Newcomer trying to Pick a first TT, and running into trouble!

[Gray]

These 5 plug-and-play turntables will impress you with their ease of use and sound quality – and they are affordable, too

Talented, user-friendly models that aren't expensive

www.whathifi.com

 

[Entrigo]

Simon is a very nice guy.

I am indeed - and as En Trigo - though haven't posted in a while.

Yes, Simon is really nice - has been extremely helpful when I thought my AT33PTG was developing some channel imbalance, as the soundstage was starting to pull towards the left speaker. Turns out, it was my ears who are developing "channel imbalance" 😆.

 

[Entrigo]

Actually one thing I really miss from the AT LP-5 is the cueing. Oh so smooth and precise compared to the Technics!

At first I thought I got a faulty one, before reading scores of people complaining about it.
So kudos to Audio Technica there.

 

[camcroft]

Actually one thing I really miss from the AT LP-5 is the cueing. Oh so smooth and precise compared to the Technics!

At first I thought I got a faulty one, before reading scores of people complaining about it.
So kudos to Audio Technica there.

On my LP120XUSB my arm was decending way too quickly onto the record but it was an easy fix with silicone oil after that it goes down perfectly thanks to good old youtube.

 

[Entrigo]

On my LP120XUSB my arm was decending way too quickly onto the record but it was an easy fix with silicone oil after that it goes down perfectly thanks to good old youtube.

Right, good to know, will look it up.

I added a fluid damper (another attempt to stave off the pointlessly expensive upgrade I've been itching for) and doesn't seem to do all tyat much for the cueing - recognising that's not what it is meant to do, I still hoped it would help.

I'll go on YouTube to see about silicone oil for cueing. Luckily it doesn't drop in any dangerous way but still a bit quick and not as smooth as the LP-5.

 

[record_spot]

Bit over your budget, but the Cambridge Ebay store has the Alva ST turntable refurbished model for £349, however, there's a coupon that'll take the price down to just £280.

I've had mine for I guess a couple of years now and can thoroughly recommend it. It has a phono preamp onboard (but you can switch that out to bypass it). Bluetooth too (which you can also bypass) that's handy for late night listening.

Build quality is excellent, very robust. It comes with the AT-VM95E cartridge which is okay, at that end of the budget, the 95C is the often overlooked star.

Ignore the What HiFi review, which somehow just gave it 3 stars.

I pair mine with an Audio Technica AT-VM540ML and a Musical Fidelity X-LP phono stage.

Credit also to Cambridge for their excellent packing that meant I was playing records about 20 minutes after opening the box.

 

[RoA]

Build quality is excellent, very robust. It comes with the AT-VM95C cartridge which is okay, at that end of the budget, the 95C is the often overlooked star.

Indeed. I have the Conical and the 95ML. The C is an amazing bargain for twenty or so quid.

It is NOT worth the £100+ extra. Ignore the rubbish talk often found about the night and day difference between the two, it's minimal at best.

If upgrading from the conical I would personally look at something around £200 minimum, probably even £300. There's more to cartridges than just the cut.

 

[record_spot]

Indeed. I have the Conical and the 95ML. The C is an amazing bargain for twenty or so quid.

It is NOT worth the £100+ extra. Ignore the rubbish talk often found about the night and day difference between the two, it's minimal at best.

If upgrading from the conical I would personally look at something around £200 minimum, probably even £300. There's more to cartridges than just the cut.

My typo, I thought I'd said it comes with the AT-VM95E in my original post. I've since corrected it to avoid confusion.

 

[record_spot]

That's all well and good - maybe if someone already has a fairly large collection of vinyl that they need to play.

But the naysayers may be thinking about the overall cost of vinyl - especially for someone new to it.

Last time I was in HMV, the same album was £5.99 on CD, £29.99 on vinyl.
Buy just 7 of that type of vinyl and suddenly you've exceeded the cost of your £200 turntable - and the naysayers start to sound like the sensible ones 😉

If you've got the funds (and desire) to pay the silly price of vinyl, then it probably makes sense to buy the sort of turntable that will do it full justice.

Nothing to do with being elitist, I say post #3 is the best advice.

If you shop in HMV, then you'll pay HMV high street prices.

I picked up Keith Jarrett's Bordeaux Concert on a 2 LP ECM release for £25 last weekend in an independent record shop in Edinburgh. Half a dozen used vinyl in excellent condition for £35 in another.

Yes, vinyl is more expensive, and yes, sometimes you'll take a hit (£55 on Beyoncé and Cowboy Carter last year, however that was more like a special edition with pretty lavish booklet, photo inner sleeves and the rest. Vinyl was excellent too), but shop carefully and support the independents and you'll often find good prices.

No doubt if you buy enough CDs, you'll eventually surpass the cost of your CD player. Or just get Springsteen's Tracks 2 on CD if you want to eat into a chunk of it at the outset.

As someone who uses both formats, and a few others to boot, there's ample choice in turntables and if you shop carefully, that includes used and for £200. As ever, it's down to doing the homework and legwork beforehand to get the right item.

Vinyl costs more now due to fewer pressing plants compared to 40 years ago, the demand for vinyl and often, the higher quality presentation in the overall package. That it should cost more isn't a surprise, but equally it's no reason to not get into vinyl and start building a collection. Nobody needs to shop solely in HMV.

 

[Gray]

Nobody needs to shop solely in HMV.

Don't worry, I've never bought a full-priced item in HMV 👍 - and I'm pretty sure all of my vinyl has been bought from elsewhere.
Whatever the reasons (or excuses) for the current cost of vinyl - I'm happy not to be buying it.