Which vinyl player to get?

Necuno

Court Jester
Joined
Sep 27, 2005
Messages
58,566
Reaction score
3,437
Which vinyl player to get?

I've looked at Big Ben, Crosley and the Ion ones yesterday at menlyn... any other choices? They seem a bit, erm, lacking in something :confused:

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Must be belt drive with magnetic pickup and diamond stylus.

If you can find a B&O in good nick buy it.
 
This is a very budget dependent subject. I got myself a Clearaudio Concept which I love to bits, but I was also pleasantly surprised with the quality of the Pro-Ject Debut.

Always been a huge fan of the Technics SL1200 but for my purposes I decided that sound quality was more important. As satanboy said, those that you mentioned are novelty toys.
 
Well I don't want a piece of horse ****, something that is decent and plays decent.

Thanks for the suggestions I'll look around and see if I can pick up a Technics :)
 
This is a very budget dependent subject. I got myself a Clearaudio Concept which I love to bits, but I was also pleasantly surprised with the quality of the Pro-Ject Debut.

Always been a huge fan of the Technics SL1200 but for my purposes I decided that sound quality was more important. As satanboy said, those that you mentioned are novelty toys.

Thorens, Lenco, B & O are all
good. If you can find one at a reasonable price
 
I have a set of the classic Technics SL1210's. If you're lucky enough to find one for sale, I'd opt for that. Very hard to break, but if anyone is silly enough to accomplish that, spares are still widely available although production on the turntable stopped in 2010. Whatever you do , stay away from belt drive turntables. Direct drive is what you want. There are plenty to choose from. Not so much in SA, but you could bring one in from Amazon. Stay well clear from those plastic toys being passed off as turntables as well. Those are junk (ION etc.)

This one is extremely good value, and from personal experience I can tell you that it is a very good turntable.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP120-USB-Direct-Drive-Professional-Turntable/dp/B002S1CJ2Q
 
I have a set of the classic Technics SL1210's. If you're lucky enough to find one for sale, I'd opt for that. Very hard to break, but if anyone is silly enough to accomplish that, spares are still widely available although production on the turntable stopped in 2010. Whatever you do , stay away from belt drive turntables. Direct drive is what you want. There are plenty to choose from. Not so much in SA, but you could bring one in from Amazon. Stay well clear from those plastic toys being passed off as turntables as well. Those are junk (ION etc.)

This one is extremely good value, and from personal experience I can tell you that it is a very good turntable.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP120-USB-Direct-Drive-Professional-Turntable/dp/B002S1CJ2Q

Any direct drive turntable by definition is not as good as a belt driven turntable for playback because the motor is directly underneath the platter, they are good for dj'ing though.

Consider Rega and Pro-ject, the turntables are not cheap (starting at R3000) but are solid and do the job well.
 
Any direct drive turntable by definition is not as good as a belt driven turntable for playback because the motor is directly underneath the platter, they are good for dj'ing though.

Consider Rega and Pro-ject, the turntables are not cheap (starting at R3000) but are solid and do the job well.

Fair enough, but that's if you're delving into pure audiophile territory. The cost, and procurement of parts, for replacing a belt on a turntable is something one must consider as well. Direct drive eliminates that problem, unless the motor goes, but if you get a decent direct drive turntable, it can go through it's entire life without needing the motor replaced. Again, the Technics 1200/1210 is a perfect example of a turntable where this isn't ever a problem, especially if it's gonna be used purely for playback.
 
Fair enough, but that's if you're delving into pure audiophile territory. The cost, and procurement of parts, for replacing a belt on a turntable is something one must consider as well. Direct drive eliminates that problem, unless the motor goes, but if you get a decent direct drive turntable, it can go through it's entire life without needing the motor replaced. Again, the Technics 1200/1210 is a perfect example of a turntable where this isn't ever a problem, especially if it's gonna be used purely for playback.

With modern turntables belt wear is only a problem if the turntable is abused, infact turntables in general only break if abused.

I'm sure the OP can find many twenty year old or more belt driven turntables on gumtree where the belt is still very much in good condition but if he wants a serious turntable for playback he should consider the belt driven decks made by Rega or Pro-ject.

Direct drive arguments are only valid for DJing purposes, outside of that area the argument you put forward doesn't hold much water.
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X