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Purchasing first vinyl player

In that price range, some of the old Marantz decks are decent, too. I had a 6100 that I liked, though it definitely wasn't what most people would call high end. The 6200 and 6300 should be better and also not too expensive. New belts are ten bucks and highly recommended.
 
Sometimes they just find you. Picked up this direct drive HH Scott made by CEC on Craigslist for $5. Essentially same turntable as the Marantz TT2000. Performs quite well.
Scott PS 68A TT (1).JPG Scott PS 68A TT (2).JPG
 
OP Music said:
Hey guys I want to purchase my first turntable, but tbh I have no idea what to look for in a turntable, which brands to look out for etc. I had one of those ION USB turntables, but I gave it to my girlfriend because I'm not really interested in ripping vinyl to my computer, and that thing was a cheap piece of **** anyway. I'm definitely in to vintage equipment, but I wouldn't balk at a nice modern turntable either. I would say my price range is right around $100. I want a nice turntable, that looks nice as well. Do you have any suggestions or advice for me?

I don't know if this makes a difference but the vinyl player will be hooked up to my Marantz 2325 via Phono port.

Thanks for reading

Regards, Alex
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Hi, I think you've been given really good advice about vintage turntables, and it's true that if you're patient, you will find a gem. Why don't you take some time to find out the things you need to check when you look at used tables, like bearings, functions, speed etc. There's a lot of advice on here about what to look for.
Good luck!
 
I've got a really nice Technics SL-D5 that I'm about to sell for not much more than your listed budget. If your Craigslist deal doesn't work out, shoot me a PM.
 
$100 is tight. But you can get a good turntable if your patient. At that price vintage is the only way to go. I got my first.. a dual ca 606 for $25... bought my gf a technics.. think it's a SD2 or something for around $100. Both were decent. Be patient and spend time on Craigslist.. if you think something might be a contender ask here. The better ones do not have ceramic cartridges. And although there are some OK pmount you want something with a real haed-shell. Dual and technics are a good place to start.
 
As already mentioned in a couple previous posts, CEC made re-badged tables for Marantz, Scott, Realistic/Radio Shack, Hitachi, and I'm sure a few others--rarely do you actually see an actual CEC deck badged as such, but they are solid performers, and can be had relatively inexpensively.
 
If I were going to recommend any entry level turntable, it would be one of the direct drive Technics. I have an SL-D2 and it is probably the most bullet-proof turntable I have ever owned. There is just not much to go wrong with them. They are always on eBay and you should be able to pick a decent one up for under your $100 budget. Just set your max bid and be patient.
 
Excuse me, but I see this referenced time and again. Will someone please quantify what exactly is a "beginner" turntable? I can see this term applied when you are learning to ride a motorcycle or such type of endeavour in which your lack of skill would necessitate a more forgiving piece of equipment in order to learn how to use it correctly. A Turntable, at it's most basic, is a fairly simple mechanism. There are varying degrees of complexity and types of material used which would determine the price point of any particular table/cartridge combination. But I don't see how that would translate to beginner, mid-level, expert. etc. If I was new to this and have the $$$ to get a nice table, then why wouldn't I opt for that?
 
Get a good/ working used turntable on ebay or craig's list for $80-$150 then get a decent cart for under $200.

I know you said $100 for the turntable, but for new turntables - you're only going to find junk or toys under that price. It seems like you have to spend $800 minimum to get a good new table now.
 
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dzkfraser said:
Excuse me, but I see this referenced time and again. Will someone please quantify what exactly is a "beginner" turntable? I can see this term applied when you are learning to ride a motorcycle or such type of endeavour in which your lack of skill would necessitate a more forgiving piece of equipment in order to learn how to use it correctly.
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"Beginner" or "entry level" is (IMO) most commonly used (for or toward) those just getting into vinyl or getting back into it after decades of being away from the format. Even if you were into it before, that doesn't mean that it is "it" for you now. If you never have experienced the format, you gotta start somewhere. Usually, it refers to a "minimal" or "entry level" budget to get your feet wet in the medium and still getting an acceptable level of performance/enjoyment. Vinyl may or may not be "it" for you. I appreciate vinyl, and don't mind getting up to change album sides, cleaning records, and storing/cataloguing crates upon crates of lps--a lot of people don't, won't and never will. Even if you "used to", now a days digital is so much more convenient and you can store my entire collection of 3600+ lps on a hard drive or thumb drive with instant random access.

"Most" people, do not jump with both feet (and a second mortgage) into a new hobby that they may or may not like/appreciate. God bless you if you have the resources to do so, and spend your money as you will, but "most" people are not going to dive in headfirst (credit cards a' blazin') to TRY something. You can get a "taste" of the vinyl experience/hassle (depending upon how you look at it) for a couple hundred bucks, or maybe even less. If you "likey, likey" then maybe it is something that you want to commit more time and resources to--if not, you are only out a couple hundred bucks, not tens of thousands.

As for "lack of skill" and "more forgiving piece of equipment"--I'd rather fumble finger around with a $50 cart than trash a $2K cart as my first "experimentation" with vinyl. You use the motorcycle analogy--and I ride--a 2015 CBR1000RR ABS, capable of nearly 200 mph and will snap your neck in ANY gear--should that be ANYONE's first bike???--I sincerely hope not!!!--with over 35 years on street bikes, I wouldn't start here. Buy a used "not so special" something and LEARN.

