My best turntable is my Sony PS-X60 w/Micro Acoustics 2002e cartridge. Not the same class as what you guys are talking about, but then my ears aren't what they used to be either so I'm just happy to be able to play the vinyl.

Sounds familiar....an 80ish Sony & MA cartridge....mebbe $400 bux....I wuz a broke azz college student....but it doesn't suck ;).

This is what I am using now relatively low output MC, boron cantiliver and microline stylus for under $400. It splits the difference between a warm but pleasant lower end benz-micro I had, and a forwardish Ortophon MM Red I also have.

https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATC01.html


My opinion is you get most of the LP charm without have to spend a ton.

Yes you can hear a difference. But good moving coil cartridges are very expensive.

A notable exception is the high output MC Denon DL-110. I love these. I have one on my old Pioneer PL-40. Only about $180-$200 which for a MC Is super cheap

As for MM, I like Ortofon Blue and up

On my rega I currently have a Nagaoka MO-150. It’s only got about 15 hours on it but I really like it. Paid $300 for it

Here’s my Rega


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1560182717.jpg

That one and the MP-110 are the ones I have been looking at.

im using a tangent tracking Yamaha and have for years. Pushed through a Yamaha C6 and M4 with DCM Time Windows. Great vintage sound

FYI
I meant MP-150 not MO-150.

Btw it was a real pain to install and align because you gotta get the tiny little nuts on to the screws without dropping them over and over. . Ug. I used a mirror alignment tool and it came out good. OTOH the ortofon is about the easiest cartridge to install on a rega arm. 30 seconds and done.

I would buy another nagaoka unless what I’ve read about the short lifespan turns out to true

Here is my VPI Scout with Dynavector DV_20xL low output MC Cart.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1560195971.jpg

I agree with the above - VPI, Rega, Pro-Ject, Linn all make good "starter" turntables, some with arms for $1,000 to $2,000.

In a big city you can find used Linn or VPI but they aren't cheap either.

you also need a cartridge and a pre-preamp

You can get old Audio Research pre-amps (with tubey goodness) for as low as $1,500 used

Setup is important, and so is acoustic isolation - both from airborne and ground troops

Any Porsche aficionado should be drawn to Audio Research as there are many parallels. You can look at modern equipment against the old and the DNA is there similar to a 911. Additionally, almost all of models they have made over the years are still supported by the factory for restoration and repair.

I agree. This guy usually has one for sale along with a lot of other cool stuff like thorens and linn. Inventory looks light right now but if you go back now and then one can find a very nice restored table

https://vinylnirvana.com/vintage-turntables-for-sale

This place is an endless variety of useful information.
Just when I thought I knew something I proved once again it is always the beginning.

I have an AR EB101. I think it is outstanding. Budget when new, still about the same price used...$400 or so...

Final thoughts from me: stick to buying something new from what was mentioned above. Two draw backs of most modern tables 1 they don’t have speed control with a strobe to dial accurate rpms like many old tables and 2 they don’t have auto off/arm lift which makes it impossible to take a knap while listening to dark side of the moon :D

I find vinyl a challenge, getting flat records, good pressings, etc last thing I wanna do is be stuck with a table that has issues. With a new table you know you can get correct size belts etc. I have an old pioneer pl41 from around 1972 without a speed controller. After much work I got it runnings well but, it’s fast. Nothing I can do about it. Best I can tell is they came that way or maybe the modern belts that supposedly are correct, are not perfect size. Don’t know and I tried everything. If I play guitar along with something on that table I have to play a half step sharp. It’s that off and that sucks. I don’t want to hear Eric Clapton sound like a chipmunk when he sings....

My rega even though there is no speed control, I have measured and it’s running at a perfect 33.3 rpm

I had for a long time a beautiful HK Rabco St-7 linear tracking table made in 1977 I think....oh man what a nightmare. Every time I payed something I had to open it up and make adjustments to the tracking speed. Sometimes the adjustment would work sometimes not but never did the adjustment hold. I suffered with that table 12 years cause it was so beautiful to look at

Let us know what you end up with and then I’ll tell you what product you need to flatten all your new 180gram records with :eek: (80% of the new vinyl I buy comes warped) and maybe someone else can talk you into a vpi record washer

And store this away in your memory....mr eraser is amazing for cleaning a stylus just make sure you know how to do it or you’ll rip the tip right off. One box will last the rest of your lifetime too

I'm happy with my Pro-ject but this is cool!

Made in the USA "Shinola turntable" (the watch company)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1560217592.jpg

The shinola is mfg by vpi, though assembled by shinola

My old Techniques linear tracking table is working just fine ortofon P mount cartridge..ditto my old Nakamichi cassette deck. Found a good repair man in the bay area for the Nakamichi, figured if the turntable blows I'd get serious looking here.

https://www.needledoctor.com/

These days, find myself listening to the tapes I made from vinyl more than the vinyl itself. Old ears can't tell the difference. :(

I would really like a Kenwood L-07D, but would not pay what they are asking for them now.

Are you putting together a system? Or already have existing components you want to match up with?

