Hi!
1. I'm looking for a high-quality turntable for under $300 used, and have so far discovered the following:
Thorens 146/147/160/166?/300?/318/320
Dual 505/CS5000
SL-1200MK2
Please help me to expand/narrow down my list!
2. How subjectively audible (in general) is the difference between a $300 and, say, a $1500 vinyl setup?
3. What's power conditioning and should I use it?
4. What's a speedbox and should I get one?
5. Where can I find out about turntable calibration?
Thank you!
Full Version: Turntable newbie -- a few questions.
The difference between inexpensive and expensive TTs is night and day -- or hardly anything -- depending on who you talk to. Running valid ABX tests is a bit difficult. TTs are mechanical devices, however, and thus subject to good or poor mechanical design and manufacturer to a somewhat greated degree than many basically electronic audio products.
Power conditioning is one of a variety of processes said to make your mains supply nicer. Some forms of it probably help in some circumstances. The results of any and all forms are probably undetectable (to human hearing) in most circumstances.
A speedbox? Somebody's pet term for a device to control the TT's motor speed? Not applicable in many cases. Probably requires custom modifications to the TT to be useable in many others.
The tone arm and cartridge part of a TT need to be properly aligned and adjusted. These multiple steps require careful measurements. There are many articles on the web with full instructions. I know this is so because I read a half dozen of them a few years ago when I started using my TT more. I suggest a search. That's how I found the ones I looked at.
Power conditioning is one of a variety of processes said to make your mains supply nicer. Some forms of it probably help in some circumstances. The results of any and all forms are probably undetectable (to human hearing) in most circumstances.
A speedbox? Somebody's pet term for a device to control the TT's motor speed? Not applicable in many cases. Probably requires custom modifications to the TT to be useable in many others.
The tone arm and cartridge part of a TT need to be properly aligned and adjusted. These multiple steps require careful measurements. There are many articles on the web with full instructions. I know this is so because I read a half dozen of them a few years ago when I started using my TT more. I suggest a search. That's how I found the ones I looked at.
Thank you!
This thread seems a bit cooled down already, but still...
1. I'm looking for a high-quality turntable for under $300 used, and have so far discovered the following:
Thorens 146/147/160/166?/300?/318/320
Dual 505/CS5000
SL-1200MK2
Those are all good options, but a Rega Planar 2 might pop up too for that price. Remember however that you should put aside enough money to buy a new cartridge(or, if the previous one is good enough, a new stylus). The under $50 Grado Prestige Black is an excellent starting point.
Out of your list, the Thorens 316/318/320 are probably the best sounding. (I use a 321 Mk II with an SME 309 Mg myself, so I'm partial.
) The 1200 should be close behind, if it has been cared for properly - watch out for battered DJ decks. The CS5000 should be fine for MM cartridges as well, but the 505 has a worse tonearm than the Thorens 100 series.
As to the other things... what Andy said.
You can find excellent setup info and some theory at Vinyl Asylum:
Vinyl Asylum FAQ
Cheers and welcome to vinyl!
QUOTE
1. I'm looking for a high-quality turntable for under $300 used, and have so far discovered the following:
Thorens 146/147/160/166?/300?/318/320
Dual 505/CS5000
SL-1200MK2
Those are all good options, but a Rega Planar 2 might pop up too for that price. Remember however that you should put aside enough money to buy a new cartridge(or, if the previous one is good enough, a new stylus). The under $50 Grado Prestige Black is an excellent starting point.
Out of your list, the Thorens 316/318/320 are probably the best sounding. (I use a 321 Mk II with an SME 309 Mg myself, so I'm partial.
) The 1200 should be close behind, if it has been cared for properly - watch out for battered DJ decks. The CS5000 should be fine for MM cartridges as well, but the 505 has a worse tonearm than the Thorens 100 series.As to the other things... what Andy said.
You can find excellent setup info and some theory at Vinyl Asylum:
Vinyl Asylum FAQ
Cheers and welcome to vinyl!
I am not 100% sure about this but doesn't the signal cables from the cartridge go directly to the RIAA in the amplifier and therefore you don't need a power conditioner to make the turntable better sounding. Better to use it for the reciever instead? I will appreciate all the correction you can give. Regards
The idea with power conditioners and turntables is that you condition the power that the turntable motor is running on. As with other components, I'd say that in the vast majority of cases no difference should be heard with or without a conditioner - provided that the devices are properly engineered.
Those are all good options, but a Rega Planar 2 might pop up too for that price. Remember however that you should put aside enough money to buy a new cartridge(or, if the previous one is good enough, a new stylus). The under $50 Grado Prestige Black is an excellent starting point.
Oops, I guess I should also tell you not to use Regas and Grados together. Rega doesn't use shielded motors, and the unshielded Grado tends to hum on a Rega. If you want another suggestion, Shure M97xE is pretty cheap and pretty good as well.
QUOTE(prism_emf @ Nov 24 2006, 16:20) 
Those are all good options, but a Rega Planar 2 might pop up too for that price. Remember however that you should put aside enough money to buy a new cartridge(or, if the previous one is good enough, a new stylus). The under $50 Grado Prestige Black is an excellent starting point.
Oops, I guess I should also tell you not to use Regas and Grados together. Rega doesn't use shielded motors, and the unshielded Grado tends to hum on a Rega. If you want another suggestion, Shure M97xE is pretty cheap and pretty good as well.
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