2. analog
  3. 1045009608

How can I get back into vinyl very cheaply?

Hi and thanks for taking the time to read my thread. I grew up in the 70's and amassed a relatively large record collection. Moreover my buddies from high school are willing to give me their old Lp's. However I don't have much in disposable income so I am wondering if there is a good TT,arm, cartridge, combo to be had for ~350$ I had a denon direct drive turntable when I was a kid, but reading this site makes my think that a belt drive table would generally be superior. I particularly am wondering what old units I should look for on ebay. There are almost 1000 units for sal on ebay and most of them are in my price range, but I really don't know for which units I should be looking. Finally as I don't even know what VTA is, ease of set up is important. I appreciate all opinions.

PS. My Musical Fidelity pre has a phono stage that is purportedly good but not great for MM and adequate for MC
rgcards
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Bomarc, I've had two Audiogoners with very expensive digital rigs come listen to my 1200 on steroids: Deano and Lak. I wouldn't have invited them over if the *creature* wasn't really good sounding!

My music collection is 70% vinyl, BTW.
pyite
28 posts
 

I just got a TD110 for $50, and with a new cartridge it
should sound OK. The classics are the TD124 and 125, and
a lot of people like the 126, 150, 160, 166 models too. I'll
probably pick up a TD125 next.
bomarc
501 posts
 
Psychicanimal, I wasn't referring to your own rig, (which is a $450 direct drive unit, not counting the steroids), but to your suggestion about Technics' $170 belt drive., which you said would "outperform the other 'glass and particle board' entry level belt drives by a far margin." I haven't heard it, and I was wondering if you had any direct experience with it.
tagyerit
73 posts
 
if you do get a tt i would urge you to accept Breeno's offer of newbee help vis a vis his extra grado black cart. way to go Breeno, i know many of us help people get up and running, and it's nice to see it reflected here on audiogon.
Suretyguy: i dunno what else you used on a 2.1 (for comparison) but the free goldring they include does the tt no justice at all. i had read postings by a number of mmf 2.1 owners saying as much, but i figured they were just being fussy. then i got one. all their criticism was accurate. the goldring may be better than nothing, but a grado black will sound much less thin and strident in the upper mids and highs, much more musical overall. and an $80 grado blue will reveal worlds more sweet sound.
also, where can you get a new 2.1 for $225?
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Bomarc, I've answered your question via private e-mail.

Technics has a mass manufacure advantage and experience that is hard to beat by other companies. Their entry level belt drive with FG servo speed control has a good arm, good bearings, good suspension. My Ortofon X-5 MC can be purchased in P-mount (also the cheaper X-1 & X3 MC's--same body, different stylus shape). So go figure...anyone with a halfway decent integrated amp or receiver (NAD, Yamaha, Proton, Marantz, HK, Creek, Cambridge), a dedicated line and a cryo outlet can have decent music on the cheap.

Speed and rotational stability is sooo important to extract music it cannot be overemphasized. A frequency generator servo drive is a big step ahead of a little motor which just relies on external AC for speed control...
More to discover