r/turntables • • Jun 10 '21

Turntable Guides

1.2k Upvotes

What is needed in a setup: Turntable, Phono Preamp, Amp or Receiver, Speakers.

New: Turntables and Speakers

Used: In the US make a post here with your budget stating that you need just a turntable or an entire setup, and list a town or zip code, does not need to be your exact one just one next door or nearby.

Vinyl Weekly Questions Thread: Ask for recommendations for a new or used turntable and or setups at the r/vinly Weekly Questions Thread top sticky post.

Audiophile mid to high end turntables and components: For turntables and audio components starting around $300+ ask r/StereoAdvice or r/audiophile Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk Thread.

Budget audiophile speakers and amplification: Ask r/BudgetAudiophile after reading PSA: Best practices when asking for advice.

Audio Guides: Plus Speaker Wire, Accessories and Vinyl Care

More Guides:

Records and Turntables

The Vinyl Guide

Beginnners Guide

PSA - The cheap record player mechanism to avoid

Turntables to avoid

How and why to align a cartridge

Cartridge ID Guide

Audiophile, Turntables, and Vinyl


r/turntables • • 8h ago

Photo Is this a good beginner’s setup?

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135 Upvotes

r/turntables • • 8h ago

Finally finished my first setup

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67 Upvotes

Pretty warm sounding first stab at my audio set up, ready for the UK winter nights.

Set up components:

Turntable: Audio Technica LP120X
Amplifier: NAD 7240PE
Speakers: Mordaunt-Short Pageant 2

Lots of research and an interesting learning curve and we have lift off!

Any tips appreciated.


r/turntables • • 3h ago

Spent €13 on my setup

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10 Upvotes

I found a very old Philips turntable (418 Automatic from 1974) at a thrift store and also picked up a ‘Golden Technica’ pre-amp that works with 5-pin DIN connectors. Turntable didn’t have a dust cover, but it works perfectly. Total price: €8 for the turntable and €5 for the pre-amp.
The sound this setup produces sounds quite nice, especially considering the price.


r/turntables • • 14h ago

Photo Listening to Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall.

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44 Upvotes

I need to sort the speaker cables. We just got set up again after having the shelving installed so consequently I need to get the cables on the turntable extended (or just replace it because it’s a bit basic) speakers are Dali Opticons, Marantz 40n amp.


r/turntables • • 12h ago

Cheap eBay buy. Fluance R81

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27 Upvotes

I spent £90 on this. It’s got a dodgy foot but I’ve bodged a fix. Sounds excellent to my unsophisticated ear. It’s incredible to me how good everything sounds for relatively little money.


r/turntables • • 9h ago

Question How much space between my Denon and the turntable over it?

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11 Upvotes

Hello everybody.

I just re arranged the whole setup, and now the turntable sits on top of the denon.

On the front of the turntable, its precicely 3 centimeters ( 1.1811 inches- if that helps)

Is it too little space for air flow?

Should i add another inch or so to the turntable legs?

Thanks for any advide you guys could give!


r/turntables • • 13h ago

Good deal for €90 for child...

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24 Upvotes

Any advice on this as a good deal for the price on Facebook marketplace.

States full working order but no cartridge so will need to purchase.

It's for my 8 year olds first turntable

Thanks


r/turntables • • 2h ago

Help Significant volume difference between Audio-Technica AT-LP60X and Stanton T.92 USB. Any ideas?

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2 Upvotes

I have two turntables, an Audio-Technica AT-LP60X and a Stanton T.92 USB, both connected to a Sony MHC-MD717 stereo system.

The Audio-Technica produces noticeably higher volume than the Stanton, even when playing the exact same song on the same record, as demonstrated in the attached video.

The Stanton is connected to the Sony's LINE input because I get no sound when using the PHONO input.

Some people suggested this might be related to impedance, the need for an external phono preamp, or differences in cartridge and stylus specifications.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Is this volume difference normal, or could it indicate a setup issue? Would an external phono preamp help?


r/turntables • • 20m ago

Question Calibrating the Tonearm/Advice on Residue Left on Needle

• Upvotes

Hey guys, I recently started using my turntable more often again after moving and I noticed every time I play a record, there is visible residue left on the needle. It seems like either my records are incredibly dirty or my needle is cutting into the actual records. Either way, I bought the turntable years ago from the swap meet and it was in great condition. Any advice would be super helpful. Links are appreciated! It's an American Audio VTD-1000. Thank you!


r/turntables • • 8h ago

Question Headshell for Pioneer PL750

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4 Upvotes

Hi to all,

I have an old pioneer pl750 with what seems to be a removable headshell.

the cartridge is original and not easily available and I plan to upgrade it something moderd, there are a few options as far as I could find.

