View Full Version : First turntable help
Hello,
I'm looking for my first turntable and need your help :)
I've almost bought a rega p3-24 on ebay. They are for 250 pounds new. I think it is a bargain but it is not good turntable for me. I'm a person who is fascinated in electronics equipment made in the end of 70s and 80s. This was the time when engineers created an art equipment, not cheap, plastic, quick made rubbish.
My music system is squeezebox touch, icon audio 50 and mission's 754 (I love this speakers :) I don't have a phono stage but I will build one from diy projects, maybe VSPS.
I'm looking for a turntable for up to 200 pounds. It has to be something like equipment form 80s: aluminium or wood case, solid made, heavy piece of turntable. Nothing modern like rega. Nothing light, cheap looking. I don't want upgrade arm in the nearest future, maybe in few years. I can spend up to 150pounds on cartridge and I will pay any more in the future. I'll listen music form turntable rarely, 4-6 hours a week. It will be warm but detailed music :)
I like automatic turntables like jvc ql-a7 but I'm also worry about access to spare parts.
I like electronics and diy. I work with prototypes :) I can do upgrades, adjustments etc but I have no expirience in turntables. It will be good to have model with good technical support: docummentations and informations on the web.
I was looking for thorens 318 or 320 on ebay.de. jvc ql a7 looks good
What turntable and cartridge would you buy for 300- 400? Could you help me to find proper turntable for me?
Thanks, Maciek
Rega began making the Planar 2 & 3 in the mid 1970's ;)
The Grand Wazoo
13-12-2012, 00:35
Engineering project or source of musical delight - not always the same thing!
The nearest thing I can think of to fit your requirements & sound half decent would be a Dual CS5000: quite a nice sounding unit - looked good too, with it's walnut plinth and was semi-auto (end of side arm-lift).
The Pioneer PL71 might be worth a punt you can get them for between 200 to 300 when they come up The arm pretty good and direct drive
They are few specialist who can still help with these decks if something goes wrong and they sound very good
Audio Al
13-12-2012, 07:31
I would suggest that you first need to decide on the drive type you want
Direct
Belt
Idler
once decided the hunt can then begin :)
The Grand Wazoo
13-12-2012, 08:02
I would suggest that you first need to decide on the drive type you want
Why?
And make a decision based on what?
Far better, surely, to listen to some different turntables and choose one you like. Otherwise it becomes the science project that I referred to above.
Maybe there's a slight language difficulty here?
Rega's undoubted engineering is largely hidden, the main bearing and tonearm inner bits being of superb quality by anyone's standards. The externals just look rather ordinary though, and this may give a false impression to someone who wants their turntable system to look the biz as well as sound it...
The budget may just get a Techie 1200mk2. Excellent motor system, even in un-tweaked form, a decent tonearm if the cartridge is well matched and of course, thanks to many peeps on here, the sky's the limit for upgrading as time goes on - simples :)
Thanks for replies
I don't know about direct drive and belt drive advantages . I know that direct drive are used by DJs, I don't want to buy something what was abused.
I'll not buy expensive MC cartridges, so the arm has to be not so heavy, good for MMs like ortofon 2m blue. Does Pioneer PL75 have heavy arm?
How about cheaper turntables, something like Sony PS-X 65?
Thanks
Something solid and heavy could be a Heybrook TT2. A bit like a Linn in a sense but at the same time different. Instead of the plinth being empty like the Linn, it is filled with wood. Can be modified in terms of the motor and PSU like a Linn can (uses the same motor.
Could see if you could get a mid-range Luxman deck too for the looks.
I like Pink Triangle decks (PT 1 and PT Too) and they can be found on eBay for around £250 with an arm and cartridge. However, they can be a bit delicate and not exactly solidly build even though they sound excellent - not everyone's cup of tea!
Or you could just be patient and use the Rega for a while and just keep browsing eBay, around the web, small ads and wait for bargains to turn up with cash in hand ready to pounce!
In my mind, looking for something specific closes your eyes to other exciting things that pass by.
I don't want to buy something what was abused.
Boaf, if an SL1200MkII still looks good, you're fine.
Arm and bearing can be replaced fairly cheap, the rest is electronics...
And well documented too...
julesd68
13-12-2012, 13:48
I would also recommend a PL-71. Excellent, hefty build quality, nice wood plinth, superb arm which you never need to upgrade - just stick on the best cart you can afford and you're away ...
Here's that lovely arm on my old PL-71 -
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8269921092_fdbdfbb5f5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34449145@N05/8269921092/)
Audio Al
13-12-2012, 14:17
Why?
And make a decision based on what?
Far better, surely, to listen to some different turntables and choose one you like. Otherwise it becomes the science project that I referred to above.
