuff out there like the already mentioned Sansui SR222. Most of all whatever you do, never rush into a decision, just take your time and be patient. There are a lot of wealthy dealers out there from people who just cannot wait. You are making the best decision ever just by showing an interest.

Thanks Shaun, good advice to not rush into it.

Had a look at eBay and the sensui SR222 looks pretty cool. Varied prices though and have no idea why, I guess varying degrees of condition.

[topoxforddoc]

Vicki,

Many of the affordable new turntables/record players at the £100-150 mark are poorly built. Importantly the quality of the bearings in the arm can be poor and the quality of the cartridge (needle) rock bottom too. You can end up damaging your valuable record collection with a cheap mass market record player. I would certainly avoid things like a Crossley, Ion etc.

If you aren't too cack handed, I would look for a second hand classic turntable, such as a Sansui SR 222, Technics, Thorens - some examples below

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sansui-SR...sAAOSwa81aPiSb

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUAL-505-...wAAOSwPPpaQ58B

Otherwise, if you don;t trust your hands/eyesight and can stretch the budget a bit, try a new Project or a Rega RP1

New Project Essential
https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/t...ial-2-blk.html

New Reag RP1
https://www.northxsouth.co.uk/produc...=5391120400416

You will need an amplifier with a phono input. Most 1980s and 90s classic hi-fi amplifiers had phono inputs - so plenty to choose from in the second hand market.

Good luck!
Charlie

[walpurgis]

With your budget, an older, good quality turntable is definitely the way to go.

I see you are in Hampshire. If you're not too far from Bordon, why not pop into 'HiFi Hangar' and have a chat with Steve who runs it. He stocks decent vintage gear and may well have something to suit you and his prices are sensible. He's a nice guy too.

Here: https://www.hifihangar.co.uk/

[VICTORIA PLUM]

With your budget, an older, good quality turntable is definitely the way to go.

I see you are in Hampshire. If you're not too far from Bordon, why not pop into 'HiFi Hangar' and have a chat with Steve who runs it. He stocks decent vintage gear and may well have something to suit you and his prices are sensible. He's a nice guy too.

Here: https://www.hifihangar.co.uk/

Looks like a fab place, but closed until the new year unfortunately