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Best budget turntable?

Looking to buy my son a new turntable.  He has an entry level audiophile system, consisting of an NAD 316 integrated amp with PSB 2 way stand mount speakers. His current TT is an old Technics DD with P-mount Grado Black cartridge.

I'm looking to spend about $1000 - $1200 ish, any more and next thing I know his whole system will need an upgrade.

Options I've considered: Technics 1500C or  Pioneer PLX 1000 with a decent MM cartridge for DD options; and a Rega P3 for a belt "audiophile" option.  A Clearaudio Concept (base model) at $1800 is just beyond where I'm looking.

Honestly, it kinda bugs me that the Rega weighs 12 pounds while the other less prestigious DD models weigh 21 and 30 lbs, respectively (Concept weighs 17).  I've never been convinced of Rega's light weight philosophy, I guess.

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

bobbydd
reubent
6,996 posts
 

I've never compared it to the others you mention, but I do really like my Pioneer PLX 1000. I've got an Audio Technica AT-VM740ML cartridge on it and it sounds really great. Was fortunate to find mine used at a great price, but even the full MSRP is reasonable.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,780 posts
 

+1 @reubent but with the VM750SH.

solypsa's avatar
solypsa
462 posts
 

Between a P3 and a 1500c I say Technics all day :)

Unless you want to make it a father son project and clean up something nice and vintage? 

knotscott
921 posts
 

IMHO, the cartridge is where the most significant differences in sound come from. With your budget I’d be looking at something at the level of the PLX-1000 with a Nagaoka MP500. You can always optimize that with an isolation platform, and possibly a better phono stage at some point in the future.

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