"Beginner" and "entry level" are NOT derogatory terms--but everything is what it is, and has it's limitations, and a potential path forward for upgrades, should you want to pursue it. I sincerely doubt that your first stereo purchase was from the "high-end" demo room with a complimentary espresso in your hand.
 
savatage1973 said:
"Beginner" or "entry level" is (IMO) most commonly used (for or toward) those just getting into vinyl or getting back into it after decades of being away from the format. Even if you were into it before, that doesn't mean that it is "it" for you now. If you never have experienced the format, you gotta start somewhere. Usually, it refers to a "minimal" or "entry level" budget to get your feet wet in the medium and still getting an acceptable level of performance/enjoyment. Vinyl may or may not be "it" for you. I appreciate vinyl, and don't mind getting up to change album sides, cleaning records, and storing/cataloguing crates upon crates of lps--a lot of people don't, won't and never will. Even if you "used to", now a days digital is so much more convenient and you can store my entire collection of 3600+ lps on a hard drive or thumb drive with instant random access.

"Most" people, do not jump with both feet (and a second mortgage) into a new hobby that they may or may not like/appreciate. God bless you if you have the resources to do so, and spend your money as you will, but "most" people are not going to dive in headfirst (credit cards a' blazin') to TRY something. You can get a "taste" of the vinyl experience/hassle (depending upon how you look at it) for a couple hundred bucks, or maybe even less. If you "likey, likey" then maybe it is something that you want to commit more time and resources to--if not, you are only out a couple hundred bucks, not tens of thousands.

As for "lack of skill" and "more forgiving piece of equipment"--I'd rather fumble finger around with a $50 cart than trash a $2K cart as my first "experimentation" with vinyl. You use the motorcycle analogy--and I ride--a 2015 CBR1000RR ABS, capable of nearly 200 mph and will snap your neck in ANY gear--should that be ANYONE's first bike???--I sincerely hope not!!!--with over 35 years on street bikes, I wouldn't start here. Buy a used "not so special" something and LEARN.

"Beginner" and "entry level" are NOT derogatory terms--but everything is what it is, and has it's limitations, and a potential path forward for upgrades, should you want to pursue it. I sincerely doubt that your first stereo purchase was from the "high-end" demo room with a complimentary espresso in your hand.
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Excellently put.

I was getting ready to write something like this earlier today, but today was the day I needed to fix some stuff here at the house, and that took precedence.

dzkfraser said:
Excuse me, but I see this referenced time and again. Will someone please quantify what exactly is a "beginner" turntable? I can see this term applied when you are learning to ride a motorcycle or such type of endeavour in which your lack of skill would necessitate a more forgiving piece of equipment in order to learn how to use it correctly. A Turntable, at it's most basic, is a fairly simple mechanism. There are varying degrees of complexity and types of material used which would determine the price point of any particular table/cartridge combination. But I don't see how that would translate to beginner, mid-level, expert. etc. If I was new to this and have the $$$ to get a nice table, then why wouldn't I opt for that?
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To me, an entry level (beginner) vintage turntable is a good, basic turntable from yesteryear that, at a better price, meets or exceeds the performance of new budget offerings.

In this case, a budget was established, and I made my suggestion based on experience of owning two and gifting a third of a particular range of tables that for what they are, their quality, what they do, who they're made by, and how much they cost as they regularly fly under the radar, are IMHO excellent starter TTs which may leave no desire to upgrade for quite some time, while still having the capability to do so through a wide range of cartridges that will fit.
 
The difficult part is convincing people today even those with a fair amount of disposable income that good audio equipment doesn't come cheap. They have been raised on a lot of cheap mobile digital audio equipment, mp3 players with ear buds for example. Thus you see someone purchasing $30-$50 dollar albums to play on a $60 ION turntable with no clue that the records will be trashed after the first listen, then they wonder what was all the hype re the analog experience. A few manage to come here to AK and other audio web sites and hopefully they get educated that there are really good turntables that live up to the analog promise. I'd encourage anyone to buy the best table and related audio equipment they can afford and not start with entry level tables if they can do better.
 
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I rarely ever visit pawn shops as the few times I have most everything I see is grossly over priced. But one that I know that sells vinyl I go to a couple of times a year, and about a month ago I asked them if they ever get turntables and they said they had two, one was on the floor and the other he had behind the counter. The one behind the counter interested me and that night I came here asked members here to give me more info on it and from their answers I went back the next day and purchased it. It has a MM cart on it but it was a very good one in its day, and amazingly the stylus plays very well. A JVC QL 50, which is a direct drive that came from the factory without a tonearm. Who ever owned it mounted a SME series III with fluid damper, so not only a nice table but a good tonearm with cart mounted all in excellent condition. I have really enjoyed it as an addition to my table collection and for a couple of hundred a hard to beat combo that one would not be able to find for the price if shopping for a new table with that price point.

Point being take your time ask around and sooner or later you find something worthwhile.
 
Here's a tip- try searching for "record player" on Craigslist. I snagged a Dual 1219 for $20 that way. Might generate a hit eventually!
 
dzkfraser said:
Excuse me, but I see this referenced time and again. Will someone please quantify what exactly is a "beginner" turntable? I can see this term applied when you are learning to ride a motorcycle or such type of endeavour in which your lack of skill would necessitate a more forgiving piece of equipment in order to learn how to use it correctly. A Turntable, at it's most basic, is a fairly simple mechanism. There are varying degrees of complexity and types of material used which would determine the price point of any particular table/cartridge combination. But I don't see how that would translate to beginner, mid-level, expert. etc. If I was new to this and have the $$$ to get a nice table, then why wouldn't I opt for that?
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Exactly so. If you can afford an LP12, then buy one.
 
I scored my Technics 1200 m3d for $50 off Craigslist. It was missing the headshell + cartridge but I already had several on hand. Any functional Technics 1200 series for under $100 is a steal.
 
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