Entry-level Turntable suggestions!

[Johnny Vinyl]

As somewhat of the resident vinyl-lover on this site I receive quite a few PM's asking about how to get into vinyl. I try to answer each inquiry with as much thought and consideration for the question as possible, and I hope I have answered them with some information that was of benefit.

Most of the questions I am asked are about Turntables and what to buy, so I've compiled a short list here with some recommendations. All of these tables are from manufacturers that have been around for a very long time and their products are most definitely worthy of consideration. They are also fairly easy to obtain from your local high-end audio dealer or an ID company.

Turntables from $300 - $499
Marantz TT-42 - $329
Denon DP-300F - $329
Pro-ject Debut III (Black) - $349
Pro-ject Debut III (other colours) - $379
Rega P1 - $395
Music Hall MMF-2.1 - $449
Thorens TD158 - $449
Pro-ject RM 1.3 - $499

All of these include the tonearm and a cartridge

Turntables from $500 - $999
Rega P2 - $545
Thorens TD170 - $559
Technics SL-1200xx - $600+
Thorens TD190 - $639
Denon DP-500M - $699
Pro-ject Xpression III - $699
Sota Moonbeam - $700 (no cartridge)
Music Hall MMF 5.1 - $875
Thorens TD235 - $875
Rega P3-24 - $895 (no cartridge)
Thorens TD240 - $935
Pro-ject RM 5 SE - $999

This list is by no means complete, but I think the choices shown represent excellent value and performance for your dollar. Here is a list of some ID companies that carry the tables above.

Acoustic Sounds
Elusive Disc
Jerry Raskin's Needle Doctor
Music Direct
Soundstage Direct


IMPORTANT: Your AVR, Receiver, Integrated Amp or Preamp must have a PHONO INPUT to accommodate these turntables. If it doesn't, then you will need to purchase a separate Phone Preamp (Phono Stage). Add between $100-$200 for a basic entry-level one, although they can be had for less.

USB Turntables
While I personally do not recommend these tables if one really wants to step into the world of vinyl playback, there is obviously some demand for them.

Stanton T.55 USB - $199
Audio-Technica AT-LP2D-USB - $199.95
Music Hall USB-1 - $249
Denon DP-200 USB - $250
Audio-Technica LP120-USB - $299
Stanton T.92 USB - $299

John