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Would like some testimonials on a few tables in the $300-$400 range

You could subscribe and then post a want to buy ad in Barter Town. You could probably get something like an AR table or a nice used Technics which would make a good starter table. Some members here who have a number of really nice tables really stand by the AR tables which can be modified later to be pretty good players. At least with an AR table you won't have to replace your table later on if you like the hobby and upgrade the rest of your system, you can just do some modifications and upgrades to the AR table. I use to see them sell for less than a hundred dollars but those days have gone.
 
I forgot to mention that with the U-Turn Orbit if you upgrade down the roadto another table there's a good chance you will get most of your money back which isn't always the case with some of the other tables on the OPs list where the value drops dramatically once the box is opened. Another point is that U-Turn is so far keeping the basic table platform able to accept any upgrades and accessories that are introduced down the road. The way I look at the U-Turn it doesn't rely on gimmicks or staking everything on one feature, ie tonearm, while coming up short on the rest of the table, there was equal attention payed to all facets of the Orbit.
 
majick47 said:
I forgot to mention that with the U-Turn Orbit if you upgrade down the roadto another table there's a good chance you will get most of your money back which isn't always the case with some of the other tables on the OPs list where the value drops dramatically once the box is opened. Another point is that U-Turn is so far keeping the basic table platform able to accept any upgrades and accessories that are introduced down the road. The way I look at the U-Turn it doesn't rely on gimmicks or staking everything on one feature, ie tonearm, while coming up short on the rest of the table, there was equal attention payed to all facets of the Orbit.
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Curious to know. Have you ever owned an Orbit, been able to touch and operate one, or been in the vicinity of one and listened to it? I was just wondering what you are basing all these observations on.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
At the
$299 price for a MMF 2.2 available from several vendors, would be my choice if you decide to go new. I owned one for 3 years, sold it for 85% of what I paid for it, and it never had a issue. I comes with a easily upgradeable cartridge, beings it is a basically a Ortofon OM5E. Has a nice tonearm and it looks nice. It weighs about 17 pounds and 7 pounds of that is the platter. The dustcover works better than any I have ever used. It can be taken on and off the hinges while playing a record without a skip.


You MIGHT do OK at $300 in the vintage market but YMMV.
 
I'm basing my observations on all the very positive testimonials of U-Turn owners here on AK that say their table is fabulous. All the other tables in the entry level class have baggage that makes them a poor choice. You don't need to be lucky to get a good one or have to fix a known fault in a new U-Turn Orbit. Have a question either call or email and get a quick response from one of the U-Turn employees that actually build and listen to the the table. The others call and you get a call center that probably isn't very fluent in English and will advise you from a trouble shooting check list.That's something to chew on and digest.
 
majick47 said:
I'm basing my observations on all the very positive testimonials of U-Turn owners here on AK that say their table is fabulous. All the other tables in the entry level class have baggage that makes them a poor choice. You don't need to be lucky to get a good one or have to fix a known fault in a new U-Turn Orbit. Have a question either call or email and get a quick response from one of the U-Turn employees that actually build and listen to the the table. The others call and you get a call center that probably isn't very fluent in English and will advise you from a trouble shooting check list.That's something to chew on and digest.
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Hmmm. If you want Project customer service you call Sumiko in California. And they are the service techs. If you want customer service on the LP120 you call Audio Technica USA. Music Hall is in the USA also. All have service techs on hand. I think they all speak pretty decent English.

But it's what I thought, you have 0% interaction with an Orbit, but toss recommendations around like you do. To be fair I haven't used one either, but I relate my experience or inexperience if I tell someone it could be worth looking into.

Oh , and it's not like I think there is any issue with an Orbit. I look forward to the day I get my hooves on one.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
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majick47 said:
I'm basing my observations on all the very positive testimonials of U-Turn owners here on AK that say their table is fabulous. All the other tables in the entry level class have baggage that makes them a poor choice. You don't need to be lucky to get a good one or have to fix a known fault in a new U-Turn Orbit. Have a question either call or email and get a quick response from one of the U-Turn employees that actually build and listen to the the table. The others call and you get a call center that probably isn't very fluent in English and will advise you from a trouble shooting check list.That's something to chew on and digest.
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Not quite so. There have been a couple of threads on other forums that have indicated there has been a hum problem with a couple of them.
 
