New Turntable

[ChefBrunch]

Awesome choice, the sumiko are pretty nice carts though the oyster is a bit entry level, I especially like the Moonstone, I consider it the Goldie Lox cartridge, it just sounds great with everything and is zero fuss.

sweet little turntable

 

[JeremyFife]

I would just like some help and guidance. If it's not good, tell me.
I don't speak enough English and I don't understand if sometimes they are being ironic.
I just wanted someone to tell me... look, this isn't good, so don't buy it... buy this one...
Thank you.

You already have a Rega at home, so i assume you like it. I'd go with the Rega RP1 but get the version with a built in phono stage to solve your 2m cable issue.

There are many options, many choices and there are pros and cons. At this level, quality will be fine.
Sometimes it's best not to seek perfection (and go mad trying). I suspect that Rega works for you.

Edit - you've already chosen the Teak, cool. Enjoy

 

[linuxfan]

For now I'll listen with the factory stylus, so I can compare it with the P3 and Elys 2 I have.

Again, a somewhat unfair comparison, since the Teac's Oyster cartridge has a basic conical/spherical stylus, whereas the Rega Elys2 has a nude elliptical stylus.
Under such circumstances, if the Teac sounds as good as the Rega, it will be high praise indeed.

Owners online say the Teac turntable benefits from a cartridge with elliptical stylus, such as the AT-VM95E I mentioned earlier.

 

[Cote Dazur]

My turntable is "semi automatic" which means the arm picks-up when the record is done. It's a feature I like!

Same here, after 30 years with an LP12, I recently fitted a semi automatic Technic, given to me, with a cartridge and I have to admit that the lifting and returning of the arm at the end of the records is a great feature.

To the OP, for what you want to do with that second turntable, I would go with the TEAC tn-4dse, or something similar in concept. I believe it fits all you requirements in an elegant solution.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

I need to buy a new turntable; I want something simple that I would use in my office while I work.

If you're going to use it while doing something else, an automatic or at least semi-automatic would be the way to go. When the record ends, it's nice to have the machine pick up the tonearm and move it back to the stand. Or at least pick it up.

Other than that, I'm unconvinced that the turntable itself makes all that much difference.

Oops. I see I'm to late. Oh well...

 

[Multicore]

Auto or semi-auto is top priority here at home too. At the radio it's not important. I don't want to be lounging on the couch reading or falling asleep and have to get up to deal with that horrible noise.

 

[ban25]

Auto or semi-auto is top priority here at home too. At the radio it's not important. I don't want to be lounging on the couch reading or falling asleep and have to get up to deal with that horrible noise.

I use one of these, which at least picks up the needle so it's not grinding against the label endlessly:

Little Fwend™ | Enhance Your Vinyl Experience – Shop Now

Discover Little Fwend™, Scandinavia-made automatic tonearm lifters compatible with various turntables. Enhance your vinyl listening experience today.

www.littlefwend.com

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

I use one of these, which at least picks up the needle so it's not grinding against the label endlessly:

Little Fwend™ | Enhance Your Vinyl Experience – Shop Now

Discover Little Fwend™, Scandinavia-made automatic tonearm lifters compatible with various turntables. Enhance your vinyl listening experience today.

www.littlefwend.com

Or there's this for about half 20% of the price:
Q UP

No experience with either one, but if I was going to use my manual TT for casual listening I'd get one or something similar. Since I'm only going to use it to digitize LPs I don't think it's necessary. But ask me again after a month or so of digitizing LPs and my answer might be different.

 

[rgpit]

I use one of these, which at least picks up the needle so it's not grinding against the label endlessly:

Little Fwend™ | Enhance Your Vinyl Experience – Shop Now

Discover Little Fwend™, Scandinavia-made automatic tonearm lifters compatible with various turntables. Enhance your vinyl listening experience today.

www.littlefwend.com

$280!!! Is it made out of unobtainium?

 

[ban25]

$280!!! Is it made out of unobtainium?

I'm pretty sure I paid less a few years ago, so it must've gone up in price. I suppose it is a low-production item, so yeah, not cheap.

 

[Heinrich]

Well friends, I ended up choosing this device.

I would have opted for a used platter. Quite a while ago I sold my ol' Dual 704 for some money and bought a Denon DP-37F because of the more competent damping of the basic arm resonance. The latter is fully automatic, and very easy to use. "Sound" it makes, but no competition whatsoever with any of the digital sources. Anyway, the DP-37F got retrofitted with a dirt cheap Audio Technica AT3600, replacing a DL103, and against expectations it actually works quite well.

