Favorite budget turntable?

[bigshot]

In that price range, I would go for a used Thorens or Dual.

See ya
Steve

 

[lini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot /img/forum/go_quote.gif In that price range, I would go for a used Thorens or Dual.

Generally seconded - but as this has become the usual advice nowadays, the prices for the known-good brands and models have already gone up quite a bit. Hence I'd recommend not to discount other manufacturers either - there were so many nice turntables back then...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: I really should avoid this kind of turntable threads - whenever I check out ebay for examples on nice used stuff, I have to fight collectitis. This time, first hit: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Luxman-P...QQcmdZViewItem

already a very nice one. *drool* But I've already got four turntables... *sigh*

..next interesting one: http://cgi.ebay.com/LEGENDARY-TECHNI...QQcmdZViewItem

*doubledrool*

...still on the same, first page - Garrard: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1970s-GA...QQcmdZViewItem

...and Thorens: http://cgi.ebay.com/Thorens-124-Turn...QQcmdZViewItem

...or how about gorgeous 70s softline design: http://cgi.ebay.com/Philips-212-Turn...QQcmdZViewItem

...or a nice direct drive Dual: http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-DUAL-604...QQcmdZViewItem

So many nice tables.... I need a shower.

 

[soloz2]

how is the Bang & Olufsen Beogram 3000?
http://www.beoworld.co.uk/beogram3000.htm

 

[lini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif how is the Bang & Olufsen Beogram 3000?

Quite a nice one, afair - the problem is, though, that several B&O tables have a special cartridge mount type, so replacement carts are scarce and expensive.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif how is the Bang & Olufsen Beogram 3000? http://www.beoworld.co.uk/beogram3000.htm

The beograms are very good on the whole, beautiful to look at and sound lovely.
There is only one caveat. The cartridges were designed as part of the turntable system as a whole so the decks are not compatible with anything other than Bang and Olufsen.
Of course the quality of B&O pick-ups was excellent and they were designed to alleviate any alignment issues by being made in one integrated cartridge / stylus assembly which slotted into the end of the tonearm rather like the Ortofon concord series of DJ carts.
The downside is that they are not cheap. Any B&O dealer will support them but you are better of just ordering straight from http://www.sound-smith.com/ which is the only place still making them under license from B&O.
Or if you find a Beogram with an old highend cart fitted you could also try somewhere like http://www.garrottbrothers.com/rep&retip.html for a re-tip.

Because of these issues the best Beograms to get are obviously the ones for which carts are still made so anything from the mid-late 1970's onwards. Also some of the later tangential (linear) tracking Beograms like the 5005 and 3000 series are not as well made as the earlier models like the 4000, 6000 and 8000 series.
The best value ones would probably be the 1700-1800 series and the 2400 series. These are simpler in design with fewer parts to wear out and are very well made with self levelling leaf spring suspended subchassis and beautiful ergonomics. They were also always very well reviewed by the Hi-Fi press back in the day when B&O was regarded as a serious engineering company rather than just a purveyor of style over content as it is today.

 

[kentamcolin]

If you look at Regas just keep in mind that the Palner 3 and P3 are not the same. The P3 is an improved version of the older Planer 3. They are great tables with excellent arms.

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentamcolin /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you look at Regas just keep in mind that the Palner 3 and P3 are not the same. The P3 is an improved version of the older Planer 3. They are great tables with excellent arms.

Surely not enough in the difference to not buy the Planar 3 though? Newer ones have a motor upgrade over the older ones isn't that the only difference?

 

[mshan]

Is the Pro-ject Debut III with Phono available in the U. S.?

If so, what is MSRP and where are good online sources to get it?

 

[soloz2]

thanks for the info. the table I was looking at is a Type 5903 Turntable with MMC 3 cartridge so it was one of the later ones. Also, it works, but doesn't have the dust cover. The asking price is $75

 

[kentamcolin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by memepool /img/forum/go_quote.gif Surely not enough in the difference to not buy the Planar 3 though? Newer ones have a motor upgrade over the older ones isn't that the only difference?

