Old hifi, new smiles :) Turntable recommendations...

[Murph7355]

I've had some old hifi kit sitting around unused for years. Occasionally considered selling it and looked at threads on here with options for that, but the value never seemed worth the hassle.

Anyway, current circumstances have prompted me to clear out my garage workshop and semi-convert it into a mini-gym (kind of). So decided to put the old kit in there. Very pleased I did as it brought back some happy memories of first buying the gear and setting it up

Nothing fancy (Kenwood 3020SE amp; Technics SL-PG200 CD player and RS-BX501 tape deck; Denon TU380 tuner; TDL RTL2 speakers (cabinet veneers a bit worse for wear; all with decent period cables), but sounds great.

Now thinking I should add a turntable so I can demonstrate a full range of old school tech to my kids as they get older (also have a Minidisc player I'll be rigging up). Any recommendations? Wouldn't want to spend daft money...

[heisthegaffer]

Kenwood KA3020SE is a brilliant amp. I've got one in my garage that I don't currently used as I have too much other gear but I'll never sell it as it's not worth a lot but is still pretty decent.

I had it rigged up to some Wharfedale 9.1s and an Audioquest Dragonfly black and it sounded excellent.

[Speed 3]

Can’t go wrong with Rega. I resurrected my old Ariston Q-Deck out of the loft a couple of years ago but the main bearing had gone so I was treated to a Planar 1 for my birthday. Perfectly good entry level and your location sounds like it wouldn’t exploit the higher end fidelity anyway.

I also had a KA-3020SE before my current Denon. Can’t remember why I changed, may have been a burglary.

Edited by Speed 3 on Wednesday 22 April 15:18

[Murph7355]

Thanks guys.

The amp had been sat for so long I wasn't entirely sure it would work.

Took a little for it to settle down (sources took a bit to come through, sound crackled when I turned the volume knob) but it's all working spot on now. It really is a great piece of kit (for music better than anything else I have really).

I think the garage just became more of a man cave. Tacx trainer, weights, hifi, beer fridge. Looking to buy a decent monitor and will hook up a retired laptop to it for bigger screen Tacx use and perhaps the odd movie...then the many jobs I'm finding myself can get under way more enjoyably.

I did have a look at the P1...couple of hundred quid so may well be an option. I don't have a huge amount of vinyl here - have quite a bit at my parents' place in their loft...so may wait until I repatriate it all.

[SDF1965]

Rega is a good shout as are Project turntables, had both and either would be a good addition

I have an old NAD in the loft, you have inspired me to dig it out and setup in my garage

[Murph7355]

SDF1965 said:

Rega is a good shout as are Project turntables, had both and either would be a good addition

I have an old NAD in the loft, you have inspired me to dig it out and setup in my garage

Am now mulling over whether a turntable or monitor should be the next purchase (There are some P1s on eBay for £180...and a 27" monitor isn't dissimilar - man maths would be to get both but not sure that'd be wise).