In short, the 'modern' platters, in my book, are clearly not worth the money--the Denon DP-37F costs me like 70 bucks fully operational. It is still as good as it gets in all objective parameters. The looks even, if one considers the 'hidden' features that it bears, a wiff of intelligence (at least compared to the Dual). I really don't grasp the enthusiasm for new gear in retro cosmetics, as there are so many abandoned marvels to harvest.

 

[WDeranged]

I'll never say a bad word about the current Planar 1 but it does need a few upgrades. Upgraded belt, glass platter and a VM95ML will give you a platform that's hard to beat. After living with the upgraded Planar 1 for a few years I tried a Planar 2 and 3 but returned them. There was something I liked about the Planar 3 but the difference was no where near as sharp as getting a better preamp or cartridge.

 

[Abdo]

I'll never say a bad word about the current Planar 1 but it does need a few upgrades. Upgraded belt, glass platter and a VM95ML will give you a platform that's hard to beat. After living with the upgraded Planar 1 for a few years I tried a Planar 2 and 3 but returned them. There was something I liked about the Planar 3 but the difference was no where near as sharp as getting a better preamp or cartridge.

I understand, but basically, if you put a vm95m on the Planar 3, do you think it would be unbeatable?

 

[WDeranged]

I understand, but basically, if you put a vm95m on the Planar 3, do you think it would be unbeatable?

I'd certainly take that over my system if a neo PSU was included. But I still wouldn't expect a revelation in tonality.

 

[JeremyFife]

I understand, but basically, if you put a vm95m on the Planar 3, do you think it would be unbeatable?

Remember that you are talking about marginal improvements *within the pretty severe limitations of the vinyl format*. Yes, I'd expect the P3 to be a better platform than the P1 (possibly more to do with the arm than anything else) but you have to spend a *lot* more to get there. Whether it's worth it is for you to decide.

Personally, the attraction of vinyl for me is in the aesthetics and nostalgic ritual. I still buy a handful of records a year for that reason. I used to chase those elusive 'better masters' but given the lack of objective information I've accepted that there is no simple way of identifying them so I'm more chilled now.

 

[linuxfan]

if you put a vm95ml on the Planar 3, do you think it would be unbeatable?

I hear from many Rega owners that's a great combination, and it will be the next upgrade for my Planar 3 - well actually I want the VM740xML - same stylus, but better motor, and metal body.

But Abdo in your case, you already have a very good cartridge on your P3 - the Elys 2, so I'm dubious the AT cartridge with microlinear stylus will give you a gain in SQ over what you already have.

Back to the Planar 1, it's interesting that WDeranged considers an upgraded Planar 1 on near-parity with a Planar 3, but by my calculations those upgrades will raise the price of a P1 by 85%.
Even in stock form I still say the P1 is the best entry-level turntable ... and for an additional 15% outlay the AT-VM95E will yield a noticeable improvement.

 

[juhanharm]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for my first turntable. Started out looking at Project X1 and Rega Planar 3 RS. After some further research im thinking about Technics SL-1200GR2 (I don't like the DJ looks) an SL-1300G. Price jump is quite between SL-1200GR2 and SL-1300G.

Anyone who has owned some of them? What would you recommend.

I'm pairing it with BW Formation Duos.

Juhan

 

[DVDdoug]

I'm looking for my first turntable.

Why??? Just making sure you have a good reason... A lot of people enjoy vinyl for different reasons but it's outdated, technically inferior, inconvenient, and more expensive than digital. And records are easily damaged.

As I mentioned above, I wouldn't worry too much about the turntable itself as long as you don't go "too cheap". Choose one that has the features and looks you like, etc.

Traditionally, turntables don't come with a cartridge or phono preamp. The Project and Rega you're looking at both come with a cartridge but you'll need a phono preamp. In the vinyl days, every receiver had a phono input (a phono preamp built-in) but it's not as common now.

I'm pairing it with BW Formation Duos.

What do you have as a "control center"? i.e., You'll need a volume control and maybe a way to select audio sources and tone control, etc. Most commonly that would be a receiver but most receivers are made to work with passive speakers (preamp outputs* for your active speakers are a feature you'd have to look for). Or you could get a hi-fi preamp, which is more of a control center than a "preamp" but they usually have a phono preamp inside.


* A "preamp output" is a volume-controlled line-level output.

 

[juhanharm]

Thanks. Yes, need a preamp and cartridge.
Main reason is the digital life is busy and I really enjoy office time. I love music and I would like to enjoy my favourite albums offline. My favorite artist include Arvo Part, Riopy, Ludovico Einaudi, The Who, Diana Krall, Pink Floyd, Jamiroquai, Fred Again, etc. There are albums I really enjoy from beginning to the end. I guess that's the main reason.

I also have Formation Audio and Bluesound Node in the mix. I'm using Bluesound for the TV and Tidal connect.

 

[juhanharm]

And I typically regret when I cheaped out (if I could had the better option).