Recommendations for a turntable under $150?

cprescott1972 · « **on:** 2 Oct 2006, 06:14 am »

I know it's sort of the low low end but does anyone recommend a good turntable for this price range? What I ahve right now it just plain broken and not worth fixing. Thanks very much! cP

RH Customs · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 05:53 am »

I'd be interested in the same thing. Hope you get responses, as I'm also looking for a TT.

RH

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 10:26 am »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=22938.0

ebay, sometimes Audiogon.com, is the place to find your prize / price

In my case......

JVC Direct Drive unit - $50.00
Herbie's Turntable Mat - $58.00
4 Squishy puds from LAT International (isolation very important) - $40.00
Audio-Technica AT440ML cartridge - $90.00
10 lbs of Plast-i-Clay - about $30.00

Total $268.00 (added more expensive cartridge, record cleaning machine and other things later to enhance listening pleasure). The addition of a phono pre-amp, if you're not already in possession of one, will cost a bit more.

The turntable mat was optional - tables come with one, usually.

Hey , welcome to Audio Circle

Brad · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 02:02 pm »

I got my Denon Direct Drive turntable with a DL103 cartridge used from *bay for about $125.....

ohenry · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 08:50 pm »

If you're patient, keep a check on craigslist. There many not-so-good turntables listed, so you'll need to do some research on the ones that do show up. But the idea of purchasing something that you can actually see and operate is attractive. Plus, no shipping fears. I was able to find a nice Technics quartz lock model from the early '80's that sounds very nice for $35.

For $70 more, it now has a Grado Green w/ Longhorn mod and a little plasticlay beneath, and sounds very good in my girlfriend's system (she couldn't stomach the total TCG plasticlay mummification

). TheChairGuy was correct regarding the value and sound of the modest TT's.

jermmd · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Oct 2006, 09:04 pm »

Anyone ever heard of Ion?

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Oct 2006, 01:13 am »

Good find Henry the Value Hunter

I must have been Egyptian, circa 3000 BC in the time of Pharaoh Ramses II, in a past life

Hey, if you can stomach a ersatz silicone damping trough on that, your Grado might further shine...and you may indeed elicit more snarlin' from your girlfriend aa My newest one on the JVC looks a bit better than the sloppy last one - I got to take another shot of poor old mummified rig now for web posterity.

I gotta' try me a Grado with the Longhorn mod...you've more than convinced me of the merits of them now.

Quote from: ohenry on 5 Oct 2006, 08:50 pm

If you're patient, keep a check on craigslist. There many not-so-good turntables listed, so you'll need to do some research on the ones that do show up. But the idea of purchasing something that you can actually see and operate is attractive. Plus, no shipping fears. I was able to find a nice Technics quartz lock model from the early '80's that sounds very nice for $35.

For $70 more, it now has a Grado Green w/ Longhorn mod and a little plasticlay beneath, and sounds very good in my girlfriend's system (she couldn't stomach the total TCG plasticlay mummification ). TheChairGuy was correct regarding the value and sound of the modest TT's.