Record (vinyl) turntable. I'm needing your advice.

[DaveReading]

I have a PL-12D somewhere up in the loft, but I'm currently using a cheapie Ion USB turntable which works fine with my elderly Cambridge Audio AV receiver using the same line-level inputs that my CD deck and tuner are connected to.

 

[slowmotion]

Around here, we have shops called 'trocs'. They're basically outlets for 2nd hand stuff, often house clearance. They usually have HiFi seperates, some of it very affordable, of all makes. Mostly amps, tuners, tape and cd players. Not often turntables though, dunno why but I could hazard a guess. If you know your stuff, you can kit yourself out with a decent system for sod all.

Anything like that in the UK?

Ebay is an excellent source of used hi-fi in the UK if you steer clear of cult items.

 

[Cycleops]

If you don't want to spend too much you could buy a Denon mini system (well reviewed) which comes with speakers for around £400. Plug in a turntable, rega, whatever, for £300. Away you go.

 

[cisamcgu]

If you don't want to spend too much you could buy a Denon mini system (well reviewed) which comes with speakers for around £400. Plug in a turntable, rega, whatever, for £300. Away you go.

An excellent idea - that way you get a good CD and tuner into the bargain

Denon DT1 - about £250 inc. speakers. Depending on the TT you might need a phono pre-amp between about £20 and £15,000 (This one !!!!)

 

[PaulB]

This is all good info chaps but still confusion reigns! Keep them coming though because I'm getting an education here.

 

[ColinJ]

yeah but... who wants to spend a grand on a turntable?

Seriously!

A mate of mine spent £500 on his pair of loudspeaker cables...

Seriously!

 

[FishFright]

Turntable : Rega Planar 1 - £300
Amplifier : NAD 316BEE - £300
Speakers : Monitor Audio Bronze 50 - £280

This is approximately what I have. My speakers are a bit older, but the same model, and the TT is a Rega Planar 3 from about 30+ years ago


Andrew
I think it sounds excellent

I have a old Planar 3 too , the mains driven model. In need of a new cartridge really but still sounds nice .

 

[Profpointy]

yeah but... who wants to spend a grand on a turntable?

Seriously!

Mmm, I spent over £500 on my Linn in 1983 or whatever it was. That's probably a lot more in real terms than a grand is today

Not saying it was a wise purchase, but it was vastly superior to anything else I'd heard. Don't think I'd do so today as CDs are now ubiquitous, but back then it knocked spots off the CD players then available and records were much cheaper to an CDs.

I should probably fettle it and flog it

 

[Profpointy]

A mate of mine spent £500 on his pair of loudspeaker cables...

Seriously!

Now that really is nonsense

 

[ColinJ]

Now that really is nonsense

He replaced his old cables which had cost him £50!

I wouldn't pay more than £10 for a pair of speaker cables.

 

[Drago]

Theres more guff spoken by the high priests of hifi about speaker cables, than just about every other piece of bullsheet in the world added together. They make politicians sound credible.

 

[Cycleops]

A mate of mine spent £500 on his pair of loudspeaker cables...

Seriously!

And one of my mates spent more than that going over to electronic shifting.

 

[NorthernDave]

If you don't want to spend too much you could buy a Denon mini system (well reviewed) which comes with speakers for around £400. Plug in a turntable, rega, whatever, for £300. Away you go.

^^^This is what I did.

Denon RCDM41DAB receiver, Wharfedale Diamond speakers and and Audio-Technia deck (part of Panasonic). All in, about £500 new.

While I'm under no impression that this is decent but hardly high end kit, the difference in sound quality over the Sony CD system it replaced is massive.

Or eBay / Facebook marketplace for some potential bargains.

 

[raleighnut]

A friend recently bought a Planar 2, sounds good but not as good as my old Thorens with coincidentally the same Arm fitted,(RB250) but the Thorens and the Linn LP12 are both based on the Acoustic Research design

 

[si_c]

Anything like that in the UK?

We have cash converters. Mostly it sells stolen goods.