Turntable/record player?
 

I am going to ask for a record player for Christmas. Any ideas on what would be good in the sub-$200 price range? Looking for something durable but with good sound. I don't plan to rip CDs off of it, just listen to music.

I would tell you to add another 100 and open up LOTS of much better possibilites.

The sub 200 is mostly USB tables that are not the highest quality. The offerings by Music Hall and Project at the 250-300 price point are much better quality.

This may sound silly but you might also want to look into the vintage market. I just acquired an old console stereo with turntable from around 1970 and everything works perfectly. I even added bluetooth. It sounds way better than anything else I could have gotten for $30.

Having said that, our local vinyl shop usually recommends the Audio Technica AT-LP60 or AT-LP120 for your price range. One's a little more, one's a little less. Or, I have a friend that LOVES his U-Turn turntable and it's made in the USA, if that is important to you.

I love having a turntable and probably always will. I wish you luck finding one, BD!

What are you plugging into for sound reproduction - a stereo amp with preamp for phono, or a computer/digital system?

I've got a vintage techniques and newer one for ripping CD's which has never been out of the box yet. Had both for years. Now here we are in an age where the CD is becoming more obsolete. I'll be retired in a couple years so rather rip all those albums onto a cd I will probably just spin em. Edit: Add XM radio into the mix while traveling so who needs a stack of CD's in the SUV.

Well, my plans were to just listen through a set of speakers or headphones. Is that doable?

You have to have a receiver or amp/preamp to run the table into - and one with a phono input/preamp.

If you don't currently have one, I'd recommend looking on Craigslist or local Facebook yard sale pages to find a good quality receiver. These days you can pick something up pretty cheap if you are patient.

Decide whether you want a RECORD player, or a Turntable.
The turntable can be run through your Computer and that opens a door of almost infinite adjustments. A record player is more freestanding and you get what you buy.
I purchased a Marathon TT-101 USB Turntable, and run it through Audacitry,
I Understand it's not studio quality, but I am happy with the results.

Ed

Go for it.........I have a vintage Sansui for years and a great collection of vinyls. It is so much fun collecting vinyls as well.

I recently bought a turntable and got back into vinyl after a 35 year hiatus. It's been a blast going through my garage and digging out LPs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s in the same condition I left them. But that's another post...

After much research I decided on the Audio Technica AT120USB. It's got great reviews. It's a little above your budget but well worth it. It's a direct drive (no belts to deal with) and it's manual (like a DJ turntable) and you have pitch control as well. I got mine at Guitar Center.


Beware of cheap turntables, and/or ones that are portable.

I've read some good things about this Orbit unit - ticks all the boxes for you.

https://uturnaudio.com/products/orbit-basic-turntable

Obviously, you'd still need an amp and speakers (or headphones) to go with this, but it would be a very good start.

I should have mentioned no amp needed for the Audio Technica. Plugs right into speakers.

Assuming your speakers have a USB connection, correct?

Nope. Good old fashioned speaker wire hookup. Im not using the usb, which you can use to connect to your computer to make digital copies of your vinyl.