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A noob needs to make a decision

K

KickDes

New Member
Hi there. Turntable noob here. I was given a low-end Audio Technica turntable over the hols and I've been getting a bit deeper into vinyl. I think I'm ready for a proper turntable, but don't have a tonnage to throw down.

Naturally, since everyone's been talking about U-Turn Orbit, I've been looking into that. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and the Rega RP1 are also in the mix.

I know that everything in a turntable's important, but how do I know what's more important than others? For example, the thick acrylic platter of the U-Turn Orbit looks substantial, but will it make a substantial difference over the thinner platters in the Pro-Ject and the Rega? What about other features like the U-Turn option of the Q Up tonearm lifter - do the other models have them? How important is the material of the tone arm itself (question directed at the Pro-Ject, natch)?

So many questions, really hope to get some useful guidance from you guys. Thanks a ton.
 
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My advice is to check out as many garage/yard/estate sales as you can, as well as thrift stores, and find yourself a nice vintage tt. You'll get a lot more quality for your money.
 
If price is a consideration, the Pro-Ject Debut III is still available new for $299 with free shipping if I'm not mistaken. I think it is a pretty good value for a new table. Then take the $100+ you save over the Debut Carbon or RP1 and put it towards a phono preamp - that'll probably make a more substantial difference in my opinion.

I've been helping a buddy for the past year or so and he went with the Debut III and has been very happy. He "upgraded" to the acrylic platter and got a Speed Box for it at Christmas - I suggested the phono preamp and he went for it and was shocked that it made a much bigger difference than the Speed Box and acrylic platter combined.

Just some food for thought - good luck!
 
You might want to put your location in your info. The table experts can then look on your local Craiglist (if applicable) for deals worthy of checking out.
Also see the AK Marketplace.
 
I would consider the U-turn to be a lateral move for you. Pro-Ject and Rega make some good turntables, but the ones in our price range have issues that I'm sure has been resolved. One issue had to do with the motor noise.

The acrylic platter will not resonate any sound like the metal platters do. As for the Pro-Ject table with a carbon fiber tonearm is stronger and lighter than the regular tonearms. You will have to search the web for more technical data, etc. The Q-up is a unit that raises the tonearm after playing one side of an LP. For a manual table, this is a good item to have instead of having your tonearm/cartridge spinning until you lift the arm yourself.

It all boils down to your budget, how much will you be spending on a turntable. If you can only afford a U-turn Orbit, you need to decide whether or not to get the Orbit or continue to save until you have enough to get a better table. If your budget allows for a Pro-Ject or Rega, I would consider buying a vintage turntable, one that has been restored/refurbished, and it will give you a lifetime of enjoyment. Check out Fix My Dual. Bill aka Bohhey specializes in and only works on Dual. He has several models to choose from, and could possibly set you up with a nice Dual cheaper than the Project or Rega. It would be worth your while to check it out and decide for yourself.

It's a big step to make, but if you do your homework and research, you will be better prepaired to decide which table is best for you. All we can do is offer our opinions, but in the end it will come down to what sounds the best for you. :music:
 
The OP will have to state his total budget and the equipment he already has for any AK member to give a recommendation. The OP might want to consider that a turntables performance is based on the sum of the parts and one alleged good feature such as a tonearm isn't going to make a world of difference if the other parts are weak and underperforming. On a tight budget I'd also recommend the local Craigslist for preowned turntables.
 
Thank you all for jumping in so quickly with useful advice. I'm based in New York, and currently, I'm using an Audio Technica AT-LP2D-USB hand-me-down. It's automatic, it has a built-in phono, and it was a great way to get started with vinyl. But the ears want what the ears want, and this turntable feels wanting in the face of my NAD integrated amp and Mission bookshelf speakers.

I'd love to spend no more than around $500, hence the shortlist I came up with. I've read a lot of advice about going the used/vintage route, but a) being a noob, I'm unfamiliar with pedigree and nuances of older gear, b) I'm not wise enough to detect if there are any inherent problems with the older kit.
 
If I had a limited budget I'd go for the U-turn. The Pro-ject sounds nice but motor noise is a major issue. Some people get lucky and get a quiet one, I didnt. I did manage to tame the noise but it took some tweaking. Biggest bang for your buck is the U-turn. Get the basic model and save your pennies for a cart and platter upgrade later, spend the rest on a nice phono stage. Vintage gear can either be a blessing or a curse depending on what you find and who you buy it from.
 
$500 can get you a heck of a table. Try posting a WTB with specific location and system details in the Marketplace.
Many members here like to try stuff for a while and then sell. Barter Town would cost $25 to join- you become a subscriber. You might find someone local willing to bring it to you.
I've seen amazing deals for all kind of stuff there. You can look at a person's past posts and see how long they have been around and judge accordingly.
BTW, welcome to AK!
PS experiment with the search function using "Search AK with Google"
You will see many threads with noobs just starting out. This really is the best forum for learning about audio.
 
