Turntable Recommendations Welcomed

[cactuscowboy]

megatrends,

Congrats on the new turntable, you've got a terrific girlfriend, and I think you made a good choice considering what's available new.

I'd have to disagree with previous comments characterizing the Audio Technica turntable as "junk." I have a good friend who has owned an Audio Technica ATPL-120 for a few years. I've listened to numerous Jazz and Classical LPs on his system. To my ears, it sounds fine. Perhaps not as refined as my Technics SL-1200 with many mods, but the Audio Technica is certainly capable of providing many hours of listening pleasure.

[megatrends]

megatrends,

Congrats on the new turntable, you've got a terrific girlfriend, and I think you made a good choice considering what's available new.

I'd have to disagree with previous comments characterizing the Audio Technica turntable as "junk." I have a good friend who has owned an Audio Technica ATPL-120 for a few years. I've listened to numerous Jazz and Classical LPs on his system. To my ears, it sounds fine. Perhaps not as refined as my Technics SL-1200 with many mods, but the Audio Technica is certainly capable of providing many hours of listening pleasure.

What's with the giant record in your profile picture .... I like it.


Thanks for the comments, I'm pretty sure this turntable will do me just fine for my application for it. It is indeed a fine birthday gift and the Shure M97ex cartridge and stylus was also nice at 50% off for $70.

I just ordered an elliptical stylus needle replacement for my Empire 2002 EE cartridge from the mid 70s as well as this will also fit on this turntable I am getting. The stylus needle shown here on the Empire cart is loose in there and wiggles, we can't be havin' that lol. I like the vintage headshell look on that Sony. I have the turntable it comes from in the attic and it needs servicing in the worst way. Might restore it someday who knows.

[jimboyep]

My wife hates my turntables... Hang on to that woman.

[megatrends]

My wife hates my turntables... Hang on to that woman.

Will do ... lol.

The turntable should show up by the weekend, today would be nice.

[cactuscowboy]

megatrends,

That record in my avatar photo is a sixteen incher, being held by my great niece Tia, who was about 3 years old at the time.

That Empire cartridge should be a good one. I have three old Empire cartridges and they're all quite good.

[megatrends]

Turntable showed up .... I have it all set and calibrated. It sounds absolutely magnificent!!!!! MAGNIFICENT!!!

I played my Superman soundtrack in mint shape and it was crystal quiet in the quiet parts and this jazz in this thread about how the motor utilizes and you hear it in long noted passages like a warble or irregular pitch sound is NUTS. It absolutely does not do that at all in any shape way or form.

Period.

I've played guitar since my teens and have an ear that hear pitch perfectly.

Long violin bow draws on two records I used to test this "warble" claim because of how the motor works IS A BUNCH OF COMPLETE HOOEY.

There simply isn't any. It maintains long perfect pitch with a solid line of no changes in audio just like if it were live.

There may be something you could see using software and a digital graph but it certainly CANNOT BE HEARD WITH THE HUMAN EAR. But really???? if you need that to even see it you're a tool basically to then complain about it.

Not to say anyone who said this turntable was subpar is a tool. I do not mean that, but the point is if you need a digtal analyzer to even see it then it isn't worth talking about period.

I honest hear nothing and I have a good ear. My old turntable DID do this for sure with that timing warble and pitch warble.


other quick notes, TT packed extremely well and with great care, the TT had its own cloth bag to prevent chafing during shipment. I thought that was a nice touch.

The knobs are quality, the dampening in the platter is awesome and very heavy and thick and feels "quality". Aluminum platter, the top deck is METAL also and very shiny. The TT feels like a quality item like the sl1200mk2 s we have at the radio station. Similar in weight also.

I am going to mess with it for a few days and do a video review for Youtube. i will post that as well as photos here.

I have major dental oral surgery tomorrow and I am absolutely certain I will not feel like doing that for a few days.

megatrends,

That record in my avatar photo is a sixteen incher, being held by my great niece Tia, who was about 3 years old at the time.

That Empire cartridge should be a good one. I have three old Empire cartridges and they're all quite good.

That is very cool, I must say I've seen one ever. Thanks for the enlightenment that they exist lol.

[megatrends]

Okay I made a quick video .... more a review will come later but this shows the good points I have noticed so far and what you may want to see with it.

http://youtu.be/x7eJP8m8zlM

I also uploaded a few pictures. I am very very extremely impressed with the quality, there seem to be mostly metal parts, the deck shell is metal too as is the platter.

Very solid a rugged feeling unit like you could drop it and it would still work.

Setting up the tone arm balance was easy as was the tracking and down force and the tone arm height which has a lock lever.

The Quartz button returns the speed to real time when engaged.

