New Turntable suggestions please!

[Pete Shields]

I've had a bit of a nightmare the last couple of years trying very hard to get my 2 year old Roksan Attessa to sing. Repeated earthing issues, tracking force problems, record skips etc culimating in a broken stylus whilst I carried out the latest tracking setup. The cost of the replacement stylus is £150, which is very frustrating given that it sounds great when it does sometimes work

Before that I had a manual Pro-ject Debut turntable with ortofon red cartridge and a rega Fono mini that I purchased at the start of lockdown. That was a dream to use (and currently resides in the loft) , but I fancied a step up hence the Roksan purchase and didn't like the manual speed switch

In the 80's I had a few different turntables, ranging from an old radiogram, A Bush sytem and then a Duel turntable. Then I went digital

With the exception of the Roksan, they were all a dream to setup and just play records!

I think I need a new turntable to bring back my faith in vinyl - I have all of my original vinyl, purchased in the 80's as well a some newer records bought since I got back into vinyl

Any Suggestions?

I'd like a system that is easy to setup. Sounds decent and probably looks more traditional than the Pro-ject and Roksan I already have (ie not a thin platter - I love the looks of Old turntables such as Linn, but these are well out of my price band).

I was looking at the Technics models SL1200Mk7, SL-1500C, even putting the boat out and looking at the SL1210GR2 . Every record shop that I seem to go in to, seems to have a Technics, and they seem to sound better than my Roksan! I'd then maybe look at picking up a new phono stage (£500 budget max)

I did consider a Rega Planar 3, but I want to get a way from the thin platter

Alternatively I could just buy the stylus at £150 and have another play.

Or I could even try swapping out my Ortofon red on the Pro-ject (it probably now needs to be replaced) for a blue and see how that works out....

any thoughts or advice please before i go out to demo some turntables!

 

[daytona600]

Technics , Project , Rega

Technics remove from box , play records , leave to your kids - Simples !


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I love the looks of Old turntables such as Linn
Aftermarket Plinth

 

[record_spot]

Can't argue against my Cambridge Alva ST turntable, which you should be able to get from Cambridge Audio's Ebay store for £349 refurbished, or new for £599. They originally retailed for £850, and the build and sound quality is excellent. Disregard the ludicrous 3-star review that What Hi Fi gave it, pair it with a decent cartridge (it comes with the AT-95E which is underwhelming) and you'll be spinning records in no time. I use an AT-VM540ML.

If you want to go a little higher, then their Alva TT V2 is available on their store for just £799 refurbished - that's a huge cut as that deck normally goes for £1500, has a better tonearm and the cartridge alone goes for about £500, so a fantastic deal.