Is this Tesla NZC 160 turntable any good?

[ovi.sergiu]

Hello everyone!
(This is my first post and I am so anxious and shy)

So I bought already 2 crappy turntables (Watson from a supermarket, less than 30 dollars, and some Elta that got broken). So I need a turntable! Desperately!

I do not have an amplifier so I was looking for a turntable with a built in amplifier. So I found this Tesla NZC 160 turntable. The price is less than 100 euro with speakers included.
Here is what I found:

Description: Stereo gramoplayer with amplifier 2x 10W, powered from AC net 220V/50Hz. Chassis HC16, belt drive, magnetodynamic pickup, 33, 45 rpm, volume, bass, treble, balance control. Installed premplifier for magnetodynamic pickup.

Well, my questions are:
1. This has an magnetic cartdrige, right?
1a. If yes, that means it will not ruin my vinyls as a ceramic cartdridge will do if liestening over and over (so I read).
2. Is it worth the price?

Thank you!
Best regards.

 

[gladiator335]

I am not familiar, but by the look of it I'd say....pass and keep looking...

 

[N8Nagel]

"cheap turntable" is definitely one place I would be looking at vintage stuff...

Also, I'd keep an eye out for a decent receiver. several reasons:

1) in my experience, "all in ones" tend to be lower quality than separate components (some will argue that you need a separate tuner, preamp, and amplifier, but I am not quite that hard core - yet...)
2) when something breaks, you don't take down the entire system, just one component thereof
3) just because someone makes a good turntable doesn't mean they make good amplifiers, and vice versa - look at the proliferation of console systems back in the day that typically used either Garrard or Dual turntables...

 

[T.O.S.]

Salut !
Don't believe it's the best option . These weren't bad but not too good , either. The tonearm , as far as I remember has no adjustments.
Best option is a good table and separate amplifier. I doubt you'll get a great sound with this .But , obviously better than those crap plastic you had before.You'll have to change the belt and get a new needle . A bit of lubing the main bearing can help. I'd try also to get the price a bit lower , but it has the speakers ,after all....
Succes !

 

[ovi.sergiu]

I do understand, but now I am really troubled...
I do not want perfection but I do wanna pass the crappy turntables I have.
I do not wanna buy a preamp or an amp and then a deck. I wanted something all-in-one.
After I wrote this post, I discovered some opinions about the ceramic cartdridge: it will ruin the vinyls if you play them long. And I do not wanna ruin my vinyls.
Someone suggest a Concert 2030 (all-in-one too) but it also have a ceramic cartdridge... So I found that the magnetic cartdridge will be better.
I know the tonearm is simple, but I do not know to change the belt and get a new needle or lubing it... Yeah I know the speakers are another chapter, but imagine this: I liked the the built-in speakers from the crappy ones so these external ones would be ”better”.

So my open questions would be:
1. Ceramic cartdridge will ruin the vinyls? (could not find this information!- just that the playable hours will be FEWER than the magnetic one)
2. Tesla NZC 160 (magnetic cartdridge) or RFC Concert 2030/2040 (full automatic all-in-one BUT ceramic cartdridge)?
Merci.

 

[T.O.S.]

I understand your problems and suppose you are newbie and didn't met yet the real hi-fi . So , trying to adapt to these data , I can say , if you want all in one solution , that Ziphona German made RFT .....mmmmm It depends on its shape , but this is also true for the Tesla. The ceramic cartridge itself doesn't necessarily ruin the vinils , if properly maintained. But you'll have a hard time to find a good one or new one /or needle to replace it . It's easier to find a matching needle (or cartridge) for the Supraphon Tesla electromagnetic cartridge. I'd say , if the Tesla is in good shape , better go with this than the RFT .
On the other hand , as I allready advised you , It's mandatory that you study a bit and understand the turntable because it needs settings to work properly.
For example to change the cartridge you'll need to know how to align the cart and do the settings of the tonearm. A cartridge wich is not aligned properly with wrong settings on the tonearm or wich doesn't match well with the tonearm can ruin the vinils and sound bad , also .
If you don't want all these problems you have to get a P-mount turntable .These have all standardised , no arm settings to do , changing a needle is piece of cake , practically they were designed to simplify all the TT hassle for those who want it simple but good sounding. They are not pricey .I suggest a japanese vintage , mainly Technics. If you don't want to change belt you need direct drive wich is not as cheap . But a 5 years child can change a belt if you teach him how to do . Technics SL-BD3, SL-BD20, SL-J1, SL-D310 (see one on okazii cheap and this is dd no need to change belts ,I'd get one like this in your place , and the rest of money I'd look for a vintage amp and speakers ) Pioneer PL760, Akai AP-BX1,

Look also for a Technics Su -z 250 or others like this , for under 50€ and a pair of vintage speakers like http://www.okazii.ro/sisteme-audio/sisteme-complete/boxe-rft-model-l2432--a172072836 for very low money.

 

[ovi.sergiu]

Thank you, T.O.S.
I am a newbie. Imagine I was very satisfied with my crappy turntable bought from a super-market (20 bucks). This year I noticed the differences in sound quality after i spent 100 euro on my Creative headphones. I have never heard such a quality ina pair of headphones until Creative. Then I started and liestened to vinyls rip on Youtube and that was mega-awsome. So I wanna start somewhere. I will buy that Tesla or some Technics. I wanted to buy the Audio technica LP 120 USB. It is too expensive, and I found several bad reviews! Can I paste here the Technics models I can/like to buy before I should buy?
Thank you in advance.