new to turntables

[smuggs]

i might be taking a punt 60% for the looks and 40% for the sound.

i am on the dark side as all i listen to is spotify(premium)/cds through my dac magic.

i will have around the £250 mark in about 8 weeks to spend so im going to start my research now. I have an alpha 9 amp by arcam so im not sure if that has a built in stage. but i like the idea of having a stand alone one incase i ever swap the amp. Just one problem to come to later in life.

I am pretty sure that if i choose not to swap my speakers and get a turntable i will go for the ca 640p to sit on a hifi stand next to the dac-magic. That though would only leave me around £150 to play with there seems to be a few genie 2's out there.

3 things

a-is the mark3 alot better or better by enough to forget the mark2

b- is project the best sub £200 turntable i can buy.

c- or am i best to try and spend £150 on a s/hand one or is that a no no to buy a s/hand turntable with all the problems you could get.

the albums i fancy are broken bells,love,tunng they are all around £15-£20 new are there any good online record shops

many thanks simon

 

[Anonymous]

Hi.

I dont have the experience of turntables many other forum members have but I can recommend a Systemdek IIX, You should be able to get one in good condition for around £150. A new belt for around £15 and a new cartridge like an ortofon 2M red and it will sound superb. Ive got one with the bog standard arm and cartridge. Not got round to replacing the cart yet myself but it still sounds way better than my Arcam Alpha 7SE cdp.

Audio Note charge around the £800 for a deck which is based on this Systemdek. They bought the rights for it im sure.

Hope this helps!

edit. The Audio Note is the TT1 and is around a grand. You can change the glass platter on the Systemdek to acrylic aswell for around £40. Some say this will improve it even more.

 

[margetti]

I'd agree with bobbyg regards the Systemdek, although if your budget is strict you would be very lucky to get one up and running for £150 - depends very much on the mood of the ebay buying public at the time. If you are patient you could get lucky but you might have to wait some time for a bargain to turn up. And you are limited by the fact that you need to buy on a "collection" basis - turntables don't travel well by post! (And you should inspect and see the turntable in working order before departing with your cash).

Upgraditis can also be a problem - if you're immune then again you're in luck, but if susceptible that £150 could soon double... cartridges, tonearm upgrades etc etc...

A Rega P2 (or P3 if you're lucky) might be more in budget - I have no experience of either myself but they are often highly recommended. Ditto Technics 1200 mk2, although quite a different piece of kit altogether.

There's certainly a risk in buying 2nd-hand - more so with turntables than any other component I think. But with research, perserverance, and luck, you'll do a lot better than buying new.

Have a search on these forums for similar posts - Chebby (amongst others) has offered good advice on many occassions on the very subject.

Good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

Adding to previous posts the best I can advise if buying used is see before you buy and dont rely on couriers to get the TT to you in one piece. The only thing I would accept that was faulty/damaged is the belt and cart which I would change anyway. Its not like an electronic component which in simplistic terms either works or not. You need to check bearings, motor, arm bearings etc etc. Hope that hasnt put you off but its worth the wait to find a good one.

 

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify, when I was talking about the Systemdek I meant buying the deck for £150 and spending another £100 on the new belt and cartridge if it is needed.

I think that spending £250 on the turntable and using the Arcams phono stage will sound better than a £150 on the deck and £100 on a phono stage..Id say this applies even more so to brand new decks.

I had an Arcan Alpha 8R and the phono stage was good.the 9s will probably be the same.

 

[floydlgd]

I would agree with the comments above.

I just bought a Systemdek IIX900 from ebay (£65) and a Nad 533 turntable that I bought for the arm! A rega 250! This was £62. So £127 spent and plenty of room for a new cartridge! I'm using it with a Goldring Electra that came with the Nad at the moment but thats just until I get a new cartridge.

I'm getting fantastic results but I would say it's worth taking your time setting up the Systemdek! Get this right and you will be very pleased with the outcome! I used to own much higher end turntables and am amazed at the results I'm getting for such a small amount of money!

Oh and I have a Nad533 turntable with no arm that I'm now selling so when I get the money for this it makes my deck even cheaper! Happy days!

Good luck.

