Turntables ?

[combine]

Anyone bought one recently and compared to their cd player performance ? Is it worth buying one for the sound ?

[jmorgan]

I like the sound, my ears think it is better/different/richer but have to put up with scratches (not many, I look after them). I have had records since I was a teenager though so not binning them. And when I bought this one, it ticked the boxes without tearing a new one in my wallet. Rega P3. I have had it for quite a few years.

Also, there is something satisfying about handling the things when you play them.

[chazola]

It is worth buying one for the sound quality but not a cheapy. You need to spend at least £2-300+ on a turntable & cart (like a Rega as mentioned) before they start outdoing relatively budget cd players.

[combine]

jmorgan said:

I like the sound, my ears think it is better/different/richer but have to put up with scratches (not many, I look after them). I have had records since I was a teenager though so not binning them. And when I bought this one, it ticked the boxes without tearing a new one in my wallet. Rega P3. I have had it for quite a few years.

Also, there is something satisfying about handling the things when you play them.

Thanks for that Jeff , I'm in need of some gritty sound after selling the seac !! ( don't think a turntable will take the place of her though)

[jmorgan]

Hi Steve. I forgot you had sold it. Have trouble finding the time to get the Wedge out at the moment.

With regards the turntable, I took a record I thought I really knew well into the hifi shop. They had a listening room and set up as close as they could to what I had at home and we tried a few. The Rega came out as a better sound to my ears. When I got it home I played the same record and flipped between old turntable and new and it was miles apart, the Rega being superb. I did buy the previous turntable many moons ago when loot was tight and never bothered to upgrade. I then spent ages going back through the records and listening again.

Took in "Wish You Were Here" to try in the shop, seemed the best choice for a good listen.

[myles1972]

I have a Rega Planar 2 with Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, acrylic platter and tungsten stub and counterweight. The turntable cost me £67 on eBay, the cart was a swap for a DL110 cart and the platter and counterweight were freebies (gratefully received if you are reading this!!)
It doesnt have to be an expensive addition to your hi-fi, I seemed to luck in with the deal I got. I love the 'event' involved in playing the music, and always look forward to the next time I spin some vinyl.

[robbyd]

The best high-end turntables continue to blow digital formats away - no question - although you'll run into tens of thousands for this equipment.

[B17NNS]

myles1972 said:

I love the 'event' involved in playing the music

that about sums it up for me.

[Roadster25]

Also important is the phono preamp you are using.

Unless you have a decent amp from 20 years ago, the chances are that you'll need one of these. Budget at least £100 for something decent new.

[Miguel Alvarez]

Not to mention the stylus/cartridge set ups. I've got 1210's just from years of djing use and they do the job but I'd love a proper turntable for listening only in the front room.

[PGM]

I have just got a Project Debut Carbon for Christmas, retail around £300. Compared with my Marantz CD17 KI sig which cost me about £1200 from memory around 15 years ago it blows it away for sound quality I think.

Obviously there are crackles etc from the records but I like them and the sound seems fuller and warmer on the same albums.

And it's a nice thing to have

[nonuts]

PGM said:

I have just got a Project Debut Carbon for Christmas, retail around £300.

Snap, I also just got a Debut Carbon and I think it's great, I had some old records and have also bought a number of new ones since Christmas and the quality is great. I do want a separate phono stage though as I think that is the weakest link for me at the moment. I'm going to get the Phono box s as soon as I can as I also have a longer interconnect between the turntable and amp than I'd like.

Needing to turn the records over and swap records just for one CD length album hasn't got boring yet however it was funny remembering that you had too!

[myles1972]

You can do better than the phono Box for the money. Check out the Angle Audio phono stages on ebay, they are very well regarded.

[PGM]

I got the project phono stage from my hifi shop for £50, perfectly good.

[nonuts]

myles1972 said:

You can do better than the phono Box for the money. Check out the Angle Audio phono stages on ebay, they are very well regarded.

I can see some good reviews, but they're not on ebay at the moment, and to be honest I like the idea of the flexibility the phono box s offers.

[myles1972]

nonuts said:

myles1972 said:

You can do better than the phono Box for the money. Check out the Angle Audio phono stages on ebay, they are very well regarded.

I can see some good reviews, but they're not on ebay at the moment, and to be honest I like the idea of the flexibility the phono box s offers.

Fair comment. I messaged the seller through ebay, and it appears there are differing spec levels made to your 'exacting requirements', dependant on price obviously! What are you looking for from a phono stage?

[nonuts]

myles1972 said:

What are you looking for from a phono stage?

For me the phono box s tickets all the 'want' list:

1. Not stupidly priced, bearing in mine I don't have a huge number of records and the turntable it's connected to was only £300. I'm not however sure the normal phono box would actually be an upgrade from the phono stage in my amp.
2. Flexible for gain, impedance & capacitance if I decide to get a new cartridge in the future.

The phono box s does it is by dip switches and also has recommended settings for my specific cartridge, which is handy.

[myles1972]

nonuts said:

For me the phono box s tickets all the 'want' list:

1. Not stupidly priced, bearing in mine I don't have a huge number of records and the turntable it's connected to was only £300. I'm not however sure the normal phono box would actually be an upgrade from the phono stage in my amp.
2. Flexible for gain, impedance & capacitance if I decide to get a new cartridge in the future.

The phono box s does it is by dip switches and also has recommended settings for my specific cartridge, which is handy.

It does tick all the boxes. What cart was included in the Project package, the 2M Red?

[nonuts]

myles1972 said:

It does tick all the boxes. What cart was included in the Project package, the 2M Red?

Yep, 2M Red it is, think it's the same with all the Debut Carbon's now.

[myles1972]

nonuts said:

Yep, 2M Red it is, think it's the same with all the Debut Carbon's now.

Its a good cart at the price, and gives a few more expensive carts a run for their money as well. i have the 2M Blue and its also a very good cart.