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Turntable selection advise

I have to admit that I am no audiophile nor do I have the funds to purchase some of the extravagant systems out there, I'm just a simple guy looking for simple advise. So far, I have looked into 3 turntables and I am wondering if some of you could assist me with my selection process. I just want to play vinyl that's all, hmmm audio nirvana ~!

So far I have looked into various TT and my selection is as follows.

1) Technics SL1200MK2
2) Technics 1210M5
3) Audio Technica AT-PL120

I like the fact that the Audio Technica has a built in phono pre amp and it plays at 3 different LP's speed rates (33, 45 and 78)

Could someone please advise the pro's and con's of my above selection?
chgolatin2
mingles
800 posts
 
I agree with others that recommend the Technics SL1200MK2. I also suggest an Audio Technica AT150MX cartridge and Bottlehead Seduction phono stage. This should give you plenty of listening enjoyment. I don't think you'll be able to do better for the price. Some forums to check out:

I just went up two notches in resolution
Bottlehead Seduction Phono Stage question
chgolatin2 OP
53 posts
 
Thanks to all for all the help, my budget currently is not the best so I will keep my options open until I can hit the road running again.
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
I would second the Rega recommendation. I believe you can get the P1 for under $400. This would be a much better option than any of the cheap motor-driven Technics, etc. Belt-drive is the way to go.
Post removed 
oilmanmojo
472 posts
 
you might want to check out audioasylum. They have a lot more vintage table strings than you will find here. There is a lot of folks on that forum that get a lot of enjoyment from the older and cheaper tables and a lot of fans for the moderate priced vintage MM cartridges. I suspect you will get a much different range of responses. I like the high end tables and get a lot of enjoyment our of my investment so I am not talking down the higher quality tables but I also know a lot of folks who get similar enjoyment out of a lot less investment. As specifically to your question, the technics tables are typically better built than the AT table you mentioned IMO I would also consider a vintage denon, pioneer, yamaha, etc.
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