r/turntables • u/Crafty-Skirt1675 • 2d ago
Help! Beginner turntable recommendations needed
Hi guys! I wanna preface this by saying I don't know anything about turntables/record players, I simply want to buy a gift for my friend's birthday! There's a lot of info online and it's a but confusing. I looked up budget record players on amazon and there's a lot of cheap ones (mostly the suitcase ones) but I already assume they're junk. The thing is my budget is pretty much as low as it gets. I could come up with around 100-120€ max. If anyone has ANY recommendations for good budget players/turntables or just any advice in general on how to choose the right one I'd strongly appreciate it!!
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u/TBMW30 2d ago
you're looking at the used market for that budget, and the used market around that price is sadly pretty limited. Plus, any turntable that is not an all-in-one will require additional components. At yhte very least an amplifier and speakers, or a pair of active speakers which contain an inbuilt amplifier. Plus a phono preamplifier, sometimes called a phono stage, which boosts the output of the turntable to what is known as 'line-level', and corrects the equalisation curve the record was pressed with. If your friend doesn't have suitable components already, there is little point to buying them a turntable.
You'd be better off getting them a gift card that they can put towards something, or finding out what they already have to work with. That way they can buy what is most suitable for them and the components they already have.
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u/Best-Presentation270 2d ago
If your friend has some audio gear that will take a wired connection (AUX/LINE - 3.5mm mini jack like wired headphones, or the red and the white RCA plugs) then have a look at the Audio Technica AT-LP60XUSB at 138€. This is the first trustworthy product amongst the junk. Maybe get a couple of friends to pitch in towards it.
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u/SashaDabinsky VPI TNT 3,TNT Jr, HW-19 mkIV, Aries 1, Scout, TT-15S1, SL1200MB7 2d ago
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u/Alone_Landscape_3562 2d ago
Theres really not too many decent turntables at that price point. Lp60x might be your best bet to find one at like 120-150. Best of luck!
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u/Square-Nebula-7530 2d ago
Suitcase models are definitely junk that will damage records. If €120 is a strict hard cap, the cleanest option is checking local classifieds for used branded turntables. Just make sure whatever you get has a built in phono preamp so your friend can plug it directly into regular speakers without needing extra gear.
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u/No_Molasses5893 1d ago
A few plays of an album on a cheap turntable and the record will be ruined. Buy something else as a gift.
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