Record player help!
[Deleted User]
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I'm very new to playing records and have a steepletone smc99r all in one thing. It's got me to start collecting vinyl but the sound quality is atrocious and it skips all the time.
So what I need is a record player that I can plug straight into computer speakers (which have an amp) via a jack input. I've looked into the Audio Technica LP60 and that seems to be ideal, but hard to find in England.
My budget is pretty much under £100.
Thank you
So what I need is a record player that I can plug straight into computer speakers (which have an amp) via a jack input. I've looked into the Audio Technica LP60 and that seems to be ideal, but hard to find in England.
My budget is pretty much under £100.
Thank you
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Comments
Buying used is fine, but not without knowing about the different problems that each model may have.
Something cheaper and simpler would probably do in that instance. For example
http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntables/ion/ilp-sp/ion-ilp-sp
It has an iPod dock and USB but you can ignore those bits if you don't need them. But it does have an on-board pre-amp so can be plugged directly into a pair of powered speakers.
I really can't go that high and as far as I can see, it doesn't have a built in pre-amp, which is what I need to plug the speakers directly into it.
I can't buy the turntable and then all the other gear, just needs to be a single unit which I can plug speakers into.
This was the sort of thing I was looking into. However, reviews have been fairly negative about sound quality and such. Simply put, I need good sound and no skipping, but it's proving very difficult!
Also from what I can see there are not many turntables at the mid or higher end of the price/quality range with built in pre-amps. probably because at that level you would be partnering it with a hi-fi amp with built in pre-amp or using an external pre-amp.
Richersounds do a Sony turntable with pre-amp at about 125 quid
http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntables/sony/pslx300/sony-pslx300
Bit over budget but does get 5 stars.
First up, you're not going to get a decent sound using computer speakers. They're not good enough.
It might be an idea to look at the second hand market and see what you could construct within your budget, this place looks like a good place to start:
http://www.greenhomeshop.co.uk/shop/
They've got a Technics SLBD20 turntable for £ 35
A set of Celestion 1 speakers for £ 35
And a Kenwood V7010 Pro Logic receiver for £ 60.
Now, this may not be 'cutting edge' or new stuff but it'll be far better than trying to wire a turntable to some computer speakers and probably sound reasonably good despite the age of the components.
You do have to spend a bit of money if you want good sound. Perhaps think about doing it piece by piece.
Start with a half decent amplifier and speakers, such as the Cambridge Audio AM1 currently on offer at Richer Sounds for £80:
http://www.richersounds.com/product/amplifiers-receivers/cambridge-audio/topaz-am1/camb-topaz-am1-blk
Add some decent speakers, such as these for £50:
http://www.richersounds.com/product/standmount-speakers/wharfedale/diamond-9.0/whar-9.0-blk
Then add your chosen turntable, such as the Sony linked to by others.
Your ears will thank you, and the sound quality will be vastly superior to plugging computer speakers into a turntable.
You may be able to save some money by considering second hand, such as buying via Ebay or even one of the high street second hand stores such as Cash Converters.
One of my friends bought a very good Kenwood HIFI system from Cash Converters for £150. It was basically a separates system from the early 90s, but it had been very well looked after and had an amplifier, turntable, cassette deck, CD player and radio along with very good Mission speakers. But if you do go down that route, ask to hear it and test out the record player (along with the CD player and cassette deck if you buy a complete system) before parting with your cash.
I'm on a very tight budget, for now, and have only just started getting into vinyl. I will, eventually (hopefully in the near future) splash out on a VERY expensive system.
All your expertise has been greatly appreciated, I spent hours researching today, with no good results.
Is this the way to go? Or shall I settle for the Sony PSLX300? All I want is something to tide me over until I have enough money to splash out.
I'll hold fire until I get a good opinion.
I could either have the Sony with my computer speakers, or go for the whole system. I only need it to tide me over for a little while until I can afford more. So maybe get the whole lot and then buy a new turntable when I can afford it?
For example get the Sony turntable then buy a decent amp and reasonable speakers, eg
http://www.richersounds.com/product/amplifiers-receivers/denon/pma520ae/deno-pma520
http://www.richersounds.com/product/standmount-speakers/mission/mx1/miss-mx1-blk
They will set you back about 260 quid. But the Denon will happily go with better speakers and a better turntable if you get the urge to upgrade. I had a predecessor to that amp and it is a very nice bit of kit.
And of course you can add a CD player or whatever to the mix as well.
Can't afford any of that for now. So should I get the sony one and just use my computer speakers? Or should I get that whole system mentioned before and then upgrade when I can?
Why bother with records at all?, particularly when you're only using equipment that wouldn't do justice to even cassettes?.
You could get the Sony turntable now and save up for the amp and speakers later. If I was going for the entire system in one hit then I might be tempted to go for the Pro-ject Essential turntable rather than the Sony. It's a better unit than the Sony and better suited to the amp and speakers.
It is however the very thick end of 200 quid.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntables/project/essential-2/proj-essential-2-blk
so an all in system with that turntable, Denon amp and Mission speakers would stretch your wallet to 460 quid.
Because I've just started getting into vinyl and will continue when I have more money to do it justice.
So you recommend I don't even bother?
I've looked into the pro-ject TT, they look great and hopefully I'll be able to afford one in the near future!
For now, I'll probably get the sony, reviews suggest it'll be significantly better than the steepletone I have at the moment.
Thank you so much for your help
Ah I see. Maybe I'm just being my standard impatient self and should just stick to collecting until I can afford it!
http://www.whathifi.com/review/clearaudio-innovation-wood-universal-davinci-v2
http://www.whathifi.com/review/krell-fbi
http://www.whathifi.com/review/bw-800-diamond
And of course you'll need some speaker wire to go with it...
www.amazon.co.uk/AudioQuest-Signature-Terminated-Speaker-Cable/dp/B00DBY5WK0
Not a lot of change from 160 grand :eek::D
That price is surely taking the piss :eek::eek::eek:
You can then think about better amplification and speakers as funds allow.
This will be a reasonable start. If you want to upgrade later, you might actually make a profit selling the Technics on eBay. You'll make a sizeable loss on the Sony. The Technics will sound much better as well.
Boggle your mind with this little lot.
http://www.audioquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/audioquest_retail_pricebook.pdf
:eek::eek::eek::D:D:D
Sounds like a great idea! I think this is what I'll be doing, as it really doesn't cost much for now. Thank you.