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Should you buy a NEW turntable today, what the market offers?

F

Fabiotek

New Member
Dear Audio Karma Forum members,

While looking at my 2 old Pioneer PL-512X belt turntables closed in their boxes, I was wondering if, while arranging (one day) a room where to unpack my 4 Reel2Reel tape recorders, I should give a look at some new turntables...

Yes, there are some turntables I could not afford in the 80's like the Technics SL-1210 (wow, still pricey!)... there are the new Stanton ST-150 that I like... or perhaps should I go for a Belt turntable as I have no DJ ambitions?? (even though Technics SL1210 and Stanton ST-150 are cool/beautiful and could anyway be used even by a Non-DJ).

Anyway, to try to make it shorter, I would like to propose this thread, to get your valuable feedback/opinions about NEW Direct and Belt Turntables that can be currently purchased in the market (SL1210 is still available even if though is out of production).

Personally, I am not considering very much to buy a "full automatic" turntable...

I would say to put a price cap... probably we should try to take in consideration low and medium range price turntables... let us leave the HIGH range price ones for after we all win the lottery! :-)
Well...in fact the SL-1210 is already seen by me as quite Expensive (at least for my pockets!). The Stanton ST-105 costs less than half of it!

Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a good day!
 
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Depending on your budget, there is a wide range of TTs available today. I'd recommend the VPI line as being pretty good, sonically. They are not the cheapest (nor the most expensive, although the top-of-the-line gets up there), but you get what you pay for.

The technics SL-1200 turntables are best known these days as "deejay" tables, but they started out as hi-fi models, and sound good. Especially with some of the KAB mods, they can sound pretty good, and are usually trouble-free. The prices on them have been rising, though, since the company stopped making them.

If money is an issue, perhaps a Rega or Music Hall (but I'm personally not a fan of those).

If you want to get more bang-for-buck, seriously consider used/vintage TTs (turntables). Many of them may need a little renovation to work their best, but vinyl usually involves a little work, anyway, for set-up and such, unless you are willing to pay for someone else to do it all for you.

If you don't mind putting in some DIY work and want to get a "giant killer" audiophile sound for relatively little money, check out what people do to heavy-platter Lencos both here and on the "Lenco Heaven" site. Basically a simple clean-up and mounting in a heavy/massive plinth will already get you 80-90 percent of the way there, with a sound that beats a lot of TTs; with more extreme tweaking, you can get world-class sound quality from a TT that starts out as quite affordable.
 
Where are you based, Fabiotek? What is available depends very much on the country you inhabit.
 
Hello Arkay and Avole and thank you for your replies.

Arkay, I was hoping to spend around 500 USD per turntable, as I will buy 2. You did not give your insights regarding the Stanton ST 150: should I keep it in the "list" or do you have feedback suggesting not to do it?

Avole, the "based" question is my constant pain: I am now in Turkey, I have been working in Qatar for 7 years, I am Italian but kinda-of-resident in New York.

Ok, it is not clear even to me.

Let us say that, as my Ree2Reel tape recorders and other HI-FI/FM Broadcast much loved "toys" are still packed in Italy and probably for some more years I will be living around this part of the world (Europe/Middle East), I probably will buy the equipment in the Euro Zone (in any Euro Country where prices are more convenient/anyway within Euro Zone no custom taxes).

As additional thought, I have already purchased lot of stuff from USA, and if paying the custom taxes at the arrival in Italy or Turkey won't be make the final price much higher than purchasing the same item in Europe, I can also evaluate buying in USA (for example NewEgg or B&H).

There will be one day in which I will collect all my stuff in a container and get it delivered in a more final destination [no, not my grave :-) !]

Most likely I won't buy anything in Turkey as items cost exactly twice than in Europe/USA. If I will be living in here in the future, I will have to deal with incredible import taxes that will be applied even on my old private stuff.

Thank you again for your time and have a good day.

Regards,

Fabio
 
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My advice would be not to bother with the Stanton. It's a Chinese copy of a Technics DJ turntable with poorer specs and sound than the original. IMO, your Pioneer turntables will play music better than the Stanton and better than most other new turntables that you could find in the U.S. for less than $1000. Set one of the Pioneers up, fit it with a new stylus or cartridge, and enjoy your music.
 
Fabiotek said:
[snip]
or perhaps should I go for a Belt turntable as I have no DJ ambitions??
[snip]
Personally, I am not considering very much to buy a "full automatic" turntable...
[snip]
Click to expand...

