Are turntables like Rega or Pro-ject better (in quality sound vinyl ) than Audio-technica LP1240?

[tgveraspsnbr]

I'm a vinyl enthusiast and I live in Brazil. Here the information is very scarce. My intention is to listen to vinyl records and I currently have a Marantz PM8006 Amplifier, Elipson Prestige Facet 8B speakers and a Turnable AT-LP1240 with Ortofon 2m RED.I want to change my capsule, I wanted to buy an ortofon 2m black. However, I was unsure whether I should also change my AT-LP1240 since it is more aimed at DJs (I didn't really understand this at the time I bought it).My question is: Should I actually change the AT-LP1240? I thought about purchasing a Raga Planar 3 or Pro-ject RPM 3, or perhaps even a Pro-Ject 1Xpression. Is changing the record player really recommended? Should I really get another sound experience with better quality for my purpose?I already know the cartridge is terrible and should at least go to an Ortofon 2m Silver!Thanks to anyone who can help!

 

[camcroft]

Stick with your present turntable and buy the Audio Technica VM95ML cartridge.

 

[WayneKerr]

An Ortofon 2M Black would be wasted on that turntable. But your money, your choice.

 

[Al ears]

I am not sure why anyone would want to put a £500 cartridge on a turntable that only costs £250.
If you want to upgrade sell that turntable. Any of those decks you mention will be better, in my opinion.

 

[WayneKerr]

Supondo que eu tivesse a mesma agulha, por exemplo um ortofon azul ou bronze. Um Rega ou Project forneceria um som melhor do que um LP1240?

Translation: "Assuming I had the same needle, for example a blue or bronze ortofon. Would a Rega or Project provide a better sound than an LP1240?"

I would say yes, but that would depend very much on which Rega/Project you intend to purchase.

I have an Ortofon 2M Black mounted on a Pioneer PLX1000, it sounds okay but sounds better mounted on my Marantz turntable, but I do prefer the Bronze to the Black. Ortofon make great cartridges but I'm not a fan, I prefer Nagaoka

 

[WayneKerr]

Stick with your present turntable and buy the Audio Technica VM95ML cartridge.

Good call

 

[Al ears]

Obrigado! Não consigo encontrar muita explicação sobre a qualidade do som comparando toca-discos! É por isso que a questão era se o LP1240 realmente limitava a qualidade do som!

Please translate into English as per forum rules or your posts will be deleted.

 

[tgveraspsnbr]

"Assuming I had the same needle, for example a blue or bronze ortofon. Would a Rega or Project provide a better sound than an LP1240?"

I would say yes, but that would depend very much on which Rega/Project you intend to purchase.

I have an Ortofon 2M Black mounted on a Pioneer PLX1000, it sounds okay but sounds better mounted on my Marantz turntable, but I do prefer the Bronze to the Black. Ortofon make great cartridges but I'm not a fan, I prefer Nagaoka

I'm between the Rega Planar 3, Pro-ject RPM3. Here in Brazil the cost of these turnables is very high! When cartridge I thought of a Nagaoka MP-150.

 

[tgveraspsnbr]

Sorry, I just realized that the browser was translating the answers into Portuguese!

 

[tgveraspsnbr]

Please translate into English as per forum rules or your posts will be deleted.

Previously I had said: Thank you! I can't find much explanation about sound quality comparing turnables! That's why the question was whether the LP1240 actually limited the sound quality!

 

[Al ears]

Previously I had said: Thank you! I can't find much explanation about sound quality comparing turnables! That's why the question was whether the LP1240 actually limited the sound quality!

Most of that sound quality will depend on the cartridge fitted rather than the turntable itself. The quality of the tonearm itself is also important.

 

[tgveraspsnbr]

Most of that sound quality will depend on the cartridge fitted rather than the turntable itself. The quality of the tonearm itself is also important.

