Turntable Recommendations for under $500

[joe1515]

I am looking for a decent turntable. I have a Denon receiver mode number AVR-3808CI. Any recommendations would be appreciated!!!!

[un4gvn94538]

project debut III (non usb) had got some great reviews as an entery level audiophile turntable

[richteer]

Originally Posted by joe1515

I am looking for a decent turntable. I have a Denon receiver mode number AVR-3808CI. Any recommendations would be appreciated!!!!

The non-USB Pro-Ject Debut III is worth a look, as is the entry level Rega 25. The Rega comes with the RB301 tonearm, which (if it's anything like its predecessor, the RB300) is a great arm for the price.

Don't forget to get a decent cartridge. At the price you're considering, you should budget about $300 to $400 for the 'table & arm, and $100 to $200 for a cartridge. You're after a moving magnet (MM) type, or high output moving coil (MC). MCs tend to be better, but in your budget I think the choice is quite limited so MM is probably the way to go.

Cartridge brands I'd recommend include Audio Technica, Sumiko, and Ortophon, but there are other good ones out there.

Fair warning: if a you have a sizeable record collection, you might find your desire to spend lots of money on a vinyl front end increasing. This is perfectly normal, but there's no cure. :-)

Edit: Another brand that slipped my mind is Music Hall.

[btf1980]

I would also recommend the Project Debut III. It really is a solid all around entry level performer at an exceptional price. It comes with an Ortofon OM-5E cartridge already mounted, so set-up should be a breeze for anyone. If you get the debut III, I recommend you get a Pro-ject speedbox so you won't have to remove the platter to change the speed of the record.

I have to say I love this TT (debut III) quite a bit. I've had many other tables, at all pricepoints and sure many were better, but they were also anywhere from 3 to 10 times the price. Certainly not 10 times the performance. I think the debut is quite a steal. I actually was away from vinyl for a few years. My last turntable was a Basis Audio 1400 signature edition. Got back into it with a Debut III, and i'm quite happy with it. I got the red one...looks delicious.

[airkitty]

You should consider the Thorens brand as well as the ones listed above. I have enjoyed their model TD-280 for nearly twenty years with no problems (other than the cat eating the power wire). The table sounds wonderful and seems bullet proof. The Sumiko cartridges are wonderful. Good luck with your shopping and let us know what you end up buying.
Mark

[joe1515]

Ok so I have been doing a lot of research and I have the vinyl bug. I narrowed down my choices (I think) to Pro-Ject or Rega.

Am I better off purchasing the Pro-Ject Debut III with the speedbox and upgrading the cartridge to a sumiko pearl for around $600 or looking for a better table without the accessiories? I was also looking at the pro-ject expression III it retails for $699.

Thanks for all your help so far!!!

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by joe1515

Ok so I have been doing a lot of research and I have the vinyl bug. I narrowed down my choices (I think) to Pro-Ject or Rega.

Am I better off purchasing the Pro-Ject Debut III with the speedbox and upgrading the cartridge to a sumiko pearl for around $600 or looking for a better table without the accessiories? I was also looking at the pro-ject expression III it retails for $699.

Thanks for all your help so far!!!

If you're willing to spend $700 for a TT plus the additional costs of a speedbox, perhaps you should look into getting the Pro-ject RM6.1. It's $999, but it comes with a speedbox, so you are only spending about $140 more than you intended to spend.

If you do get the Debut III, then I don't see the point in switching out the Ortofon cartridge for the Pearl, not worth it. I would personally get the Sumiko Blue Point No 2. It's the sweet spot in terms of price to performance ratio.

[Lucy Diamond]

www.needledoctor.com bebe!!!