Suggestions for Buying Turntables and Record Players.

[daggetrat]

For the last few months I have been keeping an eye on various listings for turntables/record players. Let me start by saying that I am fully aware it is up to individuals to list whatever price they like on their items and it is equally up to the individual buyer to pay however much for said item.

Buying any electronics equipment, especially second hand, anyone runs the risk of landing a dud. I have noticed many listings for record players that are of "vintage" and my contention is the exuberant starting bids or asking prices for items that are pushing in some cases 40 years of age. I can understand that nostalgia plays on people when buying such items but what was good 20, 30 or 40 years ago doesn't make it so today.

And just because of the name, doesn't mean that the company either stands by that product any more, as many companies such as Marantz and Thorens make new turntables to this day. For the same prices that I have seen on listings for old record players, for example, Marantz and some exceeding $300 for something that is 30+ years old - you can buy a new Marantz for the same money. Same goes for Thoren too. You are buying new componentry, new tech, new and better stylus, better tone arms, better platters, motors, plinths and so on.

I bought a Dual turntable from an Op Shop for $15 and it has served its purpose well. I saw the same model I own listed recently for well over $250USD and that was the starting bid! And there is just no way on Earth that I would even have the gall to sell it for more than I paid for it. (For one Dual aren't that great a brand to begin with - doesn't handle bass too well).

I have now purchased a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and for all intent and purposes it is one of the best turntables around for $500; carbon fibre tone arm, high quality stylus, hand made plinth matched with an exceptionally quiet motor. Everything about it has been beautifully designed and created for vinyl lovers. The componentry you are buying was once only available on higher end turntables with large prices.

My other suggestion is if you are wanting to enjoy vinyl records; avoid the cheap and nasty turntables - the ones that are offering USB connectivity et cetera. Plastic junk and a waste of money. I've done my research for many months and time and again the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon came up as best quality for money.

The proof is in the pudding too... it sounds amazing. But make sure if you do look at the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon it is the latest model, which in Australia retails for $529 - $599 .. not the previous model which is going for $429 as this model had issues with the power supply for Australian outlets. The new model has an improved motor and proper power supply.

Don't let nostalgia sway your buying or auctioning. What was once quality and possibly passed through many hands in its lifetime is akin to buying a very old car and you take a gamble that it might run. Buy new, at least you get a warranty and you are getting something newer and better. And to add, older record players may damage your vinyl.

My suggestions for quality and affordability ($400+):

Marantz TT-5005 (fully automatic)

Thorens TD-158 (fully automatic)

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (Manual)

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@ daggetrat wrote:

For the last few months I have been keeping an eye on various listings for turntables/record players. Let me start by saying that I am fully aware it is up to individuals to list whatever price they like on their items . . . . . 

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you appear to know a lot about turntables.  As with many things that are now 'vintage', some sellers think that adding the word vintage to the title is a free ticket to add many extra $$$$ to the price.  I sell old film cameras, but, I don't use the word vintage to describe the age of the cameras I sell.  I have sold film cameras for $199, $299 and $250 this year.  Many would ask "who would pay that much for a film camera?", and I answer that they don't make this model of camera any more and they are highly regarded, so, when I have one in excellent condition I can sell for high prices.  I suppose the same can be said for turntables.  Some people like the sound of the older turntables with the crackle and imperfections, especially on vinyl albums of live performances.  Therefore, some buyers will pay high prices, and sellers will hold out for high prices.

I think you should write an eBay guide about turntables and buying turntables on eBay.  This would be much more beneficial than posting the information here as not many eBay members visit the boards and your thread will quickly go from the first page if there are not many replies.  Some regulars quote a figure of just 3% of eBay members visiting the boards and reading the threads.  More members read threads than post on threads.

Anyway, visit http://www.ebay.com.au/gds# and click on the "Write a guide" button over on the right hand side and go from there.  I reckon you could start by just cutting and pasting the content of your opening post.

