Looking for my first record player w/ USB out? Tight budget though :(

[jjacq]

Visited NYC last week and I got a $25 for $50 store credit at a record store and picked up a bunch of Jazz vinyls. I've been wanting a record player and having a stack of records is making me more and more eager to get one. I hope you guys can help

As far as I understand, old turntables require an amp to play. Most recent ones only need speakers to play. So, I'll probably opt in for a more recent one. Does anyone know of any good record players that don't need an amp to play/or already has an amp inside? I kinda don't have space and I know of a good one that's the Pro-Ject Debut III but it's a bit out of my price range. I'm willing to spend around $100-200 for a decent record player that won't take up that much space?

I'm looking into Music Hall USB-1 and as well as the Audio-Technica AT-LP60. I don't really know much about turntables so I think I need a lot of guidance with this. USB output is nice, so I think I'd want my turntable to have that feature. And is it recommended to replace the stock cartridge(if so, how much?) and needle in the future? If so, what should be my next step after buying my turntable?

Short version:
I want a turntable that has:

1. -USB output
2. -Does not need an amp to use
3. -$200 max price, I don't mind used.

 
Looking at:

1. Music Hall USB-1 ($200 and I heard Music Hall is a good company)
2. Audio-Technica AT-LP60 (<$80 w/ 4.5 stars on Amazon)

 
And what should be my next step after getting my turntable? Replace the stock cartridge? Needle?
 
Thank you so much.

 

[pentatonic]

I don't understand what you mean by no amps. Every turntable needs a preamp and an amp (if your receiver doesn't have one, you need to get one of those also (except USB TT to go through your pc, but I wouldn't recommend any of those as you will not get quality sound which defeats the purpose of vinyl)
 
My opinion is you wait till you can afford a decent entry-level TT. Going used is also an option, but maintenance if needed might make such an expense less interesting.

 

[Eee Pee]

Quote:

My opinion is you wait till you can afford a decent entry-level TT.

I absolutely agree with this.  Records and record players are a commitment.  You cannot do it as cheaply as possibly and expect great results, it just doesn't work that way with this stuff.  In fact, consider your LP collection one for life, so treat the ancillary equipment as a life long expenditure, so take your time and get good/decent stuff.

 

[jjacq]

Alright, that makes sense. How much should I save up to get a decent one?

 

[pentatonic]

Quote:

Alright, that makes sense. How much should I save up to get a decent one?

Depends on what you already have for playback. You'd be looking at the $350-400 bracket for a very nice entry turntable with cartridge. Then depending on your system, possibly a phono stage (preamp) to feed your receiver/preamp. These are also all over the place pricewise, but you can get something decent for $100-150.
 
I would look at the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon at $399, seems to be the entry level TT to beat at the moment.
 
You can always ask around for anyone that would have a used TT lying around to use until you can afford it.
 
What's your setup now and how do you plan on using the TT?

 

[jjacq]

I only have a pair of Audioengine A5's that I wanna plug the vinyl with and that's about it. =[ I only use my sound card to play music through these speakers from my computer.

 

[MohawkUS]

To get a decent modern table you're looking at $400 and upwards, if you're patient and feel like taking a little risk you could probably pick up a good vintage table under $300, and it would compete favorably with $700+ modern tables. You can get a decent phono-preamp around $40(http://www.phonopreamps.com/), or you could do what I did and pick up a vintage receiver/integrated amplifier. I got lucky and got a Sherwood S-7210A that was in pretty good condition and the headphone section actually sounded better than a Burson's to my ears, plus it has a built in phono, and works as a speaker amp.

If you want a modern turntable the good 'beginner' tables are sold by Rega, Pro-Ject, and Music Hall but no one really ever seems to be happy with those for long. Avoid the cheap plastic tables they sell today, a lot of them will destroy your records.

 

[pentatonic]

Oh ok. If you want to use your pc that's a different thing. I don't think an expensive TT will be much use depending on your sound card. USB in this case might just be enough. Otherwise you need to have a quality rca input and a preamp. No point if your running $350 pc monitors (not to say there's anything wrong with these). If you ever get into a "proper" 2 ch setup then those recommendations would be valid.
 
That is just my opinion mind you.

 

[jjacq]

Alright let me re-explain and thanks a lot for the input. This will be my first turntable and due to the fact that I don't get that much money right now. I also don't have a lot of space so I don't think now's the right time to get one with a preamp. In the future I definitely want upgrade but as of right now, I'd like one to learn from and start with. Also, I'd love to get a vintage one but honestly I don't know how to check prices or even operate one. Or even choose a pre-amp(I'm very sorry for my lack of knowledge with this)
 
So again, what is the lowest price I can get for an okay-quality turntable? And... which one if you guys know ?
 
*EDIT* Okay maybe an vintage turntable is find too, but what should I look for? And those on eBay that are for parts, are those usually hard to repair? Help? How do I know which pre-amp to buy?

 

[pentatonic]

If your pc doesn't have rca or line inputs, you'll have to go USB if you don't want to spend for that. (which audio card do you run?).
 
Out of those 2 choices I really couldn't help you, sorry.

 

[jjacq]

I have an Asus Xonar DG does this mean I should really just not buy a turntable at all until I get like $500 or more?

 

[jjacq]

IF it helps... you can advice me on a sample setup? I just don't know where to start with this><
 
Like do it from scratch, no speakers if it helps you

 

[Eee Pee]

Quote:

 does this mean I should really just not buy a turntable at all until I get like $500 or more?

Yeah, that's how I see it.  Do it correctly once.  Unless you want to spend more money because you have to do it more than once.
 
And double your amount at the very least when including everything.  Then double that for long term contentness.  

 

[MohawkUS]

Funny enough there are more 'full automatic' vintage tables than modern. You should be able to get a very good working 80s Direct Drive table for $200 or under. If space is an issue then you may just want one of the cheaper modern phono-preamps. The site I linked in my last post has a pretty good one for $40 that will take up very little room.
You'll want to ask around vinylengine and other forums on specific models. The 80s is when the turntable industry really started becoming boutique and when they started rolling out the flimsy plastic turntables, but there were still some very nice models out around then. If you want something really low hassle(as in pretty much no setup required) try and find a linear tracking turntable, you won't have to adjust the weights on the arm and such tables are always full automatic and usually in good condition as they aren't that old. A lot of people prefer the standard arms for various reasons but they require a bit of time to get set-up properly.

If you do choose to get something from ebay make sure the seller knows how to ship the turntable to avoid damaging it and download the manual from vinylengine and make sure the table's setup isn't too difficult. Try and find something with under .1 wow/flutter and with a manual, if vinylengine doesn't have info on a table, it's probably not worth your time.

 

[Maverickmonk]

Quote:

Yeah, that's how I see it.  Do it correctly once.  Unless you want to spend more money because you have to do it more than once.
 
And double your amount at the very least when including everything.  Then double that for long term contentness.  

$500 as an entry for a turntable? My turntable was $40 from craigslist, an old 1971 JVC turntable, direct drive, auto return, the seller even threw in a couple records. it works beautifully (except the automatic start/stop lever doesn't work). Craigslist is good so long as you can hear it play beforehand, and know that it works. Then get yourself a cheapish phono amp (not too terribly cheap mind you, cambridge audio makes one thats about a hundred bucks, but I honestly have no experience with phono stages, as my stereo has one in it already), and run it via rca into your speakers. My whole system cost me less than the $500 bucks that is supposedly "needed" just for a turntable to enjoy your setup for a while, and honestly, other than a new cartridge someday, I'm incredibly happy with the sound I get for being a student.