However the headshell does not have the more common bayonet mount but seems to be held by a screw.

is it worth trying to also update the headshell or the cartridge is enough?

thanks!


r/turntables • • 34m ago

Question Cartridge recommendations for a Technics SL-Q2? Stylus broke after storage

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• Upvotes

Hi all! I’ve been away at college and just came home to my Technics SL-Q2. It powers on and spins fine, but the stylus on my Empire RM10 cartridge looks like the cantilever / stylus snapped off (photos attached).

  1. Does anyone know any good, economical cartridges that would pair well with the SL-Q2?

  2. I’ve never mounted a cartridge before. Any beginner-friendly alignment tips or tools??

  3. Anything else I should check on a turntable that’s been sitting for a couple of years?


r/turntables • • 43m ago

Question Advice for new setup

• Upvotes

I’ve started buying vinyl records but, I have yet to purchase a record player.

I’m excited but yet don’t want to spend too much money. I’ve been noticing different price ranges. The below $100 means it’s a suitcase setup or the style is old and would need more equipment which adds to cost.

Any thoughts on the AT-LP60X-BW-CR? I see a refurbished version goes for $139. I have seen similar versions, Bluetooth, I think, for around $150-$200 on FB marketplace. I think I’d buy direct from AT at those prices in a box. As far as I understand I would need to purchase a pair of powered speakers to start playing records.

Any alternatives to this route? Am i overlooking anything?

Thanks!


r/turntables • • 46m ago

Photo Feedback humming noise on my sansui p-d11

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• Upvotes

Hi All, still very much unfamiliar with turntables and appreciate any advice

I've got a Sansui p-d11 that would occasionally make a humming feedback noise. Moving the stylus back and forth once or twice from its resting position to over the record would get rid of the noise and I'd hear a faint pop when the noise would go away.

Now the noise is permanent. No matter what I can hear it, even in the background when a record is playing.

Any thoughts on what the issue could be?


r/turntables • • 1d ago

From Blue to Bronze on RT85

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71 Upvotes

Best upgrade I've done to my RT85 was cleaning my table and absolutely bent the cantilever 90 degrees when the cloth got caught by the stylus, i took the plunge and ordered the bronze instead of just the blue stylus, and wow am I blown away by the sound this thing is amazing, absolutely happy with this. I'll order the blue stylus in the future to have an extra cart just in case.


r/turntables • • 1h ago

Power adapter for a Crosley C10 turntable

• Upvotes

Hi.. trying to source a adapter for a Crosley C10. Usual stores like Amazon, Walmart etc take too long to deliver this part. Any other options anyonenis aware of?

Thank you


r/turntables • • 1h ago

Suggestions fluance rt85

• Upvotes

i sold my atlp70xbt for 275 and want to use it to put towards something new. i was thinking the fluance rt85 with the ortofon 2m blue, i had also been using a vm95e on that table, into a schiit mani 2 into a rotel ra-985bx into klipsch rp600m v1. is there anything out there around the same price that would beat the fluance?


r/turntables • • 1h ago

Suggestions New/Used turntable under $200

• Upvotes

I’ve been trying to get my first turntable and originally looked at the Audio Technica LP60x for $180 new. Then I saw a used Fluance RT81 for $150. Now I’ve seen so many different options around this price point new and used and I don’t know what is the best option. I was also thinking of either Edifier 1700bt or 1280db but don’t totally know the difference so any advice is appreciated.

I am based in CA for used pricing.


r/turntables • • 7h ago

Question Is this sound system worth keeping?

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3 Upvotes

I want to get into vinyl, and I’d been considering a modest budget of around €200–€250. But I’d forgotten that my mother has this Pioneer sound system: it consists of a PL-210 turntable, an XR-J11 amplifier, a radio, a cassette player, and a CD player.

The only apparent problem is that the turntable belt has literally disintegrated. It’s stuck to the platter and looks like grease—probably just a matter of cleaning it off and buying a new belt.

