tips on buying a turntable?

[Samtastic]

hey all,
im going to get myself a 2nd hand turntable.

ive decided i can do with out a professional DJ unit, i just want something very affordable

(ill get proper decks and learn to mix vinyl later)

what should i look for specifically when buying 2nd hand turntables?

i want it to have a magnetic head (not an old vintage style), but i dont know much else.



im going to be using this specifically for playing old records and for converting these to digital (ive already got an audio to USB converter, so i dont feel the need to get a turntable that can do this in one stage - like the Numark that can)

any particular brands i should go for? ones that are known for having a higher quality and better build quality (so that they should last forever)?

cheers : )

[hoppuspears]

1200

[db_audio]

the denon range produce a reasonable hifi unit that should suit your needs.

there's a few threads on this though... maybe search in the producers forum as well.

[louislogic]

Buy a second hand Technics: -$400AUD.
Sell a second hand Technics: +400AUD.

Cost: Free

FREE

fully!
in the end this method is free if u get rid of ur decks

[macc4]

1974 - the year my 1200's were built. older than most of us!
i got them 2nd hand a few years ago 400 each.
34 years old and still spinning strong!

[Bekay]

technics decks- nothing else is worth looking at. As mentioned they stand the test of time & hold their value. Apart from that, they're head & shoulders abover ANY other DJ turntable

[louislogic]

/end thread

[kloseline]

1974 - the year my 1200's were built. older than most of us!
i got them 2nd hand a few years ago 400 each.
34 years old and still spinning strong!
lol 34 yrears old and you pay 400 each... nothing more to say...

stanton 120 would be also a good idea, if you get them cheaper thant technics its defnitely worth it, they have line outs changeable rcas and a stronger motor than the tehcnics, ah and they copied the design of the platter from technics...

[Spicy]

^^ but they ain't technics! i just can't see any stanton decks lasting 34 years.

one day i might hand the 1200's down to my grandkids and tell them wonderous tales about the life of these two gems. a turntable that has a place in the history of music. can't really say that about any other brand or model...

[Bekay]

it's all about the torque when it comes to turntables, nothing stacks up to technics in this department

[cosmic_seadog]

get technics and you'll never have to get anything else, ever.

if you are looking at buying turntables and being a DJ - then be one.. don't go in half measured buying shit decks not to mention wasting money on buying vinyl that you won't use.

i bought my 1200s 7 years ago for new; $700 each. I've not had to pay for a single thing on them since and use them day in day out. in the long run the cost is inconsequential for the durability and performance that comes with them. to buy something shitty with the thought to upgrade later seems a waste of time. if i wanted i could put mine on ebay today and still get almost what i paid for them.

[minhbo]

it's all about the torque when it comes to turntables, nothing stacks up to technics in this department

Not true.

Numark, Stanton, even crappy brands like American Audio all have decks with more torque than Technics. Technics has around 1.5kgs of torque from memory, while the new ones from Numark and Stanton etc. have something like 4.5kgs.

[kasper_flip]

Not true.

Numark, Stanton, even crappy brands like American Audio all have decks with more torque than Technics. Technics has around 1.5kgs of torque from memory, while the new ones from Numark and Stanton etc. have something like 4.5kgs.

yep, the stanton st.150 has 4.5 kgf-cm whereas 1200s have 1.5. not that torque makes a difference really (unless you are scratching...), ive used st150s and they feel pretty similar to my 1200s.

[kloseline]

friends of mine have their vestax pdx2000 for more than ten years....
tehcnics is fanboy history. their patent ran out...

[Spicy]

gawww come on fellas, i may be a 1200's fanboy, but from experience nothing beats a technics pitch controller. the vestax are too loose and sensetive, where as the stantons come a bit too tight.

[kloseline]

true about vestax pitch they suck :-/ stantons 150 are pretty good cant tell about the stanton t.80 but the 120 have the same pitch if they havent changed it. the tehcnics pitch is solid, true but the 0 pitch stop ahhh its annoying when mixing dubstep....

it should all be like this
http://youtube.com/watch?v=V2sKH8yjVsM

[Spicy]

hmmm i can't watch the video @ work, but you make a good point. the lock is a really annoying feature. samtastic, perhaps you should get the 1210's instead ;)

[johnjay]

the 1210's still have the lock dont they as they are just the 1200's in black?

