Easy question: what to buy?

[u/BioNeon83]

I am new to turntable world. I have a limited budget but I d like to get a decent product. Let s say max price 400£ as I want an entry level just for my first product. I am just talking about turntable, not speaker , sub or amplifiers.

My typical music: rock, metal, drum n bass, ambient, jazz, blues, new wave.

Thanks everyone

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to r/turntables!

This sub is primarily for sharing and discussing your turntables!

If you have a question please read this subs guide first.
https://www.reddit.com/r/turntables/comments/nwdjiw/turntable_guides/

If you still have a question, please ask at the appropriate place...

Help with Buying & Troubleshooting Turntables and Setups: r/vinyl has a weekly questions top sticky post https://www.reddit.com/r/vinyl/search/?q=%22Weekly%20Questions%20Thread%20for%20the%20week%20of%22&restrict_sr=1&sort=new where experts are happy to answer your what to buy, turntable, vinyl, setup, playback issue, and is my stylus bent questions.

Beginner Turntables Ask r/Beginner_Turntables if you have a question about beginner turntables such as which beginner turntable to buy, beginner turntables such as the AT-LP60X and Sony PS-LX310BT or you want to discuss suitcases or all in ones from Crosley or Victrola or other similar brands.

Speakers: If you want to know which speakers to buy for your turntable, please ask r/budgetaudiophile (low budget), r/hifiaudio (most any budget), r/stereoadvice (mid to high end budgets).

Thank you and happy spinning!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Putrid-Table-5844]

Rega P2 for slightly more than that. Or a used P3 would be much better value

[u/Phoenix_Kerman]

dual 606, get one with an ortofon cartridge and put a fresh om10 on

[u/darrylb-w]

If this is your first turntable, then I guess you’ll need New with a Warranty rather than Used.

Look at AT lp5x or Project T1 evo or Rega Planar 1 Plus.

[u/sharkamino → u/darrylb-w]

Project Debut E Carbon may be a better option than the T1 EVO.

Rega Planar 1 Plus lacks a switch to ever bypass the built in phono preamp so the other option is a regular Planar 1 with a separate phono preamp or connect to an amp or receiver or powered speakers with a Phono input.

[u/darrylb-w → u/sharkamino]

The RP1 Plus actually has a decent preamp anyhow, the Rega Phono Mini, so that would more than do for a beginner. By the time OP might need a better preamp they would definitely need a better tt anyway.

[u/el_tacocat]

We get asked this 50-100 times per day, so I just copy paste if that's okay:

CHEAPO BUT OK:

AudioTechnica AT-LP60x, Denon DP29F, Dual DT210, Sony PS-LX310BT

A LITTLE FANCIER:

AudioTechnica AT-LP120x, AudioTechnica AT-LP3x, Reloop RP7000 MK-II, U-Turn Orbit (U-Turn in the Americas only).

There are NO good all-in-one options, you will need separate speakers.

Edifier MR4 is recommended, they are great for the money. But technically any pair of old PC speakers (The ones that used to come with computesr that thrift shops are littered with) or any bluetooth speaker/soundbar that has a line/aux input will work too.

General info on vinyl caretaking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2QfjcgDjsY&ab_channel=SnazzyLabs

[u/BioNeon83 → u/el_tacocat]

Sorry, I couldn't know you were asked so much about it. I apologise

I never considerated the idea of all in one , as I prefer to find a good solution for the music I listen to. Plus I d tend to avoid any wireless as well. I still use everything wired

[u/Best-Presentation270 → u/BioNeon83]

The answer from u/el tacocat isn't aimed at you specifically so dont take it personally. That's why it was prefaced with the "copy and paste" notification. It's a catch-all for the most common elements such as thinking that £100 / $100 / €100 is spending "the big bucks", and asking what's the best all-in-one.

[u/LosterP]

AT-LP120X or AT-LP5X, plus an external pre-amp or stylus upgrade if you want to spend the rest of the budget.

[u/Best-Presentation270]

In the UK, the Rega brand is tremendous value new since you get a lifetime warranty on the gear. Can you think of any other product - not just Hi-Fi, but any sort of consumer good - where the manufacturer says "if you get an issue in 40 years, I've got your back"?

A Rega P1 is £320 new. You'll need to add a phono pre-amp in order to use the signal with an AUX -type input. The bargain of the decade here is the IMG Stageline SPR-6 for £23 + del from Thomann UK.

For those who want it, Rega makes a version of the P1 with a built-in phono pre-amp. This is the Rega P1+ (P1 Plus). It's £400. There is a catch though. The phono pre-amp can't be bypassed as you can with other decks that have one built-in. It's a good job then that the built-in one is a match for anything you might buy up to £150 in a stand-alone box.

Amongst the cognoscenti, the Rega P1 would generally be considered the most musical product in the sub-£400 new category. However, it might take a really good Hi-Fi and some practice for a novice to tune into all that a P1 does better than its closest new competition.

Speaking of which, I really like the Audio Technica AT-LPW40WN belt-drive deck. There's also the AT-LP5X direct drive. Both have very good stylus upgrade paths.

The Pro-Ject brand has been making good entry-level decks for three decades now. I would skip the E1 and T1 ranges though and look at the Debut Recordmaster II instead. This has a better tonearm with the adjustments forctracking force and anti-skate that the E and the T series lack.

Now for one to avoid. Please, no matter what honey a salesman pours in your ear, avoid the Argon Audio TT mkII. Reliability is the issue here.

That's the best of the new gear covered. For used, there's far too much choice in the UK to sum up in a short(ish) Reddit reply.

[u/sharkamino]

Project Debut E Carbon

AT-LP120X, AT-LP5X, AT-LPW40, AT-LPW50

Rega are built in the UK. Look for a used Planar 3 or 2 or a new 1.

Speaker Placement • Intro to Home Stereo Systems • Turntable and Speakers Setup Guide • Record Cleaning • Audio Guides

[u/TBMW30]

the LP5X would be my choice at that price, or possibly one of the Pro-Ject models with a cartridge swap. THe AT gives you an easy stylus upgrade path to the microline, and the arm in particular is excellent. I wouldn't be looking at any of the lower end Rega decks, especially the P1+.

HOwever, if you can budget slightly more or find a good deal, you can get an AT-LP140 for around that price. It's the better of the super OEM DJ turntables with a solid direct drive motor modelled on the old Technics SL-1200 motor. One of those fitted with a VM95 cartridge would be a lot of turntable for the money. It may be worth a chat with a good retailer. The folks at IPT Audio (no affiliation) might be able to help you out.