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New to Vinyl, TT suggestions please

Howdy,

I'm looking to get into vinyl and was looking for suggestions on TT's up to $500 on the used market, including cartirdge and arm, preferably low maintenance (specific table suggestions that are now available would be welcome too!). My musical tastes favor electronic/techno/triphop/ambiant music, especially heavy in angelic female vocals and engaging bass lines, to Radiohead and Pink floyd, Tull and Nina Simone, with operas and occasional jazz thrown in when in them mood. My preamp/phono pre is the musical fidelity A3.2cr, my system if full range and bass from 20-40hz is very important to me, if that helps. My reference redbook and SACD player is the Marantz SA-14, which I'm quite fond of, and would like a vinyl rig with the same essential sonic characteristics, if that helps! Thanks much for any assistance.
uva_hifi
c019740
30 posts
 
Im new to vinyl as well (at least for the last 10 years)and I just purchased a Rega P3 2000 for $450.00 on the GON. I upgraded the cartridge but it came with an Elys and I thru it away. You cant go wrong with this TT. Smooth as silk, quiet, great sound. So my recomendation (and thru my reasearch a lot of others) is to go with the Rega.
jsawhitlock
302 posts
 
I was in the same boat 6 months ago and asked the same question. The three most recommened were MMF-5, VPI jr and Rega, I went with the VPI because it seemed to have the most upgrades availbe. You can pick up VPI jr for around $500 used. (66 tri-power here)
Happy Listening!
xiekitchen
821 posts
 
Rega P-3 is the standard.. also because it comes with the Rega arm, which is a great arm. I've never used them but I hear great things about the Rega cartridges too. I had a Rega P-3 for years that I kept modifying (maybe 15 yrs of so) until last year I took the plunge and went for a Rega P-9 which I love.
colitas
150 posts
 
You can't go wrong with the P3, but I would recommend the RB250 instead of the RB300. The 250 has better stability because it has no VTF(vertical tracking force) dial and has two bearings, and no spring. The only thing is that you will need to upgrade the endstub(it's plastic) and then the counterweight. This may be more expensive but in the long run a better sound. I know because I have had a P3 with both arms on it.
sayas
190 posts
 
rega arm and cartridge, the more you get for $500 the better. the 300 is a better arm than the 250, so get the 300!
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