Turntable Conundrum!

[Oakville Dave]

I'm looking to put together a nice home system, piece by piece over the next while - it may take me several years to complete. Currently I have $300 and an old Pioneer PL200 turntable that works fine but needs a new cartridge. Do I buy a new turntable or do I have the PL200 overhauled and by the best cartridge I can, like a Grado Black or perhaps a Blue? What option will give me the best sound?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I don't know much about tt, but for your last question i would recommend a cd player and decent speakers

 

[slipperybidness]

I'm looking to put together a nice home system, piece by piece over the next while - it may take me several years to complete. Currently I have $300 and an old Pioneer PL200 turntable that works fine but needs a new cartridge. Do I buy a new turntable or do I have the PL200 overhauled and by the best cartridge I can, like a Grado Black or perhaps a Blue? What option will give me the best sound?

Kind of tough to say with the little info that you have provided.

What needs to be "overhauled" on that TT?

I agree with BSA, if you want "the best sound", then CD would be better than TT.

Personally, with the little info you provided, if I were in your shoes I would buy a nice new cart for the existing TT and try it out. You may be satisfied with the sound and your job is done. If not, then you already have a nice cart for when you do upgrade to a better TT.

As far as carts go, I just don't see spending more than about $100 on a cart.

I can vouch for either of these. These are typically considered some of the best for the $. You have to spend more than double to really get something better.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006I5SB/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1HG08ZEAX2T4Q&coliid=ID9LM4ZI1456

http://www.amazon.com/Ortofon-2M-Red-Phono-Cartridge/dp/B000WMCEKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1423233019&sr=1-1&keywords=2m+red

 

[3db]

Like slipperybidness already mentioned, there is not enough information to go either way.

I can vouch for the Ortofon 2M Red as I use this on a ProJect Xpresssion III

 

[Seth=L]

The PL200 doesn't exactly have the pedigree to be worth dumping a lot of money into. I'd spend no more than $50 getting a new cart for it.

I'd pick a sturdier platform for doing upgrades such as that. For example if you can pick up a used Sony PS-X6 for about $200 and put a cart on it.

 

[bikdav]

If the turntable is doing what you need it to do, just buy a new cartridge. The Grado Black sounds like a good candidate (you DON'T need to spend $200 on a cartridge).

 

[afterlife2]

I third the Ortofon 2M Red. I had the shure M97 which is good, but the 2M is way better. Another good cart is the Audio Technica AT120ET or ATN-112EP.

 

[highfigh]

I'm looking to put together a nice home system, piece by piece over the next while - it may take me several years to complete. Currently I have $300 and an old Pioneer PL200 turntable that works fine but needs a new cartridge. Do I buy a new turntable or do I have the PL200 overhauled and by the best cartridge I can, like a Grado Black or perhaps a Blue? What option will give me the best sound?

The PL200 doesn't exactly have the pedigree to be worth dumping a lot of money into. I'd spend no more than $50 getting a new cart for it.

I'd pick a sturdier platform for doing upgrades such as that. For example if you can pick up a used Sony PS-X6 for about $200 and put a cart on it.

You don't like the fully automatic PS-X7?

 

[Seth=L]

I've not had experience with that model. I understand it has a carbon fiber tone arm as well. I'm guessing it costs more and is less common.

 

[highfigh]

The PL-200 isn't a bad turntable, but that "family" of turntables tended to pass a bit more noise from the base to the platter than would be preferred. If you listen at a moderate level, I wouldn't worry about it. Audio Technica was the go-to brand when I worked at a stereo store that was a big Pioneer and Sony dealer- the AT-120, AT125LC and their MicroLine series were excellent and very popular. These three can still be found and AT shows replacement styli as being available.