What's the best belt-drive turntable one can buy for under $200?

aaharvel

it's gotta have a pre-amp stage, my H/K doesn't have phono.

I was looking at the Stanton t50x, it looks really nice but then i found out it doesn't have a phono stage.

To be honest, I know nothing about these things. I just want something cheap that will make old LP's sound good. New or used- if anyone's got any suggestions that'd be great. $100 or less would be even better. My Dad's old beatles LP's are in the closet collecting dust.

TroyD

For that coinage; I wouldn't even bother.

I can't think of a table that has a built in phono pre.

As a minimum; the Music Hall 2.1 or Goldring GR-1 with a Nad PP-2 phono stage.

BDT

aaharvel

TroyD wrote:

For that coinage; I wouldn't even bother.BDT

Thanks for the recs Troy, unfortunately I don't have much $ to spend and I don't require a pot of hi-fi gold at the end of the LP rainbow, I just want something that'll provide decent playback for a bunch of old records is all. They're various tables out there for my intended price, do you guys have any suggestions among them?

madmax

I would hit ebay and find a vintage one that looks decent rather than buying the new ones you can find for that price. If you could find someone in the forum that knows about them that had one for sale you would end up with something pretty nice for that price. They need to know how to package for shipping also. I would put a WTB in the flea market and see who has what. A seperate phono pre can be had for cheap too if you look around. I'm thinking under $40 for the pre but do not have a specific one in mind.
madmax

aaharvel

thanks madmax. I was just looking for some vintage Marantz's on ebay. Again, my standards are not high, and I wouldn't even be buying one for another couple months.

madmax

If I wanted what you are asking for I would probably get these.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTDJPREII

and

http://www.zzounds.com/item--STAT50X

$148.88 shipped to your door.
madmax

madmax

Oh yea, you'll need a cartridge too. Maybe something like this.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--STA500AL2


I think they combine shipping so it could still be under $175. You would have to check.

madmax

billbillw

For about $200, I really think your best bet is to forget about a belt drive table and get an direct drive AT-PL120.
Link to Amazon Sale for $214 Shipped!

Edit: Amazon price went up to $224. Looks like its constantly changing.


This is really a knock off of the famed Technics SL1200mkII. My Father in law bought one a few months ago and I helped him set it up. Its pretty solid and sounded decent, even with the included cartridge, which is more of a DJ cart. I'm sure it would sound much better with a Shure M97xe.

Polkersince85

There was some guy on ebay a while back selling some HK phono boards for the Citation 10. Just add a power supply. Something like 10 for a dollar, cheap. I'll look around, he may still have some.

aaharvel

thanks for the advice. That AT looks great, but I always heard that the belt-drive style sounds better for musical playback and that the direct drives are for DJ's and spinning. Any truth to that?

AsSiMiLaTeD

I don't know if that's true or not, but at under $200 I don't think it will matter anyway...

aaharvel

hmm. good point. I know i'm going the low-road here when it comes to vinyl, but i'm just not into it as much as the other members here.

Thanks guy.s

cmy330go

If you decide to go new you can find some within your budget here.
http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.46/.f

I would have to agree with madmax on this. You can probably get more for your money on the used market. Of course shopping for a used turntable can be a little bit of a gamble, but if you take your time and shop carefully you can find some real gems.

Happy hunting!
Dave

billbillw

aaharvel wrote:

thanks for the advice. That AT looks great, but I always heard that the belt-drive style sounds better for musical playback and that the direct drives are for DJ's and spinning. Any truth to that?

There are good and bad points of both designs. The AT that I've linked will probably sound better than any other new turntable in the $200 price range (It originally had an MSRP of $400 and not long ago, it couldn't be found for less than $300). You may find a demo or slightly used Goldring, NAD, or Project belt drive table for $200-$250, but you will still need to get a phono pre amp.

Here is some interesting debate from another forum:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64039

aaharvel

thanks bill-bill. If it's anywhere near $200 in a few months then i'll prob. snatch one up. I don't want to buy a separate phono pre-amp. Too complicated and too much trouble for someone just dabbling in vinyl.

another quick question. when the needle goes over or slips over the record does that mean that the stylus needs to be replaced? Anything else needing to be replaced?

szhleppy

Whatever you do, get those albums clean before you slap them on any TT...any one of us with a vacuum cleaner would be more than happy to take care of this for you before you grind the "dust" into them any more.

A little patience with your local Craigslist will turn up a decent TT at a decent price. Then you don't have to worry about some idiot packing it with a styrofoam peanuts for a trip across the country. Look for maybe an old Thorens or Denon in that price range in good shape.

