| Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
April 29, 2011 - 6:30pm
#1
First HiFi system - Need Turntable Help!
| Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources | |
Analog Sources Accessories Featured | |
Music Columns Retired Columns | |
Show Reports | |
Features Latest News Community | |
Resources Subscriptions |
© 2024 StereophileAVTech Media Americas Inc., USA
All rights reserved
an $80 turntable is not likely to be satisfactory. Look at the Rega P1, Music Hall MMF 2.2LE or Project Debut III. You have to choose between hurt feelings and adequate sound.
Also, those loudspeakers are fairly inefficient and while the Music Hall A15.2 might sound marginally better than the HK3490, the extra power and the facility to more easily add a subwoofer at some point might make the HK3490 a better choice.
Thank you so much for the reply. I've ordered the HK receiver, which I was surprised was marked so much lower than the competition. My follow up question, though is, would it be possible to just get a Rega cartridge and needle to put onto the Audio Technica? Or would that defeat the purpose and be a waste of a good cartridge? I'm just wondering if that was one way to keep the turntable. Thanks for your help!
cheap turntable is going to do is make the turntable's shortcomings more obvious. In addition, if you end up using the Audio Technica LP60 turntable, it has a cheap built in phono preamp which you will want to bypass by selecting "PHONO" on the phono preamp selector switch on the back and then use the phono inputs on the HK.
Thank you, I thought I'd ask just one more question. With your help I think I'm going to go with a new turntable (but silver to match - perhaps she won't notice). I was either going to get the Pro-ject Debut III, or I found on craigslist somebody selling a used (but he says perfect condition) Technics SL1200 MK2 for $375. What is the better choice?
And a very newbie question, if I acidentally and momentarily pressed down too hard on my cartridge onto a record, would that damage the stylus? And if so, will continuing to use that cartridge damage my records? Thanks again!
is in mint condition it is definitely worth a look. What kind of cartridge is on it?
Generally, a one time slip involving pushing too hard on the stylus shouldn't damage it. If it is indeed damaged most cartridges have replacements available.
Thank you for the reply! I found out that the Technics for sale is being sold without a cartridge and it is actually listed at $325, not $375, so I would have to separately purchase a new cartridge. Is it still worth it? How would I know that the turntable is in great condition if I decide to buy it from this guy? Thank you again for your help!
You are trying to decide between two very different TT's and approaches. The Technics SL1200 series TT's are DD. The Project TT's are belt drive. The Technics have a reputation for being DJ TT's. However, that's not what their design intention was. The DJ crowd adopted them because they are very durable and come up to speed very quickly. This is important for DJ work. The main thing to be concerned about with the Technics is that it may have some hard use and many hours on it. The fact that it's being sold with no cartridge is something to think about. If the seller is a DJ or ex DJ I would probably pass.
The project is aimed at audiophiles and has probably been treated very well. Ask the seller why he's selling it. If it's because he's going upscale TT wise it's probably a good buy.
You say the Technics needs a new cartridge. This will cost around $100. You can spend less, (I wouldn't) spend more (I would) or spend a lot more. The Project has a cartridge on it but I would replace the stylus at minimum. Of course you could replace the cartridge but that's probably not necessary.
If you ask ten different audiophiles which one to buy you'll probably get a fairly even split for each. I would go for the Project if for no other reason than it's probably been better cared for.
Either one (assuming they both work properly) would work and sound fine.