I'm between the Rega Planar 3, Pro-ject RPM3. Here in Brazil the cost of these turnables is very high! When cartridge I thought of a Nagaoka MP-150.

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm between the Rega Planar 3, Pro-ject RPM3. Here in Brazil the cost of these turnables is very high! When cartridge I thought of a Nagoaka MP-150.

What is it about your Audio Technica you don't particularly like?

The Regas and Pro-jects are belt driven while the AT is direct drive, unless you go higher up the price scale on the belt driven tables, build quality of the AT looks very good.

 

[nopiano]

I'm between the Rega Planar 3, Pro-ject RPM3. Here in Brazil the cost of these turnables is very high! When cartridge I thought of a Nagaoka MP-150.

What are the respective prices of these two, locally?

A big upgrade of your 2M Red is simply to fit the 2M Blue stylus/needle.

 

[tgveraspsnbr]

What is it about your Audio Technica you don't particularly like?

The Regas and Pro-jects are belt driven while the AT is direct drive, unless you go higher up the price scale on the belt driven tables, build quality of the AT looks very good.

I started this discussion with the following question: Assuming we have quality cartridges (for example 2m Black or MP-200). Is the sound quality obtained from the AT-LP1240 and a Rega Planar 3 or Pro-ject RMP3 equivalent? Or there is a limitation (bottleneck) of the AT for others!

In short, leave aesthetics aside, is it worth updating?

 

[tgveraspsnbr]

What are the respective prices of these two, locally?

Pro-ject RMP3 USD 1.100,00
Rega Planar 3 USD 1.300,00

A big upgrade of your 2M Red is simply to fit the 2M Blue stylus/needle.

 

[WayneKerr]

Pro-ject RMP3 USD 1.100,00
Rega Planar 3 USD 1.300,00

Ouch! They're expensive in Brazil. In the UK they are roughly the same price as your AT. Are there any decent American turntables available cheaper?

You have the same issue with your AT1240 as I have with my PLX1000, they are both mass-produced Chinese Technics clones without the original Technics quality. They are reasonable decks and can sound great with the right cartridge on them, but what they do lack is the quality of better brands as they are just churned out with different names on them - Reloop, Stanton, AT, Pioneer, etc., with very questionable QC. But they do feel far more substantial than the more lightweight Rega and Project offerings.

It really doesn't matter matter what the drive system is as long as it turns a record at the right speed, and everything is within spec. However, tonearms and cartridges play the biggest role when it comes to performance, this is where brands like Rega an Project generally excel.

Personally I'd keep the AT deck for the moment and either either stick a 2M Blue stylus on or a complete AT VM95ML cartridge and see what you think, AT cartridges are very good I am unsure about Nagaoka prices in Brazil but they have become very expensive over here and face stiff competition.

Whatever you do definitely ditch that 2M Red stylus, I hated it

 

[tgveraspsnbr]

Ouch! They're expensive in Brazil. In the UK they are roughly the same price as your AT. Are there any decent American turntables available cheaper?

You have the same issue with your AT1240 as I have with my PLX1000, they are both mass-produced Chinese Technics clones without the original Technics quality. They are reasonable decks and can sound great with the right cartridge on them, but what they do lack is the quality of better brands as they are just churned out with different names on them - Reloop, Stanton, AT, Pioneer, etc., with very questionable QC. But they do feel far more substantial than the more lightweight Rega and Project offerings.

It really doesn't matter matter what the drive system is as long as it turns a record at the right speed, and everything is within spec. However, tonearms and cartridges play the biggest role when it comes to performance, this is where brands like Rega an Project generally excel.

Personally I'd keep the AT deck for the moment and either either stick a 2M Blue stylus on or a complete AT VM95ML cartridge and see what you think, AT cartridges are very good I am unsure about Nagaoka prices in Brazil but they have become very expensive over here and face stiff competition.

