Selecting a record player
 

My birthday is coming up and I'm planning on asking for a record player. Can anyone help me out in choosing one? I dont want anything sepcial, but would prefer one with digital compatibility and decent sound (preferably could hook up to most stereo speakers) and isnt too expensive. Links would be appreciated.

great question/thread. i'm curious too

what? fuck off digital compatiblity and get yourself the real thing a mk2 technics

That means nothing to me al...

but its great. you can fix anything on it, replacement parts are everywhere you will get to use it your whole life!
really well spent money
and these things are sturdy as hell

And how does this fare in terms of hooking it up to my stereo speakers for bigger sound? I have a sony stereo which would increase the odds of compatibility maybe...

Oh ok thatnks. I can always count on you to help me out with whatever info I may need. : ).

I have something like this.

I used kind of a lame term, I just meant that if I want something beyond the built in speakers, I'll be able to get it.

most turntables are made to run through a "receiver" of some sort (you know, the kind yr parents have, where you connect the CD player, the tuner, the turntable and the cassette all into it) to allow for a big sound, but many turntables still need a pre-amplifier of some sort. you can get 9-volt powered ones at Radio shack for like $30. They boost the signal and allow for fucking LOUD rock from a turntable.

but sony isnt really a company which stands for quality. I would rather spent the money once for a really good tunrtable then spending money for a turntable every 5-10 years

your friendly folk at Sound Exchange http://www.soundexchangehouston.com/
could help you with purchase of an older machine, and they service it and guarantee new stylus head and proper working order, and can answer questions about your connection and system set up. I do not know if they handle the USB digital ones. You can find plastic shitty ones at Best Buy for $100 that you can plug directly into your computer

here is their turntable page which describes in detail what they provide
http://www.soundexchangehouston.com/table/table.html

I got my heavy ass bad-fucking turntable there for $76 (I saved up about 11 years ago when I was BROKE_) and it is still kicking. I have replaced the stylus several times, but it costs just $30-$50 per stylus head. no big whup.

back home i have one that my step dad got me from radio shack about ten years ago (it still has all the 90's hardcore and metalcore band stickers that i used to listen to back then). it pretty much sucks. when i move into my new place i'm going to get one from one of the many record stores around me, but i'm going try it out first. i want to make sure i get a pretty decent one. they are only around 40-80 dollars from what i saw. i need to find a reciever though. those can be pretty expensive.

really. just get this. i have it. just a basic record player.

J&R Music World and B&H Photo have good turntable selection/websites as does the Turntable Lab on 7th st - my local NYC sources...I am currently looking to replace my old technics...probably will end up getting the 1200...but my criteria is basically:

- direct drive
- at least semi-automatic and returns at end of record

the USB thing is cool but not necessary for me, some new models have both USB/line out and a built-in amp. I'm guessing originally engineers didn't put the amplifier in the tt in order to keep down heat and sound quality distortion from a power source. Belt drives guarantee eventual problems, the belts dry out stretch and snap. But they're cheaper and easier for manufacturers.

you can pick up pretty good second hand ones on ebay and such. they are the sort of thing that you can spend a fortune on but sound the same as a £50 one.