Fabiotek said:
[snip]
500 USD per turntable, as I will buy 2.
[snip]
I probably will buy the equipment in the Euro Zone
[snip]
Click to expand...

Do you want 2 turntables for separate set-ups (you mentioned you have no DJ aspirations)? This could give you a good opportunity to try different approaches to turntables such as belt-drive/direct-drive, rigid-plinth/suspended-plinth, etc. You can switch the TTs between systems and see what works best for you.

Arkay said:
[snip]
If money is an issue, perhaps a Rega or Music Hall (but I'm personally not a fan of those).
[snip]
Click to expand...

In the Euro Zone, I also immediately thought of Rega (based in the UK) and Music Hall (Manufactured in Czech Rep.--not sure where they are based). Their "entry level" models (there was recently a heated thread here on AK about what "entry level" should mean) fit your price range. These are much different turntables than the Technics, but you may find that you like them.
 
You'll find Pro-ject more easiily than Music Hall, which are built by Pro-ject for Music Hall in the US. Rega use synchronous motors so will need a different pulley plus voltage if it's to be taken to the US. Same goes for Linn and many other turntables.
 
Hello Kalev,
Your idea is interesting! Instead of the 2 identical turntables, going for 2 different models/approaches (and perhaps 2 different brands...).

Dear Avole, most of my stuff is AC-220 (except a Teac X2000-R I have purchased over there, but that one comes ready for an easy switch between 110/220).

Reading your post I am realizing that should I move back to USA, I would face a serious issue with voltage/hz differences and I shall work it out --properly--.
 
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New TTs are fine, of course.

I'd buy vintage.

TTs are pretty basic machines. They eather work or they don't work.

Why spend $2000 for a really nice TT when you can spend $350 for a super fine vintage table? Plus $200 for a new cart.

But that's just me.

Anyway...vintage TTs, with vintage headshells, with vintage NOS cartridges, play vintage music better!! LOL. :>)
 
Dr Tinear said:
My advice would be not to bother with the Stanton. It's a Chinese copy of a Technics DJ turntable with poorer specs and sound than the original. IMO, your Pioneer turntables will play music better than the Stanton and better than most other new turntables that you could find in the U.S. for less than $1000. Set one of the Pioneers up, fit it with a new stylus or cartridge, and enjoy your music.
Click to expand...
That particular Stanton is not awful at all like most/all other Stantons, and as mentioned it has an absurdly powerful motor. However, if not for DJ use, I agree that the Pioneers you already own are a better, and a fine choice vs. affordable new tables. Give them a little love - oil the motor, maybe put on fresh belts, check the speed, check for bearing issues, get yourself a good medium compliance cartridge, align, and enjoy.
 
Thank you all for your great assistance,

Would you please give me some suggestions regarding the cartridge/needle to mount in my two old PL-512X, and as one of the 2 black shells is damaged, an acceptable replacement for the shell/s?

Thank you!
 
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Hello,
I hope you will allow me to make a short partial off-topic. In fact, inspired by some AK members, I am thinking anyway to make some maintenance on my 2 PL-512X.

I am searching on ebay (.com, .it, .de, .fr,) for new belts and I was asked by one vendor if I will use the 512X belts on a 110 or 220AC TT and even if 50 or 60 HZ.

I am surprised by this question...I admit my very limited knowledge on this....

Can someone let me know please if there is a real difference between the 50/60HZ -- 110/220 AC belts?

Thank you.
 
bluesky said:
New TTs are fine, of course.

I'd buy vintage.

TTs are pretty basic machines. They eather work or they don't work.

Why spend $2000 for a really nice TT when you can spend $350 for a super fine vintage table? Plus $200 for a new cart.
Click to expand...

Some of the worst advice I have seen in a post in a while.

Why spend $2000? Because you will end up with a much nicer sounding turntable.
 
Honestly, if a Technics 1200/1210 is what you're after, get one before all the DJs do. The prices may go down, but the road rash will never disappear.
 
Dear Illini,

I assume your message is to say that there is NO difference between the 50/60HZ -- 110/220 AC belt.

Thank you for that!

Just wondering what's behind the belts vendor statement...
 
Technically, because of the difference in pulley size, and I'm assuming a synchronous motor, there may be a difference, but we're talking 1 or 2 mm here.
 
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