Good quality record player? Bang for the buck?

Okay audiophiles, I came into a record collection with some great classics. Floyd, Zep, The Who, etc.

What's a good quality record player and speakers to spin these sweet platters?

Looking for that sweet spot between quality, value, and price. I want to be able to experience the nuances of the types of lush arrangements noted above, but I don't want to go down the rabbit hole spending $10,000 on some crazy system. I don't have a budget yet, as I don't know enough about this type of audio system.

Shinola any good? Do I really need to spend $2500 on a turntable alone? Better value for the same or less money?

Learn me bout some phonographs.

galibier_numero_un has his own turntable business http://galibierdesign.com/

I doubt they're cheap, but I'm sure he's an expert on the topic.

My take, after looking at the rabbit hole and declining to go down it: the rest of your system probably matters more than the turntable itself. Also, a good needle seems to help.

For whatever it's worth, I ended up with a Rega RP1. Gets good reviews, and wasn't absurdly expensive. I don't have too many tables to compare it to, but it sounds good to my ears.

IMO from matters most to not at all: source, speakers, power of the amp(s) (more power=more better), preamp (KISS principle applies), cables (don't matter at all)

Put another way, a good turntable/stylus/cartridge matters because you don't want to be amplifying shit, but it's diminishing returns after you hit the "good" level. Same goes for CD player/DACs.

After that it's all about speakers. That's where you want to put your money. And you probably know this but I'll say it anyway, most of the big brands are mediocre at best.

I guess to modify my previous post - I agree with Ted that the turntable matters, but it seemed like the differences between a ~$400 turntable and a $1500 turntable were really small. My conclusion was: save some money on the turntable itself (without going with the truly cheap stuff) and upgrade the cartridge.

The Audio Technica LP-120 keeps showing up as the #1 choice in reviews of really good, moderately priced mid-level turntables....plus it has USB capability, so you can rip your vinyl.

I keep buying skis instead of getting this deck, though.

And I have an entire room full of vinyl (and still no turntable!).

:)

That Audio Technica one is what I bought a few years ago. Works fine, but I rarely play vinyl anymore. I've never used the USB ripping feature.

I have the cheaper audio technica LP60. I have it plugged into a mini amp and a pair of Polk S15 bookshelf’s. Probably under $400 for the whole system. A nicer fit and finish on the record player would be nice but I can’t complain about the sound quality, it’s pretty good considering how cheap it was. I’m sure purists will scoff... but snobs will be snobs...


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I can tell shit from shinola and in this case shinola is shit. I’d look for a Technics, Rega, music hall or pro-ject to get those grooves rockin. Get something modest and if the vinyl bug bites you can upgrade your system. id try something in the 2-300 used 3-500 new range. Can vouch for the Rega P1. Very nice unit.

Fluance makes good stuff, reasonably priced.

Audio Technica LP-120 has been solid for me.

I have a U-Turn Orbit (about the same price as the LP-120) and my non-audiophile ears like it. I'm quite positive that my speakers are holding back the quality, not the turntable. One nice thing about the U-Turn (beyond them being a small US-made company) is that you can get the turntable built to order, so if you want an upgraded stylus, you can do that.

What's the preferred method for cleaning the albums these days? Dusty album on good turntable sounds even more crackly.

https://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/...tat_pistol.jpg



I've still got a discwasher kit with the solution for the records and stylus cleaner. Running middle quality Technics turntables. Rarely pull them down and play them, but nice to have available to mess with from time to time.

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Originally Posted by adrenalated

I have a U-Turn Orbit (about the same price as the LP-120) and my non-audiophile ears like it. I'm quite positive that my speakers are holding back the quality, not the turntable. One nice thing about the U-Turn (beyond them being a small US-made company) is that you can get the turntable built to order, so if you want an upgraded stylus, you can do that.

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That's what I have and I also recommend it. Been a great unit!

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Okay, so I've done some looking around based on suggestions and "best of" internet lists, and came down to these two:

Fluance RT81 Elite
Audio Technica LP-120

Comments on both?
Vs. each other?

Edit to add...

More research, pulled the trigger on the Audio Technica LP-120

nice choice, that's a copy of the Technics 1200 that was very reliable, it comes with an AT 95 cartridge that sounds nice for it's price I have one on a Sony DD that may get upgraded eventually. I just replaced the belt on this Technics and the Grado cartridge sounds great.

Attachment 307740

Now the hunt for speakers...


The Edifier r1700 seem to show up as a good speaker for the money.


Any suggestions?

I like my Khorns

Quote:

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Originally Posted by refried

I like my Khorns

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No doubt.

I'd love some Paradigm Personas, but I'd like to keep the speakers in line with, or slightly above, the quality of the turntable for now.

Do you have an amplifier/receiver? Model? What city are you in? Open to used gear? Floorstanders an option or must be bookshelf?

Audio Technica LP-120

No amp or reciever. I will likely get the Pro-ject Tube Box S eventually.

I'd prefer bookshelf speakers.

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Originally Posted by reckless toboggan

Audio Technica LP-120

No amp or reciever. I will likely get the Pro-ject Tube Box S eventually.

I'd prefer bookshelf speakers.

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Love my project. If you are trying to save space you can get one with a built in preamp and get some powered speakers. Plug and play.

https://www.project-audio.com/en/pro...-esprit-sb-dc/

If you decide to go passive speaker route With the tube box I’d look at
NHT SuperOne 2.1’s (good value)
Elac debut 2.0 B6.2 (many positive reviews)
Dayton B652 ($70/pair! stereophile recommended)
PSB alpha P5 (less detailed full sound without sub)

Whatever you choose I’d recommend going with a 5”+ cone and consider adding a sub later.

edit: tube box s is a phono pre not an amp. Dont know too much about powered speakers.

