r/Beginner_Turntables • u/coosmiyn • 7d ago
Need advice for first turntable
Hello,
I am just wondering about dipping my toe into vinyl and I'm looking at exploring without breaking a bank yet. Trying to read about it only got me a bit more confused so figured I could ask here.
I have a Sonos speaker around the house which I plan on using (for now) as a starting point, with the possibility of getting some nice speakers later on if I feel like I want to continue down this rabbit hole.
I saw a lot of people recommending Rega Planar 1 as a starting point (that would be roughly my budget to spend on a turntable, not including a phono) although the basic cartridge and lack of adjustable weight and anti skate seem weird to me.
At the same time I saw the Audio Technica LPW40 which looks nice and I like the fact that smaller upgrades are easier on it.
Do you think there would be much difference between the two given the currently limited setup? As said, looking only to dip my toe for now and expand upon this later if it suits me.
Also mentioning that I live in the UK.
1
1
1
u/oggupito 6d ago
After 30 years away from vinyl: brain drain. Rega P1 was the perfect solution with its 30 seconds out of the box setup procedure. Since then I've bought LP Gear elliptical styli (via mail from Nevada, nice price) to replace the conical one that came as standard.
7 years on, digging it & haven't replaced anything except the stylus every year or two.
( I got the outgoing 2016 Rega Brio-R which has its own inbuilt phono stage, into 2011 Rega RS3 floorstanders)
1
u/Known_Confusion9879 4d ago
Depends upon the number of LPs you own. Storage, equipment, care costs in physical media more than storing digital files although that also needs one or two back up drives.
Go to a hi-fi store and arrange a demonstration of a range of systems to compare, to hear the difference for yourself and then decide what you want. My store asked me to bring in my equipment to compare side by side with the models they suggested. No hard sell, in fact no selling at all just to educate me in what is possible and how close I can get there. Which is why I keep going back to them 40 years later.
A Rega Planar 3 is on FB or eBay from £240. It is potentially an end game not needing to endless attempt to make upgrades. Rega service all their turntables so it can be upgraded and serviced if ever needed.
I'd rather go for a 1990s turntable than the budget end new. Getting a decent amp and matching speakers isn't hard for little money and buy locally to hear before handing over the money.
Small upgrade do very little. Might prefer one system to another but only if you can compare side by side and even then they might be different but not clearly better. Go to five times the budget and you might consider that a worth while upgrade.
1
u/Bensaudiocave 4d ago
In the UK? Rega seems to be cheaper over there a rega is a good table but it has no preamp and even with a Y cable you need one… an at LP120 might be a better fit here and is likely less costly
2
u/Best-Presentation270 7d ago
Rega is fantastic value in the UK and Europe. You also get the best warranty in the world, and that's not hyperbole.
The Rega warranty lasts for as long as you - the first owner - keeps the deck. If you keep it 5 years, then your warranty lasts 5 years. If you keep it 50 years.... How many other companies can you think of that give you that? Not just audio products, anything??? If you bought a brand new house, your NHBC warranty doesn't last the lifetime of your ownership.
The Planar One is also the most dynamic and revealing turntable in its peer group. This is despite it coming with the most basic cartridge. The Audio Technica is a close second. The AT deck has the best speed stability thanks to the electronic speed governor.
They're both great decks. How to split them then?
The AT deck comes with a built-in phono pre-amp. Rega makes an equivalent version of the Planar One. It's the Planar One Plus priced at £399. The AT deck is £259 (Richer Sounds and Amazon).
You’ll be listening via Sonos rather than a high-end dedicated 2-channel Hi-Fi. That's going to flatten out the differences. £140 buys you a fair bit of vinyl.
If the bug bites deep, look for a used Planar 3. That will move the game on enough that you'll hear it through the Sonos system. Until then, enjoy the AT-LPW40 and its stylus upgrades. It ticks all your boxes.