I've had direct drive decks in the past when I used to mix vinyl. But I'm looking at getting a new one for just kicking back and listening to all kinds of stuff from dub reggae to techno. Basically replacing all the CD's I used to love (and CD's I got rid of) with vinyl, plus getting a few of those "must have" classic albums on quality pressings. It doesn't need to be audiophile in any way.
I've looked into an old / recon sl 1210 but they seem to be a little over budget. I've seen a Pioneer PLX 500 which seems to have reasonable reviews. Just got some cash from my Nan's estate and it's going into saving but a small portion I've decided can go on a turntable so that I can think of her when I'm kicking back and listening to an album. The Pioneer is around the budget I'd like to spend and looks similar to the Technics (actually the one in white looks nice!)
Thoughts n comments?
Get a Pro-ject, their low to mid range stuff gives a great sound for a budgetish price.
They get great reviews on various audiophile websites, etc.
No need for direct drive, unless you're mixing/DJing.
I just got given a 70's belt driven Lenco-Goldring GL85. Thing of beauty, and sounds terrific after a bit of cleaning and a new belt and stylus.
Rega Planar 1+, as a built in MM phono stage, comes in white too 🙂
Rega are excellent.
I've had mine for 34 years and it still works perfectly and sounds great.
They do sound different to Technics though, a bit looser in the bass unless they are particularly well isolated, so budget for a shelf or table.
Rega and ProJekt make really great turntables at a range of prices to suit your budget and taste.
When I looked a few years ago, all reviews suggested the Rega Planar 1 for entry level. I am more than happy with mine, although I have recently upgraded the cartridge to a Nagoaka MP110
The Audio-Technica AT-LP5X is well regarded and costs about £330.
Any love for Fluance?
RT83 with an Ortofon 2M cart, a cork matt instead of the standard rubber one, and a Schiit Mani phono stage comes in close to $600 AUD for me (about 330 quid)
Also the Sony PS-LX310BT gets some decent reviews too.
Hmm....
There's a few Denon and Marantz vintage decks on my local FB Marketplace too.
Rega Planar 1 is the default recommendation for a 1st proper turnable - easy to set-up, low maintenance, sounds good and is cheap. I've bought them for both of my kids.
If its for kicking back and relaxing go for a hifi version as apposed to DJ version. There will be features in a DJ model that are not useful when simply listening in your house so I think you'll get better value for money with a hifi version.
I'm out of touch now with which models are good these days but good few years ago Rega and Project used to win the budget sector.
Well have narrowed it down after much review-reading and youtube watching.
Pro-ject Debut Carbon - slightly over budget but potential to haggle if I can find one. Probably in the wood grain finish. Decent cart too.
Or
Audio Technica LP5 - possibly a bit of a underdog but direct drive and again, good reviews on the whole. S shaped tone arm..... Flipping between this and the belt driven LPW40 which also has a carbon tone arm and a little cheaper too.
I looked at some decks and decided to not go for one that I have to change the drive belt to change speeds. I know I'm probably not going to listen to many 45's but still, I cba with the hassle.
Not really hassle tbh, on my NAD533 I lift the platter off and flip the belt over while it’s running, doesn’t take ten secs, and you don’t lose the momentum.
Yeah I guess. I'm just not at the level of audiphilia that I'd notice the extra noise from a switch from 33 to 45
I'm off work on Monday so I'll have a gander at what's around locally (not much probably)
I had a rega and now have the audiotechnica. Changing the belt was a pain especially after a few beers when you just wanted to play records. Putting a record on and realising it’s a 45 and having to lift the platter off Etc
I quite like the Rega Planer 2, but the whole having to change the belt position for 33-45's puts me off, I'm too damn lazy
I've got a Technics 1210 at the moment but I do fancy something more refined for the living room while maintain the Technics for my midlife crisis scratching dreams that will never see fruition.
I quite like the look of the Onkyo CP 1050 that almost never gets a mention or the Teac TN-300
It doesn’t need to be audiophile in any way.
Reading these words makes me sad.
I've got a Teac tn300 as linked above. Sounds as good as the project ones i tested but has built in phono amp, switchable speeds and usb ripping to pc.
I was recently looking to buy one of those Pioneer decks to go alongside my Technics SL1210 which I bought new in the 80's. Would happily have done so until a mate offered his 1210 at a reasonable price (£350). The Pioneer decks get good reviews and the plus side when comparing them to a belt drive hifi deck is that should you wish to go down the home DJ set up at some point, then you're half way there.
If you're listening to your collection of 12" singles on one deck the gap between records can be a bit tedious. Nice to be able to drop the next track straight away on deck 2 !
I was doing the same thing a couple of years ago- had a project debut, which no matter what i did to it sounded rubbish.
Looked at Rega - but read a lot about how sensitive they are to positioning. And also i couldn’t quite believe how pretentious the HiFi shop was.
Ended up buying a Technics SL1210 ... which set up right, played through a Roksan amp and B&W speakers sounds absolutely brilliant. Go and do a bit of reading about them - there are many to feel they are just as good as Rega ....
Went for this one. Belt driven, carbon tonearm. It's beautiful. Played the only record I have. A double album from Studio 1 Recordings, roots reggae.
1210's well over budget - I did look at a similar looking Audio Technica but figured if I bought that I'd always end up feeling it should have been a 1210!
Is that the AT-LPW40WN?
It's a lovely looking thing.Reggae is a good genre with which to christen a TT!
I would like a TT but my further modded Marantz CD63 MKII KI Signature CD player sounds so bloody good. And CDs are 30% the cost of vinyl.
Enjoy yours though.
Yup that's the one. I think roots reggae needs some pops n crackles!
I'm not going to turn into a vinyl junkie. (he says). I had tonnes of CD's but moving back and forth I just got rid. I tend to use Spotify mainly but some albums will sound hugely better on vinyl. Nothing nicer than kicking back with a glass of red and a nice new album. I had some money from my Nan's passing, which came through. I told my wife I was going to buy a new turntable and she thought it was a good idea, as long as the rest went into saving. I was half joking but she went for it. Everyone's happy. Kinda nice to sit back and listen to music on something that should sound great and last.
The few CD's I do have get played on a Sony BluRay player through and AudioEngine DAC. cd63 mk2 SE is a great bit of kit though. What HiFi award winner mid/late 90s iirc?