These are "The Best" Hands Down
https://www.dual-plattenspieler.eu/en/home.html
I used to be into HiF back in the day. Dual is a bit obscure unless you play in the deep end of the pool.

Lots of quality old school components out there for sale for short money. My chiropractor is really into it. The other day he showed me a Bang and Olufsen receiver it was all touch control and in great shape. He was telling me about replacing the belts on several turntables. I'll take some pictures next week and post them. He had the old school Marantz receiver and a ton of cool vinyl. I'm inspired to put together a system. We were also talking about old school car stereo stuff like the Alpine he has in his Jeep Cherokee with a slide out.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by MTT

These are "The Best" Hands Down
https://www.dual-plattenspieler.eu/en/home.html
I used to be into HiF back in the day. Dual is a bit obscure unless you play in the deep end of the pool.

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I associate Dual with low end car stereo products. Same company?

http://www.dualav.com/index.php

PSB alpha P5

We just got one of these for xmas sounds good to me.
Audio-Technica AT-LP60BK-USB

Over the last 18 months I’ve been working on finishing my game room/bar and my wife just bought me a PRO-JECT Debut Carbon Evo turntable. Now I need some speakers. Any ideas for powered speakers in the $500-$600 range? They need to work wireless as well since my vinyl collection is non existent, so they will mainly be used to stream for at least a few years.

These are a few options I was thinking about:

Audioengine A5+

Klipsch The Five’s

Kanto YU6

Not a powered / all in one solution - but I’ve been really happy with the following.

- Polk S15s or S20s
- Mini amp
- Google chromecast audio


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by refried

nice choice, that's a copy of the Technics 1200 that was very reliable, it comes with an AT 95 cartridge that sounds nice for it's price I have one on a Sony DD that may get upgraded eventually. I just replaced the belt on this Technics and the Grado cartridge sounds great.

Attachment 307740

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Maybe this is no longer true but I thought the placement of turntables on top of other components (particularly amps/receivers) was a no-no? Nice touch with the rotary phone btw

Quote:

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

I associate Dual with low end car stereo products. Same company?

http://www.dualav.com/index.php

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Not sure if the same company, but maybe. The logo looks pretty much the same.

I had a Dual turntable many years ago. They were known then as a reasonable cost high end turntable. Maybe not best of the best, but pretty darn good. They came out with “direct drive” when most everyone else were using pulleys and bands to spin the platter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alias_rice

Over the last 18 months I’ve been working on finishing my game room/bar and my wife just bought me a PRO-JECT Debut Carbon Evo turntable. Now I need some speakers. Any ideas for powered speakers in the $500-$600 range? They need to work wireless as well since my vinyl collection is non existent, so they will mainly be used to stream for at least a few years.

These are a few options I was thinking about:

Audioengine A5+

Klipsch The Five’s

Kanto YU6

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https://www.crutchfield.com/S-kacNBu...AEALw_wcB&pg=2

Ok, I'm a jong so please help me out. My partner's record player is old and cheap and I'd like to get her a new one for her birthday. I am not, nor do I foresee becoming an audiophile so I'd like to keep it simple and reasonably priced. Currently we listen to music on a Bose Solo 2 soundbar (off of our phones on bluetooth, it also has ports labeled "audio" and "coax." I would like to hook the record player up to the soundbar that way. Is that feasible?

What record player should I buy? If I need a budget I guess I'd be willing to spend around $500. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by concretejungle

Ok, I'm a jong so please help me out. My partner's record player is old and cheap and I'd like to get her a new one for her birthday. I am not, nor do I foresee becoming an audiophile so I'd like to keep it simple and reasonably priced. Currently we listen to music on a Bose Solo 2 soundbar (off of our phones on bluetooth, it also has ports labeled "audio" and "coax." I would like to hook the record player up to the soundbar that way. Is that feasible?

What record player should I buy? If I need a budget I guess I'd be willing to spend around $500. Thanks.

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U-Turn Orbit with the built-in preamp. $329
https://uturnaudio.com/products/orbit-basic-turntable
The port labeled "audio" is a 3.5mm jack, yes? The turntable has RCA outputs so you'll just need a dual RCA to single 3.5mm cable (easy to find on Amazon) and you're set.

Thank you. That was one on the list and confirms what I thought about the hookup.


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For bang for the buck on an entry level system with self amplified speakers I got my daughter the following:

- 1 By One Belt drive turntable. I think it's better than the alternatives in the price range and it's decent overall, but obviously not a high end table.
- Edifier 1280DB speakers. People love these and I was skeptical, but they actually are pretty good performers for the size and price.

Each piece is about $150 +/-, and the Edifiers are actually quite easy to find used at half that price.

In case any of that helps.

Funny story. My brother and his friends are audiophiles and i was chatting with a guy at work and found out he was also. He told me he just got a new turntable and showed me pics and it looked super expensive. I asked him how much it cost and he said 17.
I was in the Corps in Japan back in the day and had gotten what was in my world a kick ass entire system with a Yamaha receiver, Technics speakers equalizer etc. and paid about $1900 for it. I told him wow, that must be really nice cuz i paid about $1700 for my entire system. He laughs and says no, $17k!!! For a turntable and he had several other lesser turntables that he didn't use that were worth ~ $20k total. The guy was a young engineer and was not making crazy money.