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INT80 FORUM LTD EDITION INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER - now available
Budget turntable
- Thread starter karatestu
- Start date
Is he replacing an old TT, Stu? If so, what has he had before?
Personally, I'm a fan of Pro-ject stuff, it seems to be built to a decent standard, and performs well (I've had 2 of them) without, for some reason, that "mass-produced" feeling. Maybe it's just me, though, I'm the furthest thing from a TT expert you'll find.
Personally, I'm a fan of Pro-ject stuff, it seems to be built to a decent standard, and performs well (I've had 2 of them) without, for some reason, that "mass-produced" feeling. Maybe it's just me, though, I'm the furthest thing from a TT expert you'll find.
TheMarlin
Well-known member
I personally don’t like the pro ject decks. I’ve had problems with them, and build quality.
I’d look out for a used Rega RB250, Nad 533, Moth Alamo, or Akai AP-a950. They’re all the same deck, just with different brands.
Of all of them, the Nad 533 seems to go for the least. You sound very able to pick up a tidy one on an eBay auction for £100-ish if you wait and bide your time.
The arm is Rega RB250, worth £150-200 by itself. The cartridge is Goldring Elektra, which was designed by Nagoaka for Goldring, and sounds very similar to the Nagoaka MP110. A lovely detailed and very sweet sounding cartridge.
It’s a fine starter/midrange deck by itself, but a few quid spent on the right upgrades really elevate it.
My recommendations are:
Iceni Audio Counterweight and stub end upgrade £75. Massively improves tonearm performance, high end and bass detail offer fantastic improvements.
SRM Tech silent base £150. Removed all motor noise and rumble.
Changing the motor pulled from single belt to double belt (maybe £30 with belts). Hugh improvement in wow and flutter.
You can sometimes pickup the upgrades on eBay for half that price.
I’ve bought a dozen of these decks and upgraded and gifted them to friends and family. I’ve got two in various stages of rebuild about to leave for new homes.
I’d look out for a used Rega RB250, Nad 533, Moth Alamo, or Akai AP-a950. They’re all the same deck, just with different brands.
Of all of them, the Nad 533 seems to go for the least. You sound very able to pick up a tidy one on an eBay auction for £100-ish if you wait and bide your time.
The arm is Rega RB250, worth £150-200 by itself. The cartridge is Goldring Elektra, which was designed by Nagoaka for Goldring, and sounds very similar to the Nagoaka MP110. A lovely detailed and very sweet sounding cartridge.
It’s a fine starter/midrange deck by itself, but a few quid spent on the right upgrades really elevate it.
My recommendations are:
Iceni Audio Counterweight and stub end upgrade £75. Massively improves tonearm performance, high end and bass detail offer fantastic improvements.
SRM Tech silent base £150. Removed all motor noise and rumble.
Changing the motor pulled from single belt to double belt (maybe £30 with belts). Hugh improvement in wow and flutter.
You can sometimes pickup the upgrades on eBay for half that price.
I’ve bought a dozen of these decks and upgraded and gifted them to friends and family. I’ve got two in various stages of rebuild about to leave for new homes.
TheMarlin
Well-known member
The only turntable I’ve tried with phono stage built in are the Flexon Vinyl Play, and Rega RP1. Both are the exact same turntable, just one is ‘Flexon’ branded.
Both sound dull and flat. No sense of rhythm, zero dynamics, hated them both. I was building a budget HIFI system for a friend, these came up cheap, they had a quick audition and were deemed ‘poor performing’, I rejected both.
I sold the RP1 on quickly, the Flexon I gifted to my next door neighbour who build a budget streaming setup for his garden cabin, but didn’t want to sell his records. He was delighted with it.
Most people have never heard of the Flexon deck, do they don’t get a lot of bids when appear (rarely) on eBay. I paid £50 for it. Might be worth keeping an eye on eBay auctions. They were designed to slot into Sonos based systems, so don’t turn up often.
I would tell your friend to forget about a turntable with a built in phono stage, as I’ve yet to hear one that sound reasonable. The phono stage is the weak spot, always very poor performance.
Tell them to buy a decent phono stage instead. My favourite budget phono stage is the Schiit Mani. I always keep one as backup in case one of my more expensive phono stages dies.
(Only good for MM carts, no so good on MC). They’re about £200 new, £125 used on eBay
Friends like Fosi Audi Box x4 as a cheaper option (£80 new on Amazon, pay less via Ali Express …. Of the Douk Audio Mini GE5654 valve MM phono stage (£70 Amazon).
I’ve not tried one, but reviews are decent.
Pay the extra and get the Schiit Mani!!!
Good luck!
fitterstoke
Member
Ditto on the Schiit Mani and esp the Fosi Box X5
Audio Technica LPW50PB.
A lovely turntable with a built-in phono stage. I use the built-in phono and it is excellent.
I bought it in January at £319 from Richer Sounds. Above your mate's budget but if you want a built-in phono of decent quality you have to fork out a bit more. Personaly I'm delighted with it. Comes with an AT VM95E.
A lovely turntable with a built-in phono stage. I use the built-in phono and it is excellent.
I bought it in January at £319 from Richer Sounds. Above your mate's budget but if you want a built-in phono of decent quality you have to fork out a bit more. Personaly I'm delighted with it. Comes with an AT VM95E.
This thread is probably well past its sell-by now, but I just spotted this, and thought I'd pass it on anyway.
https://www.richersounds.com/audio-technica-lp60xusb-black/
https://www.richersounds.com/audio-technica-lp60xusb-black/
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