philips or micro seiki turntable , opinions ?

Dropthebeat

I'm looking for a turntable , I've always loved the way vinyl sounds . I've been searching online for a good used turntable . I've came across a seiki mb15 in really good condition still working for $75 and a philips 222 for $80 . Are these good entry level turntables ? I'm willing to spend up to 150

mhardy6647

The Micro Seiki tts I've seen (I don't know that exact model) are nicely made and decent, rugged machines. I love the Philips tts, but they're a little delicate and somewhat less than robustly built (especially at this point, forty-ish years on). The 222 was the totl but a priori I'd give the not to the Micro Seiki, all things being equal.

EDIT: Here's the only 222 photo I have handy :-)



Docs for both tts are likely available at www.vinylengine.com (free registration required to download their docs, and well worth the effort!)

Dropthebeat

I just love the 222 look , but I'm new to the vinyl world so reliability and performance is of the upmost importance to me at the moment . Thanks for the reply

Dropthebeat

Oh and I'm guessing $75 is a reasonable price for a 8/10 condition physically and 10/10 functionality

mhardy6647

Sounds good to me - both prices sound quite good to me... I didn't look up the Micro Seiki (yet... sorry!) -- is it belt or direct drive?

Dropthebeat

I came across a pl514 as well . Do any of these benefit from upgrades more than others ? I've looked up some info on these I just like hearing personal experiences from other members .

mhardy6647

PL-514 is kind of pedestrian. Not bad, but not exciting. I had a PL-512XD (next model down, but with a "wood" rather than plastic base)... The feet, at this late date, are often missing or perhaps deteriorated on those Pioneers, if you choose to go that route.

mhardy6647

OK - I just looked at vinylengine; they don't have an MB-15 :-( but they do have an MB-14 -- that model (the MB-14, that is!) looks pretty entry-level; roughly similar to the Pioneer PL-512 (a notch down from the PL-514). The Philips GA-222 is a considerably fancier tt, but it all of my earlier caveats apply. The Pioneer or Micro Seiki, in good working order, would be - I'd opine - a better 'starter turntable' choice.

Here's the vinylengine page on the MB-14, FWIW: http://www.vinylengine.com/library/micro-seiki/mb-14.shtml
and this is what the MB-14 looks like...



One other practical issue - in this day and age, there are many more modern cartridges that will be happy in the medium mass arms on the Pioneer or Micro Seiki than the low-mass arm on the Philips.

Dropthebeat

It's belt driven and from the looks of it and what I've read online (including your advice which I greatly appreciate ) I'm going to pull the trigger on the micro seiki and pick it up tomorrow .

[Deleted User]

Did someone say, "micro seike"?

http://london.craigslist.co.uk/ele/4368191441.html

mhardy6647

:-) the Micro Seiki page at vinylengine has a similarly... umm... other than entry level turntable on it, too...



I think that... if I were Micro Seiki, I'd call turntables like these Macro Seikis... just thought I'd point that out.

;-)

[Deleted User]

Ah, the DDX-1000 that could mount three different tonearms each with a different cartridge. The company certainly thought out of the box, that's for sure.

Dropthebeat

Thanks guys the gentleman selling the table agreed on $70 so hopefully I'll be able to pick it up soon . . Kinda worried this will be another expensive hobby -_-

mhardy6647

this hobby? 'spensive? naaaahhh...