Best Turntable for around $300

[acubass]

Any good reccomendations? Strictly for home listening.

[JulienJeff]

I like the brand "Pro-Ject"

[Deluge Of Sound]

A little above your budget (new, anyway), but these are great:
http://importantrecords.com/rega/rega.htm

[Selta]

Denon DP300F is my backup. Put a better cart in it than comes with it when you can afford it and it's a pretty good table.

[acubass]

Looks like $300 isn't going to cut it.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by acubass

Looks like $300 isn't going to cut it.

$300 buys you a decent amount of table really. Really, I'd buy something in the $200-$300 range (read reviews, etc.), but I would make sure the rest of your system is good too, from the receiver to the amp to the speakers and every piece in-between.

[drasticDUB]

get yer self a used technics SL-1200MK2. It the standard DJ table that has been the standard for years and years. Parts are always gonna be around for this, if anything should ever go bad. Started out as a broadcast turntable for radio, then...clubs caught on and word spread from there.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by drasticDUB

get yer self a used technics SL-1200MK2. It the standard DJ table that has been the standard for years and years. Parts are always gonna be around for this, if anything should ever go bad. Started out as a broadcast turntable for radio, then...clubs caught on and word spread from there.

Just make sure you get a real cart in it, not a DJ cart.

[Philbiker]

I recommend reading up at the Steve Hoffman boards -> http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/index.php lots of recommendations there, you won't even have to open a thread; there's a recent one.

http://www.needledoctor.com/ sells lots of turntables . As does http://www.lpgear.com .

If it were my money and I only had $300 I'd probably look for the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB. Or if you can stretch it, a Denon DP-300F or Pro-ject Debut III.

[GregC]

Subscribed. I haven't bought a new one in 20 years; it's time.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by GregC

Subscribed. I haven't bought a new one in 20 years; it's time.

Not necessarily. What table are you spinning on, with what tonearm and cart?

[Brick Top]

Buy used. Try and stick with a belt driven table if sound quality is what you're after. You can add a better arm and or cartridge and or phono stage later as the budget permits.

Audiogon is a good site for used audio gear. Systemdek is a really good table for the money. Can be had for cheap...and it is the original rival of the Linn(very over rated table). motors are getting scarce though. Audio Note bought the company and produces new tables...but they are way over priced.

I have a Sota...and couldn't be happier. Some of their entry level models can be found for cheap if you check craig's and audiogon and evilbay enough.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Not necessarily. What table are you spinning on, with what tonearm and cart?

Understood--but mine hasn't been used much precisely because it's not very good. And it's behaving strangely of late, too.

One question: I've heard there's at least one model with a digital output that allows you to transfer the music directly to a CD (or possibly an MP3 player). I'd like to have that ability with some LPs that are probably never going to be released in that format. Do any of the higher-quality tables being mentioned here have this feature? Or is it basically looked down upon by the folks who make such tables?

[b_carville]

Check out KAB electro-acoustics on line.

Most of their tables are over your budget but they have stuff within your budget as well.KAB tweaks out budget turntables to their specs adding better tonearms,a 78 RPM speed and are really into record reproduction.If nothing else the KAB site will be an education.I bought the cheapest one ($169)when my old "audiophile" Scottish Fons table finally died.I didn't expect it to be good but with a cartridge upgrade it's really nice.A few years ago I would've turned my nose up at it & probably still would if KAB didn't tweak it out.

I'm a long time record collecter/dealer.

A Technics SL-1200 is a good choice too.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by GregC

Understood--but mine hasn't been used much precisely because it's not very good. And it's behaving strangely of late, too.

One question: I've heard there's at least one model with a digital output that allows you to transfer the music directly to a CD (or possibly an MP3 player). I'd like to have that ability with some LPs that are probably never going to be released in that format. Do any of the higher-quality tables being mentioned here have this feature? Or is it basically looked down upon by the folks who make such tables?

Well, there's some good tables that have USB on them. Pro-Ject makes one of the higher end ones.
None of the real high end ones have a feature like that though. At least, not that I know of (and I certainly don't know all the tables out there).

[b_carville]

Originally Posted by GregC

Understood--but mine hasn't been used much precisely because it's not very good. And it's behaving strangely of late, too.

One question: I've heard there's at least one model with a digital output that allows you to transfer the music directly to a CD (or possibly an MP3 player). I'd like to have that ability with some LPs that are probably never going to be released in that format. Do any of the higher-quality tables being mentioned here have this feature? Or is it basically looked down upon by the folks who make such tables?

The $169 Numark TT_USB from KAB has A USB out.

There are a lot of cheap tables with that feature but I'd stay clear of those.I have the above table but I never used the USB.

[KeithBMI]

I bought a used Technics sl-1200mk2 locally for about $250

They are the industry standard for DJs. Just make sure you have a nice cartridge.

[hbarcat]

Keep in mind that any turntable with USB will have A/D converters built in and these are a possible weak link in audio quality. If you are planning on transferring your vinyl to digital format you should be aware of the quality of the entire signal path and it's sometimes difficult to determine how good (or bad) the A/D converters are.

I'm transferring my vinyl to computer files (24 bit/48kHz wavs) and using the converters in an EMU 1212 PCI recording card. But if someone only wants to create MP3's for casual listening, then it's a good bet the built-in converters on any USB turntable will be more than enough.

[JimB52]

See if you can find a used Bang & Olufsen Beogram. Should be well under $300.
I bought an RX2 in 1988 and it's still going strong. Plus, they look cool as all get-out.
There's one on eBay now.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by Brick Top

Audiogon is a good site for used audio gear.

IMO the prices on Audiogon classifieds are horrible. I got my circa 1981 Realistic LAB-440 on craigslist for $50 recently. Love it.