Help me to Vinyl

pogo mudder

Over the past couple of years I've discovered a love for The rolling stones, Greatful Dead and other such similar music. I'm only 20 so i wasn't really around when these things where actually around on vinyl record players.
But i'd really like to get a hold of some vinyl records and play them on an olde record player for the full feel of it. What are the best brands of record players, where can you get them, are they pricey?

thanks in advance

PracticalProblemSolver

The rega p1 and sumiko Pro-Ject Debut III are the standard value 'audiophile' beginner turntables, they're around $400 with cartridge. You can get turntables at pretty much any pawn shop or record stores. Look for an older technics or marantz,

DJ turntables aren't built for good sound, people will recommend them(like the 1200) but there's better sounding tables out there.

Vinyl is a giant pain in the ass, I don't recommend it, I have boxes and boxes of the stuff and had 6 turntables at one point. I think your money is much better spent on a high quality set of headphones or speakers and a good amp.

Wezoin

pogo mudder wrote: »

Over the past couple of years I've discovered a love for The rolling stones, Greatful Dead and other such similar music. I'm only 20 so i wasn't really around when these things where actually around on vinyl record players.
But i'd really like to get a hold of some vinyl records and play them on an olde record player for the full feel of it. What are the best brands of record players, where can you get them, are they pricey?

thanks in advance

Denon also does a few new ones that sound really nice (to me at least) and include everything you need. They can even work with non-phono input compatible receivers. I have the cheaper of the two (I think I paid $120 for it, new) but there is a $400 one as well.

I'm in the same boat as you in the being young and starting a record collection thing. Its pretty awesome.

Esh

PracticalProblemSolver wrote: »

The rega p1 and sumiko Pro-Ject Debut III are the standard value 'audiophile' beginner turntables, they're around $400 with cartridge. You can get turntables at pretty much any pawn shop or record stores. Look for an older technics or marantz,

DJ turntables aren't built for good sound, people will recommend them(like the 1200) but there's better sounding tables out there.

Vinyl is a giant pain in the ass, I don't recommend it, I have boxes and boxes of the stuff and had 6 turntables at one point. I think your money is much better spent on a high quality set of headphones or speakers and a good amp.

Why exactly is it a "pain in the ass"?

For a beginner audiophile I'd go with one of the low-end Music Halls.

Also, for the kind of records the OP is looking for, you can waltz into most places and get them for $3-$20. I know 70s classic rock is ridiculously cheap and easy to find.

EskimoDave

The cheapest new record player I've seen was $100. They only make them for audiophiles now, so if you're looking for something cheaper you're gonna have to peruse second hand stores. It took me months to find one that actually came with a needle and/or cartridge as most used ones are missing one of those, and it's not easy buying new needles/cartridges for something that hasn't been made for 25 years.

I love listening to vinyl. I wish I had all my stuff other here instead of sitting at my parents place.

Pheezer

So long as the mounting arm uses either a P-mount or a standard mount, it's dead simple to replace a cartridge and there are a million places to order one from online.

I'd suggest trying to find a used Technics direct drive model and then just replacing the cartridge with something decent. I got my turntable for $20, it's in beautiful aesthetic condition, and because it's direct drive I didn't have to worry about the belt being worn and causing the table to rotate at an uneven rate, or at a rate other than the one I selected. Used belt drive turntables will often require belt replacements, sometimes immediately, sometimes later on, but it fucking sucks and it's one more thing to order.

You can get a good entry level cartridge for $100 online. So long as the turntable spins at the right speed, you'll get way better bang for your buck by upgrading to an after market cartridge on a cheap used turntable from the 70s or 80s than you will by buying a brand new Denon or Project turntable. Just make sure it's a decent brand, like Technics.