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Low Budget Vinyl Source - Page 8

post #106 of 187
4/16/09 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by memepool View Post
SL1400 is the same original series as the SL1200 but it's the more automated version see here Technics SL-1400. What you really need is a Denon DL-110 cart to make it shine but if you want an amp and speakers as well you'll be lucky to get very far for 150USD.
Best thing to do is look at craigslist, thrift stores, garage sales and your local classified ads for a '70s Reciever from one of the major Japanese brands as these will have a phono pre-amp built in. Pioneer, Technics, Sony etc and Marantz were very good too. While you're at it see if the vendors are selling their '70s speakers. On the whole the Japanese ones you'll probably come accross won't be the best so look for the likes of AR or JBL assuming you are in the US.
Your priority should be to find out what cart is on the Technics and see if it's worth getting a new stylus for it, or otherwise a new cart. The Technics arm of this era is fairly high mass so the cheapest modern cart that can deal with this would be an Audio Technica 95E for 50USD. Once you have this sorted then look for the other stuff.
Thanks a lot. Now I have something to go on. I'll keep my eyes open for those brands and hopefully I'll come across something. I'm in Toronto, but I'm sure that stuff is just as available here.
Much appreciated.
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post #107 of 187
4/16/09 at 5:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deebs View Post
Thanks a lot. Now I have something to go on. I'll keep my eyes open for those brands and hopefully I'll come across something. I'm in Toronto, but I'm sure that stuff is just as available here.
Much appreciated.
Yes it is. As well as lots of audio stores and the classified ads you can go online and check Kijiji, eBay.ca (there are lots of local sellers) and Canuck Audio Mart.

Canuck Audio Mart Canada's Largest Online Hifi, Audio & Home Theater Classifieds
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post #108 of 187
4/16/09 at 8:02pm
I really like my Yamaha CA600 and I would gander that the other Yamaha natural Sound late 70's gear would sound just as outstanding. I opened it up the other day and man is it a beast inside. Metal film resistors, nichicon and nippon chemi-con negative black caps nd some Allen Bradley resistors in there as well. Fully discrete design. The whole thing is actually very compact inside with most of it being copper PCB's. I was expecting much older, lesser parts due to age.

Good news is that you might be able to pick up one in good condition for $100 - far cheaper than old Rotel or Marantz gear of the same level of performance.

I can send you an audio sample from a rip of an LP I did yesterday and you can tell me whether the phonostage is good enough
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post #109 of 187
4/16/09 at 8:53pm
FWIW, I have a late model Yamaha receiver I paid $400 for in 1994; its MM-only phono stage is good, but a bit noisy.

Second the AT95e; I installed it for my father in law (who apparently played his Shure M92E with a collapsed suspension for years without hearing or noticing it...). It sounded great to me. I don't think mainstream vinyl listeners need a whole lot more than that.
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post #110 of 187
4/17/09 at 9:37am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Publius View Post
Second the AT95e.... It sounded great to me. I don't think mainstream vinyl listeners need a whole lot more than that.
They also scale well and if you mount them on a better quality arm it smooths out the sometimes slight graininess in the treble. I have been using them for years, since my dealer pointed out that it was almost exactly the same as the Linn Basik / K9, I couldn't then afford as a student. I think it's one of the few budget carts that gets a Stereophile grading.
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post #111 of 187
4/17/09 at 1:06pm
Is it mostly unanimous within Audiophilia to avoid automatic record players? Or automatic needle arm placement. Or whatever you'd call it. Because to me that's a quite attractive feature

I just had a thought though... would those even work if you have different sizes of records? I have mostly 12" but a dozen or so that are probably 8-9" in diameter... They are really really thick too which is kind of wierd.
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post #112 of 187
4/17/09 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sduibek View Post
Is it mostly unanimous within Audiophilia to avoid automatic record players?
Pretty much. It's because the only decks which have survived from back in the day were either aimed at the DJ market where this isn't a consideration, or the purist enthusiast market where hand cuing is also the order of the day.

