Budget turntable / phone stage?

[21TonyK]

Coming from a position of complete ignorance here...

Thinking about Xmas and just about the only thing I can come up with that the kids / wife could buy me is a turntable.

All our music is streamed via Spotify or Amazon but like many I am starting to like the idea of "physical" music in the shape of vinyl.

I have an Onkyo AV amp...

https://www.intl.onkyo.com/downloads/manuals/pdf/t...

And potentially an old Fat Man valve amp

https://www.whathifi.com/fatman/itube-valve-dock/r...

From what I had worked out so far I can't just phono plug a turntable into these? Can I cable up to both (not to be used at the same time)

So, question is, what do I need to connect a turntable and what would make sense in terms of a turntable considering these are not £2K amps and speakers and the listening space is going to be one end of the lounge with my home working desk. (Although there is a remote possibility of a 3mx2.8m "mancave/rutt in the ground" on the horizon)

[joshleb]

If you get a turntable with a phono pre-amp built in you should just be able to connect it to your receiver with RCA/phono cables.

[EDIT]

Marantz example for £100 with pre-amp built in.

https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/turntables/mara...

[sb-1]

You can plug a phono pre amp into a line input with a suitable interconnect cable.
Depending on budget a suitable pre amp would be something like a Project MM ,
if you are using a MM cartridge in the turntable arm.

The turntable phono interconnect cable just plugs into the pre amp.

[Glosphil]

I use a £14 phono pre-amp to plug my 1970s Technics SL80 (or is it SL90?) record deck into my PC sound card to enable me to transfer my records to other media (CD, USB stick & SD card).
My Marantz AV Receiver has a direct phono input to suit a magnetic cartridge.

Edited by Glosphil on Monday 2nd November 17:42

Edited by Glosphil on Monday 2nd November 17:43

[Crackie]

The Lenco L3808 is one of several Technics SL1200 clones on the market and appears to be the pick of the bunch. https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/record-players/lenco-l-...

From what I've seen, it has a very good reputation in the Hi-Fi press for great sound at a sensible price; all the public reviews I've seen have been very complementary too. Has a decent in built pre-amp, good vinyl ripping software etc.

Here's a press review.

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/turntable-rev...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Crackie said:

The Lenco L3808 is one of several Technics SL1200 clones on the market and appears to be the pick of the bunch. https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/record-players/lenco-l-...

From what I've seen, it has a very good reputation in the Hi-Fi press for great sound at a sensible price; all the public reviews I've seen have been very complementary too. Has a decent in built pre-amp, good vinyl ripping software etc.

Here's a press review.

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/turntable-rev...

The Audio Technica LP120 is far better than the Lenco, but at around £230, might be a bit pricier

[craigjm]

Anything from Rega or Pro-Ject with the required phono stage

[anonymous-user]

joshleb said:

If you get a turntable with a phono pre-amp built in you should just be able to connect it to your receiver with RCA/phono cables.

[EDIT]

Marantz example for £100 with pre-amp built in.

https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/turntables/mara...

Can't really go wrong with that - although, if your local store has the Teac with phono stage and Bluetooth, it would be a more flexible option.

[Crackie]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Crackie said:

The Lenco L3808 is one of several Technics SL1200 clones on the market and appears to be the pick of the bunch. https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/record-players/lenco-l-...

From what I've seen, it has a very good reputation in the Hi-Fi press for great sound at a sensible price; all the public reviews I've seen have been very complementary too. Has a decent in built pre-amp, good vinyl ripping software etc.

Here's a press review.

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/turntable-rev...

The Audio Technica LP120 is far better than the Lenco, but at around £230, might be a bit pricier

Fair enough but how about posting up a link for the AT showing some evidence to back that up so that the OP can check it out. The AT and Lenco are clones of each other..........why is it far better?

I recall a shootout for several Technics clones which included the AT and the Lenco where the Lenco came out top. Both scored very highly on sound quality but the Lenco was thought to have better fit and finish on the arm and controls + better ripping software. Slightly better performer at significantly lower price.

