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U-turn Orbit Consensus?

Serow

Serow

Quando omni flunkus moritati
Hello, I am a senior in high school and I've been getting into vinyl and audio in general. I started with my parents old collection of vinyl and have been picking up a few albums of my own. My current setup is a Harman/Kardon PM660 integrated amp and Micca MB42x bookshelf speakers. I also have a really cheap ION turntable that I shudder to know what the tracking force is.
I want to get a decent turntable, I've done a lot of reading on what everybody recommends and I realize that used would get me the best quality. Unfortunately, I live in rural North Dakota, so the used market is almost nonexistent. I've also been reading about the U-turn Orbit but I haven't seen any proper reviews on the entry level one.
My question is, would the Orbit be a decent starter turntable? Or should I wait until I go to college next year (where the used marked will be slightly better but still very slow) and watch for used turntables?​
 
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Serow said:
Hello, I am a senior in high school and I've been getting into vinyl and audio in general. I started with my parents old collection of vinyl and have been picking up a few albums of my own. My current setup is a Harman/Kardon PM660 integrated amp and Micca MB42x bookshelf speakers. I also have a really cheap ION turntable that I shudder to know what the tracking force is.
I want to get a decent turntable, I've done a lot of reading on what everybody recommends and I realize that used would get me the best quality. Unfortunately, I live in rural North Dakota, so the used market is almost nonexistent. I've also been reading about the U-turn Orbit but I haven't seen any proper reviews on the entry level one.
My question is, would the Orbit be a decent starter turntable? Or should I wait until I go to college next year (where the used marked will be slightly better but still very slow) and watch for used turntables?​
Click to expand...

Consensus is that it's an excellent starter table. Two major publication reviews and about 4 or 5 user reviews on this forum have all given high marks. Buy with confidence.
 
Google search Tone Audio Magazine. They're online only. They reviewed the $179 entry model Orbit as opposed to the Plus which a few folks on this forum now have. Tone Audio seemed to like it a lot.

Sent from my One using Tapatalk
 
Can't always trust the ability of the seller to pack and ship a used table. With no warranty you're taking a gamble on your money.

The SL-B1/B2 doesn't even sound that good anyway. The B2 I had suffered from an inner groove distortion issue I could never remedy.
 
There are some decent deals on vintage turntables, but I couldn't see spending $100 on an SL-B2. The U-turn has a pretty cool uni pivot tonearm, and solid motor. I'll bet it'll do at least as good, and probably actually be better than that Technics. Plus it's brand new, so you're getting a brand new belt and cartridge/stylus, plus product support. Now, if that were a Technics 1800 or 1200 for $100, that might be a different story...
 
If any of those auto features went bad they'd be a lot more trouble to correct than a fully manual table.

P-mount makes alignment so easy I could do it however it limits your cartridge choices.
 
The Orbit seems to be hitting the right cords. Well engineered. Well built. Plug and play.

My Technics SL-D2 is all of those things yet the retail value is $120. For an extra $60 you're getting a warranty and U-Turn's so far, excellent support/service.
 
RamblinE said:
The Orbit seems to be hitting the right cords. Well engineered. Well built. Plug and play.

My Technics SL-D2 is all of those things yet the retail value is $120. For an extra $60 you're getting a warranty and U-Turn's so far, excellent support/service.
Click to expand...

So, do you have Both? Now, that would be an Interesting Side by Side Test..
 
In the near future I'd actually like to... but right now no.

Another AK'er in his Orbit review thread compared it to his SL-D2. I think his username is Rovias?
 
Technics automation is usually pretty good, but there are always unknowns. When buying used, you always have to be concerned about things like bad tonearm bearings, a bad platter bearing, bad capacitors, bad tonearm wiring/interconnects, automation issues, etc. These things can exist in cosmetically perfect TT's, and unfortunately, there are a lot if bonehead eBay sellers who don't know how to test for these things. Then there is the packing issue... I think scoping out the vintage market is a good idea, but beware of the problems that can exist.

In the Technics line, I would looks for nicer models like the SL-Q2/Q3, Sl1200, SL1300 etc. avoid Pmount, (for the most part,) and ANYTHING with a plastic plinth. On eBay, pretty much anything that meets this criteria will set you back as much, or more than the cost if that U-Turn.
 
Alright...Sorry about the Punch...But, still... My SL-220 is a Solid Performing Back-Up Table..
 
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Wow, the orbit is barely out of the womb and the technics crowd is already trying to smother it in its crib. That didn't take long, sadly.
 
I realize used could mean more features and possibly better sound for the money. There is no way I'm going to risk buying a used turntable on eBay. I was wondering if the Orbit lived up to the hype of offering a decent quality, adjustable turntable for under $200. I live 90 miles from a town large enough to have a Walmart. The largest city in my state, as long as I have been watching, has only had a questionable cheap Technics and MCS with no output. I don't care whether a used Turntable might be a better buy, I want to know if the Orbit is a decent entry level turntable that I can take to college with me and won't immediately outgrow.
 
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