Quote:
Originally Posted by LirvA
(sorry if this has already been answered)
Honestly don't waste much money on a turntable... I'd say almost certainly don't get a new one unless your budget is at least like $500. Basically all the turntable is doing is spinning the record, and it has no effect on sound quality. Most new turntables with USB outputs and such are rip-offs and capitalizing on people who just want something that's convenient. As long as it's functioning properly and it spins the record at 33 and 45 rpm you're gold.
The only thing you for sure want to avoid is built-in cartridges/needles... like the tonearm/needle is all one piece and can't be replaced. These are garbage and a money grab, since they're probably low quality and replacement needles will be hard to find eventually. You want to be able to connect your own headshell/cartridge/needle setup (most turntables are like this), and this is where you want to spend your money. If you want a cheaper needle basically look at anything by Ortofon and see what their lower end stuff is and get ratings and such... I imagine something in the $50-$100 range is reasonable. If you want to go a bit pricier look at higher end eliptical needles from Ortofon or Shure. You can go way higher but it's not going to be worth it unless you're some sort of crazy audiophile.
Mid-high end Ortofon DJ needles are decent for sound as well as durability. Shure M447s and a DJ standard and are really reasonably priced and replacement styluses are really easy to find, but they don't have an overly "nice" sound for just listening. They're OK and some people probably prefer them, but I find Ortofon sound a bit better overall. Also DJ needles are a bit more durable and less likely to break if you're a noob and accidentally hit it or pull the record back or something, whereas elliptical/listening needles aren't as forgiving in a lot of these situations. I've been DJing with vinyl for 8 years and I still get kinda nervous with elliptical needles, but as long as you're careful they will yield better sound at a slightly higher cost.