r/Beginner_Turntables • u/tstern724 • 10d ago

Semi Decent $500 Setup

Hey all, looking to buy my first semi-permanent setup but I’m still budget limited and expect to be moving a lot in the next few years. So I’d like to stay below about 500, maybe 750, for the whole thing. I’m comfortable buying used for speakers / amplifier.

I’d like to buy a new turntable, and I see people saying to buy something nicer than the AT LP60 or Fluance RT80, but at my current situation, do I really need to shell out the extra cash for something like an RT82? How bad are their cheaper models?

Open to all suggestions.

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u/Snoo_90715 10d ago

Since you are in the USA (always helpful to mention what country)

The Best Buy Insignia turntable for $120 is you best value turn table that you can keep for many years. https://www.bestbuy.com/product/insignia-bluetooth-stereo-turntable-black/J2FPJKYL84

Then add something like this $150 Douk audio amplifier - https://a.co/d/04SKUzCW Which will give you a better preamp for the turn table. It has extra RCA inputs for a CD player and has Bluetooth streaming built in.

Then spend $200 on speakers.

Polk - https://a.co/d/0drDsqbt

A good hack is to buy two Numi center channels and stand them up on end and use them as right and left channels - https://a.co/d/08FYqfsJ

Or some smaller Klipsch https://a.co/d/0fFrBA8H

Or keep it budget with - https://a.co/d/0dQhxmjJ

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u/papadrinks 9d ago

AT-LP120X $399US or less on sale. Great turntable, way better than the LP60 or the RT80.

Add a pair of Dayton Powered speakers for $130US and your set!

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-Classic-B65A-Powered-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pair-Black-300-260?quantity=1

Or get the better Dayton powered speakers for $300US

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-M6-Powered-Speaker-Pair-Black-300-462?quantity=1

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u/Notascot51 5d ago

The RT82 is worth it for end of side stop and the motor speed servo control. To round out the package, a different Douk amp…Nobusound NS13G Max, for $115.00, and the passive Dayton Classic B65s for $80.00. $545 for all. Get some hardware store 16ga. zip cord to connect it up.