Hello, looking for a turntable recommendation for my system.

[Take Five]

I have an Onkyo TX-NR636 receiver powering 6 Polk Audio RTi 6 speakers with a Polk Audio subwoofer of the same series, typical 6.1 setup.

I have a turntable as part of the system but plan on giving it to my son as he is wanting to start a vinyl collection and I will use this opportunity to upgrade what I have. I have a collection of Jazz albums dating from the early 50's to the early 70's that he will inherit.
It has been decades since I have been involved in the audiophile world and know things have changed considerably during my absence.

Doing some research I found this thread and discovered my Onkyo may present some problems due to phono amp performance. However I am not of the mind to replace an otherwise well performing unit, and frankly am too dang old to move all the furniture required.

So, with the concern of my phono input on my amp perhaps being subpar, what turntable and stylus would be a good match to offset the limitations of the amp? I do have spare audio input on the Onkyo.

 

[TLS Guy]

I have an Onkyo TX-NR636 receiver powering 6 Polk Audio RTi 6 speakers with a Polk Audio subwoofer of the same series, typical 6.1 setup.

I have a turntable as part of the system but plan on giving it to my son as he is wanting to start a vinyl collection and I will use this opportunity to upgrade what I have. I have a collection of Jazz albums dating from the early 50's to the early 70's that he will inherit.
It has been decades since I have been involved in the audiophile world and know things have changed considerably during my absence.

Doing some research I found this thread and discovered my Onkyo may present some problems due to phono amp performance. However I am not of the mind to replace an otherwise well performing unit, and frankly am too dang old to move all the furniture required.

So, with the concern of my phono input on my amp perhaps being subpar, what turntable and stylus would be a good match to offset the limitations of the amp? I do have spare audio input on the Onkyo.

First of all, I doubt your phono input is sub par. An RIAA input is a simple circuit and actually hard to screw up. There is a bunch of audiophoolery concerning phono inputs. Unless you are going to buy a really exotic turntable your Onkyo will be fine.

I would buy a totally manual turntable with a decent cartridge within your budget. You don't want your cartridge having to drag unnecessary hardware as it moves across the record.

Actually phono technology has not really improved significantly since the heyday of the LP. There were good and bad turntables back then as now.

My three main turntables are sixty or more years old, although the arms and cartridges are somewhat newer by 20 years. People actually pay thousands of dollars on eBay for the turntables I regularly use.

What is your budget for turntable and cartridge?

 

[Take Five]

Well, the last turntable I purchased was a Technics SL-5 Linear Tracking unit. I really liked the way it sounded with the system I had then. That TT got passed on to my daughter.
I'm thinking around $400.00, is that realistic?

 

[TLS Guy]

Well, the last turntable I purchased was a Technics SL-5 Linear Tracking unit. I really liked the way it sounded with the system I had then. That TT got passed on to my daughter.
I'm thinking around $400.00, is that realistic?

Yes.

 

[Cos]

U-Turn Audio would be in your price point, and my co-worker has nothing but positive things to say about it.

Pro-Ject Carbon Evo makes nice entry level turn tables, but for some reason they mark it up another $100 every year and what was $399 at launch is now $599. I have two of them.

 

[TLS Guy]

Well, the last turntable I purchased was a Technics SL-5 Linear Tracking unit. I really liked the way it sounded with the system I had then. That TT got passed on to my daughter.
I'm thinking around $400.00, is that realistic?

In your price range I would recommend this Fluance turntable.

You can upgrade to the Ortofon Blue cartridge and only slightly exceed your $400 target. That upgrade would be very worthwhile.

The problem with the U-turns in your price range is that they have no arm lift. You really don't want a turntable without a lift as it invites cartridge and record damage.

 

[Squishman]

I have a Pro-Ject Carbon Evo. Maybe it's considered entry level, but that doesn't make sense to me. Dollars to doughnuts, it sounds the same as a tt costing $1000 more. I have a pretty cool spring-loaded auto-lift called Q-Up. It's on Amazon for $50 and well worth it to me. Once you get it set, it is very reliable to lift at the right spot every time.

 

[Tankini]

Edit: Deleted my comment.
Cheers.

 

[TLS Guy]

Let's take into account you Know what you want in a TT. Funds, TT isn't any where close to sound quality of CD or even streaming. Movie DVD/Blu-Ray offer much better sound quality.

Analog play back with Vinyl is an option for home audio. Vinyl last, when care is taken. Outside of "wanting" a TT which can get very expensive as TSL Guy stated. It is a very outdated technology.

