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Record player help! |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 51
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Record player help!
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 |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The garden of earthly delights
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Short of buying used, the Pro-ject Debut is an absolute bargain but is still just over £200. Well worth it though as the lesser ones will have problems as you have found out.
Buying used is fine, but not without knowing about the different problems that each model may have. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,920
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The problem with the Pro-ject deck is that it does not have an on-board pre-amp. So no good for plugging into a pair of computer speakers. And quite frankly a 250 quid turntable would be wasted on such an application. No pair of computer speakers is going to do the turntable justice.
Something cheaper and simpler would probably do in that instance. For example http://www.richersounds.com/product/...-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. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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Thanks for the response!
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. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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Quote:
The problem with the Pro-ject deck is that it does not have an on-board pre-amp. So no good for plugging into a pair of computer speakers. And quite frankly a 250 quid turntable would be wasted on such an application. No pair of computer speakers is going to do the turntable justice.
Something cheaper and simpler would probably do in that instance. For example http://www.richersounds.com/product/...-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. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,920
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Quote:
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/...0/sony-pslx300 Bit over budget but does get 5 stars. |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,904
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Quote:
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 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. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DAVEVILLE, Daveshire DA1 1VE
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Like others say OP, if sound quality is your main aim then really do not go for the all in one units from Ion, Steepletone etc.
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/...-topaz-am1-blk Add some decent speakers, such as these for £50: http://www.richersounds.com/product/...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. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 51
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Thank you very much for your posts. That sony one is probably what I'll go for.
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. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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Quote:
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. |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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Quote:
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 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? |
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#12 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,920
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The Sony will get you started certainly and will probably do for an upgrade to an amp and speakers in due course. You could save a few pennies by not going all out in one hit.
For example get the Sony turntable then buy a decent amp and reasonable speakers, eg http://www.richersounds.com/product/...ae/deno-pma520 http://www.richersounds.com/product/...1/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. |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 51
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Quote:
The Sony will get you started certainly and will probably do for an upgrade to an amp and speakers in due course. You could save a few pennies by not going all out in one hit.
For example get the Sony turntable then buy a decent amp and reasonable speakers, eg http://www.richersounds.com/product/...ae/deno-pma520 http://www.richersounds.com/product/...1/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. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
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Quote:
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?
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,920
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There are several options.
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/...ssential-2-blk so an all in system with that turntable, Denon amp and Mission speakers would stretch your wallet to 460 quid. |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 51
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Quote:
Why bother with records at all?, particularly when you're only using equipment that wouldn't do justice to even cassettes?.
So you recommend I don't even bother? |
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 51
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Quote:
There are several options.
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/...ssential-2-blk so an all in system with that turntable, Denon amp and Mission speakers would stretch your wallet to 460 quid. 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
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#18 |
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,127
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Bear in mind that a cheapo turntable will not do your records much good, due to low quality stylus. They will then sound worse when you do get round to playing them on a decent bit of kit
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#19 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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Quote:
Bear in mind that a cheapo turntable will not do your records much good, due to low quality stylus. They will then sound worse when you do get round to playing them on a decent bit of kit
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,920
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When you win the Lottery then how about this system?
http://www.whathifi.com/review/clear...sal-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... http://www.amazon.co.uk/AudioQuest-S.../dp/B00DBY5WK0 Not a lot of change from 160 grand ![]()
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#21 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lancs
Posts: 14,456
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Quote:
That price is surely taking the piss ![]() ![]()
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#22 |
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 57
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If it were my money, I'd go with something like the Technics suggested above with a cheap phono preamp from eBay plugged into your computer speakers.
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. |
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#23 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,920
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Quote:
That price is surely taking the piss
![]() ![]() ![]() Boggle your mind with this little lot. http://www.audioquest.com/wp-content..._pricebook.pdf ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 51
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Quote:
If it were my money, I'd go with something like the Technics suggested above with a cheap phono preamp from eBay plugged into your computer speakers.
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. |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 51
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I just bought the technics, which phono preamp should I get? Something cheap and cheerful from ebay will do.
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