Best Entry level turntable for Teenager
- Thread starter Radford
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- entry level turn table
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
How many of the budget tables have you used? That's what I thought.
My daily driver is a JVC QL-A7, but I have used the u-Turn and an RT-81. I found the Fluance to be better than the Rega Planar 1.
VintageVibe
Active Member
+1 You beat me to it. Tremendous value and great reviews. I was considering the RT85 for $499 (includes Orto 2M Blue!).Went in a different direction. Every table except the 85 and the 82 are already out of stock on their site.
Here's what you get for $300 https://www.fluance.com/rt82w-reference-high-fidelity-vinyl-turntable-natural-walnut
MisterDK
Addicted Member
A bit more than the OP’s budget but it probably doesn’t matter anyway. The OP hasn’t posted since the first post he made. At this point, we could be posting our favorite recipes for baked sea bass.. Time to put a new record on. ^_^
invaderzim
Super Member
join their mailing list and you should get an email with a $10 off code
hbucker
Well-Known Member
Fluance, Orbit, AT all seem like products similar to what the OP is looking for. Any of these would be a very solid but inexpensive introduction to turntable/vinyl function and ownership. And "new" comes with a warranty that could come in handy. As has been said, Orbit's customer service is second to none.
If I were a betting man, and I'm not, I would guess that his teenage daughter isn't interested in any product that is old enough to be quirky or that requires maintenance of any kind. New is probably the way to go, unless this stuff is also Dad's hobby. Based on his original question, I'm also guessing he probably doesn't want to work on an old turntable.
- Just guessing.
If I were a betting man, and I'm not, I would guess that his teenage daughter isn't interested in any product that is old enough to be quirky or that requires maintenance of any kind. New is probably the way to go, unless this stuff is also Dad's hobby. Based on his original question, I'm also guessing he probably doesn't want to work on an old turntable.
- Just guessing.
I don't have a recipe, but your post reminds me that it's been a long time since I watched Shadow of the Thin Man, a movie in which sea bass figures prominently.
MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
There was a lot of new crap then too. Don't look at the past through rose colored glasses.
As an aside, most today kids don't know or care about much besides their phones, tablets, etc.
I have kids that are now in their early 20s, most of my friends and co-workers have teenagers or kids in their early 20s. In my personal experience, kids today LOVE anything vintage (or as they call it, retro). My youngest daughter is all about vintage clothes, shoes, furniture, lamps, etc. She even collects vintage magazines because she enjoys browsing the articles and ads.
At work, I am known as the turntable guy. I pick up solid, functional vintage turntables (mostly direct drive Japanese models from the late 70s or early 80s), whenever I see them at bargain prices. I perform a full clean lube and adjust, which is easy on these models, install a new stylus or a new cartridge, and pass them along to the children of friends and co-workers. They are especially popular this time of year as many teens want "a real record player" for Christmas and parents want something that will be gentle on those expensive new "vinyls". I actually currently have more demand than tables. I like helping young people get into this hobby. Recently, it was my nephew and the daughter of a friend. I also gave them each some of my duplicate albums to help get them started on their journey.
None of that helps the OP. He seems to be long gone, but if someone's kid wants a a good deal on a serviced, fully functional vintage table, I heartily recommend mom or dad become an AK subscriber and post a WTB ad in Bartertown. Much better odds than buying something blind off craigslist.
MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
A properly serviced vintage Japanese direct drive table will nether be quirky, nor require any maintenance until well after she's out of college - i.e. no more, possibly less, maintenance than a new, inexpensive table. If the table has been recently serviced, the first service a vintage direct drive Technics will require is a couple drops of spindle oil after 2000 hours. At one album a day, 365 days a year, that comes to almost 8 years.
beat_truck
Addicted Member
I guess it depends on where you live and who you know.
I don't even know many adults that are into vintage audio, records, or anything else (except maybe for cars), much less kids.
hbucker
Well-Known Member
No argument here. I'm just going with the odds of buying something new vs. something old that may or may not have been maintained the way you describe. There are plenty of these old tables out there too, and who knows what service as really been done on them?
I'm still using my JVC DD table from 1982, btw.
Thunderbox
Super Member
Right now I have over 18 TTs. Many of them are better than anything you can get new for the OPs price.. All serviced, lubricated and set up, new belts if needed and styli. How many budget tables have I used. Literally hundreds. Since retiring I have been doing TT refurb and repair in a city of 300000 it keeps me pretty busy. Thanks for asking.
MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
I guess it depends on where you live and who you know.
I don't even know many adults that are into vintage audio, records, or anything else (except maybe for cars), much less kids.
People in Portland tend to be both trendy and cheap. Being into vintage checks both boxes.
MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
Which is why I recommended getting a properly serviced vintage table and/or subscribing for access to Bartertown. I'm comfortable and confident in my ability to judge condition and service any table I decide to buy, but I get that that's not an option for everyone. I live near a medium size city and there are several dealers that sell fully serviced vintage tables. They come with a 90 day warranty so you know you aren't getting a lemon, or inheriting someone else's problems.
One of my favorite, low cost vintage tables is the Technics SL-1500. It's a totally manual table, very easy to work on dead silent when cleaned and lubed. I'd recommend it over anything new at 2x - 3x the price. The Panasonic-made MCS tables are also a great bargain on the used vintage marketplace - a Technics in JC Penney clothing. I've had four of the Panasonic-made MCS models. They were great tables and tremendous bargains. There are many more, but those are just a few I've owned, worked on and eventually parted with.
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
So you have used the Fluance and don't think it is "quality"? Servicing old BSRs doesn't tell you about the quality any more than repairing a Pinto tells you about a new Hyundai.
I guess it depends on why you participate in hobby forums. It's enough for me if there is an interesting subject and an exchange of ideas. Whether or not the OP sees any of it doesn't need to affect my enjoyment of a thread.
VintageVibe
Active Member
All of us here for the most part are veteran and passionate TT owners who have probably spent an inordinate amount of time (and money) in the hobby over a long period of time and can share an astounding amount of collective wisdom. We know the plusses and the pitfalls as well as the advantages of new over old or old over new, plus the nearly limitless combinations, variations and matching of decks, arms, carts, cables, ohms, impedance, pf, etc. And we could debate it all until the end of time. I think that's a fair assessment.
The OP is down in Texas in the middle of a raging pandemic, has at least one kid who may be home 24/7 and may also be dealing with other issues as well. Job loss, family member with COVID, etc. Give the guy a break. At least he came to the right place to ask, right?
Having the kids is one thing. Being a kid in the wireless 5G world is another. The influence of the speed of information and the impact of it is unprecedented. Algorithms are incessantly competing for your attention and money. It's truly mind boggling. Unless anyone here is a 20 something, don't even try to pretend you know what they want. Especially a young lady who wants a new TT for Christmas. I heard she's moved on to DAC's anyway.
As jrtrent said: "I guess it depends on why you participate in hobby forums. It's enough for me if there is an interesting subject and an exchange of ideas. Whether or not the OP sees any of it doesn't need to affect my enjoyment of a thread." Well said.
VV