Does he want a more modern direct drive with circuit boards and chips
a belt drive having to move the belt each time he wants to change speeds
or
a idler drive that is of older design with easy to alter speeds
Doesn't wash guv'nor, since Thorens had easy speed change way before Linn "nicked" the RD11, itself a blue-printed TD150 in concept and basic dimensions if little else :)
Does he want a more modern direct drive with circuit boards and chips
Most direct drives I think of come from the 70s. Even the 1210 is a 70s design.
Hardly anyone has made a modern direct drive other than for the DJ market.
The circuit board and chips is to control the motor - every deck has a motor so every deck could use circuit boards and chips too. Look inside a Linn Lingo power supply for instance.
a belt drive having to move the belt each time he wants to change speeds
Get a belt drive where you DONT have to do that. I don't use any belt drives where you have to do that.
or
a idler drive that is of older design with easy to alter speeds
It's often more easy to change speed on a direct drive or belt drive as they are electrical switches rather than mechanical linkages.
Best to go on build quality/value for money/looks and sound (value for money meaning the less popular ones) regardless of how they work.
Audio Al
13-12-2012, 14:36
Most direct drives I think of come from the 70s. Even the 1210 is a 70s design.
Hardly anyone has made a modern direct drive other than for the DJ market.
Get a belt drive where you DONT have to do that. I don't use any belt drives where you have to do that.
It's often more easy to change speed on a direct drive or belt drive as they are electrical switches rather than mechanical linkages.
Best to go on build quality/value for money/looks and sound (value for money meaning the less popular ones) regardless of how they work.
So my comments and yours are of value to the original poster ;)
Yep, all are good and helpful. :)
I like the pioneer pl-71 look. Which is better turntable: Pl-71 or thoners 320 mk1?
Thanks
Canetoad
13-12-2012, 20:29
That's easy! The PL-71. :)
Rare Bird
14-12-2012, 01:39
Maciej:
IMHO the old Michell 'Focus One' is one hell of a good sounding TT on a buget, no wonder they are fetching good prices these days..
Which is better turntable: Pl-71 or thorens 320 mk1?
Thanks
Very easy, The TD-320 is the winner...
Very easy, The TD-320 is the winner...
It doesn't help me :)
I'm also looking for good condition td320.
And how about Pioneer PL-570 vs thorens 320 mk1?
There's one thing you need to know about the TD-320.
The suspension springs are held in some synthetic material, more often than not, these parts break in transport.
And the parts are very hard to find.
So unless you can buy it and pick it up yourself, I would advise against it.
(It IS one of the best sounding Thorens' available, but this is a downside)
As an alternative, parts for 14x, 16x, 124, 125 and 126 are easy to find,
some even made new (at a price).
Same goes for the vintage Japanese TT's, if something breaks, you won't be able to find parts.
That's the main reason why a lot of us jump the SL-1200 train, every part is available at a fair price. Not to mention the sky is the limit when upgrading.
Based on what you have said I would look at a heavy platter Lenco. They are available and completely serviceable. The Lenco Heaven site gives all the advice that you could possibly need including schematics and servicing tips. They are pretty much unburstable and work well day in and day out without the need for constant tinkering unless you are that way inclined.
The Lenco is very upgradeable when time and resources allow and it has the capability to be a very fine deck indeed.
Whatever you choose, enjoy the ride.
Based on what you have said I would look at a heavy platter Lenco. They are available and completely serviceable. The Lenco Heaven site gives all the advice that you could possibly need including schematics and servicing tips. They are pretty much unburstable and work well day in and day out without the need for constant tinkering unless you are that way inclined.
The Lenco is very upgradeable when time and resources allow and it has the capability to be a very fine deck indeed.
Whatever you choose, enjoy the ride.
Which lenco models are good?
Which lenco models are good?
The best is reputed to be the GL99 and GL88. The other heavy platter models include the L75 and L78.
There is so much advice on the lenco heaven site that it would be folly of me to act as an expert in any way.
Based on advice on that site I have serviced the motor and bearing and I am completely useless technically. You can pick up a good condition L75 for under £100, service it and it will sound good. Replinth it and it will sound very good, Change the bearing and it becomes a killer.
Where are you based?
hifi_dave
15-12-2012, 17:06
To my ears, the G99 is the best Goldring and being just a 'motor unit', it doesn't need butchering to mount any arm.
To my ears, the G99 is the best Goldring and being just a 'motor unit', it doesn't need butchering to mount any arm.
I'd agree with that Dave but I'm a tad biased!
With the ptp kits available now some of the slight shortcomings of the less costly models than the g99 can be addressed. The advantage of course is that you can "upgrade" whenever funds allow.
The advantage of course is that you can "upgrade" whenever funds allow.
To me that means buying a whole new turntable!
Make sure your first is purchased at below market value.
Later, sell it at correct market value and spend that extra money now on a better tt that is below market value.
Keep going and over the years you'll end up with a top of the range tt and it won't really have cost you anything more than the initial outlay.
That's my loose hifi philosophy anyway with the advantage that you've picked up a lot of turntable experience along the way.
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