[Bob in STL]

Megatrends,

Happy to hear your happy. I don't know the new gear but that decks looks pretty fancy. I would have no use for all of the buttons and features but hey, get into it. I sure hope you thanked your girlfirend too.

The M97XE looks good. It will take a little bit of time to break in and the sound will improve as the weeks go by.

Some people criticize the HF roll off on that cartridge. Other people love it for the full sound and flat response. Everybody is different. There is lots of info out there on loading this cartridge at 68k, I use the common 47K load that is the default on most all MM phono inputs. There are stylus upgrades that take it to another level.

Take your time and enjoy.

cheers, Bob

[megatrends]

Megatrends,

Happy to hear your happy. I don't know the new gear but that decks looks pretty fancy. I would have no use for all of the buttons and features but hey, get into it. I sure hope you thanked your girlfirend too.

The M97XE looks good. It will take a little bit of time to break in and the sound will improve as the weeks go by.

Some people criticize the HF roll off on that cartridge. Other people love it for the full sound and flat response. Everybody is different. There is lots of info out there on loading this cartridge at 68k, I use the common 47K load that is the default on most all MM phono inputs. There are stylus upgrades that take it to another level.

Take your time and enjoy.

cheers, Bob

Had to EQ the bottom end differently, no problem. Sound way better than my previous setup.

I am very VERY happy with everything. I seriously cannot they make a turntable this good for $400.

[thommo_work]

megatrends - I used to use the predecessor ATPL120 as my main t/t, and still have one in the family room for parties etc.

I never found it unstable at any stage, the sound was always very good, even in direct comparisons, and I lived with it very happily for a couple of years.

A lot if not all of the knocks are based on the wow/flutter numbers (which aren't great if you do a comparison against some other t/t numbers) - but to be honest I stopped arguing about it a while ago now after my experience that I never heard any instability - despite the numbers - didn't seem to matter.

Anyway, each to their own, and I hope you have as much fun with your AT as I did/do with mine.

Mind you I did play drums, so timing isn't my strong suit.

[jimboyep]

The bottom line is that it does not have to be the best turntable or most expensive if it makes you happy. Enjoy listening to your vinyl.

[cactuscowboy]

I played my Superman soundtrack in mint shape and it was crystal quiet in the quiet parts and this jazz in this thread about how the motor utilizes and you hear it in long noted passages like a warble or irregular pitch sound is NUTS. It absolutely does not do that at all in any shape way or form.

Period.

I've played guitar since my teens and have an ear that hear pitch perfectly.

Long violin bow draws on two records I used to test this "warble" claim because of how the motor works IS A BUNCH OF COMPLETE HOOEY.

There simply isn't any. It maintains long perfect pitch with a solid line of no changes in audio just like if it were live.

Great to hear it's met all your expectations and that you're happy with it.

As mentioned in my previous post, my friend (retired Jazz drummer) has an Audio Technica. I've listened to some very demanding Classical piano solo and Jazz LPs at his place. I've not been able to hear any wow & flutter effect either.

Your turntable would be a good 78 RPM spinner as well, if you should get into them.

[Catcher10]

Don't worry about the "Audio Technica is krapp" responses. I have the ATLP-120 and it works and performs at well above its price point. Yes it has a high W&F but so do other tables. I have listened to low end models from MH and Pro-Ject and the AT LP120 sounds better and holds speed better. Unless you get a speed box, which is another $150. You can use that money to upgrade to a better cartridge.....I use a Nagaoka MP-110 and it sounds brilliant! Very well balanced, fantastic lowend and crisp clean mids and highs, and tracks wonderfully. Make sure you use the Technics protractor found here and you will be fine. I have no noticeable IGD........Enjoy your table and have fun with the vinyl!!

[megatrends]

Don't worry about the "Audio Technica is krapp" responses. I have the ATLP-120 and it works and performs at well above its price point. Yes it has a high W&F but so do other tables. I have listened to low end models from MH and Pro-Ject and the AT LP120 sounds better and holds speed better. Unless you get a speed box, which is another $150. You can use that money to upgrade to a better cartridge.....I use a Nagaoka MP-110 and it sounds brilliant! Very well balanced, fantastic lowend and crisp clean mids and highs, and tracks wonderfully. Make sure you use the Technics protractor found here and you will be fine. I have no noticeable IGD........Enjoy your table and have fun with the vinyl!!

My friend Scotty who is legally blind does a radio show (go figure, gotta use what you do have eh) and he has one of those turntables you have. He loves it and also uses the SL1200MK2 ones we have at the station.

He swears by it and congratulated me on the newer model I got. I guess he got his in 2010 or something.