In the world of online forums, if a few TT's or anything have a problem it is worthless product forever, in the views of those with closed minds.
To the OP just be happy with what you buy. :music::beerchug:
 
Like Mr Pig I do not own a U-Turn Orbit and I can only go by my observations of reading the feedback/comments of U-Turn owners that appear to have an extremely high level of satisfaction compared to similar entry level tables at the same price point. As for Grottyash reference to a couple threads on other forums that have indicated there has been a hum problem with a couple Orbits. I'd say that these pale in significance to the many hundreds if not thousands of references to the Project tables humming. What really impressed me with U-Turn was their fanatical attention to quality control lavished on a table that at this price point shouldn't get 10 seconds of inspection before it goes in a box. On top of that they designed a table that was about as idiot proof as possible figuring that the majority of buyers would be novices that at best might of seen a picture of a turntable and had no prior experience. They offer on line extensive set up info and are ready to answer any questions a buyer has either by phone or email, if the buyer was close enough I'd be willing to bet they would make a house call. This kind of follow up/support is unheard of unless your spending five figures on a turntable. As for the couple buyers on another forum with a hum problem all I can say is some people can screw up a free meal.
 
I don't have any direct experience with the Orbit, but have owned or handled a few of the others. That's actually irrelevant as I don't have any experience selling ANY of the above used. I just find it hard to believe this statement from majick47 has any real basis in fact:

majick47 said:
you will get most of your money back which isn't always the case with some of the other tables on the OPs list where the value drops dramatically once the box is opened.
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Most products "drop dramatically" second hand. U-Turn might have had an edge due to hype and scarcity in the first few months of production but I can't see that honeymoon being indefinite. I've got no bone to pick with anyone or any brand. I just wonder where the sales data is to support that claim. :dunno:
 
majick47 said:
Like Mr Pig I do not own a U-Turn Orbit and I can only go by my observations of reading the feedback/comments of U-Turn owners that appear to have an extremely high level of satisfaction compared to similar entry level tables at the same price point. As for Grottyash reference to a couple threads on other forums that have indicated there has been a hum problem with a couple Orbits. I'd say that these pale in significance to the many hundreds if not thousands of references to the Project tables humming. What really impressed me with U-Turn was their fanatical attention to quality control lavished on a table that at this price point shouldn't get 10 seconds of inspection before it goes in a box. On top of that they designed a table that was about as idiot proof as possible figuring that the majority of buyers would be novices that at best might of seen a picture of a turntable and had no prior experience. They offer on line extensive set up info and are ready to answer any questions a buyer has either by phone or email, if the buyer was close enough I'd be willing to bet they would make a house call. This kind of follow up/support is unheard of unless your spending five figures on a turntable. As for the couple buyers on another forum with a hum problem all I can say is some people can screw up a free meal.
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I'd say Pro-ject has sold many, many more turntables than U Turn, so the percentage problem rate is probably not dissimilar. Same goes for other brands such as Rega etc. Remember, U turn is confined to one market, whereas the others have sold globally for many years - Rega started in the 1970s, for example.

Rega's support is on a par with u turn's, from all accounts, only good reports this side of the pond. Project I don't know, since my Pro-ject never went wrong.

I do think, as you say, reports of problems need to be taken in context, as do glowing testimonials. That's why, like Mr P, I'm hesitant to recommend unless I know the product.
 
UPDATE
I ended up ordering the U-turn Orbit. I also picked up the stand-alone Pluto Preamp. Due mostly to the comments in this thread and a number of reviews on Youtube it seemed like a no-brainer. High quality at the lowest possible price-point. Thanks everyone for the responses! If I'm being completely honest, I'm kinda surprised how many of you responded...for that I'm grateful. Cheers!
 
Please let us know what you think of the TT. And what cartridge you ordered with it. I've been thinking of pulling the trigger on one of these myself. I want a simple no nonsense table for my bench system.
 
Truthfully...

Life is what you find, it's the hunt. The gathering of knowledge that takes us to a better awareness and experience. All that we go through is not just a task, it's an adventure not to be short changed !

Like turntables in general, you can't just plug and play like you can a computer. There are too many things, small things like a static electric charge that alters the sound coming off the record being picked up by the cartridge. It's not as simple as I listen to this kind of music, so I need this kind of turntable and cart. A turntable should be matched to a receiver, EQ and speakers.
 
I had a problem with my Pro-Ject Debut III cutting out intermittently on one channel.

I called customer service and spoke to a real person.
Then I spoke to another real person who called me and discussed the problem, which was determined to be wiring.
Then I sent it in for repair for FREE and then spoke to the same person/ tech again twice after he received it. It was rewired and shipped back to me all for no cost.

Since then I have replaced it with a Sansui SX-636, but I still have it and had used it for probably 4 or more years with no issues.
 
Lavane said:
Please let us know what you think of the TT. And what cartridge you ordered with it. I've been thinking of pulling the trigger on one of these myself. I want a simple no nonsense table for my bench system.
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I was debating on whether or not I should go with one of the Grado cart's. I decided on keeping the stock cart (AT91B). It may seem like a silly reason, but I wanted to have something to look forward to. Listen to a few records and get myself familiar with this current set-up. Then upgrade the cart in a few months and see if I can notice the difference. In my mind it's kinda silly to go "balls out" when I don't even have a standard set yet.
 
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