Well - I didn't see anything specific on TT recommendations. I'm looking for a basic model that does 1 thing and does it well - Play LPs. Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm not opposed to the used market but I've never dealt with TT's so "Needs a little TLC" is out of the question for me.
All this talk of cartridges and needles and on and on ... I have no idea what all these parts are for (yes, I'm that young and that new) or where to go shopping. Just really need an out of the box solution I can plug in and go.
If it is plug and go you want, then turntables are not for you. You need to do some homework. All turntables, yes, right out of the box, need careful obsessional set up. Choice of the cartridge arm combination is also important.
These are the reasons for owning a turntable:-
So what are the reasons to have a turntable.
1). You already have a large LP collection.
2). You want to collect vintage LPs with music that is not, and never likely to be transferred to CD
3). You like playing LPs
4) You run a commercial archiving service.
5). Your choice in music contains a lot of items where the mix and post production work is really screwed up in CD and the LP is generally better.
Here is part of a post I did about a member having miss tracking issues. This post addresses the importance of careful turntable set up.
When a stylus is thrown out of the groove, (severe misstracking), the problem is usually one, or more often a combination of the following.
1). Inadequate stylus force. Best tracking and least record wear is obtained with a tracking force at the upper end of the cartridge manufacturers recommended range.
2). Excessively worn stylus.
3). Mismatch of cartridge weight, compliance and effective tone arm mass, so that the cartridge tone arm resonance is out of the optimal range.
4). Too low a cartridge compliance for the grooves being tracked.
5). Incorrect stylus overhang for minimum tracking error.
6). Insufficient attention to leveling of the turntable.
7). Improper skating force adjustment.
Now that turntables are making a comeback, we a going to see an epidemic of all the ills for which LP reproduction was known for in its hey day.
As I have stated before, turntables unlike digital equipment have greater degrees of improvement as you move up the price scale.
Loud passages with high dynamic and a lot of bass are hard to track.
This used to be particularly true in the classical arena where high dynamics and deep bass including organ pedals on the fortissimos used to cause no end of grief for budget turntables. So much so that there were regular complaints along the lines of yours. Fortunately the major, and minor labels for that matter, turned a deaf ear to the complaints, and mastered to the likes of the high end.
Shure used to issue an audio obstacle course LP. This was designed to sort the wheat from the chaff, and that it did. I still have my copy.
It is interesting that vinyl is making a minimal comeback in the classical arena.
So I suggest your first step is to check the parameters I listed above, and correct any deviations from optimal adjustment.
The other issue is that turntables need connecting to a high gain input with RIAA compensation. If your equipment does not have such an input, you will also need a phono preamp.
If you still think a turntable is a good fit for you, then please post back, with a details of your equipment, musical tastes and a budget.
The best place for your turntable needs, is
The Needle Doctor. They have good gear for all budgets. Their staff are knowledgeable and helpful and can provide good guidance to the novice.
