How much of a difference is there between a $200 and $500 turntable?

[Steve w]

Is it worth going from a $200 to a $500 turntable? I wouldn't want to spend more than $500 if I do end up upgrading.

[Sckott]

It's the difference between General Admission and the 3rd row. Invest the money. Save if you have to. I'm a big fan of the Rega Planar 3. It starts without cart at almost that price. High on value, simplicity and sonic joy.

~$200 for a Music Hall. Basically a "copy", but not exactly.... Yes, it's worth going for a better TT for more money. 100%!! Just make sure your money gets spent "well".

[rudy]

I got back on the vinyl bandwagon over a year ago when I bought a used Phillips turntable for $120. After becoming frustrated because it sounded worse than my cds, I bought a used Systemdek IV for $400 and was just shocked by the difference.

[akshobhyavajra]

Originally posted by Steve w
Is it worth going from a $200 to a $500 turntable? I wouldn't want to spend more than $500 if I do end up upgrading.

I got interested again in vinyl earlier this year a bought a cheap 1200 for $465 to hold me over (I don't like to shop for used equipment) - after doing a lot of research I concluded to wait before doing a mediocre upgrade, save some money and invest in a VPI with a decent arm for a few K - I've listened to better tables and the difference is amazing. If you're serious about vinyl you may want to be patient, stay with the little table you have and wait until cash flow is positive. There are a lot of quality tables available - I was just using VPI as a personal preference. Strictly my viewpoint - everybody is different.

Good luck

~Michael~


BTW - I said the same thing about not spending more - UNTIL I listened to a nice table...;)

[BradOlson]

But for $200, you can get a DJ turntable and they are generally speaking excellent performers and do provide great sound with a good cartridge/stylus. Even cartridges/styli designed for DJs are very dynamic sounding.

[akshobhyavajra]

Originally posted by cbsolson
But for $200, you can get a DJ turntable and they are generally speaking excellent performers and do provide great sound with a good cartridge/stylus. Even cartridges/styli designed for DJs are very dynamic sounding.

Hey cbsolson,

They sound quite good for the money once setup correctly - I am not denying that. I have a little SA-600 (as you might remember) as well as the Technics - and they do quite well. DJ carts are dynamic - and I use one on the SA - but I prefer an LC type stylus for more critical listening.

The DJ carts with conical stylus are sometimes decent for some older vinyl that's not quite perfect anymore....

Cheers,

~Michael~

[BradOlson]

I use an elliptical stylus on my Gemini.

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Sckott
I'm a big fan of the Rega Planar 3. It starts without cart at almost that price. High on value, simplicity and sonic joy.

~$200 for a Music Hall. Basically a "copy", but not exactly....

Well, the question then is, what are the differences?

[Sckott]

Well Luke, even for a Rega, they're building a much better motor with close to NO resonance measured to the platter. The older motors did mmm a bit, but not much. The platter on a Rega 3 is solid glass, 1 1/2" thick and approximately 13lbs. Great for damping! You won't get feedback, even when you play a record very adjacent to the speakers and CCcrank it. Great sign of wonderful damping ability. (No, I don't do that regulary, but I did once, and was plesantly suprised). The simple little mat that Rega gives you is actually the best I've ever known, and I've even tried rolling my own, using different things like even cork. The black-stock Rega mat rocks.

Oh, then there's the RB300 arm. For the price point, it's a dream. Absolutely musical and sensititve, Rega did absolutely everything right in making it as much as a one-piece unit from counter-weight to end of cart assembly mount. If you go to Audio Asylum, you'll find the RB300 gets many high marks, and I have to agree with them. I've never compared an RB300 to a modded 250, but you usually GET the RB300 arm when buying a stock Rega Planar3.

The Music Hall, I think it's the MMF5, Looks like a rega a bit, but the construction is definately from two different worlds, by appearence, feel and comparison tests. With the same cartridge, you CAN find a big difference, I guarantee it.

But please, if you must save your cash, don't go any lower than a music hall. It goes severely downhill after that.

The Rega Planar 3:
http://www.rega.co.uk/product_images/P3silver.jpg

The MMF5 MH.
http://www.musichallaudio.com/mmf/images/mmf5.jpg

[Steve w]

The Music Hall MF5 is what I was thinking of getting because it comes with a cartige.

[Upstateaudio]

Originally posted by Steve w
The Music Hall MF5 is what I was thinking of getting because it comes with a cartige.

If you go for the Music Hall, maek sure you go to a local or reputable dealer. They are a fine sounding table for the money, but it is pretty widely known that there are QC issues.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by Sckott
The Rega Planar 3:
http://www.rega.co.uk/product_images/P3silver.jpg



Hi,

Geez..... not the blah white one..... get the purple one!:cool:

-Jeffrey

[mudbone]

Sckott, what cart do you have in that beast? I'm long overdue for a new TT but really (I mean REALLY) out of touch.

