Looking for a turntable

[underdog]

Hey everyone,

I am looking to possibly have a turntable for ripping audio and just for regular listening. What exactly should I look for in a good turntable?

Thanks in advance

[garww]

A good needle !! But really, even the most basic setup can perform pretty good with a decent cartridge and set-up.

I would buy an alignment protractor unless you can eyeball the stylus tracking alignment at the inner and outer grooves.

My stuff is in storage many miles away and I considered a new stanton direct drive - 150-200 bucks. I just ordered a beater eBay Technics SL-D2 direct drive shipped for $20 and I got a AT AT71elc cartridge from Garage-a-Records.

My favorite cart was a old Rega R100 with a line contact type stylus. The more advanced stylus designs are pretty nice for tracking - more groove wall contact - but the elliptical is still fine.

Are you thinking under $100 or $500 or what ?

[underdog]

hey garww,

thanks for your response. I am looking for something rather inexpensive. I have been eyeing the following items:

Numark PT-01USB
MOOG AUDIO - Canada's Best Music Store Online

Numark TT160
MOOG AUDIO - Canada's Best Music Store Online

Stanton T.52
MOOG AUDIO - Canada's Best Music Store Online

Tell me what you think.

[garww]

I was looking at the step-up Stanton model with direct drive as they were a good price down here at one time. I would probably choose the stanton, but I'm sure they all are fine.

Maybe the t.55 has "The T.92 and T.55 USB turntables each feature USB and S/PDIF outputs and come bundled with Cakewalk Pyro Audio Creator and Audacity software.."

There are cheaper tables with dust covers, but they are not as robust;
Vinylwriter Pico - USB 2 PC Recordable Turntable (GDI-VW00) [GDI-VW00] - $99.99 :

And, there is the AT AT-LP2D-USB for bigger bucks.

[spaceonthebass]

I am looking for a turntable as well, but I'd like to be able to listen to music without turning on my pc, but I don't know how or what do I need to connect it. I have an EMU 0404 USB soundcard and Tascam VL A5 bi-amped monitors. The Emu has S/PDIF coaxial/optical in but I don't know if it would work without the pc. Also, very few turntables have S/PDIF out and most of those that have are expensive so,...do you know any other way I could go? Would the Mic/Hi-z line in work?

[whomper]

Originally Posted by underdog

Hey everyone,

I am looking to possibly have a turntable for ripping audio and just for regular listening. What exactly should I look for in a good turntable?

Thanks in advance

make sure it has a laser reader

those needles will damage your vinyl records
and really tear them up if they are too heavy
or are worn

if you insist on a cartridge
keep the weight to under 1gm
(make sure the arm can track at that weight)
and use an elliptical needle

and make sure the records are pristine
no dust at all
would you use sandpaper on your records?

remember
paper was used in the last step for polishing tape heads

[garww]

Originally Posted by whomper

make sure it has a laser reader

those needles will damage your vinyl records
and really tear them up if they are too heavy
or are worn

if you insist on a cartridge
keep the weight to under 1gm
(make sure the arm can track at that weight)
and use an elliptical needle

and make sure the records are pristine
no dust at all
would you use sandpaper on your records?

remember
paper was used in the last step for polishing tape heads

Ha !! You are talking total bullshit !!

[garww]

Originally Posted by spaceonthebass

I am looking for a turntable as well, but I'd like to be able to listen to music without turning on my pc, but I don't know how or what do I need to connect it. I have an EMU 0404 USB soundcard and Tascam VL A5 bi-amped monitors. The Emu has S/PDIF coaxial/optical in but I don't know if it would work without the pc. Also, very few turntables have S/PDIF out and most of those that have are expensive so,...do you know any other way I could go? Would the Mic/Hi-z line in work?

You need a pre-amp to convert to RIAA curve. They drop bass to keep groove size down. Many new tables have a pre-amp built in. A stereo receiver has phono RCA jacks with the RIAA pre-amp built in. You use regular line level to amp the signal from a stand alone pre-amp box.

A stand alone cheap "phono" pre-amp box used to cost about $10-20.

[whomper]

Originally Posted by garww

Ha !! You are talking total bullshit !!

you may be hearing the bull**** rattling around in your head
but i am talking the truth

the last lapping to polish pro tape heads was done with paper
cause that was rough enough to finish the job but not too hard to undo the previous polishing or hurt the heads

[garageband]

I have a Numark with direct drive, Shure M97 cart (I think) and S/PDIF out. Taken tons of stuff of LP, 45 and 78. That Shure cart is a nice choice because it sounds pretty good and has a 78 needle available and it's not horrifically expensive. The model is the TTX-1, maybe. Anyhow, I can get behind one with the digital output. Very, very handy and fast. Cleaning it up? Much slower.