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What turntable, $500 or less

Okay, so I'm thinking that I'd like to get back to vinyl. I say "back" because I used to "dj" (beat match and mix records). Anyways, I used, and liked, technics sl 1200 with ortofon cartrideges. How do these rate in the audiphile arena? What are your recommendations for a complete setup (catridge, turntable, tone arm, phono stage (never even knew about phono stages unril recently, and I still don't know much about them)? Thanks for your help!!
128x128b_limo
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,671 posts
 
Nice Denon DP1200 is on here now. I owned this years ago ago and it was real nice. If you can get it for $400 go for it.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,274 posts
 
Photodusty & Sbrownnw,
First, Photodusty, so you went with the 1.3 instead of the carbon? Howcome? I just read a few reviews of the 1.3 and they said they were having vibration problems in the tonearm because the mdf? Did you experience this? If I were to buy one of these, how should I hook it up to my pre amp? Which phono stage do you recommend? I don't know much about this, so forgive me. Also, do you recommend that denon catridge that you are using? I'd like to keep it around $500 for the whole set-up, or at least the initial set-up, where I could upgrade just the catridge later. Thanks again for your help with this!

Secondly, Sbrownnw, how much would you want for your setup?
photodusty
100 posts
 
Hey B_limo, re-read my post and you will see why I went with the 1.3. I have not had any vibration problems. I have had zero problems. My wife has problems with me playing all my records!

As far as keeping it around $500 then my advise would be to get the carbon and maybe you will like the Ortofon that comes with it.

I dont know your system but you could get the Cambridge pre-amp or even the Pro-Ject phono pre...or something cheaper and keep it all at $500 easy.

The Carbon sounded fine but not once I went to the Denon DL-110.... {See my post above}

Hope that helps a little....

db
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,274 posts
 
Photodusty, well maybe I will go with the 1.3, and just upgrade to the denon catridge when I can. I don't want to skimp and save $200 if I can gain quite a bit better sound if I go with the 1.3 and denon catridge vs. the carbon and ortofon catridge. What phono pre amp do you recommend? Would you suggest a pro ject just to keep it all in the same family? If so, there looks like there is one for $199, and then a tube ond for $299. Im asking you because it seems likd you've done alot of research on this. Thanks!
les_creative_edge
174 posts
 
For those of you who may like the new Project Carbon, you can by paying extra get the Acrlit platter to swap out the standard metal one and thus any issues with a MC cartridge would be eliminated. The Acrlit platter goes for around $130 U.S. though. But still keeps a high value turntable in a relatively lower price point.
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