What turntables are easy to set up for a novice?

schw06 · « **on:** 27 Oct 2011, 03:55 pm »

I am trying to wrap my head around all of the technical discussions about turntables and am a little gun shy on leaping. I am looking for a good table that would be a good introduction into the shallow end of the pool of TT's. I am looking between $1,000-$3,000 new or preowned. What is a good recommendation that would a novice could achieve proper setup?

WC · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 04:04 pm »

Based on previous threads, a VPI Scout would be a good table.

I don't know from personal experience.

jjc1 · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 04:18 pm »

The Clearaudio Concept comes all set up with arm and also a Clearaudio MC cartridge if you desire. I have not heard it(I own a Clearaudio Performance TT which I love) it but it has outstanding reviews.

toxteth ogrady · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 04:49 pm »

No specific recommendations for a turntable. But as a newbie I would advise you to use a cheaper cartridge until you get a little more familiar with using your table. You don't want to lunch the needle or cantilever on a pricey cartridge. Been there, done that.

DaveyW · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 04:49 pm »

Hi Schw
Do you have any dealers close by?
If you're spending that sort of money they should be prepared to set any TT up for you, maybe even at your home, demonstrating what's involved and how to do it.
Might be worth finding out what they stock and come back to us for our thoughts.
Cheers
Dave

SteveRB · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 05:27 pm »

For $3000 pre-owned you can get a real monster deck (VPI Classic) with all the accessories.

If you want to get a little practice first, a Rega P3 is very easy to set-up and enjoy. One can be picked up for $500 then re-sold for about the same amount after a few months. Alternatively, a VPI HW-19 is a good option if you want to experiment with different arms and other upgrades.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 07:15 pm »

For ease of set-up as well as great sound in that price range, I'd look at the Well Tempered Amadeus. You can find reviews at The Absolute Sound, 6moons and elsewhere.

Wayner · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 07:20 pm »

Price has nothing to do with ease of set-up. Therefore, the answer to your question is basically, none. All need to have the cartridge aligned, (or if purchased with cartridge pre-mounted, at least checked after shipment), leveling, setting VTF, VTA, anti-skating and finding a good spot to put it all. Then there is the matter of finding the right phono-pre, if your preamp doesn't have one.

There are no short-cuts.

Wayner

schw06 · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 08:00 pm »

Thanks for all the input. Wayner, your comments really hit home. That being said, I'm going to turn it over to an expert. Thanks again.
David

Wayner · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 08:46 pm »

I still think you need to just 'jump' in and get your feet wet. Everyone that gets into vinyl starts at the bottom. You've got all of us here at AC to help. If you can swing a VPI Classic, good for you, cause that is a great place to start.

Just remember that there will be a few bumps along the road.

Wayner

ratso · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 08:59 pm »

i bought (used) a zu cartridge a couple years ago. i had installed a cartridge myself using michael fremer's dvd as a guide and it went pretty smoothly. when i went to install the zu, i snapped the cantilever right off. that ended really quickly my first foray into vinyl. i have recently decided to try again and bought a used RP-1 for a couple of hundred. the moral here is this stuff is NOT easy for a noob. this is a enthusiast circle and so a lot of answers you would get here are not always the same answers you would get if you asked a bunch of novices. IMO there is nothing at all wrong with just paying someone to do things if you aren't comfortable in your abilities. spending $50 in my case would have saved me a couple hundred in the above situation, not to mention a bunch of frustration. you have a pretty good budget for a nice TT, i would get whatever you like and have someone knowledgeable set it up for you.

simoon · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 Oct 2011, 11:17 pm »

If you don't want to make the leap because of 'setup anxiety', you can have it done at a shop.

Almost every shop that I know of that sells TT's, new or used will configure it for you. Any shop that is selling TT's is usually a service oriented shop, as opposed to a price oriented shop. They will want to make sure your TT is set up correctly in order to make a customer.

When you spend a $1000 - 3000 on a TT, you are already putting yourself in the enthusiast category, whether you get into tweaking the TT yourself or not.

As already stated, you can get a Clearaudio Concept pre setup for abut $1500 or a Clearaudio Performance for about $2700, both are almost plug and play

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 Oct 2011, 12:40 am »

If you've never owned a TT before - you really should have it set up by someone knowledgeable.

If you don't have a shop physically near you...you may want to call and chat with the Acoustic Sounds folks about fully set up vinyl rigs (cartridge and alignment) in your price range.

A couple of Rega's come to mind in your price range.

Yes, and as ratso noted - the level of discussions here often veer into exotica over the head of most newbies. But, never feel a question you have is unworthy of mentioning - we've got a nice crew of seasoned enthusiasts that all remember they were newbies once.

I will assure you of varied, but often excellent responses here at the Vinyl Circle.

Btw, look for a sticky topic that is geared to ALL newbie questions. Use it.

Welcome! John / Facilitator

orthobiz · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Oct 2011, 01:23 am »

Bang & Olufsen. Dedicated cartridges, set up the balance and tracking force and you are done.