I have a vinyl album of the Beatles "Live at the Hollywood Bowl".  I haven't listened to it for over 30 years, but I can still recall the first time I listened to that album.  The sound seemed so 'raw'.

[daggetrat]

I completely agree. Some vintage turntables do have a certain quality to their sound, and yes, there are those who collect turntables which is fine. The point I was making was to suggest to people new to vinyl and turntables that because a product says Marantz, Thorens, Technics is no insurance on quality and if they fork out more than enough to warrant purchasing something newer, it is ludicrous and they may end up with a lemon and not get the sound they are wanting to achieve. Especially if they have newer sound systems.

My old Dual turntable still does sound great on some albums (older ones) but with newer vinyl it doesn't pull all the sound, such as bass and it does struggle on high end sounds, at volume - which without hearing other older players, with the exception of friends who have older players - sound quality does not always add up. So if someone forks out a ludicrous amount on something that is 30+ years old they will only end in disappointment. Hence I often troll the charity stores and have picked up about 3-4 players now ranging in price from $10 - $40.

Even our local rubbish tip has a market place where many things have been rescued and refurbished and a friend of mine who regularly trolls through there has purchased vintage speakers and players that all work fine. However, my Pro-Ject has no qualms on all fronts. All it takes is a matter of Googling the various turntables up for auction to see what "experts" or other forums dedicated to turntables has to suggest. For example there is currently a Yamaha turntable pushing $400. Back in its day it was a mediocre turntable but to pay what could potentially go for over $450 at end of auction is ridiculous when you can buy something brand new.

I'm a photographer myself, and so is my father who has an extensive colleciton of old cameras purchased from eBay. Old cameras however don't have too much that can go wrong with them as there are not a lot of moving parts, such as turntables do. Old cameras are very limited to problems... mould on the lens, shutter failure but mechanically there is not a lot to them. Whereas turntables have a plethora of problems, bearing housing, motor, tone arm, stylus... depending on the quality of the stylus and if you have to replace it, you are looking at anywhere from $40 - $300.

I guess in some ways I was politely suggesting that some sellers are just cashing in on nostalgia and being a little too "pricey" for something that is very old and potentially could only last a short time... some of the older players I bought have bought the ghost and don't work. My suggestion also was more to those who are new to the experience of vinyl and if its perfect sound they are after it is far better to put their money to something new. At least that way they do get a warranty etc.

If they're a collector and have money to burn, then so be it. But when manufacturers like Marantz are still making players then I would aim for something new. I listen to a lot of heavy metal and newer styles of metal are complex in their sounds and I know from experience that the newer stuff doesn't sound so great on an old player and I was disappointed. Plus a lot of the older players selling for ludicrous amounts, such as the Yamaha, they have plastic bodies which does hamper sound quality. Especially in older players when there maybe a few things loose inside, playback is going to sound nasty.

There are some players up for auction I would love to buy; but there is no way on earth I am going to pay more than $100 for something that is older than I am.

🙂

[digital*ghost]

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@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:

I think you should write an eBay guide about turntables and buying turntables on eBay.  This would be much more beneficial than posting the information here as not many eBay members visit the boards and your thread will quickly go from the first page if there are not many replies.  Some regulars quote a figure of just 3% of eBay members visiting the boards and reading the threads.  More members read threads than post on threads.

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I second that motion... 🙂

This is exactly the sort of thing guides are most useful for, and if you think about it, where are people who are actively looking for information about buying a turntable most likely to look? (For me, whose knowledge on the subject is limited, I would google for independent blogs and reviews, and eBay guides will turn up in those results; or I'd look / ask in a more specialised forum).

BTW, some people will pay a premium for those kinds of items for a variety of reasons, some just because they have features or even just an aesthitic that they can't find on others. Even the old cassette / ghettoblasters have had a resurgance in popularity in some sub-cultures, and it's - at best - 20% nostalgia, 80% image (and price is a common factor in image for some). 

[bigbrickshop]

Great to see that you've written a guide. 🙂