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gohuskies

(1,156 posts)
10. Any of the brand names noted are worth checking in person
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 07:28 PM
Feb 2021

But bear in mind some of these turntables brand new are incredibly affordable. I can recommend any of the U-turn models as they can be customised to suit your needs, i.e., better plinths, platter (acrylic vs mdf), damped cuing lever with or without a phono pre-amp and of course the phono cartridge. I think their basic model starts at $179. My only beef is the belt drive system to switch from 33.3 to 45rpm is fiddly and i struggle with getting the belt back on the pulley after i change playback speed. With your pioneer receiver it has a built-in phono stage so you will not need a standalone phono pre-amp.

I prefer my Pro-ject debut carbon which comes in at around $400. It has an Ortofon 2m Red cartridge which is a nice feature as you can easily upgrade by swapping the stylus for a 2m blue with even better sound.

Btw most turntables are manual rather than automatic, meaning they do not raise the tonearm and return it to the home position when it reaches the end of a side.

A Denon DP300f is a decent table for around $300 that is fully automatic and is easy to change playback speeds between 33.3 and 45 rpm. It also allows you to swap phono cartridges with detachable headshells if you want to experiment with different cartridges.

I have all three tables in different listening rooms and use them regularly. They all suit my needs without breaking the bank.

If you can find any used and can audition them i am sure ypu can find them on Craigslist or a local audio shop that sells used gear often with a warranty. Hope this helps you in your search.

Ps i would steer you away from Crossleys or ION turntables.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Music Appreciation»I just had my old Pioneer...»Reply #10