Results of a cheap DVD player used in place of a TT + streaming or even YouTube are miles ahead of Vinyl. TT are heavy, big, take up space.

Vinyl LP's are big, heavy take up Lots of space area to store. Cleaning kits are needed for dust, static, not to mention as any needle drags no matter how lite one tracks Vinyl wears down the first time played.

Take a look at @Squishman post of a TT. Big blue vinyl lp. Nice looking isn't it. Shiny! Spend funds on Sound quality first! TT are the definition of diminishing returns.

As stated an option, your setup your money. Cheers!

Yes, but the OP has a vintage vinyl collection he still wants to play. I do also and properly set up and carefully looked after turntables can sound very good indeed. I agree though that in the digital age extra cost on the unit is very much diminishing returns. However with turntables increased expense on equipment usually provides significant returns. However, that means really knowing how to choose turntable, arm and cartridge and being able to build it out. I could play you my turntables with discs in immaculate condition and you would not tell it from the best of digital audio. The problem is that it is not easy to do, and a lot of disc had blemishes from the start.

 

[Eppie]

I also have a Project Carbon Evo that I have been happy with. It came with the Ortofon Red cartridge but you can upgrade to Blue just by changing the stylus (they use the same cartridge body). I like to have auto-lift at the end so also added a lift device but opted for a much fancier Tru-Lift one. It's easy to spend more than intended. Any of the Fluance, U-Turn and Project tables are good value.

 

[Tankini]

Yes, but the OP has a vintage vinyl collection he still wants to play. I do also and properly set up and carefully looked after turntables can sound very good indeed. I agree though that in the digital age extra cost on the unit is very much diminishing returns. However with turntables increased expense on equipment usually provides significant returns. However, that means really knowing how to choose turntable, arm and cartridge and being able to build it out. I could play you my turntables with discs in immaculate condition and you would not tell it from the best of digital audio. The problem is that it is not easy to do, and a lot of disc had blemishes from the start.

Can not state you post isn't appliable. Audio being subjective to begin with. Speaking for myself, your TT's are Not bottom or even mid-entry level TT's. Your cartridges alone are 1k or more. I have 70's LP'S still in very good condition. My TT isn't anywhere close to what's in your setup. But I do spin once or a few times now and than. When you do post up photos of your setup. Envy comes to mind.

 

[davidscott]

U-Turn Audio would be in your price point, and my co-worker has nothing but positive things to say about it.

Pro-Ject Carbon Evo makes nice entry level turn tables, but for some reason they mark it up another $100 every year and what was $399 at launch is now $599. I have two of them.

Agreed on U-turn. You can customize one pretty much anyway you want. If I was buying new, I would definitely check out their website.

 

[Mikado463]

Also keep in mind that once you inherit those Lp's odds are they will need a good cleaning to give you a decent amount of sonic satisfaction. So be sure to budget for cleaning supplies, etc.

 

[TLS Guy]

Also keep in mind that once you inherit those Lp's odds are they will need a good cleaning to give you a decent amount of sonic satisfaction. So be sure to budget for cleaning supplies, etc.

Do not wet clean. That just moves dirt deeper in the grooves. The only way to wet clean is with a powerful pro cleaner.

Playing with the Cecil E. Watts dust Bug gets the dirt from deep in the groove. I have used the Dust Bug for all playings since it was introduced back in the very early sixties. I have never wet cleaned.

 

[Cos]

When I purchased my second Pro-Ject Carbon Evo turntable, I purchased open box from Audio Advice, saved about a $100.00, so worth checking periodically and it was pristine.

 

[Squishman]

When I purchased my second Pro-Ject Carbon Evo turntable, I purchased open box from Audio Advice, saved about a $100.00, so worth checking periodically and it was pristine.

I did that too with Crutchfield. It came in very rough shape, so bad it was unuseable. I think it was dropped. Crutchfield sent me a brand new one without charging me more. They are a class act.
I don't recommend an open box. For one thing, you don't know what that cartridge has been through. I dodged a bullet. I don't know what I was thinking with that original order!

 

[Cos]

I did that too with Crutchfield. It came in very rough shape, so bad it was unuseable. I think it was dropped. Crutchfield sent me a brand new one without charging me more. They are a class act.
I don't recommend an open box. For one thing, you don't know what that cartridge has been through. I dodged a bullet. I don't know what I was thinking with that original order!

It can be a gamble, in my case I wasn't worried as much about the cartridge, because I upgraded to blue. That being said, mine was a demo and I had success, the good thing is that both of those etailers have excellent customer service / return policies. In your case it also worked out in the end.