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Best Turntables

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malonius_funk
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,500
Hey guys, I'm looking for a good turntable solely for listening to vinyl. I've heard that direct drive is the way to go but I'd like to hear your guys opinions, experiences, etc. I really don't know anything about turntables so give me anything you got! Thanks!
Dec 29 2013 10:45AM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
If you want some advice from people who REALLY know their shit, head over to http://www.reddit.com/r/vinyl.
Dec 29 2013 9:45PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
^

lol reddit, universally the place of people who think they now their shit.

Here are some popular sites OP:



Dec 30 2013 12:12AM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
There is loads of good info on reddit for audio stuff. Certainly enough good info for someone just getting started with vinyl.
Dec 30 2013 12:19AM
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malonius_funk
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,500
thanks guys really helpful stuff so far!
Dec 30 2013 12:22AM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
my brother has this one. it's not direct drive, but for someone who just listens casually and isn't a crazy audiophile, it's a great turntable, and isn't gonna kill your bank account (more money for vinyl)

Dec 30 2013 12:38AM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
direct drive is best for DJing, but belt drive tables are actually better for straight up listening, they make less noise. Do you have a pre-amp, amp/stereo receiver, and speakers ready to go or will you be purchasing speakers as well as the table?
Dec 30 2013 3:55AM
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malonius_funk
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,500
i'll be getting all that stuff as well as the table, so yea, if you have any suggestions on that too it would be great.

so if i buy a $100 belt-drive turntable, would it work well for my purposes or should i shell out the cash to get a more expensive one that would possibly last longer and have better componenets?

also, is it possible to just plug the turntable into a bose ipod speaker via an auxilary port?
Dec 30 2013 9:08AM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
you'd need a turntable with a built-in preamp to plug it into a speaker. Up to a point, the more money you spend, the better, but if you're playing through ipod speakers, any belt-drive turntable would be fine. any 'usb' turntable will have a preamp on it already so it's plug and play.

My personal rec would be to find a tech 1200mk2 (should be about 200-300 on craigslist), which is direct drive but solidly built, add a cork slipmat (20ish bucks) bellari vp 130 tube pre-amp (300) or vp29(70) and then a decent set of powered speakers. 300-500 all in for a setup that'll last you forever, unlike the 150$ setups from urban outfitters that fall apart after a year or two.



and... just did a quick search on a budget kit. turntable lab has this for 300 bucks, and it has everything you need to be up and listening. http://turntablelab.com/collections/turntable-listening-packages-alpha/products/audio-technica-at-lp60-turntable-audioengine-a2-speaker-package-1


Dec 30 2013 2:12PM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
that's actually a sick package. audioengine makes great speakers
Dec 30 2013 3:21PM
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malonius_funk
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,500
You guys rock! Thanks for all the info
Dec 30 2013 8:29PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,328
So I bought a $70 turn table from London Drugs on Boxing Day to start getting into vinyl. Took it back because it was constantly skipping and was just a piece of shit in general (not surprised). So I need a new one, I was looking at the Audio-Technica that was suggested earlier, but I also found this Sony that seems pretty good and is on sale http://store.sony.ca/usb-stereo-turntable-zid31-PSLX300USB/cat-31-catid-All-Receivers-Speakers-and-Stereo-Components?_t=pfm%3Dcategory. I know absolutely nothing about turntables.

Can anyone comment on if either of these turntables is better than the other? Since I live in Canada and won't get free shipping from Amazon, in total they will both be about the same price. I'm also open to other suggestions but I'd like to try and keep it under $150, unless I'm getting something a lot better for more. I'm just looking to listen to my records, not super into it, not going to listen to them all day every day, but I don't like buying junk and don't want to have to buy another machine in a couple of years.

Thanks for any help
Jan 5 2014 11:01PM
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