Mud-

[Sckott]

I agree. The purple one ROCKS and goes with the Elys Rega cart, which mounts in one step. No adjustments for the RB300 & the Elys. It's a 3-point mount.

Right now, I have just a Bias greenie ($129.99 retail) and I have a Elys, but it's still sealed. My R3 is black, like Johnny.

Look at Rega with awe: www.rega.co.uk

[mudbone]

Sckott, one more question. I checked the Rega website and there is only one authorized dealer in the US located in TN. Is that where you bought yours? Obviously I am thinking "BUY"

Mud-

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by mudbone
Sckott, one more question. I checked the Rega website and there is only one authorized dealer in the US located in TN. Is that where you bought yours? Obviously I am thinking "BUY"

Mud-

Hi,

I think the guy in TN is the US distributor and there are many authorized dealers in the US. I like Gene Rubin at Gene Rubin Audio. I bought a Rega P25 and a Rega Planet 2000 from him.

-Jeffrey

[Sckott]

That's the distributor. Yes, it comes out of ONE place, but Lauerman distributes to _dealers_ and at a retail level, that's the easiest way. Don't know who's got Regas? Call Lauerman and ask them. They're the port authority on Regas, and that's where everyone's came out of.

They are such nice people, and stand by the Rega product better than most high-end distributors, plus they have inhouse repair. Jeff knows. I F'ed up my RB300 arm up something horrible last year. Ruined the pivot berring ring. Massive stupidity. "Duh" on many levels. They sold me a trade-in arm, practically brand new, for peanuts. They didn't have to do it, and it wasn't because they "knew me".

Lauerman Audio Imports
519 Noelton Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 423-521-6464

If you have any questions about the Regas, doubts, ideas, let me know. I'll see what I can do. There are other tables, but for what you get, it's a lot of extra money. IMO save it for vinyl.

Long time ago this guy on rec.audio.opinon, Steve Zipster, was this well known audio a-hole snob who did nothing but shoot off his mouth about the Rega while your's truely was looking for a Mitsubishi vertical table. He explained to me, colorfully, that was a dumb thing to do, and that I should look into Regas.

After research and actually pluinking down ~$600 for a new one (eBay had ones continually going for more than $800) I was elated by the simplicity and the sound.

I never got to thank 'ol Zipster. He wasn't exactly a loved person on Usenet, and there were a few reasons why, other than him being quite a mouth. He died later that year during the winter. People thought it was an Internet prank. They even danced on his grave, via posts. Only one in many variations where people get vicious on the Internet about audio related things. Sigh....

Anyways, hpoe it helps.

[PsychFan]

Originally posted by Sckott
Don't know who's got Regas? Call Lauerman and ask them... They are such nice people, and stand by the Rega product better than most high-end distributors, plus they have inhouse repair. Jeff knows.

Yep. I too messed up my RB300 last year and needed a rewire. Lauerman took care of me within days, and for peanuts. Did a bang-up job too. Don't hesitate to call them.

I can second every nice thing Sckott has said about the Rega Planar 3. When I was shopping for a turntable, I visited a local dealer who happened to have both the Music Hall MMF-5 and the Rega Planar 'tables in stock. I already had a half-decent cartridge on my old Luxman (a Benz Micro MC20E-II), so the dealer suggested going with the Rega Planar 3 with its superior arm. He said the MMF-5 was a good deal because it came with a cart, but that wasn't an issue for me, so ...

I took his advice and got a Planar 3. Have never regretted it for a second; it's a fantastic-sounding turntable that's delivered innumerable sonic epiphanies, and continues to all the time.

[Martin M]

If you buy a Rega, get Rega's wall shelf to go with it. Very much worth the money and improves the sound greatly.

[Sckott]

Yeah. With the shelf, it takes care of stability, damping and tilt all in one "step" and makes the Rega sound a whole hell of a lot better.

[mudbone]

Thanks *everyone* for the information. I have a birthday and there's always Christmas coming up. I think I'll con, er, convince the wife that this is what she can get me for both. :cool:

I will more than likely ask a few more questions as I get nearer to November.

I have a lot of old vinyl that I need to get back into but was concerned that I'd ruin it.

Again thanks, as a newbie here I really appreciate it.


Mud-

[GoldenBoy]

Originally posted by akshobhyavajra


Hey cbsolson,

They sound quite good for the money once setup correctly - I am not denying that. I have a little SA-600 (as you might remember) as well as the Technics - and they do quite well. DJ carts are dynamic - and I use one on the SA - but I prefer an LC type stylus for more critical listening.

The DJ carts with conical stylus are sometimes decent for some older vinyl that's not quite perfect anymore....

Cheers,

~Michael~

I agre with you and cbsolson. I've got a Numark TT100 and I think it's pretty good. I just bought a Grado Prestige Blue cart. for it and am readying to replace the stock cart.
I may one day change the arm, but I don't know.