Direct Drive Turntables

Pheezer

Okay, I've decided that I'm finally going to invest in a proper collection of some of the electro I've been listening to lately and that means I need a turntable. I'm going to go with a direct drive model just in case my collection gets to the point where I decide to pick up a second deck and a mixing board and play sets here and there.

I need a recommendation on a good, reliable, entry level direct drive model. I'm not in love with any given brand right now and I'm open to the idea of getting a cheaper model now and investing in a better needle/cartridge down the road to improve the sound I'm getting over paying extra for a model that'll come with a better cartridge in the box.

I'm also open to the thought of buying used, and so recommendations on turntables that are easier to repair or less likely to be dead would be good too.

My receiver has a proper phono input so I'm not looking for a separate amp yet.

Feral

The old standby is the Technics 1200 series which I've seen go for anywhere from US$250 for a pair to US$500 a piece depending on condition.

Pheezer

The cheapest models in that line are $550 new, so I'd kind of like to look at something that'll cost possibly less. Unless that's the cheapest you can get for a direct drive model that isn't total shit.

Akilae729

If you live around the seattle area, there is a place called Hawthorne Stereo that sells really good stereo equipment used at pretty decent turntables at good prices. My friend got a SL1200 from them for $250.

Honestly, the SL1200 is the standard for a reason. They have great sound, response, and they are durable as fuck. If you purchase them, I doubt you will have to purchase another turntable again. What's also nice, is that if you buy one and decide to get another matching, its really easy to find as the design has not changed that much over the years. For the price, and assuming that you want to do mixing eventually, i'd just go with an SL.



if you're not trying to mix with a turntable just yet and are just trying to listen to your vinyl, I'd recommend tracking down a used Technics SL-Q series. For my stereo at home I have a SL-Q350 automatic that sounds pretty damn good and you can track them down for about $100 bucks.

Pheezer

hmm. I don't live in the seattle area, I live in the much less trendy Winnipeg, MB. $250 isn't so insane though, I'll start looking for one of them SL-1200s used.