[kloseline]

yea i think you have to get the 1210 m5g to get rid of the lock... how ever the terhcnics are defnitely no bad choice, but i think if someone wants something cheap there are solutions cheaper than tehcnics made of plastic but tehcnically as good as tehcs,,, maybe not for the next century....

[macc4]

you can buy replacement pitch faders without the click for 1200's. :thumb:

[Spicy]

^^ hadn't thought of that. too right! :thumb: btw johnjay, i think any model above the MK2 have the lock removed and you get a lock button next to the slider. so 1200 and 1210's MK3/MK3D/MK5/MK5G all have no lock afaik.

edit: hey guys on the note of replaceable technics parts - can the pitch sliders from an MK3 or MK5 be shoved into a regular old MK2? also, is the target light any different? or are all of the parts basically interchangeable?

[johnjay]

also in regards to the 1200's every place i've used them the LED light has always been dead

so it has become second nature to me to not turn them off at home to save the bulb,(pretty much been a tightass on usage)

how long does it normally last

and how do u replace it i cant find a way to actually take the bulb out and put a new one in.


and how much does a replacement bulb cost?

can you take spare ones to gigs in case they're not working?




btw the great thing about the technics is they have lids most other turntables dont

[kasper_flip]

when i bought my turntables one of my tracking lights didnt work so i never used them... then a few weeks ago a mate came over and while mixing he popped it out and to my surprise it worked! he must have the turntable midas touch...
now i use em sometimes cos the lights in my room are these shitty energy saving LED downlights which are a bit dim. but yeah i too would like to know about replacing the tracking light in case it breaks again.

[Spicy]

you have to remove the bottom to get to all the juicy stuff in the middle. go to www.1200s.com or your local technics retailer, buy LED, replace.

to get to almost anything on the 1200's you need to unscrew the bolts on the bottom and take that plastic rubber stuff off. basicaly, flip your deck upside down and go from there...

best take the platter off before flipping too and make sure you dont lean it no anything in a way that can crush the tone arm.

i am 80% positive that technics parts are interchangeable, so if you like, you can put a blue mk5g LED in. :)

[macc4]

you can, i pimped mine with some!

[Bracko]

the 1210's still have the lock dont they as they are just the 1200's in black?

mk2's only.

[johnjay]

you would have thought up to mk5 they would have made changing the target light easier, fuk sounds like a real headfuk

[macc4]

simple 1972 circuitry. its about as hard to fix as a dash light in a car. just lots more screws.

[DJ D one]

hey all,
im going to get myself a 2nd hand turntable.

ive decided i can do with out a professional DJ unit, i just want something very affordable

(ill get proper decks and learn to mix vinyl later)

what should i look for specifically when buying 2nd hand turntables?

i want it to have a magnetic head (not an old vintage style), but i dont know much else.



im going to be using this specifically for playing old records and for converting these to digital (ive already got an audio to USB converter, so i dont feel the need to get a turntable that can do this in one stage - like the Numark that can)

any particular brands i should go for? ones that are known for having a higher quality and better build quality (so that they should last forever)?

cheers : )

The truth of the matter is whenever you will need parts, with Technics you'll find them easily and cheaply, plus there are a lots of tutorial and how to on the net, videos etc..., so you could even fix them yourself is you are handy...With the rest, parts are expensive and not much insight knowledge available.

D1

[kloseline]

The truth of the matter is whenever you will need parts, with Technics you'll find them easily and cheaply, plus there are a lots of tutorial and how to on the net, videos etc..., so you could even fix them yourself is you are handy...With the rest, parts are expensive and not much insight knowledge available.

D1
very true

[Jumpy1]

Not true.

Numark, Stanton, even crappy brands like American Audio all have decks with more torque than Technics. Technics has around 1.5kgs of torque from memory, while the new ones from Numark and Stanton etc. have something like 4.5kgs.

