I have been without a turntable for some time and work and childcare duties have severely dented my time to shop around for one.
So I am putting the question out here. Can anyone recommend a good, not too dear, turntable which won’t fuck up my old vinyl? It needs to be quite small. Our living room is somewhat cluttered.
I’d like to be able to link it to our old stereo but if I could hook it up to some internet enabled speakers in the future that would be good to.
Thanks folks. All advice and recommendations appreciated.
ganglesprocket says
NUDGE
GCU Grey Area says
Another —————>
I’ve been thinking of getting one, too, but it would be hooked to our existing separates, going out through a NAD amp and Mission speakers.
I’ve heard a couple of the cheap Pro-Jects – the Elemental (c £160) and the Debut (c£220). Both sounded very good to me. One of them comes with a USB option. If (like us) your amp doesn’t have a phono input, you’ll need a separate phono amp. These vary in price hugely – Behringer do one for around £20, which was connected to the Elemental I heard.
I know from previous threads, that Rega turntables are good and not outrageously priced – there are plenty of second-hand Rega Planars around.
Twang says
I’ve very pleased with my Project Debut.
GCU Grey Area says
There’s also a Pro-ject Primary, which I’m guessing is an Elemental with a more conventional-looking deck. Pro-ject seem to take a lot of – ah – inspiration from Rega.
I think @fentonsteve might be able to help here with advice. (Apologies for the tag if not).
fentonsteve says
Well, now…
Oh it, seems I’ve been beaten to it. If you can afford it, buy a Rega. The RP3 is worth the extra over an RP2 if you can.
If you can’t afford a Rega, buy a Pro-Ject which is, essentially, an Iron Curtain Rega. Yes, Pro-Ject now make some higher-cost decks of their own design, but their earlier budget models are “heavily influenced by” Rega.
None of these will knacker your vinyl.
If you can’t afford either a Rega or a Pro-Ject, tread carefully. I can ask around.
Also, although Pro-Ject make decks with built-in phono preamps and even Analogue to Digital Converters to directly link to laptop/Sonos/etc, avoid these. The electronics is usually extremely rudimentary. Better to get a separate phono pre-amp from the likes of Cambridge Audio or Rega – they’re no bigger than a paperback and can be hidden away out of sight.
Chris says
If you can still find stock, the deck that Rega put together for Record Store Day this year is an absolute bargain for £250. Much better spec than the price suggests and looks great.
Rigid Digit says
At the budget end of the scale (120 quid), a friend of mine got a Lenco L-85 last year.
Dead basic, but it does the job, no issues, doesn’t eat vinyl.
Also available in “groovy” red, yellow and green.
Having said that, if it were me (and when my old (but perfectly formed) Pioneer finally gives up the ghost), I’d be looking at a Rega
DogFacedBoy says
I’ve had a ProJect Debut II for a good ten years and once set up correctly it needs v little fuss made.
A Rega for around same price £220-250 would be an equally good choice.
davebigpicture says
I run my elderly Accoustic Research deck through the Sonos speakers via a Cambridge Audio preamp. The Sonos app allows me to play it in different rooms, not just the room it’s connected in.
To clarify, the deck is connected by a cable to the preamp and the preamp output is connected to a Sonos speaker via a mini jack input.
Kid Dynamite says
I’ve had a ProJect Debut for fifteen years or so, and I’m happy with it.
ganglesprocket says
I am seeing a lot of Rega love here… I’ll investigate this first, thanks folks
Lando Cakes says
Another happy Rega customer here. Used ones via eBay or gumtree also a good bet.
duco01 says
I have a Rega turntable, too.
When the time came to replace the original moving magnet cartridge, I bought a high output moving coil cartridge, a Dynavector 10 X 5, and that’s an upgrade that I can highly recommend.
duco01 says
Of course, if you fancy splashing out a big more cash, you could treat yourself to a Nottingham Analogue Anna Log turntable.
Mmmm … I could just see one of these nestling in the corner of the living room here at duco01 Towers. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice…
retropath2 says
I have a Flexson Vinyl Play, mainly as I run Sonos. It works and is good value. Takes up little space too.
Bartleby says
Like others here, I have a Project Debut II. I find myself lusting after the latest Rega Planar 3, but by all accounts the sound improvement may not be that great. On the Facebook rare vinyl page, a lot of people seem to have those fancy Gyro Dec things. Or maybe it’s the same guy posting continually.
Junior Wells says
Another vote for Pro-ject though the base (plinth?) has a fair footprint. See if you can get them to upgrade the cartridge as part of the deal.
fentonsteve says
A tangential thought… If you need space, how about a wall-mounting turntable? It apparently works fine, at least according to someone I trust:
http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=vte&cat=turntables&lang=en
Native says
i have the Project 2 and have to say I’m pleased with it. I paid about £200, but they are a bit cheaper now.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntables/project/essential-2/proj-essential-2-blk
Vulpes Vulpes says
I have Planar 3, and it’s fab. I also have a restored Sansui SR212, which I inherited in seized condition, researched via Google, and have now returned to as new. I have to say it’s absolutely belting (sic) as well. You can still pick them up used for pocket money, and I think they will soon be sought after.
The Good Doctor says
Pro-ject make good turntables – if you’re really short of space the Pro-Ject Elemental has a very small footprint although I found I could hear the motor noise on quiet tracks thru’ headphones and the belt drive was very fiddly to change over and easily slips off (and ultimately a bit frustrating for me as I like swapping between 33s and 45s)
I’ve since sold mine and upgraded to a total workhorse Technics 1200 Mk2 which is bloody wonderful. An absolute design classic – not an audiophile machine at all, very utilitarian and built like a tank. If you set it up properly and is very good at playing knackered old records (given some of my older collection a new lease of life). Not a coincidence that they were standard for Radio Stations and any number of turntablists, Hip Hop DJs etc.
There’s a bloke near here who services them and he reckons my 30 year old deck is good for another 10 years before in needs another service. I like that.
Doesn’t meet yr brief mind you as they’re big heavy beasties – and only affordable 2nd hand. They have just gone back into production but as Technics had to re-engineer the entire manufacturing process from scratch (as all the machinery and tools to make them were junked somewhat prematurely in 2010) – hence brand new ones are v expensive (although they sold millions and I bet there are tons of un-used ones gathering dust in the lofts of 40-somethings who spent their student loan on one in the early 90s…)
fentonsteve says
Yes. a 2nd-hand SL1200 makes a great investment, easy to find a local service, and can be upgraded should the desire take hold. The motor unit is great, but the floppy S-shaped arm is the weak point sound-wise. Plenty make arm upgrade kits to accept Rega (et al) arms.
Not small and not light, though.
The modern replacements use a more recent (i.e. cheaper) motor and control electronics, give it a few years and the new price will tumble.
rampantonion says
More Rega love here. I had a P3 for years before getting upgrade fever. I can’t recommend their cartridges though. I fitted a Denon DL110 which made a huge difference.
fentonsteve says
My man on the inside says these budget models are better than you’d expect:-
Dual MTR-75 £250
Lenco L-3808 £200
Audio Technica AT-LP5 £330
Reloop Turn 3 £350
All come with a basic cartridge and functional phono preamp built in.
Dual is a relaunched German brand (big in the 1980s), their design is Chinese made and a bit plastic-y but otherwise good. The others are all Chinese SL1210 knock-offs.
None will be worth tuppence on the s/h market, I’d stretch to Rega/Pro-Ject etc if at all possible.