Taz85 Posted May 19, 2017 Posted May 19, 2017 Hi all, I'm new here and out for my first turntable setup and looking for some advice. I'm looking for a good quality turntable setup in the $500-$600 range (possibly more for the right setup). I don't need an amp or speakers just yet (I'll be using my Paradigm MilleniaOne CT TV setup for now) but will upgrade in the next couple of years. I've done some research, and the Pro-ject Debut Carbon Phono USB or Pro-ject Essential II Digital "look" pretty good to me. My only concern with these is I've read they can be a bit fiddly to setup and change speeds etc. What's the consensus on turntables with built-in phono stage? Am I limiting my future upgrade options by choosing one of these Pro-ject turntables?? Is $600 better spent on a standard turntable and separate phono stage? Please help!
PorkBun69s Posted May 19, 2017 Posted May 19, 2017 Becareful going down this road, you will be seduced by the dark side... IMO, best to buy one from a dealer, meaning get your TT, cart, tonearm from the same business, as they're more likely help you out with setting it up. Factor in a few more $$ and get an external phonostage. I'm just concerned more that you're running a TT through the Paradigm MilleniaOne. Food for thought, why dont you focus on upgrading your system first before putting some hard earned into a TT setup?
Taz85 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Posted May 19, 2017 50 minutes ago, katattack74 said: Becareful going down this road, you will be seduced by the dark side... IMO, best to buy one from a dealer, meaning get your TT, cart, tonearm from the same business, as they're more likely help you out with setting it up. Factor in a few more $$ and get an external phonostage. I'm just concerned more that you're running a TT through the Paradigm MilleniaOne. Food for thought, why dont you focus on upgrading your system first before putting some hard earned into a TT setup? Thanks, makes sense. After doing a bit more research I think I might go for: https://www.sydneyhificastlehill.com.au/shop/turntables/music-hall-mmf-2-2-turntable/ ... Looks pretty good for the price, and have room for an external preamp. No point upgrading my system yet, as I'll keep using the Paradigm for my TV and TT until I have the room for a dedicated listening space
Guest kab Posted May 19, 2017 Posted May 19, 2017 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Rega-RP1-Performance-Pack-Record-Player-Turntable-Ex-Demonstration-/322516541621?hash=item4b177be0b5:g:8jIAAOSw4A5YqtQd Here you go.
Taz85 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Posted May 19, 2017 1 minute ago, kab said: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Rega-RP1-Performance-Pack-Record-Player-Turntable-Ex-Demonstration-/322516541621?hash=item4b177be0b5:g:8jIAAOSw4A5YqtQd Here you go. Do you think this P1 is better quality than the mmf-2.2? Looks like very similar specs for about $70 less and new...
Ian McP Posted May 19, 2017 Posted May 19, 2017 http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tested-affordable-turntables-from-music-hall-pro-ject-rega-nottingham/
Guest kab Posted May 19, 2017 Posted May 19, 2017 I cant comment on the project,but iv'e had rega decks in the past and found them excellent for the money. Good luck with your search, Cheers.
ophool Posted May 21, 2017 Posted May 21, 2017 A phono preamp like this one - http://www.phonopreamps.com/tc750lcpp.html will not break the bank and will give a very satisfactory result - quite possibly better than a lot of built in phono stages in integrated amps. I found it to better the pre in a NAD 7225 I was using at that time. It will be markedly better than any USB stage built in to a turntable.
Wimbo Posted May 21, 2017 Posted May 21, 2017 On 5/19/2017 at 5:27 PM, Taz85 said: Do you think this P1 is better quality than the mmf-2.2? Looks like very similar specs for about $70 less and new... The P1 is a heap of .... compared to the MMF2.2. Having dealt with both of them and liking various models from both companies. My 2 cents.
blakey72 Posted May 21, 2017 Posted May 21, 2017 (edited) Yeah don't go the P1. At least P2 in the Rega range in my opinion. This one if you can spare the $45. That's what I'd do if you want new. https://www.stereophonic.com.au/project-rpm-1-carbon-inc-ortofon-2m-red-piano-black/ All set up. Edited May 21, 2017 by blakey72
Cardiiiii Posted May 21, 2017 Posted May 21, 2017 Have a look at the MMF1.3 as well. Seems like the ideal first TT. TT for dummies pretty much! Waiting for reviews before looking into them.
dwbasement Posted May 22, 2017 Posted May 22, 2017 If you are looking at rega P1, I would suggest get a secondhand RP3 or P3-24 instead, you might need to add a bit more with your budget, may be a couple of hundred more but it is well worth it. If you are lucky you might be able to get one with cart within your budget. 2
TOPSHELF Posted May 22, 2017 Posted May 22, 2017 ^^^^^^^^I'd be saving for a little longer whilst waiting for a second hand unit from a reputable seller to turn up in the classifieds here. I'd also grab that mimic phono in the classifieds, it saw off my Jasmine lp2!Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Cope Posted May 22, 2017 Posted May 22, 2017 On 2017-5-19 at 1:34 PM, Taz85 said: What's the consensus on turntables with built-in phono stage? Am I limiting my future upgrade options by choosing one of these Pro-ject turntables?? Is $600 better spent on a standard turntable and separate phono stage? For me, all-in-one features are designed to take the fuss out of turntables for people who aren't interested in dialling in a system so much as ticking a box - 'can play records', check. Nothing wrong with that - you just need to figure out if that's you. If not, you should probably try and picture your ideal setup (that upgrade in the next couple of years you were talking about). FWIW, I tallied up what I spent on my turntable, cart, and preamp, and it came to roughly what my speakers retail for. Not sure if this is a good rule of thumb or not, but it may give you pause if you are thinking of dropping more than $3000 on speakers some day (or less than $600, for that matter). No point buying something that your future speakers will reveal to be a rumbling or fluttering piece of garbage, nor buying a good turntable and choking it off with a substandard speakers. On 2017-5-19 at 4:24 PM, katattack74 said: IMO, best to buy one from a dealer, meaning get your TT, cart, tonearm from the same business, as they're more likely help you out with setting it up. This is good advice, especially if it's from a specialist store (JB Hi-Fi aren't going to do anything other than hand you a box at the roller door 'round back). If you like the sound in the store, and the store sets it up at your place, and it sounds like crap, that is (all other things being equal) on them to fix. If you set it up yourself, well...
PorkBun69s Posted May 22, 2017 Posted May 22, 2017 3 hours ago, twofires said: FWIW, I tallied up what I spent on my turntable, cart, and preamp, and it came to roughly what my speakers retail for. Not sure if this is a good rule of thumb or not, but it may give you pause if you are thinking of dropping more than $3000 on speakers some day (or less than $600, for that matter). No point buying something that your future speakers will reveal to be a rumbling or fluttering piece of garbage, nor buying a good turntable and choking it off with a substandard speakers. Ditto! I had a borrowed modded RP3 in my system, which seduced me to get a TT setup, but it also had its flaws. It sounded closed in and muddy. Not until i got a Kuzma Stabi did I really appreciate what vinyl could really offer and down that road is where it became a money pit for me, stepping up to a Feickert Woodpecker2, Stogi arm, Delos cart and RCM sensor 2 phono.. and its quite end game for me without spending silly $$. 3
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