KickDes said:
Thank you all for jumping in so quickly with useful advice. I'm based in New York, and currently, I'm using an Audio Technica AT-LP2D-USB hand-me-down. It's automatic, it has a built-in phono, and it was a great way to get started with vinyl. But the ears want what the ears want, and this turntable feels wanting in the face of my NAD integrated amp and Mission bookshelf speakers.

I'd love to spend no more than around $500, hence the shortlist I came up with. I've read a lot of advice about going the used/vintage route, but a) being a noob, I'm unfamiliar with pedigree and nuances of older gear, b) I'm not wise enough to detect if there are any inherent problems with the older kit.
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If you buy vintage from the auction site or an unknown person, I agree with you that it's very risky. However, if you buy from a reputable person such as Fix My Dual, you are basically getting a new turntable, one that has already been refurbished and restored, and you will get a warranty and support via email or phone. The best part is the table will last you your lifetime and your children's lifetime. You will get more for your money buying vintage.
 
My two cents?

Subscribe (best 25 bucks you will ever spend) and then post a WTB. You'll have your pick of plenty of good gear. I got my Technics SL1400mk2 for 100 bucks here 10 years ago from Bully, and it arrived safe/sound, with a nice Ortofon cart to boot.

Lots of gently used tables the fellas will part with around here.
 
I'm new to this also and I went with the Uturn. There are plenty of reviews and I thought it was a good buy. The guys at Uturn have been very helpful. The big downside is the wait. I ordered back on March 11th and it's not due to ship until early May. During that time I have been shopping for a preamp and stocking up on more vinyl. I'm no audiophile and don't pretend to be. At the end of the day I just want to enjoy my LP's on a good solid product without breaking the bank. :music:
 
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KickDes said:
...Naturally, since everyone's been talking about U-Turn Orbit, I've been looking into that....

So many questions, really hope to get some useful guidance from you guys. Thanks a ton.
Click to expand...

Who is everyone?!? I know a lot of people who are NOT talking about them. Much talk suggests that a good phono pre may be a better investment than worrying about the table. Sure, it needs to spin accurately, not introduce unwanted noise/vibration, and have a good stylus, but don't forget that phono pre!
 
janikphoto said:
Who is everyone?!? I know a lot of people who are NOT talking about them. Much talk suggests that a good phono pre may be a better investment than worrying about the table. Sure, it needs to spin accurately, not introduce unwanted noise/vibration, and have a good stylus, but don't forget that phono pre!
Click to expand...

What phono preamps do you suggest in the $100-$200 price range?
 
livestrong said:
If price is a consideration, the Pro-Ject Debut III is still available new for $299 with free shipping if I'm not mistaken. I think it is a pretty good value for a new table. Then take the $100+ you save over the Debut Carbon or RP1 and put it towards a phono preamp - that'll probably make a more substantial difference in my opinion.

I've been helping a buddy for the past year or so and he went with the Debut III and has been very happy. He "upgraded" to the acrylic platter and got a Speed Box for it at Christmas - I suggested the phono preamp and he went for it and was shocked that it made a much bigger difference than the Speed Box and acrylic platter combined.

Just some food for thought - good luck!
Click to expand...

What's a speed box?
 
Without knowing your other audio equipment you have you may or may not need a phono preamp. Update what you have for a receiver/amplifier, 2ch stereo, AVR etc. A speed box is used to adjust the speed of the turntable so that it is playing accurately at 33 and 45 rpm. Not all turntables require a "speed box" if the mfg built the table to run accurately at 33 and 45 rpm from the start. Give careful consideration when comparing turntables that you don't find yourself in over your head needing to purchase so called upgrades that will hopefully correct the poor design of the turntable.
 
MrAnderson said:
What phono preamps do you suggest in the $100-$200 price range?
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I've been looking at the Little Bear tubed pre, but there are several threads on good SS pre's on this forum. There's a good thread that explains how and why users are noticing bigger gains from a good outboard phono pre, rather than just cart rolling all the time.
 
Another good phono preamp is the Emotiva XPS-1. It can be used with MM and MC cartridges. It is out of stock but should be getting more sometime this month.

It is worth the wait. :music:
 
I would say the Pro-Ject Phono Box S is a solid choice at the under $200 price if you're looking new.

Or try to keep you eye out for a used Vincent Audio PHO-8…it is $400 new, but maybe you could find one for $250ish used? To my ears, it performs in the $1,000 range! The Clearaudio Nano Phono is sweet, too. I've also heard very good things about the iFi iPhono, but don't have any personal experience with it.
 
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