Turntables
 

My mom is giving me dads old record collection. like 500 records. Can anyone here recommend a turntable? I am not a audio snob but I do appreciate good sound quality. I have an amp and would like one with RCA connectors....

For a really nice starter table I don't think you can go wrong with a Technics 1200. They are no longer made, but you can pick them up used no problem. Just be sure it has not done DJ Duty. You will also need to make sure you have a pre-amp. If your receiver does not have a phono setting your are going to need to pick one up.

Give us the price range you want to spend.
First, look at your amp- if it does not have a specific phono input, you may need a phono preamp- essentially a pre-pre amp.
For low end tables I like Rega. Higher end I personally like VPI and Oracle.
Do not get me started about arms and cartridges- I am unfortunately an audio snob.
If you want to stay inexpensive- the low end rega's are under $500 including arm and cartridge- and they sound pretty darn good.
Just like porsche- this is not a cheap hobby and the sky is the limit.
If you want to be much under $500 and be decent- look at craiglist.
Gary

Pro-Ject - Essential II - Turntable $329

+

Cambridge Audio - 551P MM Phono Stage $139

Or better. For 500 records of your Dad's, it would be worth it imho.

Ian

Disclaimer: I sell Cambridge but AA is not my customer . . .

Thanks guys. I was thinking like 400 at the most...

You may want to ask yourself "How used are the records?"
If you get a really nice system to play them on you may end up hearing more scratches etc than you knew existed.

My amp does have a phono input.

Then buy the Pro-ject. They are good people & build a good product.

Ian

Rega planar or project or music hall

I have a regular pioneer turntable but also have 4 of these (3 in the house and 1 in the garage)......wonderful sound!!!!!!!!!!

They can be found in Craigslists all over the country as well as on eBay - like this one in Philly....

$65.00......no bids with 3 days left in auction. Local pickup of course.

Magnavox Astro Sonic Console Stereo | eBay

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNj...TOZ6v/$_57.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNj...$_57.JPG?rt=nc

Most are solid state but you can also find tube units - which are cool because it takes a minute to warm up. :)

While Ian is the expert here, why not one that converts to whatever digital stuff it does. I had one (loaned it to a friend) and you can play and put the music on you iPod. A little labor intensive, but I digitized like 100 albums over a few weekends.

Here's a tube unit located in Lumberton, NC. What a beautiful cabinet......a real piece of art!

I think his asking price is a bit high ($350.00) - probably would take $100.00 if you were to pick it up in person.

Magnavox Stereo Tube Amp Console 12" Woofers Micromatic Turntable EL84 6BQ5 | eBay

Wow...a gorgeous ONE OWNER in perfect condition for $99.00 located in Indiana.

I'd be on that if I lived closer!

Magnavox Astro Sonic 20 Contemporary Console Stereo Am FM Stereo Turn Table | eBay

Not happening under $400! There are deals out there though.

Just watch out for the upgrade bug. A good turntable is going to reveal weaknesses in your amp... Upgrade... Oops new amp and turntable reveal weakness in my speakers and on and on and on....

What did your dad play them on?

You have good taste- presently listening to an oracle delphi mark VI. Glorious.
Gary

I can't remember. Maybe it will come to me. They have been sitting in boxes since the mid 80s

It may help to remember as that will give you (and us) an idea of how worn out the records may or may not be. Well worn records will not sound like you're expecting them to if played on a nice system like the others here have been suggesting.
As an example, when I got my system (1978) and asked an old college friend to bring his favorite record over to audition it on my new system, he was amazed when it started to skip. He accused me of scratching his record. I showed him it was tracking at only 1 gram of weight and that the scratch was already there, his system just wasn't sensitive enough to pick it up. So, I'd recommend you find out what shape the records are actually in before spending money on a system to play them on.
Just trying to help.