IMO the 'crappy' AmericanAudio & Stanton are better than the Numark. The AA has the most solid base, the stanton has digital out and a bit more weight... both have the same drive.

Plus the stanton or AA can last many years, open one up and youll find they are very well built

I think the AA HTD45 will soon be discontinued (declining TT sales)... try one while u can

[macc4]

^^^sounds like a sales pitch for lightsounds.:crazy:

[elwood_dj]

what they said ^ ^ ^

Technics 1200 FTW

[avatar_karma]

*highjacks thread*

where can you get the cheapest brand spanking new technics?

[Jumpy1]

^^ overseas hehee


^^^sounds like a sales pitch for lightsounds.:crazy:

YES but NO thats just my choice in this order

a) 1200/1210
b) AA HTD45 or Stanton STR8
c) Numark TT500

[avatar_karma]

^^ overseas hehee


not cool.

[minhbo]

But probably true?

[macc4]

USA probably cheapest at the moment, due to aussie dollar kickin ass

[Spicy]

^^ overseas hehee




YES but NO thats just my choice in this order

a) 1200/1210
b) AA HTD45 or Stanton STR8
c) Numark TT500well that's around about the order from best to worst in the 'industry standard' range of turntables. but really, there is only one industry standard :P

actually i reckon vestax would be worst.

[avatar_karma]

But probably true?

:meh: *looks towards usa*

but aren't the leads different?
i can't just plug an america TT into an aussie socket. unless i wanna die of shock :rock:

[avatar_karma]

wow anyone seen the technics website lately?
take a look. intense
http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/technics_dj/prod_default_digital.asp

[macc4]

:meh: *looks towards usa*

but aren't the leads different?
i can't just plug an america TT into an aussie socket. unless i wanna die of shock :rock:

you'd have to take platter off to get to the 110/120v - 220/240v switch.
then you can twist/file down the socket pins so they fit aussie socket(or buy adaptor)

[macc4]

$549 USD is recommended retail for 1200mk2 in north america

[avatar_karma]

you'd have to take platter off to get to the 110/120v - 220/240v switch.
then you can twist/file down the socket pins so they fit aussie socket(or buy adaptor)

say i had an electrician mate. he would be able to cut off the american plug and replace it with an australian one right? :?

[macc4]

correct. make sure it switched to 240v tho. prob better to pull base off turntable and replace the whole cord than to cut and join wires tho. or just buy adaptor(couple of $$)

[avatar_karma]

and ur sure it can be switched right?
ooo... amazon here we come.
http://www.amazon.com/Technics-TEC-SL-1210MK5-TURNTABLE-SL-1210Mk5/dp/B00012F6DS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1213706759&sr=8-2

good price?

[minhbo]

wow anyone seen the technics website lately?
take a look. intense
http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/technics_dj/prod_default_digital.asp

Those aren't new. They were released years ago... 2001?

There was heaps of hype leading up to it's release, but apparently it didn't live up to it. Not very popular these days.

I never tried one, so I don't know what was wrong with them that people didn't like. They look the part though :thumb:

[avatar_karma]

aww crap
only just saw
"Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S."

i now hate u amazon. DIEEE

[macc4]

pretty sure there someone selling imported 1200's in australia. they are cheaper but the warranty is void. which shouldn't be a problem, have never heard of any 1200's gettin fixed under warranty.

[avatar_karma]

yeahhh i don't need a warranty.
i found a good place online. but $500 shipping costs, which is a joke, came to a total of $1670. alot of trouble just to save a couple hundred. ill keep hunting otherwise ill just buy australian.

[minhbo]

lol... you've hijacked this thread good

[avatar_karma]

fucking oath.
one last question.
do all new technics turntables have this voltage switch?
or some specific models?

[avatar_karma]

ok found somewhere
$1400AUD imported for SL-1200 MK5's. and it specifically says that they are dual voltage
yipee.
but sigh.....
i have to wait till i come back from bali :(

[ferretrock]

yeah - the dual voltage is important - TurntableTech informed me that the 1200mk2s are dual voltage if you buy the aussie release, but not the US release (110V only)

[avatar_karma]

how about the MK5?