What is the best overall turntable system?

Question

Please let me know the best turntable you've ever experienced or ones you know to be the best!

Answer 1

Well I'm not sure you want to know what the best is lol yes it is the 100's of thousand. This is what I do setup and calibrate some of the worlds best turntables. Of course if you have a state of the art turntable that also means you need a system, speakers, amplifiers, preamplifer, phonostage, phonocartridge, and cables that are on the same level of a reference turntable to be able to hear the difference and quality of what a reference turntable would provide. The best is also debatable just like all audio equipment, turntables also have there own sound. What you prefer sonically maybe quite different than what someone else may like.



Here are just a few samples of some of the worlds most expensive but not necessarily the best.



Kevin

40 years high end audio video specialist

Answer 2

I used a Philips GA 312 for many years when I was a student in the late '70's and '80's. It had a Microacoustics cartridge on it. I don't think I realized how good it was at the time. Unfortunately I gave it away. I have several turntables now. The best is a Thorens TD 125 Mk II with a Shure V-15 cartridge. My mom bought the turntable for $5 at a yard sale back in the '90's and gave it to me because she remembered me lamenting giving away my Philips. It had a cheap Pickering cartridge on it but I bought a broken Elac Miracord turntable (not a bad turntable when they work) and it had the Shure on it. The cartridge was worth more than the turntable but the guy selling it didn't know that.



Once I put a new stylus on it and dialed it in, it sounded better than any turntable I have ever heard and can not imagine how vinyl records could sound any better.



If you want to buy a Thorens 125 with a Shure v-15, from a vintage audio dealer be ready to part with close to $2,000 US. It pays to watch eBay, yard sales and thrift stores.



Of course, much of how good a turntable system sounds depends on what you plug it into. Being the thrift store and eBay junkie that I am, my setup is made up of very expensive gear purchased for cheap either because it was broken (and I fixed it) or the seller didn't know what it was.



BTW, I fixed the Miracord and use it to play 78's.

Answer 3

I can't remember the name but it had a 20 lb table. I found that I could not walk anywhere near a lighter one. It had lights for syncing the speed and was very good. As soon as they had CD's I got rid of my vinyl. I don't know why anyone wants to go back to the skipping scratchy touchy vinyl with 60 Hz hum, but I recommend a heavy one.

Answer 4

That's impossible to say. Is it for DJ purposes? If so then you really can't go wrong with anything on the market. It just depends on what features you need and how much you want to spend.

Answer 5

Something with a six-figure price tag.



Good ones can be had for two to three figures.



Find a local expert who is wiling to help you in person.

Answer 6

Consider any of these:



http://www.higherfi.com/audio_phono/1



(of course, you'll need an amplifier and speakers, too...)