I am looking into a second table for our living room system and ran accross a review of the P3 in the Nov/Dec 2000 issue of "Listener" magazine. From the article: The P3 incorporated two significant changes over the old Planer design. First, the motor, motor control ciruitry and motor mounting arrangement are all new. The new motor has greatly reduced vibration and could now be mounted to the plinth, whereas the old was suspended. The noise floor was reduced and the rigidly mounted motor gives greater speed and pitch stability. Second, the plinth is a lower mass MDF said to dissapate vibration and resonance much more quickly.

In comparing the cost of a used Planer 3 to a new P3, the Planer is going to be the better deal. But from time to time there are deals on used P3's that change that cost/benefit ration greatly. I've seen P3's with cartridge for under $400, which is a fantastic bargain. You could eventually mount almost any cartridge to the RB300 arm and never buy another table. Now, I personally have not heard a Planer 3, but I have heard the P3 in a decent system. I have also owned a couple of Thorens tables (TD160 Super & TD126) and liked the Rega better than both of those.

 

[Davesrose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshan /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is the Pro-ject Debut III with Phono available in the U. S.? If so, what is MSRP and where are good online sources to get it?

http://www.needledoctor.com/Brand-St...rkLOlQzNp65In0

 

[ssportclay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentamcolin /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am looking into a second table for our living room system and ran accross a review of the P3 in the Nov/Dec 2000 issue of "Listener" magazine. From the article: The P3 incorporated two significant changes over the old Planer design. First, the motor, motor control ciruitry and motor mounting arrangement are all new. The new motor has greatly reduced vibration and could now be mounted to the plinth, whereas the old was suspended. The noise floor was reduced and the rigidly mounted motor gives greater speed and pitch stability. Second, the plinth is a lower mass MDF said to dissapate vibration and resonance much more quickly. In comparing the cost of a used Planer 3 to a new P3, the Planer is going to be the better deal. But from time to time there are deals on used P3's that change that cost/benefit ration greatly. I've seen P3's with cartridge for under $400, which is a fantastic bargain. You could eventually mount almost any cartridge to the RB300 arm and never buy another table. Now, I personally have not heard a Planer 3, but I have heard the P3 in a decent system. I have also owned a couple of Thorens tables (TD160 Super & TD126) and liked the Rega better than both of those.

When you trade your TD126 away for a P3 remember to get some help getting the Thorens out of the house.Those turntables are very heavy and you might hurt yourself.

 

[kentamcolin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssportclay /img/forum/go_quote.gif When you trade your TD126 away for a P3 remember to get some help getting the Thorens out of the house.Those turntables are very heavy and you might hurt yourself.

The Thorens is long gone, sold after only a few weeks when I couldn't get the auto lift to stop picking up the arm 2/3 of the way thru the record. I decided messing with a vintage table was not for me. The 160 Super was decent though, since it was all manual. That's one I regret selling.

 

[ssportclay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentamcolin /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Thorens is long gone, sold after only a few weeks when I couldn't get the auto lift to stop picking up the arm 2/3 of the way thru the record. I decided messing with a vintage table was not for me. The 160 Super was decent though, since it was all manual. That's one I regret selling.

I tend to like manual tables also which would probably make the original Thorens TD125 the most desirable belt drive Thorens to me.Mount a modern quality tonearm on any of the heavy Thorens decks and they will compete with just about any table that runs with a belt.Those original stock tonearms are not up to modern standards thus the highly inferior P3 sounding better.

 

[Skylab]

Also truly excellent in the used category are Denon's big decks, like the DP60, DP62, and DP59 (although getting them for under $300 can be tough).

Budget cartridge-wise, the Shure M97xe is very hard to beat. A couple years ago I tried a whole bunch of budget carts, and the Shure M97 and the Denon DL110 were the best high-output ones I tried. The Denon DL103 is awesome, but it's a low-output Moving Coil (this is for carts under $150).