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. :(