Lots of good choices mentioned, I always liked the Oracle Delphi, but the rest of the system has to all be equivalent to get the most out of it, only as strong as the weakest link, and then the room is a big part of the equation.

I have a Technics turntable, and it works well. The best thing I ever dud was get a Dennon cartridge for it. It was made to work better on old records. Less hiss and pop.

It was worth every penny. Old cartridges can lose fidelity. After a certain point, all turntables work well. A good cartridge makes a decent turntable great.

Here's mine. Nothing fancy, not a head turner, just a basic direct drive full-auto tt. I spent some quality time aligning the cartridge, (Joe Grado Black, - Made in NY, United States of America!) and it's really all I need. If I was feeling fancy, I might research spindle weights, but hey, vinyl records are supposed to have character....

I wanted a PL530, but people who are offering those for sale seem to think they're just a little too awesome these days, so I'll stick with the Denon.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1560457208.jpg

Slightly off topic but the best analogue source is a reel to reel tape deck.

Prices can be eye watering but a good reel to reel can sound much better than the best turntable.

2019 PRICES for United Home Audio - Audiophile Tape Decks

The ULTIMA4 Tape Deck $24,500

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1561401823.jpg
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$24,500 is a lot of money for only a "good" source. ;)

Reel to reel is the best source there is and you can easily pay 6 figures for a great turntable.
And you can certainly get a much cheaper but still decent reel to reel.

The problem with Reel to reel is the pre-recorded tapes are very expensive. ($400 for an album)

I thought Oracle was always the pinnacle of turntables?

I know turntables can be absurdly expensive, but a $24K source unit is still way out of reach for the vast majority of people. And $400 per album, yikes!

And how many of us own reel to reel tape?
Sounds like a novelty for the extream Hobbyist, pretty much way off topic, and unaffordable for most people.

As long as this has switched to tape...there are decks that can rival reel to reel...or close enough for older ears.

Here's an article written about what was considered the best cassete deck back in the day. I sent my Nakamichi to Willy Herman, and was quite pleased at the service.
When we talked on the phone, he was impressed that I shipped the deck to him in it's original shipping box.

https://www.tonepublications.com/old-school/nakamichi-dragon/

Those getting back into analog might wish to add the above site to their favorites list.

I had a Nak 1000

Favorite thing to do with my reel to reel is record my vinyl onto them as mixed tapes......Until my reel to reel broke and the last guy willing to work on them around here moved into a nursing home

Shipping to a repair facility? No thanks.

My dad has about 6 machines all mint with my name on them. Someday I’ll get them but at this point I’m not even sure I want them

Also I have some of the best record shops in the world here. Last time I was in one I saw about 100,000 records for sale, new and used. Reel to reel tapes? None. Not even that easy to get good blank tape anymore

The mention of hard to find tape...glad I stockpiled a batch of Maxell CR02 90 minute cassettes some years back.

So back to turntables...direct drive for speed adjustment or belt drive to isolate the platter from the motor?

Belt drive hands down.

I have my eye on one of these:

https://www.thorens.com/images/produ...550-teaser.jpg

And currently own this:

https://clearaudio.de/_assets/_produ...t/front-02.jpg

I've always been a Thorens fan bought the first one in 74. I like the Clearaudio but it's like your first love.....

I have a Technics SL-Q300. For forty years it has performed flawlessly.

I think the Technics 1200 MK2 is certainly a contender for the best turntable of all time, but its not an audiophile unit. I have an MK5 and and M3D.

I would throw the Marantz 6300 out there and an excellent vintage option at a good price point. Beautiful machines.

https://images.reverb.com/image/uplo...1exlsaqth2.jpg

There's more to be said. I checked eBay; the Technics is outside his stated price range, even used. A nearby store may have it for less, but that is not guaranteed. On eBay, $400 and up with no cartridge; $500 and up with a cartridge. (Unless you're after a $260 turntable with no cartridge, a missing foot, and a broken cueing lever. What a bargain.)

In his price range, the Audio Technica LP-120 is an excellent direct drive option and will not require an external preamp. My boss has one at our office, and I use it at the monthly happy hour.

The Orbit appears to be a good belt drive option which will also come with a decent cartridge and an external preamp which also meets his budget.

Which turntable is better depends on several factors. rainscd, do you have any interest in vintage records, i.e., 78 RPM, or variable speeds? If so, a direct drive 3-speed turntable may be your best option at this price point. If not, the belt drive is probably a fine alternative.

Keep in mind, many OEM turntables are similar to the Audio Technica. For example, consider the Stanton T92USB

I use a Stanton ST-150, and I am very happy with it. It is possible to be a satisfied vinyl fan without a Technics.

My turntable is like my car, old and German.

Duel 601

It can play upside down (the arm has a coil spring for stylus pressure)!

It randomly plays at 2x speed!

It requires a unique head to hold cartridges!

So freaking German!

lasers do not touch the record but are super expensive

https://fromvinyltoplastic.com/optical-turntables-and-laser-cartridges-are-they-the-future/