Help me buy a turntable (new or used) for under $1,000

[Chris Desjardin]

I got the OK to do this, and can spend up to $1,000. I don't mind used in excellent condition if it means I can get a better table. I saw a MMF-9 for $998 used - is that a good deal?

I can also get a new MMF-7 with the cartridge for under $1,000.

I've also considered the P3, but have not found out for sure there are no speed issues. Are there still, or have they been resolved?

Any other tables that would fit the bill for my price range?

I'd like to do this before my wife changes her mind! Any help would be appreciated.

[Billy Budapest]

The MMF (and Pro-ject) fit and finish is somewhat inconsistent. I would go with a Rega P3 over either of those. Clearaudio and Thorens also make some nice tables in your price range.

I wouldn't recommend buying a used table. You just don't know how much abuse it has suffered, or if it has been properly taken care of. Plus, I have heard a lot of reports of shipping damage to used turntables. Apparently, a lot of people do not remove the platter and tonarm from the plinth and ado not pack securely, resulting in damage to the motor, bearing, tonearm, etc.

If you have the ability to buy something used locally, I would perhaps do it--if it was from a reputable seller that knows turntables.

[Upstateaudio]

The MMF (and Pro-ject) fit and finish is somewhat inconsistent. I would go with a Rega P3 over either of those. Clearaudio and Thorens also make some nice tables in your price range.

I wouldn't recommend buying a used table. You just don't know how much abuse it has suffered, or if it has been properly taken care of. Plus, I have heard a lot of reports of shipping damage to used turntables. Apparently, a lot of people do not remove the platter and tonarm from the plinth and ado not pack securely, resulting in damage to the motor, bearing, tonearm, etc.

If you have the ability to buy something used locally, I would perhaps do it--if it was from a reputable seller that knows turntables.

I second Billy's comments. Get a P3. Turntables are the most delicate pieces of audio gear to ship due to the moving parts. One has to assume proper packing and handling by shipper for the package to arrive safely.

[MMM]

How much are used Rega P25's going for nowadays?

[motorcitydave]

I got the OK to do this, and can spend up to $1,000. I don't mind used in excellent condition if it means I can get a better table. I saw a MMF-9 for $998 used - is that a good deal?

I can also get a new MMF-7 with the cartridge for under $1,000.

I've also considered the P3, but have not found out for sure there are no speed issues. Are there still, or have they been resolved?

Any other tables that would fit the bill for my price range?

I'd like to do this before my wife changes her mind! Any help would be appreciated.

Technics SL1210M5G with ATml440a catridge.

[OldCoder]

You could buy something like this for a lot less money, specify how you want it shipped, and have enough money left over to get a nice cart and a record cleaning machine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Thorens-TD160-MKII-Turntable-MINT_W0QQitemZ320093599638QQcategoryZ328 3QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There is a risk to this, but not a lot if you are outspoken with the seller from the beginning, and willing to pay for how you want it shipped.

[vinyl anachronist]

Regas have had no speed issues for at least a couple of years, while reliability issues continue to affect Music Hall. Rega sound better, too.

[ubsman]

I like this one. (http://www.needledoctor.com/Thorens-Turntables-TD-190?sc=2&category=45)

German quality.

[analogbass]

Myself i would take the money and either save up or finance the balance for a 2-2.5K TT/arm.

[dinchart]

You might want to take a ride to Boston (about an hour?) -- Qaudio, Spearit Sound, and Goodwins all sell TTs (MH, p-J, SOTA, etc.) and usually have some used/demos for sale.

For vintage Thorens/AR, vinylnirvana.com has a good reputation.

As for ebay/audiogon (I've bought 5 TTs that way) yes you can save a lot of money but I would not recommend it unless you're comfortable doing your own setup and/or resolving damage claims with UPS.

Or, as suggested above, you can stop by the Guitar Center in your neighborhood and pick up a Technics 1200, which is about the easiest TT to set up, stick the appropriate AT 440mla, shure 97, or ortofon OM on it, and be out the door for under $600.00. If you didn't like it, you can return it & put the cart on something else.

Just remember it's about music and having fun.

[Jay F]

You could buy something like this for a lot less money, specify how you want it shipped, and have enough money left over to get a nice cart and a record cleaning machine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Thorens-TD160-MKII-Turntable-MINT_W0QQitemZ320093599638QQcategoryZ328 3QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There is a risk to this, but not a lot if you are outspoken with the seller from the beginning, and willing to pay for how you want it shipped.

If you buy a vintage turntable, be sure you either (a) can fix it yourself when it breaks down or (b) know a person who can fix it, and budget accordingly.

I would buy a Rega P3 at your local Rega dealer, and see what cartridges your dealer recommends. I have a P3 with a Super Elys, and love it. :love: The Super Elys has been replaced by the Elys 2 in the Rega cartridge lineup, and the two are supposed to sound the same.

The Dynavector 10x5 is another popular choice. Make sure your dealer uses shims to raise the tonearm from the plinth to accomodate the additional height of the 10x5.

[vinyl anachronist]

I like this one. (http://www.needledoctor.com/Thorens-Turntables-TD-190?sc=2&category=45)

German quality.

Have you heard it? This is the one that Michael Fremer gave a very bad review to, and now they're discounting them heavily to get rid of them. Lots of features, so-so sound quality.

[vinyl anachronist]

Myself i would take the money and either save up or finance the balance for a 2-2.5K TT/arm.

Baby steps, baby steps.

