Help a noob choose a table!

[Noobie Dave]

I went shopping around my town and the record stores only have a few available. I figured I'd give them my business first before I bought something I'd never seen played off of ebay or Craigslist. I'd love any input any of you could give me as to the price/quality ratio.

Sony ps-lx500 for $100
Technics SL-B5 for $90
MCS 6205 $80
Realistic 200 $45

Also, if I drive an hour there and back, I can get an SL-D2 for $100

The prices all seem high for what I've been searching online, but interest in vinyl is going up, I suppose.

I'm looking for something that sounds good. I'd like to get into vinyl to experience something new and not just to play an old collection... I only own one record right now

Thanks!

 

[HTHMAN]

I would hesitate buying a linear tracker as they can be quite trouble prone. That rules our the Sony and Realistic. MCS is made by Technics and are probably very similar belt drive turntables. I agree the prices are a bit high. If it were me, I would drive the hour and get the SL-D2. It is a direct drive semi-automatic and a very nice turntable. That is probably top dollar for it if it is in excellent condition and has a decent cartridge. I have one and it is a good workhorse. I have had a few Technics belt drive turntables and the quality is not as good as the direct drive models IMO.

 

[bobins08]

I went shopping around my town and the record stores only have a few available. I figured I'd give them my business first before I bought something I'd never seen played off of ebay or Craigslist. I'd love any input any of you could give me as to the price/quality ratio.

Sony ps-lx500 for $100
Technics SL-B5 for $90
MCS 6205 $80
Realistic 200 $45

Also, if I drive an hour there and back, I can get an SL-D2 for $100

The prices all seem high for what I've been searching online, but interest in vinyl is going up, I suppose.

I'm looking for something that sounds good. I'd like to get into vinyl to experience something new and not just to play an old collection... I only own one record right now

Thanks!

The SL-D2 is a very nice starter table but $100 is top dollar so make sure that every is working and in good repair. That it includes a good cartridge with a newer stylus. Perhaps you can report back on the stylus that is on it?

Here is a little check list for that table:

- 33 and 45 motor speeds can be set and it stays stable,
- auto return function is working,
- verify tone arm bearing does not have excessive play,
- tone arm cue lever is working and properly damped,
- RCA plugs in good repair,
- AC power cord and TT grounding wire in good repair,
- all feet are there and in good shape,
- dustcover and hinges,
- switches and lights work,
- play it and verify clean sound on both channels,
- overall cosmetics are good.

I too prefer not to buy a TT from ebay but by all means check your Craiglist. You can use the above checklist (as applicable) to inspect and demo before you buy.

cheers, Bob

 

[illini]

Sl-d2 wins, if it is good condition. Inspect the tonearm for wobble/play/binding/original geometry. If you get the d2 stop by Guitar Center and pick up a can of D5 Deoxit in the pro-audio department.

 

[Noobie Dave]

Thanks for your responses. The SL-D2 is indeed on Craigslist and it's an hour away in a truck that gets shitty mileage.

If i'm going with that, an hour trip, I can also get:

Sony T25 w/AT cart for $75
Technics SL-QD33 for $70
Sanyo tp-1012 for $100
Technics SL-230 for $100

Any of these jump out as being better than the SL-D2?

I'm not sure why, perhaps it's because I'm up in Michigan and there's about 2 dozen colleges here full of kids looking for "vintage cool" things, but prices here seem high and you don't get the $20 finds at the Thrift stores.

 

[kermit z]

None of those would make me pull out any money. The SL-D2 is still the best bet.

 

[Noobie Dave]

Ok, how do I check the tonearm for excessive wobble/play? How much is too much?

 

[Noobie Dave]

It has an AT120E Cartridge. I'm going to try and go check it out tomorrow. How do I check the tonearm for excessive wobble?

It's one of those situations where I'm driving 2 for two hours at least, so I'll probably come home with it unless it's a disaster. He's now asking $70, but I bet I could get it for $65.

 

[HTHMAN]

That is a very good cartridge. It is also upgradable by using an upgraded stylus if you chose to do that. With a stock stylus, it tracks at 1-1.8 gm and should work very well on the SL-D2. Sounds like a pretty good deal at $70.

 

[SchweinHaus]

I'd vote for the SL-D2 as well. It should be a good reliable table. Do you know how to use the strobe light to check the timing? Those little dots on the side of the platter correspond to a speed, and there's a little chart that tells you which set of dots is which speed(you'll be reading the 60 Hz ones). With the light on and the table spinning, the dots corresponding to the speed and cycles should be dead still. Use the pitch shift to adjust it. If it doesn't stay, cleaning out the potentiometer on the pitch shift with Deoxit often does the trick.

 

[Noobie Dave]

Ok. Well. I bought it, $60. But the timing is off and I can't get it perfect with the pitch adjustment. Not sure how big (expensive) a deal this is, but I drove an hour to look at the thing and I wasn't going to drive home empty-handed. I'll look at the service manuals and do some searching. I don't have a receiver yet but I'm looking at one tomorrow, a kenwood KR-6600.