Whatever you do definitely ditch that 2M Red stylus, I hated it

In Brazil it's complicated, as far as I know there isn't a single physical store where we can see something like this in operation. So sometimes it's complicated. I did a lot of research and bought a Marantz PM8006, I don't think I was very happy with the elipsom ones based on the reviews... but they are much better than what I had before and for now I'm going to continue with them... I'm going to try a bi-wire to see if I have good earnings!

 

[nopiano]

Pro-ject RMP3 USD 1.100,00
Rega Planar 3 USD 1.300,00

Then I’d stick with your AT assuming it’s working well. The other thing we haven’t checked: are you using the phono stage in the Marantz amplifier or the one in the turntable?

 

[WayneKerr]

In Brazil it's complicated, as far as I know there isn't a single physical store where we can see something like this in operation. So sometimes it's complicated. I did a lot of research and bought a Marantz PM8006, I don't think I was very happy with the elipsom ones based on the reviews... but they are much better than what I had before and for now I'm going to continue with them... I'm going to try a bi-wire to see if I have good earnings!

By all means try bi-wiring but majority of people have found that it does nothing except empty your pocket with the cost of extra cable The amp is a good choice though, but as always it needs to work well with your chosen speakers.

 

[Al ears]

Then I’d stick with your AT assuming it’s working well. The other thing we haven’t checked: are you using the phono stage in the Marantz amplifier or the one in the turntable?

Didn't realise there was a phono stage i his turntable, best use the one in the amp

 

[nopiano]

Didn't realise there was a phono stage i his turntable, best use the one in the amp

Well, if it’s this one, then there seems to be.

Home review

More than capable with sound, but better with features

www.whathifi.com

 

[plastic penguin]

I started this discussion with the following question: Assuming we have quality cartridges (for example 2m Black or MP-200). Is the sound quality obtained from the AT-LP1240 and a Rega Planar 3 or Pro-ject RMP3 equivalent? Or there is a limitation (bottleneck) of the AT for others!

In short, leave aesthetics aside, is it worth updating?

I would say yes, your AT, like any turntable, will improve with a better cartridge.

When I had my Pro-ject Xpression 1, which cost £200 new, I had a £130 ClearAudio cartridge fitted and it gave me an impressive uplift in sound.

Just for the record (excuse the pun) I've also owned a Ortofon red that doesn't compare with any of the Clearaudios or Goldring carts I've owned.

 

[record_spot]

The AT1240 is absolutely fine - I had a later derivative of it under a different marque and it was a great deck.

Previously, I'd had a Rega P3 (from 2000) and while it was a good turntable, you were paying for the RB300 tonearm and the Elys 2 cartridge. A glass platter and MDF do not clock in at high bucks.

Stick with the AT. Buy a better cartridge - but check capacitance before you do as this is a major factor - I used an AT-VM95ML. If you can stretch to the 540ML so much the better.

I liked that you could adjust the height of the tonearm assembly, build quality was great - solid as a rock, so playing stability was excellent. The tonearm assembly was fine too. I later was swayed by a modded TD160 with a hefty plinth....but the AT variant was the better deck.

 

[tgveraspsnbr]

The AT1240 is absolutely fine - I had a later derivative of it under a different marque and it was a great deck.

Previously, I'd had a Rega P3 (from 2000) and while it was a good turntable, you were paying for the RB300 tonearm and the Elys 2 cartridge. A glass platter and MDF do not clock in at high bucks.

Stick with the AT. Buy a better cartridge - but check capacitance before you do as this is a major factor - I used an AT-VM95ML. If you can stretch to the 540ML so much the better.

I liked that you could adjust the height of the tonearm assembly, build quality was great - solid as a rock, so playing stability was excellent. The tonearm assembly was fine too. I later was swayed by a modded TD160 with a hefty plinth....but the AT variant was the better deck.

I will try fistly change my cartridge... VM95ml or VM540ML... I think that i can buy here in Brazil boths for a good price