My gf's birthday is tomorrow/ So she's been wanting a turntable, but I'm clueless about what is good. I was browsing craigslist, and I found a guy is offering these at the following prices. Little help?


TURNTABLES
Technics SL-3 - Linear tracking, needs belt, small - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -$15
Sansui P-L75 - Linear, track selection, needs repair - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $15
Technics-SLL-B200 - Belt drive, semi-auto, sounds good, black - - - - - - - - - - - $30
Pioneer PL-600 - Belt drive, fully-auto, sounds good, black- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -$30
Denon DP-7F- Direct drive, auto, black - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -$45
Technics SL-L20 - Belt drive, linear tracking, needle sounds a little worn - - - - - -$45
Technics SL-5 - Direct Drive, linear tracking, small size- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $55
Onkyo CP-1046F - Belt drive, radial tracking, full size, auto, black - - - - - - - - - - $65
Luxman P-102 - Belt drive, linear tracking, full size - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $70
Dual 1019 - turntable/changer with Empire 2000E/III. Purchased new in 1968 - - -$75

I'm not sure which one of those is best, but go for a direct drive one.

OF the ones there I know anything about, I'd say the Luxman, Onkyo, Denon, or Pioneer, in that order. The rest I either don't know or wouldn't recommend.

I had my eyes on the Technics SL-5. Any specific responses as to that one?

A linear trackers is okay as long as it's been cared for over the years. More mechanical pieces-parts= more things to fuck up.

Oh, man- I'd stay away from the belt drive ones. I'm not sure how easy it is to get replacements for the belts, altho I'd bet Technics would be one of the easier ones to get replacements for. The Denon sounds the best to me, beings it's direct drive (it would be nice if it had a strobe so you can tell the speed is accurate). The Technics linear tracking one, if it's the one I'm thinking of (needle is in the lid?), always seemed a little cheesy, altho they make many great TTs (ask a DJ).

Is she an audiophile? If so, spring for a new one. God knows what those old cartridges have gone thru. If not, my $$'s on the Denon. With a new needle, of course. My second choice would be the Technics-SLL-B200.

fp

Belts are still readily available for just about any TT ever made. Linear trackers (at least every one I've ever seen) limit you to P-mount cartridges, which range from smelly shit to somewhat less smelly shit.

Having owned 3 Denon TT's over the years, I have nothing but good things to say about them. The Denons in that model range ar quartz-lock direct-drive, so the speed is either right or you aren't going to change it anyway. I currently have a DP-11 (similar to the DP-7) and a DP-37 (both back in FL), and there's nothing wrong with either of them from a performance stand-point.

Forgot about these bitches. Good call.

fp

I really need a record player too but I don't know where to begin. I'm thinking about going to the swap meet on a weekend but I'm afraid of getting ripped off.

Is it possible to get something durable and worthwhile for under $100? Any other recommendations from the Obners besides the direct drive and purchasing a new needle???

A lot of it's a crap-shoot. Yeh, you can get a nice TT for a Franklin or less. I got my Denon DP-37F for $35 locally off Craigslist.



But that's a rare exception. Realize that there were a zillion TT's produced, some good, a lot junk. Stay away from P-mount tne-arms. And don't be scared of belt-drives. Harman Kardon made some fine mid-level TT's, all belt drive. I'm using one right now, a T-60, that's as good as any of the Denons I'v eowned. Technics and Sony made some nice mid-level TT's, Pioneer too.

First lesson: If it looks cheesy, it probably is.

I didn't realize that Denon made some quality record players.


Anyone want to sell me one?


I don't think I could tell what a "P-mount tne arm" is or not.

Most TT's take standard 1/2" mounted cartridges that screw into the headshell from the top. P-mounts were someone's good idea to try to eliminate the intricacies of adjusting things by having them plug straight into the tone-arm- good idea, bad execution, mostly.

I'll be in FL next week and if yr really interested, I'll pull my DP-11 out and check it. It's just gathering dust over there now.