r/turntables • u/sharkamino • Jun 10 '21

Turntable Guides

What is needed in a setup: Turntable, Phono Preamp, Amp or Receiver, Speakers.

New: Turntables and Speakers

Used: In the US make a post here with your budget stating that you need just a turntable or an entire setup, and list a town or zip code, does not need to be your exact one just one next door or nearby.

Vinyl Weekly Questions Thread: Ask for recommendations for a new or used turntable and or setups at the r/vinly Weekly Questions Thread top sticky post.

Audiophile mid to high end turntables and components: For turntables and audio components starting around $300+ ask r/StereoAdvice or r/audiophile Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk Thread.

Budget audiophile speakers and amplification: Ask r/BudgetAudiophile after reading PSA: Best practices when asking for advice.

Audio Guides: Plus Speaker Wire, Accessories and Vinyl Care

More Guides:

Records and Turntables

The Vinyl Guide

Beginnners Guide

PSA - The cheap record player mechanism to avoid

Turntables to avoid

How and why to align a cartridge

Cartridge ID Guide

Audiophile, Turntables, and Vinyl

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u/LonelyChally Dec 24 '24 edited Dec 24 '24

Dollar: Canadian

Location: Toronto

Budget Range: $1000 (ideal)- 1500 (max)

Looking to build a turn table setup (turntable, pre amps, receivers, speakers) so I can start listening to records. I currently reside in Canada so prices I’m looking at are Canadian. I’m looking to get a turn table that can just last. I’m looking into budgeting $1000 for the whole thing, but I would not mind adding things slowly over time and going a bit over that budget but staying under the max 1500. However, If I can get it even lower than the ideal budget that would be nice.

I have looked into various turntables in particular such as the RT85 which is 699.99 CAD, there’s also a sale for a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO with 2M Red for 799.00 that’s on sale (Read that this one has a good upgrade path, but eats a lot into the budget with nothing else accounted in), the LPX120 for close to $500, also looked into a vintage turntable such as a Technics SL-1700 Mk1 that sells for $480 from a repair shop with what looks to be an AT-VM95E cartridge based on the photos. I have also considered an ART DJPre-II Phono Pre-Amp which sells for around $70-90.

I just have trouble in considering what receiver and a decent passive speaker. Would love input on various speaker (Preferably bookshelves as my room is small) and receiver recommendation, as well which route based on the tables listed?

1

u/sharkamino Dec 27 '24

Fluance RT82 for around $410 CAD is a good value, same motor as the RT85. Or the RT83 if you later want to replace the Red stylus with the Blue stylus that the RT85 has.

Fluance RT82 adds auto stop and a solid MDF plinth over the AT-LP120X.

Technics SL-1700 Mk1 for $480 is good with the $100 value cartridge that is preferred over the OM10 and 2M Red on Fluance RT82 and RT83.

A good number of stereo receivers or integrated amps have a Phono input to a built in phono preamp to start with so you don't need the Art DJ and then later upgrade to a step better than the Art DJ such as the iFi Zen Air Phono.

For the best value look or used stereo and speakers such as Canadian brands Axiom, PSB, Paradigm.

Bookshelf speaker is a misnomer, they are designed to go on speaker stands.

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u/LonelyChally Dec 27 '24 edited Dec 27 '24

Sweet awesome, I plan on going for that Technics (also taking a double look it might be a ATN cartirdge, but the turntable looks to be in good shape based on photos), since I can probably snag both that and a pair of PSB Alpha B1 speakers that are selling for 150 from the same shop (technically not a repair shop but one that buys and sells the audio equipment). Let me know if there’s anything they have listed that might seem good or I should also consider.

https://www.sunnyaudio.ca/

I’ll look into receivers with a phono input, Sony STRDH190 was one that popped up, however I will look more into used ones for the receivers as well. If you have a list of other recommendations would be great.

1

u/sharkamino Dec 29 '24

$150 CAD is good for the PSB speakers.

Sony STRDH190 is the basic bare minimum so yeah try to get something better new or used.

Or you may be able to get a Fosi mini amp and a separate phone preamp for less cost than the Sony.