Paul

TomS · « **Reply #14 on:** 28 Oct 2011, 03:03 am »

$3k buys a used Rega P9. Pretty much plug and play according to Jeff at ToneAudio, unless you want to fuss with spacers for some non-Rega carts. Or start with the new RP3 to get a taste without breaking the bank.

Delta Wave · « **Reply #15 on:** 28 Oct 2011, 03:10 am »

With that much of a budget, why not get something second-hand and cheap to practice on before getting a real deck? It will also give you a platform to experiment with further down the road.

dlaloum · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 Oct 2011, 12:20 pm »

Most (all?) current TT's in that range are pure manuals...

These are not designed for ease of use and maintenance.

For ease of use and maintenance I would recommend a TOTL linear tracker or sophisticated Automatic from the 80's.

Bang & Olufsen
Revox
Technics p-mount automatics - preferably one of the TOTL linear trackers
Sony TOTL automatics
JVC TOTL automatic
Denon TOTL automatic

All of the above will provide excellent performance with exemplary ease of use.

With your budget, I would look to purchase one completely gone over checked, overhauled if necessary, and configured/setup with your cartridge of choice.

You should be able to plug it in turn it on, put a record on and hit the play button - the turntable should do everything else.

Are the current $2000-$3000 tables superior to the type mentioned.... maybe, possibly, but more likely they are a side step, improved in some areas and worse in others.
The type of tables I am talking about would have in performance terms been in the same sector of the market as what you are looking at now... but they were the luxury automatics of the range, a category that is now pretty much defunct.

I run two examples of this category, a Revox B795 and a JVC QL-Y5F.
The JVC needed some modding to bring it up to category performance - the model up from it QL-Y7F would be a better match to your requirements. (and still improvable with the same mods)

Bye for now

David

woodsyi · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Oct 2011, 03:46 pm »

There is a learning curve but don't be intimidated. If you are like most husbands, you are seemingly running to Home Depot every weekend to get something or another to do house repairs. The first time you sweat a pipe joint you take like hours using up 10 times the solder as most land on the floor. Once you have done it you can say it really wasn't much. Same thing applies to TT set up. Once you have done it, it's not really that complicated. Do you have to be patient? Yes, because it's often small adjustments in tight spaces. But the steps are not hard to conceptualize or understand.

Get a compatible table/arm/cartridge. This is where you need to do the most research.
Assuming the arm is installed, install the cart. There are various protractors and templates to help you.
Attach the color coded leads. Use a forceps or an alligator clip to connect.
Use a scale (manual balance type or digital meter) to set to the middle of recommended tracking force.
Use a test Vinyl to check/adjust phase, balance, azimuth and tracking force.
Fiddle with your arm height to get the right rake angle (Vertical Tracking Angle is the same thing more or less) to get the sound you want -- remember high/high, low/low. Higher arm placement will accentuate treble and lower placement will accentuate bass.
Establish a good clean and demag routine and spin the vinyl.
Drop the needle.
Sit back and enjoy.

There has to be someone in the Atlanta area who would be willing to come over to show you the ropes. Most vinyl enthusiasts I know will be glad to help other people get started.

BTW, It's easier to do these adjustments on more expensive arms. The easiest arm I ever had to install and use is Graham Phantom II. I have been fiddling with my set up recently because I got a new cart and everything can be adjusted with a turn of a knob. I can change the VTA while I am playing the music. How cool is that!

If I have 3k, I would look for a killer deal on a TT/arm/pickup package deal. For example, this Table/arm/accessory is a great deal only because it's a package deal. Don't be afraid to get a Beamer just because you haven't driven one before if a great deal lands in your lap.

Minn Mark · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 Oct 2011, 04:31 pm »

Pro-ject Debut III.

Ready to use out of the box, and coincidentally the needle doctor (www.needledoctor.com) is having a 10% off sale on everything, so a very attractive price. ( I have no affiliation with the Needle Doctor).

Just a thought.

Also a great place for shopping for phono stages, if you need one.

Minn Mark

Wayner · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 Oct 2011, 04:58 pm »

Quote from: Minn Mark on 28 Oct 2011, 04:31 pm

Pro-ject Debut III.

Ready to use out of the box, and coincidentally the needle doctor (www.needledoctor.com) is having a 10% off sale on everything, so a very attractive price. ( I have no affiliation with the Needle Doctor).

Just a thought.

Also a great place for shopping for phono stages, if you need one.

Minn Mark

Sorry Mark, but that is one of the 5 tables I purchased and reviewed last winter, if you will remember, and my conclusion was that is was a POS.

I thought it would be a better table until I unboxed it and started to work it. The stylus was not in any known alignment, the dust cover hinges look like they were made to work about 10 times, then break, and don't get me started on the anti-skate mechanism (hanging fishing tackle).

Everything about this table was on the cheap, but then it was inexpensive. I just couldn't recommend it to anyone. Much better to spend some more money (even on used stuff), then to deal with this TT, IMHO.

Wayner