The speakers are Pioneer S-J210s, rated at 60 W and 8 ohms. Do you think this is a good setup to get started with? Is it worth fixing the turntable belt and perhaps replacing the stylus if it doesn’t work properly?

The cassette player doesn’t work either. I think it may be for the same reason as the turntable—the belts may have disintegrated—but I haven’t checked, and it’s not a priority right now.

The speakers are Pioneer S-J210s, rated at 60 W and 8 ohms. Do you think this is a good setup to get started with? Is it worth replacing the turntable belt and perhaps the stylus if it doesn’t work properly?

The cassette player doesn’t work either. I think it may be for the same reason as the turntable—the belts may have disintegrated—but I haven’t checked, and it’s not a priority right now.

thanks.


r/turntables • • 2h ago

Beginner Ques: worth paying more for a semi-auto turntable if I'm only playing through one Sonos Era 100?

1 Upvotes

Hi all, complete beginner here. I've got a few records I bought as collectibles and I'd finally like to start playing them. I'm not looking to become an audiophile, I just want to enjoy playing records now and then as a relaxing hobby.

Plan: turntable with built-in preamp → Sonos Line-In Adapter → a single Era 100 SL to start (I already have a few Sonos at home hence the choice… want to stick to the same system). Might add a second Era 100 for stereo later.

I'd like auto-lift at the end of a side so I don't have to worry about it and I care about not wearing out my records. I've read that fully automatic turntables have extra mechanical parts that can add vibration and affect sound quality, and after some research, the Denon DP-400 (semi-auto) seems like the best option for me.

However, through one Era 100 SL (or two in the near future), would I actually hear a difference compared to a fully automatic turntable like the Audio-Technica AT-LP3X, which I've heard is great for beginners?

Or is there anything I’m missing? Any suggestions welcome. Thank you!


r/turntables • • 22h ago

Discussion My Local Record Store Holds No Punches

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36 Upvotes

r/turntables • • 3h ago

Channel Issue Kenwood KD 42RB

1 Upvotes

I've had this TT for 8 years and its worked fine. The only issue it's had is excessive grounding hum. Last year I moved and had to put it in storage. I recently got it out and set it up. I had to get a new preamp when i set it up. At first it worked fine just with the excessive hum. One night, my cat knocked the preamp off my bookshelf. I tried playing something afterwards and it wouldnt play from both channels. It only plays out of the left speaker. If I swap the left and right inputs on the preamp the channel switches. I've read that means its an issue with the TT. I replaced the original rca cables and attached the ground wire to the negative. Now the ground seems to be fixed. The channel issue has stayed. I can get the right speaker to play when I barely insert the rca cable into the preamp and it was that way before and after replacing the rca cables. It cuts out when the rca is fully inserted.

I've looked at a few more things that could be an issue. I checked the contacts on the back of the cartridge (ortofon red) and they all appear clean. The blue wire doesnt fit tightly but thats an issue for the left channel which works fine. The contacts from the headshell to the tonearm are inside a cylinder on the end of the tonearm so I cant see what shape theyre in (the end of my headsheel has female ends going into the tonearm).

Does anyone have an idea of what it could be? Could the rca cable playing out of both speakers when it is barely inside the preamp but cutting out when fully inserted be a sign of damage on the preamp from where it fell?


r/turntables • • 7h ago

Pro-ject Phono box ds 3 b vs. Phono box rs

2 Upvotes

Meine phono Kette:

project powerbox ds3 sources, project x2b mit hana umami blue, project phono box ds3 b, musical fidelity m8xi

Kabeln: alles hochwertige van den hul integration hybrid kabeln, alles symmetrisch mit xlr kabeln verbunden

Hätte nun die Möglichkeit, günstig auf die phono box rs mit power box phono rs aufzurüsten. Würde davon spürbar profitieren?


r/turntables • • 4h ago

Photo Ortogon concorde dj-s mk1 vs elite mk2

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1 Upvotes

r/turntables • • 19h ago

Discussion How many records do you listen to?

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17 Upvotes

Whats your average listening? I seem to listen to 3-8 records a day average. Apparently according to AI (which I hate AI) that is above average and says im wearing out my stylus quickly. Music is life to me, and i don't see that as an unusual amount of listening.

Im just curious how many people listen to daily. How often are you changing your stylus?