Turntable - advice

deanpark

Registered User
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Any recommendations for a new turntable in the €500 - €600 bracket. Not bluetooth, just a regular analogue one to be played through an amplifier. Thanks.
 
Wouldn't generally recommend buying any turntable, rather spend the money on music (CD or download) but if you insist

Get the Riga within your budget, or a technica.

E.g.

 
Wouldn't generally recommend buying any turntable, rather spend the money on music (CD or download) but if you insist

Get the Riga within your budget, or a technica.

E.g.

I have a CD player and Spotify also but love the vinyl - brings me back to the 80s checking out Freebird records and Golden Discs.
 
I’ve an Audio Technica AT LP120 and it’s a class piece of kit IMHO. Got it for a significant birthday and I love it.

g
 
Haven't been there in a long time but I always found Noel in Cloney Audio, Blackrock very good for anything HiFi related
Have checked them out now. I may get one there.

Last year I bought a turntable elsewhere (I subsequently sold it) as Cloney were out of stock.
 
Looking for information on hi fi setups. Previously, I had a separate turntable, amp and speakers. Sadly, they have all been recycled. So, do the turntables on offer, such as Audio Technica, need a separate amplifier? If some do, how do I know from the description or model number?

What is the best setup for speakers these days, cable or Bluetooth?

Also, can I feed the sound through an existing 3 in 1 system? The system does not have a turntable.

Thanks in advance!
 
My understanding limited as it is as I don't have a turntable in my system, is the modern basic turntables come pre-set upped with Bluetooth and built in switchable phone pre-amplifier,
What that means is if you have Bluetooth speakers you can connect directly the turntable and speakers without the need for amplifier or speaker cables. If the turntable has a switchable phone pre-amplifier you can connect directly to any audio source that has the standard RCA connectors

I was brought up to believe that the best sound is from speakers that are wired especially if the plugs and cables are of a good quality and the system justifies that upgrade but having said that I've a Sony Bluetooth speaker that I take to Spain with me and play my music from the library on my computer and though it will never match the home system in terms of sound it's not bad and can't fault it given it's size and cost
 
Only thing I can help you with is that old amps (like the 3 in 1) had a dedicated input for the turntable, as it needed to greatly amplify the input. Newer amps do not have this input, but take the turntable in through a normal input. If this is the case, you will need to buy a turntable with a pre-amplifier, to boost the signal at source

Just something to watch out for when you are looking at models.
 
Also, can I feed the sound through an existing 3 in 1 system? The system does not have a turntable.
If you’re buying a decent turntable you should look at investing in an amplifier and speakers. Don’t scrimp.

I was in your position. Had a really good separates system in the 80s that I wish I’d kept. I got one of those 3-in-1 systems that looked better but which was rubbish really.

In the last few years I’ve built up a decent Hifi system with separates bought at Cloney’s and Richer Sounds. You can pay anything you like of course but the good thing about separates is that you can upgrade the different components as you wish.

I got a Riga turntable last year from Richer sounds who were excellent. If you like your vinyl it’s worth the expense of playing it properly through a decent amp and speakers. I find it amazing that the same records I bought in the 80s can sound so much better 40 years later.

Go on, you deserve it!
 
Only thing I can help you with is that old amps (like the 3 in 1) had a dedicated input for the turntable, as it needed to greatly amplify the input. Newer amps do not have this input, but take the turntable in through a normal input. If this is the case, you will need to buy a turntable with a pre-amplifier, to boost the signal at source

Just something to watch out for when you are looking at models.
Some amplifiers have this, its called a “pre-amp”, but you are right, many of the newer amplifiers, may not have this. An amp requires the input to be at a certain level, before it can amplify the input, which is lower than what a turntable outputs. The output of the turntable, goes into the pre-amp, and from the pre-amp, into your amplifier.

If neither your turntable (most do not)or amplifier, have a pre-amp onboard, You can also buy a separate “pre-amp” at prices to suit all budgets, they are quite small, it has a significant impact on the sound, so i went for a Cambridge Audio pre-amp, which is middle of the road, rather than entry level.

The sound from a good setup, playing vinyl is a light year, ahead of anything bluetooth can do. Having said that, for “convienence”, blutooth speakers are great, i have a Bose one in our kitchen, but vinyl on a good setup, tops it for sound quality, everytime.
 
Update: I bought the Audio Technica 160(Bluetooth with pre amp built in) in Golden Discs as I was passing by and noticed that they had a good selection. I would have bought a Teac(1980s remembered bias) but don't like wood finish. Set it up yesterday and plugged speaker cables into Sony 3 in 1 and ,hey presto, tremendous sound. Thanks all! Back to the 80s cos I haven't bought a vinyl record in nearly 40 years!
 
Any suggested websites to buy records from?
They do seem very expensive from the Golden Discs shop.
 
Any suggested websites to buy records from?
They do seem very expensive from the Golden Discs shop.
Discogs.com is your friend. It lists international sellers and is a good deal for buying multiple Vinyls from the same seller. It’s clear on the cost too for postage eg 10 euro for 4 records that sort of thing. I’ve purchased a good few and have never been disappointed. There’s a good ranking of the condition of the record and sleeve too.

Hope this helps!

Opus
 
Update: I bought the Audio Technica 160(Bluetooth with pre amp built in) in Golden Discs as I was passing by and noticed that they had a good selection. I would have bought a Teac(1980s remembered bias) but don't like wood finish. Set it up yesterday and plugged speaker cables into Sony 3 in 1 and ,hey presto, tremendous sound. Thanks all! Back to the 80s cos I haven't bought a vinyl record in nearly 40 years!
Enjoy!!
I think some of the best music was made in the 60's, 70's and the 80's and nearly all before CD's became popular
My top 10 and the ones I listen to most would be mainly made up of albums from the 70's with Pink Floyds "Dark side of the Moon" been in the top slot and coincidently was the first ever album that I bought, not sure how that happened but think my older brother had some say in it
Discogs.com is your friend.
I've used Ebay quite a bit over the years especially for the rarer hard to find stuff
 
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