Any record nerds in here?

[woob]

Hey all - Looking for some advice on records and record players. My sister wants to start collecting, so for her birthday I've decided to pick her up a record player. I don't want to get something cheap, but also not looking to pick up something uber pricey. Any recommendations on where to go in Calgary to buy a decent used player?

Thanks!

[iLoveLamp]

Pawn shops usually have quite a few used players in stock. Not sure about where else to get them though.

[northcrunk]

If she is not looking for something to DJ with you can get a basic sony usb turntable for $150 bucks at futureshop

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...4b3152c958en02

[rogermexico]

The Technics 1200 is a workhorse for good reason. The claim is that you could stand on the turntable and it would still keep correct time and given what I've seen the things go through I believe it. One advantage of it is that, because its the standard DJ tool, you can very easily find stylus cartridges for it, and have a range of options as well (avoid anything with a DJ company label on it cause you're paying a premium for a name.)

I believe that new they run about 700 bucks (check into it though, I could be wrong). Enough different places in town sell them that you can shop around.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

If she is not looking for something to DJ with you can get a basic sony usb turntable for $150 bucks at futureshop

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...4b3152c958en02

Hahaha...all that trouble for analogue playback and the first thing that does is digitize it.

[Coach]

Hot wax has a really good selection of records.

[troutman]

I got two turntables. And a microphone.

[kevman]

I'm far from an expert, in fact I really know nothing other than I got a hand me down turn table, but assuming you're looking for a player to listen to vinyl instead of DJ I'd look for something that has:

A belt drive to isolate motor vibration from the vinyl so that it does not get transferred through the stylus.
A light weight stylus arm and a stylus that works with such. Record's wear out the more you play them and a heavy stylus accelerates this. The lighter the stylus the more listen's you'll get out of a record before it goes flat.

I have a Thorens turntable and as far as I can tell it sounds fantastic!

[sun]

Go to Inner Sleeve. Place is awesome and they sell vintage turntables. Buying a brand new sony usb turntable defeats the purpose a little bit, IMO.

[Northendzone]

Time to put the needle on the record and spin those wheels of steel........

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I picked up a cheap, used $20 Ion USB turntable from the flea market one day. It's been working for three years with no problems. Any problems it has playing records is the fault of the record itself.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

My turntable is also a Thorens. +1 for them

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

If she is not looking for something to DJ with you can get a basic sony usb turntable for $150 bucks at futureshop

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...4b3152c958en02

I own this turntable...it's okay. Nice that I can convert my vinyl to digital for my mp3 player, but the sound quality of the unit is only okay. The build quality is pretty poor as well.
My parents' 30 year old turntable sounds infinitely better.
I would suggest investing a little more money in a better unit.

[DownhillGoat]

I have this one:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_033DP29F/Denon-DP-29F.html

Pretty happy with it for the price.

I've heard one of the USB ones and wouldn't touch them based on that one.

[afc wimbledon]

Go to canuckaudiomart.com, go to analog sources filter the results to just alberta , go to Oracle Alexandra Mk111 for 500 bucks, buy this now, great tt great arm great needle decent price.

The Rega P3 is excellent to but not such a great deal

[woob]

Hey all - Thanks again for the replies. I wound up going to The Inner Sleeve in Marda Loop and picked up a refurbed Sanyo turntable. I believe it was a TP-240 or similiar. Good starter turntable with automatic arm return, etc. Also picked up a pre-amp so she can plug it into their newer amp that didn't have phono input.

I picked up 3 albums to start her collection.



ABBA - Voulez Vous - My sister played this so much when she was younger, I'm surprised the needle didn't wear right through it. I knew it would bring back memories for her and she loved seeing it again.



Parliament - The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein - This was my fun album choice in an attempt to broaden her music horizons a bit Plus the Album cover is just awesome.

And then some Jackson 5 album which I forget what the cover looked like.

Thanks again for your help and input!

[troutman]

You are a good brother.

[HerbalMagic]

Originally Posted by sun

Go to Inner Sleeve. Place is awesome and they sell vintage turntables. Buying a brand new sony usb turntable defeats the purpose a little bit, IMO.

digitizing an analog source like a record player 100% defeats the purpose of it. Thats the whole point to listening to records is to hear the amazing stereo and analog music come off that record. The second you digitize it and basically #######ize it like an MP3 you've ruined the experience.