I remember that Hi-Fi World mag also gave the L-3808 a glowing 5 star review.

Will see what I can find for the AT and Lenco.

[Crackie]

https://www.whathifi.com/audio-technica/lp120usb/r...

https://www.trustedreviewer.co.uk/review-of-lenco-...

[VEX]

Pro-ject Primary E Phono, gives you all you need, a great starter deck and stylus.

And if you know who to ask, i am sure bundle can sorted.

[nigelpugh7]

I bought the big brother to the Audio Technica people are recommending here back in 2014.

Having had Direct Drive turntables since back in the 80’s, the only thing on my shopping list was Direct Drive over Belt Drive.

It managed a 4 star review on What Hi-Fi here.

https://www.whathifi.com/audio-technica/lp1240usb/...

Personally I love it, I chose it because I liked the looks of it, being similar to a Technics SL1200, which was always the holy grail, but always out of my budget.

I’ve been very pleased with it, I have three cartridges on three separate heads, using an Ortofon Red, my old classic Shure, And a Grado Prestige Gold.

I like to think I’m good enough to really know the difference, but I’m not that good, and definitely not an audiophile type either.

I’m just happy with the way it plays and looks too.

And one more thing, I also bought it with the full intention of hooking it up via USB and recording all my old albums and 45’s to my Mac.

The reality is , well it’s just too much off a faff, so I just couldn’t be bothered in the end.

And coupled with the fact that 99.9% of those albums are included and available to listen to on my Mac via my Amazon Music HD subscription, which I then transfer to my IPhone to enjoy them in the car, it’s just never seemed worthy of all the messing about!

Hope you find one to enjoy and have fun with good old vinyl!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Crackie said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Crackie said:

The Lenco L3808 is one of several Technics SL1200 clones on the market and appears to be the pick of the bunch. https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/record-players/lenco-l-...

From what I've seen, it has a very good reputation in the Hi-Fi press for great sound at a sensible price; all the public reviews I've seen have been very complementary too. Has a decent in built pre-amp, good vinyl ripping software etc.

Here's a press review.

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/turntable-rev...

The Audio Technica LP120 is far better than the Lenco, but at around £230, might be a bit pricier

Fair enough but how about posting up a link for the AT showing some evidence to back that up so that the OP can check it out. The AT and Lenco are clones of each other..........why is it far better?

I just think it's far better built. For a kick off, the AT weights twice as much, around 11kg compared to 5.5kg for the Lenco. And the AT comes with the
acclaimed AT95E cartridge fitted as standard. The Lenco comes with an AT cartridge, but an inferior one.

[Crackie]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I just think it's far better built. For a kick off, the AT weights twice as much, around 11kg compared to 5.5kg for the Lenco. And the AT comes with the
acclaimed AT95E cartridge fitted as standard. The Lenco comes with an AT cartridge, but an inferior one.

Fair enough.........

What is more important is to try and help 21TonyK find the best solution.

Listening, preferably at home and with the partnering equipment, is the best way to determine whether you like the sound of a piece of audio gear or whether or not the more expensive kit gives a worthwhile improvement for the additional cost.

Finding a good dealer is vital but will be tricky during lockdown. VEX, What are you up to during lockdown?

[21TonyK]

Thanks all. Reading and thinking. Its either something long the classic DJ lines of the Technics or a more modern timber minimalist design so far. However Townsend music has several orders in place despite nothing to play stuff on.. yet!

[thebraketester]

There is a nice SL DL1 technical on eBay. Lovely players.

[21TonyK]

thebraketester said:

There is a nice SL DL1 technical on eBay. Lovely players.

Christ, I remember selling that stuff when I was 16 working in Dixons!!

[VEX]

I have just bundled these.

https://americanaudioco.uk/collections/record-deck...

With a pair of Jamo active, bluetooth & analogue in speakers for BF & Christmas - £499