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What turntable to start out with ? Pioneer PLX-1000 or VPI Nomad

I was wondering if someone could help me out on getting a new turntable.  I read reviews on the Pioneer PLX-1000 but also think the VPI Nomad 2016 may be good.

The Pioneer may have a better resale value, but I would have to buy a separate cartridge.  The VPI Nomad seems cool because I could move it around in my apartment if I wanted to listen to music in a smaller NYC apartment which has a lot of activity going on.

Any ideas ?  $1000 is my limit.


treeinrock
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Those reviews about the loose tonearm bearings are about a year old now. It would be worth checking with authorized dealers today to see if Pioneer responded to the issue. Besides, at $699 it'd be worth an hour's worth of tech bench time to have it put to spec.
downunder
1,329 posts
 
To be very clear if your PLX-1000 has loose tonearm bearing.

It takes all of 30 seconds to tighten and fix.

Not an issue.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Is if you don't know how to do it .
lindisfarne
511 posts
 
Love that Pioneer TT but have not purchased same due to the "loose bearing" thing. Is this something easy to resolve or does it take an expert?
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
There are also several other good turntables in the $1K range, many of which have pre-mounted and aligned cartridges, and some of them have nicer cartridges than the 2M Red on the Nomad (not that it's bad). 

Pro-Ject offers the Carbon Expression for $999 including an Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge; it's like a 2M Red but with silver internal wiring.
http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Xpression-Classic-in-Black?sc=2&category=45

Pro-Ject also offers the RPM 3 Carbon with mounted Sumiko Blue Point 2, a high output moving coil cartridge. That's a $450 cartridge.
http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-RPM-3-Carbon-Turntable?sc=2&category=45

And Music Hall offers the MMF5.1 LE, on sale at AudioAdvisor for $849, and includes a Music Hall Magic 3 cartridge with replaceable nude stylus. Cartridge is sourced from Ortofon.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHMMF51L

Of course, if the idea of dropping the a turntable into various systems (such as plugging directly into powered speakers) appeals to you, then the Nomad's your answer.



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