Turntable purchase advice.

[Lukka]

Hello gentleman,


I'm in the following situation, I've bought a Cambridge Audio SR10 a week ago as an impulse purchase, I had no plans to build a system, I simply stumbled upon it in a shop where I was selling an electric bike, saw it and bought it, as I knew how it sounds from a friend who had one 10+ years ago. This week I managed to source a pair of ELAC FS 207 Anniversary Edition and I want my 1st source to be a turntable which I'm not comfortable buying second hand cause I'm new to them and I'm not sure what to look for. Initially I wanted to buy a Sony PS-LX310BT for around 240 EUR, but I've read a bunch of reviews and decided to up the budget to 400-500 EUR to get a better quality entry level one. Now I have a bunch of options in this price range but I'm not sure what to get, pros and cons, etc.. So my question is, what would be the best option from the list below, considering my system and my noobiness.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO 2 -> EUR 400
ProJect RPM 1 Carbon n/c -> EUR 480
Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono -> EUR 500
Pro-Ject Debut Pro Satin White -> EUR 560
Pro-Ject RPM 3 Carbon -> EUR 600
Kestrel Audio KT-100 -> EUR 500
Kestrel Audio KT-50 Phono -> EUR 400
Edwards Audio TT 5 -> EUR 600 (I don't really wanna spend that much, but if it's that amazing I'll consider it)
Edwards Audio TT 4 -> EUR 440
Edwards Audio TT 2.2 -> EUR 340
Edwards Audio TT 1.2 -> EUR 300
Edwards Audio TT1 MK2 -> EUR 390 (EA202 tonearm, EA Blue Belt, ceramic bearing, factory fitted TALK Zephyr C100 cartridge)
JBL Spinner BT -> EUR 360
Yamaha MusicCast VINYL 500 -> EUR 600
Yamaha TT-S 303 -> EUR 400
Lenco L-455 -> EUR 440
Teac TN-4D-SE -> EUR 580
Teac TN-3B-SE -> EUR 380
Dual CS 418 -> EUR 370
Rega RP1 basic -> EUR 260
Rega Planar 1 basic -> EUR 340
Rega Planar 2 basic -> EUR 560
Rega Queen -> EUR 560

Thanks!

edit: I've added a couple I forgot about

 

[twitch]

Guess I'll confuse you even more, here's one I'll add to the list .............

RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

Experience unparalleled vinyl playback with the Fluance Reference High Fidelity Turntable. Meticulously engineered for the discerning vinyl listener to reproduce audio recordings exactly as the musician intended.

www.fluance.com

 

[cloudhead]

In terms of value for money in that price range, I'd take a look at a Rega RP-1, if what you're optimizing for is mainly sound quality. They are really minimalistic turntables that focus on sound, and are usually highly rated. Also keep in mind the cost of the cartridge which is not always included and a big contributor to sound quality.

 

[Lukka]

Guess I'll confuse you even more, here's one I'll add to the list .............

RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

Experience unparalleled vinyl playback with the Fluance Reference High Fidelity Turntable. Meticulously engineered for the discerning vinyl listener to reproduce audio recordings exactly as the musician intended.

www.fluance.com

Hey, thanks for that but there's no one selling Fluance equipment in my country (Romania).

 

[Lukka]

In terms of value for money in that price range, I'd take a look at a Rega RP-1, if what you're optimizing for is mainly sound quality. They are really minimalistic turntables that focus on sound, and are usually highly rated. Also keep in mind the cost of the cartridge which is not always included and a big contributor to sound quality.

Thanks, until you mentioned I didn't find any Rega TTs here, because none of the big shops sell them, but I've found them sold by a small shop, which sells very many versions of both the RP1 and the Planar 1 (and also the Planar 2). I've added them to the list.

Mainly, I'm interested in the best possible value for money and something that would go well with my setup.

 

[Don_Camillo]

With this kind of a limited budget you´d better go 2nd hand - for round about €200 you´ll get a Thorens TD-160 or similar Thorens model what´s the beginning of middle class. For same money you can also find a Hitachi HT-500 what belongs to the upper end of the middle class/ entry level of top class. Also Technics SL-D2 or Q-2 come to mind what will beat any toda made turntable up to 2,5k€

 

[Lukka]

With this kind of a limited budget you´d better go 2nd hand - for round about €200 you´ll get a Thorens TD-160 or similar Thorens model what´s the beginning of middle class. For same money you can also find a Hitachi HT-500 what belongs to the upper end of the middle class/ entry level of top class. Also Technics SL-D2 or Q-2 come to mind what will beat any toda made turntable up to 2,5k€

Thanks for the reply, I'm not comfortable buying a second hand TT at this point and among the options you recommend the only two I could find locally cost around EUR 800 (Technics SL-D2 and Thorens TD-160).

 

[Lukka]

This thread can be closed, I bought a Rega Planar 3 in the end. Thanks everyone.

 

[treitz3]

Per author request, this thread will now be closed.

Tom