Dennis Gardner

I've got a Denon DP-45F with an Ortofon Om10 that I would swap for your FX300s. Its not belt drive, and no built-in preamp, but I don't use it anymore and its works flawlessly, smooth and quiet. The pic is not of mine, but is the same model.

billbillw

szhleppy wrote:

A little patience with your local Craigslist will turn up a decent TT at a decent price. Then you don't have to worry about some idiot packing it with a styrofoam peanuts for a trip across the country. Look for maybe an old Thorens or Denon in that price range in good shape.

Craigslist can have its own problems. Often over priced, often incomplete. I spent hours and multiple calls trying to talk this local guy down on the price of a TT. Finally after a month, he came down to a realistic price. I drove out to see it, and he called and couldn't meet at the last minute. So a few days later, I drove out again and looked at the table only to find it was missing the counterweight and was useless as is. Many calls, two trips across town in Atlanta, and nothing gained.

That said, I have gotten a couple of decent items for very low prices off Craigslist and it can be worthwhile if you watch the list daily.

TroyD

aaharvel wrote:

Thanks for the recs Troy, unfortunately I don't have much $ to spend and I don't require a pot of hi-fi gold at the end of the LP rainbow, I just want something that'll provide decent playback for a bunch of old records is all. They're various tables out there for my intended price, do you guys have any suggestions among them?

If you don't require any sort of decent playback, get the 149 dollar sony new table at Best Buy and take the other 50 and pick up a used receiver?

Both the table that I recommended can be had for not a WHOLE lot more than your price and will actually give decent sound.

BDT

aaharvel

TroyD wrote:

If you don't require any sort of decent playback, get the 149 dollar sony new table at Best Buy and take the other 50 and pick up a used receiver?

Both the table that I recommended can be had for not a WHOLE lot more than your price and will actually give decent sound.

BDT

i might just save up and go your original option then. I'm in no hurry, so maybe a christmas present.

JerseyPunker

This thread is in the grave. PLEASE resurrect it. It's the second hit when googling "best tt under $200" but it's badly out of date. Some of us newcomers could really use the advice of the vintage venerable vinyl vermin out there. As above, I'm looking for a decent pre-amp TT for under $200, but based on 2011 product availability. Thanks guys!

Face

Under $200 is still tough. Keep an eye out for a used Rega P1 and Cambridge 540P phono pre. You should be able to pick up both for under $300.

skipf

An old AR-XA with a new Shure M97 XE cartridge should run less than $200 and will be a decient TT for you to get into vinyl.

Timothy Smith

Consider a used Thorens like a TD-160 or TD-165.

High quality sound and construction, built like tanks and simple. Part (belts are about all you will ever need) are available.

I have had one for 35 years and it is still going strong.

RuSsMaN

Used Thorens, bulletproof, and can be had on the cheap. Throw a cheap Shure cart on it, and cheap step up or preamp and you'll be so in love with it, you will start considering an upgrade.

George Grand

If I can find the counter-weight for the AR I just found, my Thorens 126 Mk.III will be leaving. Also still have nice Technics and Micro-Seiki here. And a belt-drive Dual CS-530.

Jstas

If you're unloading your Thorens, I want dibs!

Unless you got a good price on that Dual?

inspiredsports

Used, a Thorens TD-160, TD-145 or TD-166. Best to stay away from the TD-165 which would be in the price range, but it's a cheapened version (smaller spindle bearing, lesser motor, etc.). The normal defect is a broken or missing dustcover that in no way affects the usability.

I've owned about 20 Thorens units over the past 30+ years and currently have 8 or 9 in good working order that I have paid as little as $75 for.

A step up as they generally go for about double your budget (if you can find one), but the rare Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG-3 might be the best $2,000 turntable you can get for $400. They were Sota built and Sota stlll supports them.

George Grand

Dual is 75 US dollars local pick-up. Are you local?

gudnoyez

I found a technics direct drive SLQ300 with an ortofon cartridge and a replacement stylus at a garage sale last year and the guy wanted 50 dollars talked him down to 40 dollars that was the first time I was glad to go with the wife on one of her garage sale excursions.

inspiredsports

gudnoyez wrote: »

I found a technics direct drive SLQ300 with an ortofon cartridge and a replacement stylus at a garage sale last year and the guy wanted 50 dollars talked him down to 40 dollars that was the first time I was glad to go with the wife on one of her garage sale excursions.

Direct drive turntables generally transfer a lot more rumble to the stylus and therefore, on to the preamp/amp/speakers and ultimately your ears.