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Originally Posted by tND2k /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Hey all,
My girlfriend wants to start collecting her favorite music on vinyl, and I'm looking to buy her an entry level turntable, but don't know what to go with. Can you recommend one? Is it pretty much all the same up to a certain price, or is there one that's a recognized as an always-dependable choice?
Thanks very much,
David
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Without a price limit, it's hard to know what to recommend to you.
But if insist on buying new, for the $400 range, nothing beats a Technics SL1200MKII for quality and engineering. $400 gets you a superb quality deck made of heavy cast aluminum with high dampening(no ringing/resonance) and an absolutely fantastic quartz locked motor with dead on speed accuracy. The 'audiophile' decks like Regas, Music Halls', etc, in the same remote price range don't get yout a motor nearly as accurate/superb and do not get a chassis nearly of this quality. The issue with the Technics is the arm; it's okay, but it's not of the same quality as you would find on the Music Hall or Rega of similar price. LOL. I would consider a path of upgrade. If you get the Technics, you can later buy and put a great arm on it and you will have the best of both worlds: great plynth and motor system and great arm.
If, however, you are looking for cheaper, you really need to go used to get a good deck. I often recommend a few select used Technics from the 80's era, of which I suggest, have similar motor/chassis quality to the SL1200MKII. You can upgrade the arm on any of them, though some may require you to get custom adapter plates made up or make yourself. But many also have standard pre-made available adapter plates.
For under $100 including shipping, if you watch for about 2-3 weeks on eBay, you can get an excellent condition:
Technics SL-Q2
Technics SL-Q3
Technics SL1400MKII (may cost a little over $100)
Don't count on the cartridge, if it comes with one, being of much quality.
AT440ML is the only low price cartridge under $100 that I can recommend with good faith at this time.
-Chris