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Recommended first turntable?

I'm in need of a turntable! I've never owned one and don't have a very large record collection yet, so I'm not keen on spending more than say...$250. The turntables that people recommend to me (ie Rega, Thorens, Ariston) all seem very pricy in the used market.

For those of you who helped with my amp search, I finally got a Parasound HCA-1000A and its matching pre-amp, the P/HP-850.

Thanks!
ledhed2222
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
If you're not willing to spring $400-475 for a Technics Sl 1200, I recommend you get the Audio Technica DD all-manual knockoff AT PL120 (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3Bvjrt9AR8i/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10500&I=057ATPL120) or the automatic belt drive Denon DP300F (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3Bvjrt9AR8i/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10500&I=033DP300F).

Both have a built-in phono preamp if you want to get up and running into a line-level preamp or receiver.
musicdoc
317 posts
 
how about a vintage table as a starter? something like a nice clean Luxman PD-26x, 27x, or 28x direct-drive springs to mind. pop a new grado or AT cartridge on it and you're there. more knowledgable folks could speak to other recommended vintage tables.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
You can find a used Thorens TD-160 on E-Bay for around $250, and often including a cartridge. That's what I'd suggest.
qdrone
889 posts
 
If all your gonna spend is $250 don't even bother.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Lots of elitist audiophile suggestions.

Get a Thorens. I've owned one. I've also owned a $1200 MMF-7 and presently own a $1100 KAB Technics SL1200 MK II. The Technics is excellent. The MMF-7 was very good. The Thorens is equal to the $1200 MMF-7.

Buy one. Spin some vinyl. Smile.
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