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Looking for my first record player. HELP!

Bridawn

Bridawn

New Member
I am just getting into the authentic sound of vinyl and asked my husband for a player for Christmas. Wellllllllll... little did I know there are SOOOO many options. After hours of research I have come up with two options:
Jensen JTA-230 and Audio Technica AT-LP60. Does anyone have recommendations for one or the other? I'm open to other options (ie vintage-that world seems so huge and intimidating) outside those as well. I will have limited space so I would like built in speakers but I could get speakers if I just had to. I'm wanting to stay on a budget of less than $200 and I would like all the needed parts to be included with the player package.
Thanks so much in advance.
 
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If that's the two you've narrowed it down to then the answer is easy - the AT-LP60. It has a built-in phono stage so all you'd need then would be a set of active (powered) speakers to plug it into. Something like the Polk Audio T15 speakers might be a good match.


James H
 
The AT-LP60 is a fine turntable. My daughter uses one. Audio-Technica is a genuine audio company that makes many high-end products.

Turntables (like Crosley) with built-in speakers will sound kinda crappy. As noted above, some powered speakers (they have a built-in amplifier) will do the trick w/ the AT-LP60. Plenty of powered speakers around the $100 or less mark. This is just one example.
 
Thanks! I read somewhere that the "needle" (excuse my lack of terminology) has been shown to harm the records. Are either of you familiar with anything like that?
 
If this is your budget,...then I would wait and save your money. I would NOT trust something like you are looking for with my records.
 
Vintage under $200 is doable. You would need at the minimum a turntable, phono stage, and powered speakers. If you feel comfortable giving a basic location where you are, people here can look at your local Craigslist and link some good options for a vintage table. If you aren't comfortable with that, you can put up some links and we could comment.
 
likebike23 said:
Vintage under $200 is doable. You would need at the minimum a turntable, phono stage, and powered speakers. If you feel comfortable giving a basic location where you are, people here can look at your local Craigslist and link some good options for a vintage table. If you aren't comfortable with that, you can put up some links and we could comment.
Click to expand...

That would be amazing! I briefly delved off into the vintage market and was immediately over my head. I am in central Arkansas but AR is so small pretty much anywhere in the state would be accessible for the right setup.
 
Go vintage... Try a Technics Automatic Direct Drive P-mount...Technics SL-D35
Or Hitachi HT-202
There are almost no adjustments to be made on a P-mount turntable as far as the cartridge goes so it is really easy to setup and would be a great first table for someone. Direct drive means no belts to worry about. Automatic...just press "start"

As stated before find a receiver or amp with "phono" inputs.

Good Luck and happy spinning..Let us know what you end up with and... Welcome to AK!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Hi...609483?hash=item48a2d6770b:g:7ocAAOSwUuRZzQrg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Or...926766&hash=item3625eab318:g:wXsAAOSwz~paDcLH

The Technics looks to be in really good shape. if yo do go ebay ask the seller if they have shipped a turntable before...if not keep moving
 
Hitachiht550 said:
Go vintage... Try a Technics Automatic Direct Drive P-mount...Technics SL-D35
Or Hitachi HT-202
There are almost no adjustments to be made on a P-mount turntable as far as the cartridge goes so it is really easy to setup and would be a great first table for someone. Direct drive means no belts to worry about. Automatic...just press "start"

As stated before find a receiver or amp with "phono" inputs.

Good Luck and happy spinning..Let us know what you end up with and... Welcome to AK!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Hi...609483?hash=item48a2d6770b:g:7ocAAOSwUuRZzQrg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Or...926766&hash=item3625eab318:g:wXsAAOSwz~paDcLH

The Technics looks to be in really good shape. if yo do go ebay ask the seller if they have shipped a turntable before...if not keep moving
Click to expand...

I rally hate to show my "green" but you are obviously sooooo much well versed than me. That is some AWESOME advice and I am checking those out now. By "receiver" do you mean speakers? I def need something that doesn't require me to have to know the mechanics.
 
Hitachiht550 said:
Receiver or stereo...Pioneer, Yamaha,
Something like this.:https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pi...105325?hash=item3d4e9fdf6d:g:eek:zYAAOSwxzdaBTBn
Click to expand...
Hitachiht550 is only directing you to a well-known vintage receiver, but please don't buy that particular one as it has issues.
If you become a subscriber, you will be able to go into the "Bartertown" forum and peruse fully refurbished receivers, integrated amps, speakers or turntables from one of the many restorers/sellers on this site.
 
Vintage units make sense if you like fixing things or paying someone else to fix them. I've had my share of vintage units and still run a Marantz 2238 (about 40 years old) in the family room. Love it. But it is 40 years old and I have to open it up once a year and Deoxit the pots and check the DC offset. When the power supply went out, I paid a tech $200 to replace/fix it. There are headaches and costs associated with vintage. In fact, this site is full of threads seeking advice how to clean and fix vintage finds and purchases.

As for the needle on the AT-LP60, here's a picture of my original UK mono LP of the Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet playing on my daughter's LP60. The album costs over twice what I paid for the turntable and I'm fine spinning it on the LP60.

index.php
 
OP,

Keep in mind that if you go vintage, you MAY need to spend extra for maintenance since the equipment is old. Used turntable may require a new stylus (needle). Used receiver/amplifier may require cleaning controls or possible parts replacement to function properly. You should consider these things as you sound like your budget is pretty firm.
 
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