• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Help choosing a turntable!

acrylicnoise

acrylicnoise

New Member
Recently, I started to grow a collection of vintage hifi components. Nothing too fancy, but I missed hearing the marantz sound (I sold a 2270 years ago that was giving me trouble and bought a Brio R instead).

Because of these forums, I've picked up a 2275, 2230 and dynaco a25s, large advents and Klipsch KG4s. Now it's just a matter of trying every combination with the variety of genres in my record collection and I should land on a satisfying combination.

Here's the issue: I have a Technics SL-1900. Of course, it gets sweet vinyl tones out there, but I know things could get better (I know, they can always get better if you're willing to spend enough).

Let's say my budget is in the $600-$800 range, new or old, including cartridge and stylus suggestions, what are some turntable recommendations for what I already have going on here?

PS
Sorry for the long first post.
 
Register to hide this ad
acrylicnoise said:
Let's say my budget is in the $600-$800 range, new or old, including cartridge and stylus suggestions, what are some turntable recommendations for what I already have going on here?
Click to expand...

Your turntable is working fine I would spend your budget on a really good MC cartridge. This is where your going to improve sound quality in your record playback.

If you went out and bought something like a Sumiko Blue Point EVO III @ around $500 you would think you bought a $3000 table, not to mention the SQ of the whole system would have improved.
 
SSM, Thunder Bay, Fort Frances? Just wondering if we are close. I'm an hour and a half south of Fort Frances. Ontario is like the Texas of Canada for those who don't know. It's huge.
 
Forget about replacing the SL-1900, nothing new for $600-$800 is going to better it. A cartridge upgrade and a record cleaning machine is where I'd spend the money.
 
Well, a SL-1900 is a really nice midrange deck but of course there is better for that kind of money, a SL-1200MK2, SL-1300MK2, SL-1600MK2, a Thorens like the TD-320, perhaps a nice Micro Seiki would come in reach, just to name a few. However, if you could express the sound improvement in a percentage than the improvement / price ratio would probably not be very attractive. ;)
 
I'm just waiting for our dollar to improve a tiny bit and then I'm picking up the pro-ject cleaner. I buy mostly new vinyl, but they sometimes need a clean and the few used ones I have could certainly use it!

I guess this thread is: What are some great cartridge suggestions for the upgrade? :)
 
ggregg said:
SSM, Thunder Bay, Fort Frances? Just wondering if we are close. I'm an hour and a half south of Fort Frances. Ontario is like the Texas of Canada for those who don't know. It's huge.
Click to expand...

I'm all the way down in the Niagara region. I don't think we're close at all!
 
4-2-7 said:
Your turntable is working fine I would spend your budget on a really good MC cartridge. This is where your going to improve sound quality in your record playback.

If you went out and bought something like a Sumiko Blue Point EVO III @ around $500 you would think you bought a $3000 table, not to mention the SQ of the whole system would have improved.
Click to expand...
Sorry for my ignorance, but would I need high or low output for this cartridge?
 
acrylicnoise said:
Sorry for my ignorance, but would I need high or low output for this cartridge?
Click to expand...
Well a high output cart will work in your receivers MM input as they have generally 2.5mv. Even carts with as low as 1.3mv will work, and low outputs in the .8 will be needing head amps and SUT. However nothing is written in granite as I also use 2.5mv carts with head amps and then into MM or MC phono stages.

What we are talking about here is the gain prior to the built in phono stage of the preamp/receiver. Over all system volume is affected here, if you had MM and MC inputs to the preamp/receiver, you then used the same 2.5mv cart in both. The result would be higher overall system volume using the 2.5mv cart in the MC input opposed to the MM input due to the step-up gain in the MC input.

Now if this gain is over done, and you have too much gain prior to the preamp/receiver you can get distortion to the signal, and or even damage the cart or phono stage.
 
What if I expand my budget? At what point am I upgrading? Wouldn't a Rega RP3 be an upgrade? Or just not substantial enough for the cost? Is spending $100 on an upgraded AT cartridge (because that's all my table deserves) all my current gear deserves? Am I comfortably in the middle range and would need to spend a lot of money to break into the high end?
 
Unless something is wrong with your SL-1900 that would require service, or if you like the looks of the modern players a whole lot better I do not think it is really that worthwhile.

That's the problem you have when you want to improve on a good vintage player by buying a brand new turntable from the current line-ups. If you really want new and to truly improve a lot quality- and sound-wise, I guess you should start thinking $1000+ territory. Better motors, heavier platters, better arms will come into play.

Of course if you sell your SL-1900 and change it for another vintage turntable higher up the line you will only pay a small fraction of that $1000 for that upgrade - say a $100, maybe $200 or even $300? - while chances are much higher that the upgrade is worthwhile.
 
Last edited:
4-2-7 said:
If you went out and bought something like a Sumiko Blue Point EVO III @ around $500 you would think you bought a $3000 table, not to mention the SQ of the whole system would have improved.
Click to expand...

Do you know if there's much difference between the Blue Point no. 2 and the EVO III beyond the $200 difference? :)
 
acrylicnoise said:
Is spending $100 on an upgraded AT cartridge (because that's all my table deserves)
Click to expand...

This is the problem when people look at cost, just because you have a turntable that cost x amount of dollars doesn't mean you can or should only put a cartridge on it that cost x amount of dollars less on it. As I said your going to get most of your sound from the cartridge. If we took your cartridge you have now and put it on any of the tables mentioned here, my bet would be you would not hear any difference, let alone cost vs difference.

Now if we take the same money, and bought that little tinny cartridge that people don't like to spend money on because they can't see it like a big set of speakers or turntable. Put that on the same table you have, you will really hear the difference, not think if you squint really hard, but in your face WOW that's what I wanted for money and time spent.

acrylicnoise said:
Do you know if there's much difference between the Blue Point no. 2 and the EVO III beyond the $200 difference?
Click to expand...

I don't know, never heard one before, but Sumiko is not charging as much, not using the same design or materials and don't think it's worth as much.

I'll send you my number so I can send you some video clips if you have Texting
 
acrylicnoise said:
Is spending $100 on an upgraded AT cartridge (because that's all my table deserves)
Click to expand...

Here are some tables valued at $10,000 and a SL-1200 MKii with a BP EVO III on it. It's being set up for another member that wanted or thought he needed a factory setup $1500-$2000 new table. The first thing thing a setup new table will skimp on is the cartridge and the table is not your sound.

IMG_1035.JPG IMG_1037.JPG IMG_1036.JPG IMG_1038.JPG IMG_1039.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom