Which Turntable to Choose - Please Help!

[wondergrape]

Joining bartertown is my wholehearted recommendation as well.

 

[Garrard201]

I work at a college, so I run into lots of folks who are not quite audiophiles, but do want decent sound, as you do; not saying you're a college student!

Anyhow, at some point, I have had some experience with a lot of the tables discussed here. My take, in no particular order, based on sound AND whether it's going to be a finicky mess to own...

-Realistic 290-looks almost like a rebadged 70s Rotel. A great starter
-Audio Technica AT-LP60; Technics SL-BD22; Sony PS-LX300USB -- NO! Plastic junk!
-Technics SL-20-a nice descendant (ascendant?) of Panasonic's engineering efforts...someone mentioned these are over-rated, and many Technics tables are, but for this price, you're fine
-Technics SL-235-as above but it's a changer; not so good
-PIONEER PL-740-not loving this era of Pioneer 'tables, but it's not bad. The price seems high, though (I'd be more comfortable around $60-80)
-Sony PS-LX500-not bad, but cartridge choices are limited and you might not warm to the direct-drive sound
-Technics SLQ200-meh (again, direct drive)
-Fisher component system-gross
-Technics component system-SLIGHTLY less gross
-JBL speakers-- not familiar with that model, but for $40, it's worth a shot. Grab one of those Lepai digital amps and a preamp off of Amazon and you've got music
-Technics SA-410-- I had an SA-400 for years and loved it; it's the analog little brother of the SA-410, I suppose?

I don't hate direct-drive or USB tables (being very happy with an AT-LP120 as a secondary unit), I just think the other (in this case belt-drive) options would serve you better.

Bartertown may be the best option, even if one of these pans out for you, to get the rest of your gear. I didn't see much on your CL that would work.

 

[jbone215]

What about these:

3. Technics SL-235 with unknown AT stylus - $80
4. Technics SL-23 - $100
5.

I work at a college, so I run into lots of folks who are not quite audiophiles, but do want decent sound, as you do; not saying you're a college student!

Anyhow, at some point, I have had some experience with a lot of the tables discussed here. My take, in no particular order, based on sound AND whether it's going to be a finicky mess to own...

-Realistic 290-looks almost like a rebadged 70s Rotel. A great starter
-Audio Technica AT-LP60; Technics SL-BD22; Sony PS-LX300USB -- NO! Plastic junk!
-Technics SL-20-a nice descendant (ascendant?) of Panasonic's engineering efforts...someone mentioned these are over-rated, and many Technics tables are, but for this price, you're fine
-Technics SL-235-as above but it's a changer; not so good
-PIONEER PL-740-not loving this era of Pioneer 'tables, but it's not bad. The price seems high, though (I'd be more comfortable around $60-80)
-Sony PS-LX500-not bad, but cartridge choices are limited and you might not warm to the direct-drive sound
-Technics SLQ200-meh (again, direct drive)
-Fisher component system-gross
-Technics component system-SLIGHTLY less gross
-JBL speakers-- not familiar with that model, but for $40, it's worth a shot. Grab one of those Lepai digital amps and a preamp off of Amazon and you've got music
-Technics SA-410-- I had an SA-400 for years and loved it; it's the analog little brother of the SA-410, I suppose?

I don't hate direct-drive or USB tables (being very happy with an AT-LP120 as a secondary unit), I just think the other (in this case belt-drive) options would serve you better.

Bartertown may be the best option, even if one of these pans out for you, to get the rest of your gear. I didn't see much on your CL that would work.

 

[jbone215]

Or how about this Technics stereo system

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/4810369229.html

I work at a college, so I run into lots of folks who are not quite audiophiles, but do want decent sound, as you do; not saying you're a college student!

Anyhow, at some point, I have had some experience with a lot of the tables discussed here. My take, in no particular order, based on sound AND whether it's going to be a finicky mess to own...

-Realistic 290-looks almost like a rebadged 70s Rotel. A great starter
-Audio Technica AT-LP60; Technics SL-BD22; Sony PS-LX300USB -- NO! Plastic junk!
-Technics SL-20-a nice descendant (ascendant?) of Panasonic's engineering efforts...someone mentioned these are over-rated, and many Technics tables are, but for this price, you're fine
-Technics SL-235-as above but it's a changer; not so good
-PIONEER PL-740-not loving this era of Pioneer 'tables, but it's not bad. The price seems high, though (I'd be more comfortable around $60-80)
-Sony PS-LX500-not bad, but cartridge choices are limited and you might not warm to the direct-drive sound
-Technics SLQ200-meh (again, direct drive)
-Fisher component system-gross
-Technics component system-SLIGHTLY less gross
-JBL speakers-- not familiar with that model, but for $40, it's worth a shot. Grab one of those Lepai digital amps and a preamp off of Amazon and you've got music
-Technics SA-410-- I had an SA-400 for years and loved it; it's the analog little brother of the SA-410, I suppose?

I don't hate direct-drive or USB tables (being very happy with an AT-LP120 as a secondary unit), I just think the other (in this case belt-drive) options would serve you better.

Bartertown may be the best option, even if one of these pans out for you, to get the rest of your gear. I didn't see much on your CL that would work.

 

[Garrard201]

Hmmm... not loving the prices on the 2 Technics tables, and the system is a tad high PLUS it has a linear-arm 'table (and hence, a limited choice of cartridges: P-Mounts!). You really might want to invest in bartertown, or wait and keep watching CL, since this time of year may be a bit slow.

 

[jbone215]

How about this one for $150. High price but this is owner's description for justifying price:

Vintage Technics SL-B2 belt drive turntable, recent new belt and tuned up. Has $200 Pickering X-15/625E vintage cartridge. Sounds amazing. Cartridge alone sells on EBay for $200.

Hmmm... not loving the prices on the 2 Technics tables, and the system is a tad high PLUS it has a linear-arm 'table (and hence, a limited choice of cartridges: P-Mounts!). You really might want to invest in bartertown, or wait and keep watching CL, since this time of year may be a bit slow.

 

[Garrard201]

If it's local, I'd say go for it! That was a fantastic starter-table, and local means no shipping (and no chance to be smashed to bits). Check and make sure the speed controls don't drift, the cueing is properly damped, and the auto-return works. Also, ask how new the stylus is. The cartridge is a nice one, and may sell for a lot, but a replacement stylus (the actual needle) could run around $100. You don't want to bring it home and found out there tonearm is dragging a blunt instrument through your vinyl.

 

[jbone215]

Forget that table for $150. It is $25 shipping also and not local.

If you were to pick from these three tables only based on model and price and all the same used good working condition, which would you go with?

1. Technics SL-BD22 - $70
2. Technics SL-235 - $80
3. Technics SL-Q200 - $75

If it's local, I'd say go for it! That was a fantastic starter-table, and local means no shipping (and no chance to be smashed to bits). Check and make sure the speed controls don't drift, the cueing is properly damped, and the auto-return works. Also, ask how new the stylus is. The cartridge is a nice one, and may sell for a lot, but a replacement stylus (the actual needle) could run around $100. You don't want to bring it home and found out there tonearm is dragging a blunt instrument through your vinyl.

 

[Dr Tinear]

Forget that table for $150. It is $25 shipping also and not local.

If you were to pick from these three tables only based on model and price and all the same used good working condition, which would you go with?

1. Technics SL-BD22 - $70
2. Technics SL-235 - $80
3. Technics SL-Q200 - $75

I'd go with the SL-235. It's the only one of the three that's not P-mount, which means that you have a broader selection of cartridges available. I own the single-play automatic version of this deck, the SL-230, and have been very pleased with its sound quality. The arm is a synergistic match to my Grado cartridge (a Green body with a Longhorn bar and an 8MZ stylus) and the drive system doesn't induce hum in the Grado's unshielded coils.

 

[Garrard201]

I second DrTinear... I don't love that it's a changer, but you could do worse for $80.

 

[Garrard201]

Also, did you get the e-mail I sent, jbone?

 

[jbone215]

I did not get your private message/email. Can you send again?

Also, did you get the e-mail I sent, jbone?

 

[commando]

Technics made some real good tables but those you listed are OK tables not real good tables two of them are belt drive lower end models and the direct drive Slq-200 is a Pmount table. none of these are bad things just not in the SL-1xxx range find one of those if you want a good Technics table. the LAB 290 is a good table and simple.

Yup. Except for the SL-19XX, which is not in the same category as the SL-11XX thru SL-18XX models.

 

[Jbridgway]

When I made my decision it was because the market is changing, every Technics SL-235 on ebay was going either 125 auction or 150+ Buy it Now. So when I talked a older man down to 75 on Craigslist it was a no-brainer. Like stated above it had a standard mount and high quality tonearm. I just didn't want my stylus dragging through the middle of the record and getting up or babysitting all the time.