Most people who decide they want to spend ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS on a turntable don't want to be told they need to spend two-and-a-half times that in order to be satisfied. There's a lot of people buying turntables like a Rega P3, Sota Comet, Clearaudio Emotion, Nottingham Horizon, etc. who will be happy with that sound for the rest of their lives. THEN if they want to look for improvements down the road, they'll need to spend that $2K.

[ubsman]

Have you heard it? This is the one that Michael Fremer gave a very bad review to, and now they're discounting them heavily to get rid of them. Lots of features, so-so sound quality.

Nope. Just seems like one that I would consider in the price range.

Where is the review located?

[TONEPUB]

If possible, I'd hunt down a used P3 or P25. Both have a good upgrade path, should you want to go down that path, or if you do decide to uprade to a different table, you shouldn't lose any money on a good used one...

Cart will depend on your system and taste, but there are about a dozen good ones in the 250-400 range. You should be able to find a nice used P3 for about 4-500 and a nice used P25 for about 650. If memory serves me correctly, a new P3 is about 795, but I could be mistaken.

Do you have a lot of vinyl?

[vinyl anachronist]

I'd agree...a used Rega P25 for $650, with a Dynavector 10X5 cartridge for $350, is probably by far the best sounding table you're going to find for $1000.

[Jay F]

I'd agree...a used Rega P25 for $650, with a Dynavector 10X5 cartridge for $350, is probably by far the best sounding table you're going to find for $1000.

Would I likely appreciate the difference between a P3 and a P25, assuming I use my present cart? Or better to wait and get a P5?

[vinyl anachronist]

Would I likely appreciate the difference between a P3 and a P25, assuming I use my present cart? Or better to wait and get a P5?

I switched from a P3 to a P25 back in 1998, and the differences were not subtle. The P25 was more relaxed-sounding, more natural. The bass was deeper. The soundstage was bigger. If you can get a used P25 for less than a new P3, then you should definitely get it.

And I've heard the P5, and it really is close to the P25 in overall sound quality. I think the P5 is probably a wee bit better than a P25, but if you can get a used P25 for half the price of a new P5, then you should do that, too.

And yes, you may notice less of a difference between all of these Regas with a lesser cartridge than a good cartridge like the Dynavector 10X5. But buying a P25 will provide a great platform as you upgrade. After all, by the time I sold my P25, I had a Koetsu on it, and it sounded great!

[TONEPUB]

Would I likely appreciate the difference between a P3 and a P25, assuming I use my present cart? Or better to wait and get a P5?

Having owned both for quite some time, there are two big differences between them:

The P25 has an RB600 arm instead of the RB300 arm on the P3. This allows whatever cartridge you have to extract a bit more music out of your records, due to somewhat better bearings and cables in the RB600 arm.

The P25 has a bit more sophisticated motor control circuitry, offering a touch better speed accuracy and a bit lower rumble, wow and flutter specs. Again, this will give the music a bit quieter background and ultimately retrieve more detail.

So it depends on if you want to take a chance on a used one or go for a new one with a warranty. They are both good, but I would say if you could find a mint P25, it would offer up more performance. Heck, later down the road you could possibly just get a better cartridge and be done!

But the vinyl bug is a strange thing, kind of like lukemia. Sometimes it goes into remission and you think everything is alright and then it flares up and you need to get some kind of medication (uprgrades).

Best of luck on your purchase!

As Marc said, there are a number of other good tables at that price point, but I have had the best luck with the Rega.

See what you turn up!

[vinyl anachronist]

Nope. Just seems like one that I would consider in the price range.



Which is why it's important to listen before you buy. The review was in an Analog Corner column maybe three years ago. Fremer dismissed the TD-190 very quickly, only writing a paragraph or two about it, so it would be hard for me to go back and find it. He really disliked the sound.

I heard one at a dealer shortly afterward. It wasn't awful, but it just didn't distinguish itself in any way. It looked nice and had a lot of features (it's semi-automatic, I think). But any number of vintage Thorens tables will give you more engaging sound. The dealer told me he hadn't sold a single one, and didn't expect to after the review. Shortly after that, they started heavily discounting them.

[ubsman]

I've never heard sound from a turntable itself so not sure how I'd listen before I bought. Cartridges I can hear differences with.

I did have a turntable with a hum problem once (Philips). Didn't keep that for very long.

[analogbass]

Baby steps, baby steps.

Most people who decide they want to spend ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS on a turntable don't want to be told they need to spend two-and-a-half times that in order to be satisfied. There's a lot of people buying turntables like a Rega P3, Sota Comet, Clearaudio Emotion, Nottingham Horizon, etc. who will be happy with that sound for the rest of their lives. THEN if they want to look for improvements down the road, they'll need to spend that $2K.

LOL that's not for you to decide; not one's doing anything other than providing options. Some of us think outside of bigger boxes.

[Spitfire]

LOL that's not for you to decide; not one's doing anything other than providing options. Some of us think outside of bigger boxes.The thread title says help find a turntable for $1000. I don't think recommending something for $2500 helps the original poster a whole lot.

[analogbass]

The thread title says help find a turntable for $1000. I don't think recommending something for $2500 helps the original poster a whole lot.


That entirely depends on the person actually, not others. It's interesting that this never occurred to some here and the reactions it evokes. Forums are for ideas, not rules about how to think.

[LeeS]

Lots of great advice here...I would only add to think of the table-cart-phono stage as a complete system so thinking a bit about matching each of the three could be quite valuable. May also want to think a bit about a record cleaner of some sort down the road. Allow some money for accessories as well-tracking force gauge, cleaning supplies, level, protractor, etc.

I only say this since it does add up and I'd want to manage your expectations within the budget. It's all very worthwhile I can happily report. :)