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Trying to pick a first turntable

mclendo

mclendo

New Member
I am going to the big city tomorrow to try and get myself a turntable, among other things. I did a check of Craigslist there to see what all folks had available. Going to pair this with my SX-450. I'm more concerned about just getting a starter table for now, I'll deal with getting a good cartridge later if what I end up with is unsatisfactory. If anyone could recommend preferred units from this list, I'd appreciate it greatly. I have tried to filter out BPC but don't know a great deal about TTs; if any found its way onto my list, please let me know. So far, I am seeing the following as possibilities, unless they have sold already:

Dual 521 TT with Shure cartridge
Pioneer Automatic Return model: PL-514
Technics SL-1500
Technics Quartz Direct Drive Automatic Turntable System SL-Q200
Kenwood KD-2055
JVC JL-B44 Turntable, Shure Cartridge, Real Cherry Wood Base
SONY PS-4300 Turntable with Original box and packing


Again, thanks for any guidance you can provide!
 
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pik the one in best condidion and that you like best/sounds best to you. Poineer/technics/KW can't go wrong but be choosy.
 
Another vote for the SL1500 which is a solid performer and well built. I gave one to my best friend for his birthday a couple of years back.
 
I agree that the SL-1500 is nice, but really all of them are potential winners. I agree with Oldhifiguy to consider condition and operation if you can test them. That Sony with the original box sounds like a strong contender. And for goodness sake, if the price is like $10, take as many as you can!
 
Do you have to decide as you see each one, or can you see them all and then decide? If you can take your time to decide, then make a spreadsheet-like comparison chart and write in "scores" or comments on things like build quality, looks, condition, sound, accessories included, price, etc... That should make it easier to decide.

What has been said is good advice: consider condition, and how they sound to you. Deciding on that last part, though, may be difficult if you are listening to them in very different systems and environments: take the quality of the attached gear --esp. speakers-- into account when judging sound quality. You might want to check eBay prices before you go, too, since a $10 price on a $150 turntable is a better deal than a $10 price on a $20 table, even though both are priced the same.

Also remember to consider the cartridges (if any) in your calculation, as they cost money and have a big impact on sound quality. A badly damaged TT with a nice Shure V-15 III cart on it may be worth a lot more than a decent TT with no cartridge, even if it means you end up still having to get another TT to put that V15 on.

If it all seems too complicated, then just trust your heart. Close your eyes a second, quiet your mind, and just imagine owning each TT and how it would feel to you: would you be happy with THIS one? If the answer is yes, then get it and don't have any second thoughts or regrets. Whatever you get from that list will make decent music for you, and you can always upgrade later.

Good luck, have fun, and let us know what you get!
 
Pick based on condition. The JVC might be a sleeper? The Sony will be a nice player if in good shape. But, condition rules.
 
One thing to keep in mind -- whether or not you want a TT that will automatically raise the arm and shut off the motor at the end of the record. That would be a semi-automatic capability.

Fully manual players won't do that, while fully automatic players will put the arm onto the record automatically, as well.

A good general rule is that the less complicated the mechanism the better, but I for one like a semi because I sometimes fall asleep while the record is playing.
 
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