entry level turntable

Johnny,
I am willing to accept that I am not the best person to opine on low cost USB turntables as the ones I have actually seen didnt merit even a tryout given their cheap looking construction and operation. However, even Tone Audio stated that "As long the internal phono stage is disabled, the Audio-Technica is “hard to beat” if you’re a vinyl lover on a budget'. so they didnt think much of the phono stage, even with MF's nomination for budget component of the year. Maybe the AT120 is better built and sounds better than most USB tables, which is what Tone Audio is saying, but to me, that doesnt say much.

To each his own, but I would buy used.

Buying used might be the way to go if you're on a budget and you do some research. All I can say is if you go out and buy new spending about $300 on turntable/tonearm,$80 on a cartridge, and $100 on a phono preamp if it is needed, you're going to be sorely disappointed if you're looking for analog bliss. Just ain't gonna happen. Several years ago I looked into getting back into analog this way and after listening to several entry level 'tables and cartridges it was extremely disappointing. Had to anty up considerably to get the quality of sound the big boys talked about. Good luck!

09-05-12: Manitunc
Johnny,
I am willing to accept that I am not the best person to opine on low cost USB turntables as the ones I have actually seen didnt merit even a tryout given their cheap looking construction and operation.

If you haven't seen/handled the AT PL120 USB, please don't advise someone not to buy one. The PL120 weighs 23 lbs and is NOTHING like the flimsy POS's made by ION and the like. Also note that the PL120 costs 2-3 times as much as the flimsy USB TTs you refer to. The PL120's built-in phono stage is simply a bonus to get a newbie rolling until he can afford a real phono stage. That Dorgay mentions that the TT sounded better with a quality external phono stage indicates that it's capable of higher resolution than the built-in, and that's good. I was suggesting the PL120 purely for its suitability as an entry-level turntable, not because it's USB-capable.

I'm in total agreement about those cheap'n'flimsy ION USB turntables and I've warned many people off them. But I've seen and felt them, and have also handled and used the AT PL120, and the Pro-Ject Debut USB. The ION is crap; its only selling point is that it has USB output. Not so for the Pro-Ject USB and the AT PL120. Both were viable and competitive entry-level turntables for years before their respective companies added the USB feature. They did the USB market a favor by offering quality alternatives to the ION.