The only automated designs you get today are aimed at the low end, and are a mostly legacy left over from '80s midi sized systems.

Companies like B&O or Sony which used to offer high end automated designs are no longer in this section of the market so you need to go vintage if you want such features, or go to the super high end designs like the Laser Turntable.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sduibek View Post
I just had a thought though... would those even work if you have different sizes of records? I have mostly 12" but a dozen or so that are probably 8-9" in diameter... They are really really thick too which is kind of wierd.
Bang and Olufsen came up with a system where the deck weighed the records and before that they used a system based on measuring light reflections which is what most other companies who attempted to do this also used in various forms.
The thick smaller records you mention are most likely '78s, they are usually made of Shellac rather than vinyl which is much more brittle so don't drop them.
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post #113 of 187
4/17/09 at 4:35pm
My Dual 1219 is automatic and it sounds very good. It sounds a lot better than my old MCS manual which was a low end Technics rebadge.
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post #114 of 187
4/17/09 at 4:54pm
Thread Starter 
Yes vintage is the way to go if you want automation but it's always a balancing act between level of convenience, build quality and servicablility. The Dual is definitely a great deck, well made and still well supported since it was always popular but it's not the last word in High Fidelity. The best automatic deck I've heard is the Beogram 4000, but this is harder to maintain than a Dual. Swings and roundabouts.
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post #115 of 187
4/30/09 at 9:10pm
Does anyone have any thoughts on a Technics SA-EX110 receiver as an inexpensive yet decent receiver?
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post #116 of 187
7/29/09 at 5:03pm
Is the Technics SL-B200 any good?
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post #117 of 187
7/29/09 at 5:17pm
The biggest issue with the B200 is that it uses a "P-mount" cartridge, and that will significantly limit your options. But there are some options, and there seem to be lots of availability of replacement parts for things like the belt for a BD200.
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post #118 of 187
7/30/09 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
The biggest issue with the B200 is that it uses a "P-mount" cartridge, and that will significantly limit your options. But there are some options, and there seem to be lots of availability of replacement parts for things like the belt for a BD200.
Thanks.
You know I just thought of this today and (duh!) I should just call around to all the audio shops in Seattle and say "i'm looking for a turntable, and my budget is 100$. Go!"

I mean Seattle rocks, one of the places has to have something listed on this thread for a decent price I'll LYK!
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post #119 of 187
8/1/09 at 9:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sduibek View Post
Is the Technics SL-B200 any good?
It's a fine beginners turntable. The modern equivalent is an SL-BD20 / BD22 which you can still find new, on the web in many parts of the world, for around 150USD, so don't pay too much for a 2nd hand one.

P-Mount cart options are admittedly a little thinner on the ground these days, but not so much as to be a factor really. Check LPgear.com where they have a very good selection.

There are all the Grado's, a few Audio Technica's and Shure's and a good range of Ortofon's including even a moving coil. Plus they have the famous Shure V-15 as a P-Mount, which is one of the best MM carts of all time, and very rare these days.

You are really going to want to change decks before running out of cartridge options at this level to be honest.

The best thing about the P-Mount T4P design is that it takes all the pain out of cartridge swops as the alignment and downforce are all preset, so a definite boon for a vinyl virgin.
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post #120 of 187
8/1/09 at 10:53am
Another good option is to look around locally for yard sales. Trust me, I found mine today. Yesterday on my way from work I saw two houses put up signs for yard sale today. went to both this morning and picked up my first turntable, an in-excellent condition Technics SL-DD22 for $5 from the first house and about 30 vinyls from the second house for $7.50!

The cartridge says Audio Technica AT112E/U. All that the TT is missing is the ground plug, which I just bought off ebay. I tested it and its works fantastic. I'm looking for a phono stage as well and will settle on one soon. I can hear the music quite well straight to my amp. But heck, I'll take a Technics turntable and 30 vinyls for $12.50 anyday! Thats a bargain.
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