Recommend me a good turntable for home stereo <$500

[Bjazzman]

im really thinking of getting into records. i love discovering new music and buying a record is something special especially when you find something new.

i have a budget one that i found at a garage sale but i know it's not good quality. i don't have a ton of money and i know i'll need to upgrade the speakers eventually as well. I currently have some mtx speakers from the 90's that sound decent. Like i said i'll probably upgrade that later after i get the turntable

i've been really intrigued by the combination turntable/usb ported ones to transfer that to the computer but another part of me thinks that kind of defeats the purpose of listening to lp's in the first place

here are some local stores:
http://paragonvideoandstereo.com/index.html
http://www.audio-depot.com/

[hover]

used Technics 1200. spend the rest on more vinyl.

[The Last Rebel]

I have a Rega P1 that I love.

[Bjazzman]

im kinda new to this thing to so will i need a receiver? can you recommend one of those to me as well? i have a older technics receiver that might do until i can get a better one

[The Last Rebel]

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

im kinda new to this thing to so will i need a receiver? can you recommend one of those to me as well? i have a older technics receiver that might do until i can get a better one

For pretty much any good turntable you'll need a receiver. I have a Yamaha RX397 that's done me well, but you may want to go used there too. You could also need a seperate phono preamp depending on your table's cartridge or your receiver.

[JimB52]

I've had a Bang & Olufsen turntable for over 20 years, but I don't think they make them anymore. Technics is reliable.

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

im kinda new to this thing to so will i need a receiver? can you recommend one of those to me as well? i have a older technics receiver that might do until i can get a better one

Very few new receivers have phono inputs. I have the older version of this Harman Kardon HK3490 - excellent sound for a reasonable price. Old school stereo receiver. You can find them on Amazon for under $400.

[vbsurfer3001]

http://cgi.ebay.com/MARANTZ-6100-STE...item3361f19411

[Brick Top]

For a good value...stick to used. Belt drive is best for sound quality for the most part. Don't buy any of the cheap plastic ones that are out there. For around $500 you should be able to get a really nice table. But remember to have money for a new cartridge( $50- infinity).

Look for a nice Rotel , Rega, Pro-ject table or something like that. Check out Audiogon for some good tables...and it will also give you an idea of what decent TT's go for.

In order to make the investment back into vinyl...you should want to make sure it's gonna last...and the sound quality is going to be there.

Your receiver(preamp) will need a Phono preamp...or you can purchase a separate one to go between the table and your preamp(receiver).

[bass12]

Originally Posted by hover

used Technics 1200. spend the rest on more vinyl.

+1 I'm a DJ and haven't yet used a turntable I prefer to the 1200. Get yourself a good stylus as well.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by The Last Rebel

I have a Rega P1 that I love.

+1.

If you're not interested in buying used, you can get a new Rega P3 for under 500.

[Bjazzman]

will the sound quality matter if you have a nice turntable but lower priced receiver?

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

will the sound quality matter if you have a nice turntable but lower priced receiver?

As in amp? Pay's to have a decent warm sounding amp to do the table justice, I'd advise going used for hi-fi gear, there is a lot of nice stuff around, audiophiles swap a lot. I've got an old Dual CS5000 table and an old NAD 3020A, the first amp they brought out, I didn't pay very much for the whole set-up, decide what you like and check the bay? ; )

[Richland123]

I have a Bang & Olufsen linear tracking turntable I have had for a long time. If you can find a used one in good condition, buy it. Very high quality turntables.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

will the sound quality matter if you have a nice turntable but lower priced receiver?

There will be a difference, yes.


That said, I wouldn't listen to vinyl for its sound quality.

I love the stuff, but the idea that it objectively sounds better is silly. Vinyl records don't suffer from the loudness war, but a properly mastered album (regardless of format) won't either.

[iamlowsound]

For a receiver, check eBay often and pick up an Arcam Delta 290, you can find them for around $350 and they will hold their own against stuff ten times the price. I have one paired with an technics 1200 and it sounds great.

lowsound