Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Turntable recommendations

Anyone have any advice on turntables and the other equipment that goes with it? I didn't really get into music until the late 80s and dove right into Digital so I know absolutely nothing.

I am looking to spend $1,500 at the most. I have a NAD T753 Receiver and I'm not even sure how this affects what I need to do or buy.

Hello riffman
I've been looking at turntables also, and have decided to go with the Music Hall MMF-5 or 7. You won't go wrong even with the $300 MMF-2. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

I like the look of the MMF 7:



The exposed belt is cool.

I would highly recommend checking out this page for some decent deals:

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/fsb.pl?anlgtabl&1&ctg&st1

I actually sold my CD player a few years ago.. I had much less to spend, but I've tweaked an HK Rabco TT into decent shape for very little money.. and I find - especially with old recordings - that I hear more with vinyl than CD.

Now - there are a lot of scientifically minded folk floating around here.. and I realize that CDs have a lower noise floor, etc. than vinyl... but I think it is the low level noise and mild distortion that makes it appealing to me. I've seen hundreds if not thousands of live music shows, and vinyl more accurately reproduces what I've heard there. It may not be 100% correct and crafted... but I find it more "real."

Oh, yeah.. and on that page someone is selling a Basis 1400 w/ an RB300 arm for $1100... that's a bit of a deal for a gorgeous TT.

Thanks for leading me in the right direction folks. I think I want the best of both worlds - cd and vinyl.

I have a Rega P3 that I have used for many years of trouble free enjoyment. Ensure that you get a quality cartridge, and that the tonearm is adequate. Rega made some decent arms, and also some poor arms. Almost all required shims to adjust height, and this is a critical adjustment to proper sound.

As you have read, there is a good amount of technical advice regarding turntables. You can buy inexpensive (sub $100) or expensive (many thousands of dollars) for turntables. Interestingly, most people have compared an inexpensive table to a $300+ cd player and this does not do either medium justice. The most limiting factor of vinyl is in fact the condition of the record. Typically, they are lacking, and this is translated into "noise" for our listening enjoyment...or lack there of.

There are several other models available, depending on your budget. I would suggest you look at all the above suggestions as low to mid end of the spectrum, and include Regal and Thorens. Moving up the food chain, Oracle, and Linn. There are many much more expensive models, but this depends on your budget.

Any suggestion for a turntable on the cheap? I've got some old Prince singles and a bunch of old comedy albums that I'd like to listen to.

btw...the new Purple Rain DVD is awesome...give it a listen on your system.

Spiff,

Here are some budget turntables. But, if you find one you think you might like, be sure to do a Google search for it, cuz they probably can be had cheaper than at the Needle Doctor.

For example, I got the Stanton STR8-30 for $130, shipping included, at Amazon, which is a pretty good price for a direct drive turntable, albeit one without a lot of bells and whistles. I didn't care for the cartridge that comes with the turntable (but it would probably be OK for just some listening to old comedy albums. Shelley Berman, perhaps? Bob Newhart? ), so, I sprang for a Shure M97XE for $72.34 plus shipping through Amazon.

Thanks for the tips. The comedy albums are Cosby from the 60's, early George Carlin, Steve Martin, Howie Mandel, Cheech & Chong...

I thought you said "OLD" comedy albums.