Nik

 

[gbhsi1]

smuggs:
i might be taking a punt 60% for the looks and 40% for the sound.

i am on the dark side as all i listen to is spotify(premium)/cds through my dac magic.

i will have around the £250 mark in about 8 weeks to spend so im going to start my research now. I have an alpha 9 amp by arcam so im not sure if that has a built in stage. but i like the idea of having a stand alone one incase i ever swap the amp. Just one problem to come to later in life.

I am pretty sure that if i choose not to swap my speakers and get a turntable i will go for the ca 640p to sit on a hifi stand next to the dac-magic. That though would only leave me around £150 to play with there seems to be a few genie 2's out there.

3 things

a-is the mark3 alot better or better by enough to forget the mark2

b- is project the best sub £200 turntable i can buy.

c- or am i best to try and spend £150 on a s/hand one or is that a no no to buy a s/hand turntable with all the problems you could get.

the albums i fancy are broken bells,love,tunng they are all around £15-£20 new are there any good online record shops

many thanks simon

Hi Smuggs, my first turntable was the genie 2 which was good for a first time buyer. My brother then bought the genie 3 after consulting me. I prefer the genie 3 as the power button is situated on a sturdy part of the turntable, previously it was situated on the side separate from the turntable which caused that part to move every time you switched the motor on- annoying really but with the genie 3 that has been fixed. It's a cracking first time turntable! give it a go- you will not be disappointed 🙂

 

[mitch65]

I think most of the options have been covered, personally the
differences between the Genie's are minor really. Must admit I do not think you can go too far wrong with either a Project or Rega, it's just down to preference. I would not be too afraid in buying
second hand, I've bought loads this way over the years and never had a
dud (touch wood) and the odd gem like a Thorens TD160S, which is a gem of a deck, in the right condition can come up on ebay or a Rega P3 if you are lucky.

 

[smuggs]

thanks lads im really up for tghe idea now of a turntable, just a question can you every get demos these days (i.e genie3) or is it just a punt/reviews in this area. Plus im sure my mate said his alpha9 had no stage built in is there anyway of checking.

 

[Anonymous]

On the back of the amp there will probably be a little switch to turn the phono stage on or off.

 

[margetti]

floydlgd: I just bought a Systemdek IIX900 from ebay (£65)

You did well! I paid nearly double that for mine - it did come with an acryllic platter but that still doesn't account for the price difference. (And to think, the seller nearly re-negged on the sale because he wasn't happy with the price he got).

Just goes to show, you gotta hit ebay at the right time.

 

[mitch65]

That's the good thing about T/T's in this price range, most Hi-Fi shops sell them. My local Audio-T always has a couple on display so a demo locally should be no problem.

 

[Anonymous]

I was lucky aswell. I got my Systemdek from Cash Generator for £60.

Horrible shops but they sometimes have bargains!

 

[margetti]

bobbyg81:
I was lucky aswell. I got my Systemdek from Cash Generator for £60.

Horrible shops but they sometimes have bargains!

Grrr!

Explains our differences on cost expectations of setting up a Systemdek!

Still, I won't be disappointed if it sounds as good as the reports I keep reading (still waiting for delivery of a Rega RB300 arm - fingers crossed it will arrive tomorrow!)

 

[Anonymous]

Mine isnt the 900 version though and it has a few little nicks on it. I know what they're worth and dont know why they'd priced it so low!

You still got a bargain IMO. You'd have to spend alot more than that on a new turntable for a similar quality sound.

 

[Anonymous]

Smuggs, I'd stick with Rega at the budget end. I've had a pro-ject (the Debut III) and the P2 is so much better.

You might also want to consider the Rega fono mini. It's cheap and good. MM only, which is why I bought a 640p, and I'd have to say the 640p, while a touch more detailed throughout, sounds a bit pedestrian with my setup, and I'm not one who craves exciting gear unless the music is such.

 

[smuggs]

ok ill start looking at the rega p2 and there phono stage mini, i am 99% sure i have no phono stage built into the arcam 9 it has the brass ground loop thing and then 4 holes which have been blanked off with black plastic. It says mm and mc either side. I thought that when you see £200 for a rega tt thaat does not come ready to go.