Good turntables

[pentium]

Looks like I am once again searching for a new record player.
I had my setup at a dance and just pure luck that during the setup some kid thinks it's like a DJ's turntable and breaks the needle on it!
Now I have a stack of records and nothing to play them on. What would you suggest I look for since my last one can't get a new needle for as there is no markings on it other than "Sears Professional Series"?

[zandrax]

Re: Good turntables

I'm a tnt-audio mailing list subscriber: the Project Debut is usually named as a good entry-level turntable, shipped with a decent cartidge. DecibelHifi seems to be the Australian importer.
Otherwise you can look for the evergreen Technics SL1200, still produced nowadays. There is a tnt's review too.
There are other turntable available, but most of them are exotic and expensive products. I can't help you more [I rarely use an old Dual turntable, I mostly listen to cds], but other subscribers are much better informed, so I encourage you in joining the list.

Zandrax

[willawake]

Re: Good turntables

i would second the SL1200 or SL1210. should be easy to pick up secondhand.

[bgavin]

Re: Good turntables

I have owned the SL-1500 for the last two thousand years or so.

Works great, except it needs a speed pot. Hard to dial in the precise control.

What is a good quality cartridge for this table, without going to audiophile extremes?

[pentium]

Re: Good turntables

Wow those are not half bad.
Thanks guys.

[Krankshaft]

Re: Good turntables

Works great, except it needs a speed pot. Hard to dial in the precise control.

Try giving the pot a shot of contact cleaner then move it back and fourth.

I have never needed to replace a pot yet contact cleaner has always brought them back.

I use this stuff:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

It removes the deposits that form on the traces that cause erratic operation.

I only buy from Ratshack if I run out and don't have the time to order it cheaper elsewhere.

The only way a pot will be beyond the point of no return is if the resistive traces that the wiper (think of it as a metal squeege that runs over the resistive traces that is connected to the knob) runs over are worn off the wafer (the mini PCB that the resistive traces are on).

But that could only happen if the pot had real heavy use.

[kc8adu]

Re: Good turntables

+1 on deoxit.
if deoxit wont fix it it needs replacement.

[bgavin]

Re: Good turntables

I have both Fader Lub and De-Oxit (same mfg).

I have a few other scratch pots on other devices, but only used Fader Lube on them (without success). The instructions lead me to believe that Deoxit is more for contacts, not pots with wipers.

However, if Deoxit can be used on these pots, I will give it a try.

Q: apply Fader Lube after Deoxit?

[Krankshaft]

Re: Good turntables

I have both Fader Lub and De-Oxit (same mfg).

I have a few other scratch pots on other devices, but only used Fader Lube on them (without success).

Q: apply Fader Lube after Deoxit?

If by Fader Lube you mean this:

http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f

Then from what I've read it's more of a lubricant / preservative (for good contacts) and not a contact cleaner (for contacts that have deposits on them).

After the contacts are clean you can spray on the Fader Lube.

I personally first spray the Deoxit in the Red Can first then move the pot back and fourth which cleans the contacts.

Then I spray the preservative in the Gold can shortly after again moving the pot back and fourth. If you have the Gold use it if not use the Fader Lube.

Be sure to install the straw onto the can and spray directly into the pot.

I don't know if your turntable uses a slider pot or a rotating one but you need to get the cleaner directly onto the wafer then move the pot back and forth so that the wiper spreads the cleaner and scrapes off the deposits.

Look for an opening in the casing covering the innars of the pot to spray in if you can't find one and you are spraying a rotational pot position the pot straight up and spray around the shaft the cleaner will seep through the gap there.

If your working with a slider just spray directly into the crevice of where the slider slides.

[hardwareguy]

Re: Good turntables

A lot of "audiophile" tables can't touch the Technics SL12xx.....it's one of the world's best. It's VERY stable with the servo system it has.

It was originally NOT a DJ scratch toy although it's famous for being one.....it was originally for playing records on fancy home stereos and playing records in radio station studios until the end of time (or until CD came out...lol). It's not only though as hell but it's a serious piece of HiFi gear too.

[willawake]

Re: Good turntables

heavy as hell also

they would of course survive use at parties. the thing that seems to get broken though is the clip that secures the arm when it is not being used. and of course the expensive stylus when some idiot drops the needle on those metal bumps / speed indicator around the platter lol

direct drive is cool

[linuxguru]

Re: Good turntables

Yup, I broke the clip as well as the plexiglass cover near the hinge mount - not serious problems. The turntable mat also tends to dry out and warp in really hot climates.

There used to be a wide variety of fairly inexpensive Audio-Technica MC cartridges available for it - I bought a spare and ended up never having to replace the original.

[starfury1]

Re: Good turntables

Actually what is the stylus situation these days

I know there were some great turntables and cartridges
but they aren't worth a squirt if cant get a stylus for them, well the cartridges really

I miss my turntable
really got to get another

Cheers

[Scenic]

Re: Good turntables

i've got a Technics SL-Q2 here... quartz controlled direct drive TT
solid as a rock.. and everything's just perfect (for me)...



Q2 -> half-automatic
Q3 -> full-automatic
D2 -> same as Q2 AFAIK but not quartz controlled (half automatic)

edit: very heavy IMHO

edit2: for more pics: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=160219796880

edit3: weight: a bit more than 7 kg

[starfury1]

Re: Good turntables

I am now sorry I didn't go searching in the late 80/90s for one ...the older quality stuff now is probably tending to gain in value as it becomes harder to find.

There was heaps around then

Oh well

[Paul S]

Re: Good turntables

I need a turntable, so I guess that I should get a good one. I see, here in the states, that NewEgg.com has the SL-1210M5G

It doesn't seem to come with a cartridge, and NewEgg doesn't carry a high quality one. What do you guys recommend as a good cartridge, and maybe places to purchase them from?

[Paul S]

Re: Good turntables

I did find a place with a selection of cartridges.

http://www.jr.com/JRSectionView.proc...r_Name&N=27649

Are any of these any good? What are the specs that I should be looking for?

[willawake]

Re: Good turntables

http://www.needledoctor.com/

heres another one with more. i used to buy stanton or ortofon but dj type ones. they are good brands though.

dunno if you will really need the digital pitch control of that technics. its really for djs. improved tracking sounds good but even the 1200 was fine, anyway i would probably pay the $100 more for the blue lights

[starfury1]

Re: Good turntables

yeah they are defiantly not cheap
thanks guys for the feedback and links

not much showing on ebay AU...not much on anything these days...maybe they jack their seller prices up dont know.

Cheers

[linuxguru]

Re: Good turntables

The prices for Audio-Technica cartridges and stylii aren't too bad yet, but the moving-coil types seem to have become a bit exorbitant. I think the moving-magnet types are fine in practice - I can't hear an audible difference actually. I should probably hoard a few stylii shortly.