Starter Turntable Kit

It's a piece of crap. Truly not worth the time, and I'm not trying to be mean. A good setup costs at least several hundred dollars assuming good deals on vintage equipment, and even then the quality is highly subjective.

My advice on this subject - go big or don't bother. It's an expensive hobby, and it's not really worth it unless you have the cash to toss around and really enjoy it.

I own the AT-LP60 and for the price it's decent. However, I'm going to go ahead and agree with TFox though, getting one of these doesn't offers very minimal advantage over digital so unless you really want a turntable your money would be better invested in a better amp or headphones. If you do get it you could look at getting a Cambridge phono amp and using it later when you upgrade turntables. That's what I've done, I plan on getting a Rega P1 as soon as I can. :D

Best,
Randall DZM

I'd get the AT-LP60 to start see if you like the sound of vinyl, then something like a Rega P1. Sorry about your wallet! (And welcome to head-fi) :D

TFox is right. Don't get the LP60. It's a toy.

The lp-120 or pl-120 is much better, especially if you by-pass the internal preamp.  That's the absolute minimum I'd get in a new deck.  If that's beyond your budget, go used.  There are threads suggesting used TTs.

If you need to see if you like the sound of vinyl (I don't know why one needs to do this, but whatever), then listen to someone else's turntable for free.

If you don't want to spend a ton of money trying this out, the best bang for your buck is a vintage direct drive unit. Direct drive is driven directly by a motor with no belt, are extremely precise, and will serve you well with no maintenance basically forever. There were a ton made in the '80s, and they can be had for a song. I picked up a Technics SL-1600 for like 40 bucks. It is a work of art compared to what most companies are putting out these days. The Audio Technica series zowie mentioned is a fine intro if you don't feel like looking around for a used table - they're basically a poor man's Technics SL-1200, and one of them has a preamp built right in if you don't have a receiver and want to run it directly to a separate preamp.

There is some work involved in setting up a table - you need to align the cartridge, set the tracking force, anti-skate, tonearm height (if possible), make sure it's grounded properly and a handful of other chores. It can definitely be worth it though. Or you can try to find one locally that's already set up.

A little addendum to my previous post - depending on your tastes, it may not ever be worth it for sound quality alone. But it sure is fun, and a it can be an interesting intro to the science behind audio technology if you read the science lit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TFox 

If you don't want to spend a ton of money trying this out, the best bang for your buck is a vintage direct drive unit. Direct drive is driven directly by a motor with no belt, are extremely precise, and will serve you well with no maintenance basically forever. There were a ton made in the '80s, and they can be had for a song. I picked up a Technics SL-1600 for like 40 bucks. It is a work of art compared to what most companies are putting out these days. The Audio Technica series zowie mentioned is a fine intro if you don't feel like looking around for a used table - they're basically a poor man's Technics SL-1200, and one of them has a preamp built right in if you don't have a receiver and want to run it directly to a separate preamp.

 

There is some work involved in setting up a table - you need to align the cartridge, set the tracking force, anti-skate, tonearm height (if possible), make sure it's grounded properly and a handful of other chores. It can definitely be worth it though. Or you can try to find one locally that's already set up.

 

A little addendum to my previous post - depending on your tastes, it may not ever be worth it for sound quality alone. But it sure is fun, and a it can be an interesting intro to the science behind audio technology if you read the science lit.

x2 the Pioneer PL-518 is also a good vintage turntable. If you do buy used, definitely replace the stylus. A worn stylus will do all sorts of damage to your records, not to mention it won't sound very good.

Don't get into vinyl with spme plastic fantastic cheapo turntable.  Go with a used Technics direct drive or a Rega Planar 3/P3.

Turntables need precision components.  You are not going to get those for $100.  A good bearing alone costs $10-$15.  When the materials of a turntable are, maybe, $30, you are not going to get that.  Neither will you get a good arm, motor, cartridge or anything else.

Either do it right or don't bother.  You will also have to learn how to set up a turntable correctly and buy a few tools to do it.  It'll take a few hours the first time.  You have to put some time and money into vinyl.  It's not like buying a CD player and simply plugging it in.  It is worth it, though.