I'm finally going to buy a record player since I've accumulated a hefty stack of vinyl people have given me over the years, but I don't know shit about this stuff. It would be nice to have a USB turntable, but I'm not hellbent on the USB aspect. People of RTTP, what should I buy?

I just went into a thrift store and got something dirt cheap... my junior year of high school I bought an entire setup for only $12 and it's a piece of shit, but still works to this day.

USB turntables are kind of a waste of money. I don't really know of too many people who use the USB element of them. And generally the USB ones aren't great players.

I speak from experience. I totally regret not getting a solid player and getting the useless USB thing instead.

But then you have to invest in a good amp and what not. So, you have to decide how snobby you want to be, really.

They have a laser turntable for 10k.

I'd like to be pretty snobby since for once in my life I can afford to be. Any suggestions, Brian?

http://www.elpj.com

I lied. Old model on sale for $7500. Sale ends sat

I don't really have any positive info, Mark. Just the little bit of negative experience with a USB one. I'm not posi enough to help :(

I know shit about record players. what don't you need to know? *knee slaps*

HUYUCK.

It's cool, Brian. Thanks for letting me know that the USB models are junk though.

Mark and Brian, I've heard okay things about the USB ones. I'm in the same boat mark; might be getting a new one. I like the USB feature though.. I want to rip a few rare vinyls.

I'd check eBay stores, mark. Only if you can't afford the laser one.

Why is that laser player so fucking expensive?

I believe it's the only company that makes it. It was invented by a Japanese guy.. I remember reading about it in some sort of science magazine a few years back.
Thing is supposed to work like magic.

My USB one is certainly reliable. But I don't really feel like I'm getting the best sound quality out of it.

Do they make "better" quality USB ones? Th moat expensive one I've seen at stores was like $150

spend $300 and get a technic 1200 mk2

I've seen other devices to place between a turntable and computer to rip songs easier and also get better sound quality as well as control. I may take that route.

Rev, what can you tell me about the Technic 1200 mk2 since I'm too lazy to research on my phone?

they are the best turntables around.

Well I'm sold.

oh man... they are really expensive now. $689 it looks like. i remember getting 2 of them for that price.

Only the $10k laser turntable is real.

technic 1200 MK5 or MK6's are the "newer" ones those I prefer the technic 1200 MK2. all around the same price. They are direct drive instead of belt driven. I still don't like belt driven. direct drive are so much better.

for once, you make sense. Belt drive sucks as do USB turntables. Get a direct drive and then get a go between thing. It'll go from RCA(red and white) to USB

After you get a turntable you have to get a stereo receiver. I have a Harman/ Kardon HK 3490 that's only for my records. Only Stereo Sound Is Real.

I have my dads record player from the 70's set up in my room. Mark, welfare records has a big old used electronics section with record players, power amps etc. might be a good place to hit up.

oh and you need a pre-amp. don't forget the pre amp. you can also some times get a stereo receiver with a pre-amp in it.

Tube pre-amp or suck a circuit.

Thank you all for the info/advice. This is going to be a project, haha.

elitist!

You should get one of those all in one turntable/cassete/cd/radio things in the fancy looking wooden case. They sell them at bed bath and beyond so you know theyre good. Plus i think theyre made in Germany, you know the Germans make good stuff.

Where's the beyond section?

hahahahaha. There is not much better than a 1970's pioneer or marantz reciever with a tube in it.

http://www.needledoctor.com/

this site has great deals, and a lot of them! You should look into the Pro-Ject Audio Debut series... round $300-400 but sound better than any top of the line of the mainstream brands. This company has impeccable reviews. I recommend getting a decent one if you care about the life of your records, especially if they're collectibles. Or you can pic up a used one with a familiar brand name, and as long as you can switch cartridges, (the needle part) you can get a good sound and not harm your petroleum. That needle doctor has a ton of them too. Reading reviews from audiophile sites are a good idea as well. Hope this helps.

the best bang for your buck in terms of getting good sound quality without spending a fortune, is to get a middle-of-the-road turntable ($200-$400) and a top of the line cartridge ($100+). the cartridge is the most important part of a turntable, by far.
i agree with rev and others, direct drive is better than belt drive...although i have a mid-grade belt drive technics that my old man bought in 1985, and it's still kickin with no problems, and no noticeable belt noise or speed variation.
i have a stanton rs500DJ cartridge and stylus on it...which though not great, was available at radio shack...and even that sad setup sounds better to my ears than a cd.
good luck and have fun dude.

I fully back neeedle doctor