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My first vintage setup. How'd I do?

Kooranga

Kooranga

New Member
I'm graduating with my PhD in May, and I decided I wanted to buy a turntable as a graduation gift to myself. While doing some research, I stumbled upon AudioKarma, and after an evening of reading, I dropped my plans of buying one of those new Audio-Technica USB decks for around $250 and put that money towards buying vintage gear.

So, for the last month, I've been hitting garage sales, estate sales, Goodwill stores, and scouring Craig's List. Here's what I ended up with:

MCS 3223 Receiver - $30
Technics SL-J2 linear TT - $30
DCM KX12 speakers - $28

Not the best sound in the world, granted, but for less than half the price of the new AT TT, I got a complete system that sounds MILES better than than the home theater setup I'd intended to run the newfangled deck through.

All of this is to say, thanks for the great community you guys have here. It's indispensable while shopping. I'm afraid I've caught the bug, too. I intend to keep on the lookout for better gear at the thrift shops.
 
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Technics linear TT's are under rated. They are convenient to use and a great entry into the world of vinyl. $30 for one puts you in the money.
 
Keep hitting the garage sales.
Keep the better move on the rest and you I'll end up with a more than great system.
Might take a year or two or it may happen all at once but it will happen
 
Great stuff doc. Keep reading and looking around. I find most of my deals on Craigslist. Thrift shops and yard sales are great for lp's and cd's as well as gear.
jim
 
I'd say you did pretty well. As time goes on, keep improving the system as opportunities present themselves. Half the fun of this hobby (IMHO) is the search for new and better gear.

Enjoy the tunes for now - and Welcome to AK!
 
Great price for an SL-J2. I should never have given mine to that ex-girlfriend. Would have made a decent second table for my office system.
 
Great story and good for you! Congrats on the PhD!

You are on the first rung of the vintage ladder of upgrades!
 
Thanks for the feedback and encouragement, y'all! I am grateful for all the stuff I've learned from the forums this far!
 
Only trouble with the (relatively) newer Technics turntables (SL-1200 series excluded) is that they all use P-mount cartridges, which are probably harder to find than standard mount these days. If you plan on keeping the turntable for a while, might want to keep an eye open for a replacement stylus for whatever cartridge is in there now.
 
swechsler said:
Only trouble with the (relatively) newer Technics turntables (SL-1200 series excluded) is that they all use P-mount cartridges, which are probably harder to find than standard mount these days. If you plan on keeping the turntable for a while, might want to keep an eye open for a replacement stylus for whatever cartridge is in there now.
Click to expand...

+1

I'm the original owner of my SL-j2 (it still works great). Cartridges and styli are getting harder to find, so if you can, pick up a spare or two.

I paid more for a cartridge and stylus than I did for the TT when new...
 
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