Beginnier Turntable

[koolkeyZ865]

After getting into audiophile equipment and scouring the i̶n̶t̶e̶r̶n̶e̶t̶ torrent sites for vinyl rips i've decided that it would be good to invest in some non-audiophile grade turntables, of course! I have two in mind, the Audio Technica LP-60 and Numark TTUSB. While both are sadly belt driven (I'm on a massive budget) their internal preamps are attractive and the Numark's adjustable weight is nice (even though its lack of a phono setting is what is driving me away from it). I would go for an Orbit but because I don't want to spend an extra $100 at the moment, I'm stuck with the two I just mentioned.

Does anyone on here have experience with any of the turntables I mentioned? Which one is better and are they good investments?

[KovalainenFanBoy]

I'd say try searching for vintage (see: old) turntables from flea markets, yard sales, craigslist, relatives and friends, etc. etc. - first. You never know what you might find; you might possibly end up getting a way better turntable than those you mention for the same or an even lower price. The downside is the inconvienence, of course.

[Amen Warrior]

Yeah go second hand. You'll get a much better machine for much less money. 80s ish Japanese. A few have become fashionable amongst audiophile types so have become unaffordable for normal people, don't bother with them. Have fun :)

[koolkeyZ865]

Grabbed up a brand new Pioneer PL-514 for about $100. The shit you find on Craigslist.

[joshuatxuk]

Yeah go second hand. You'll get a much better machine for much less money. 80s ish Japanese. A few have become fashionable amongst audiophile types so have become unaffordable for normal people, don't bother with them. Have fun :)

 

 

Grabbed up a brand new Pioneer PL-514 for about $100. The shit you find on Craigslist.

 

Nice.

I lucked out years ago, had a Technics BL-500 or something similar - forget the exact model #. Got it for $15 w/ manual and all at a thift store. Sold it to a metal head for $125. If I had kept it I would probably be in debt and divorced and living in a hoarder situation with vinyl everywhere in some shitty apartment.

[Joyrex]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/numo/

 

 

 

link to video: youtu.be/q2gRw6YB1iQ

The back story: After finding 4 of the large disc pieces (Brick, Round Corner 10 x 10 with Slope 33 Edge) it came to me that building a larger Technics would totally be possible. The next important details I had to consider were the Pop-up lamp, Pitch Slider and the 'hole' for storing the 45 spindle. I had noticed that Cole Blaq had posted a WIP back in April of 2013 of a full-size Tone Arm, this also inspired me to complete my version.

It took a long time to get the proportions close enough to the real thing and when I finally got around to building the first prototype I realised it was going to be almost a perfect half-size scale model. The real machines generally come in two colours, silver or black (1200s and 1210s respectively). Since it was going to be difficult utilising Light Bluish Grey for the metal elements and for the body, I chose the decidedly Legoish colour of Red for the 1200 and Dark Bluish Grey for the 1210.

A lot of time was spent then coming up with a solution for the Pitch Sliders and R&D for the Faders on the DJ Mixer that was clearly necessary for the complete DJ Setup. There are only two custom chromed pieces used, the spindles: 58176. I also had to bite the bullet and get custom transparent sticker sheets professionally printed. I designed them myself and, yes it was not at all easy to match up the angle of the slope and the repeating pattern for the all important platter dots ! It just had to be done.

By September 2015 two Turntables and the Mixer were ready to be exhibited at the SteineWAHN convention in Berlin. Complete with 9v Train controlled spinning platter and "working" VU meter in the Mixer.

 

Pretty amazing!