The Best Turntable for $1300 or less

If used turntables enter the equation, the possibilities are near-endless.

In the new TT world, an interesting question would be, would you be better off with a $1300 TT (say, a Clearaudio Emotion or Funk Firm w/Rega 300 tonearm) or a Rega P3, Technics SL1200, or Goldring GR2 modded up to around $1200-1300?

I'm sure many of you know the mods for the Rega, one of which would be the speed regulator.

What about a KAB-Technics SL1200 ($475) with tonearm rewire ($169), viscous fluid tonearm damper ($150), voltage regulator ($250), and threaded clamp ($150)? This would come to $1194.

At $1300, I'd be awfully tempted to save up another $300 to get a VPI Scout or Clearaudio-sourced Marantz TT-15S1, at least based on the audio press raves.

This review of the Rega P5 impresses, as does the turntable.

http://www.stereophile.com/turntables/1204rega/

VPI Scout used for less than $1300.Consonance also makes a very nice table that comes with an RB-250 arm and is very affordable.I'm not sure of the model or price,but I heard it at Quest For Sound.

You can find a used Linn LP12 with Ittok arm used on Agon within your pricerange.

This review of the Rega P5 impresses, as does the turntable.

Only the gullible would be impressed. There are NO measurements, much less specifications. Very unprofessional.

Look at the so called 'technical specifications':

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Two-speed belt-drive turntables with AC synchronous motor, pivoted tonearm with one-piece, cast-aluminum armtube, and glass (Planar 5) or ceramic (Planar 7) record platter. Wow and flutter: unspecified. Speed accuracy: unspecified. Rumble: unspecified, but probably pretty low (Planar 5) and really low (Planar 7). RB700 tonearm: 222.8mm spindle-to-pivot distance, 240mm effective length, spring-actuated downforce, sliding-magnet antiskating system.

But, it's rubber band powered, so it must be good...

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