OT: Best Record Player

[CougarArcher]

The wife ordered me a record player without asking. She has already ordered a Crosley Coupe. I looked at the reviews on Amazon and they were terrible so I told her to cancel the order. What does the pack recomend for a beginner. Would like to stay around $100 or less. I want good sound.

 

[DerHntr]

I don’t know anything about that, so I’m going to let someone else explain it.

 

[Rockydawg]

A Crosley is total crap. A good beginner record player would be something Audio Technica. I would suggest the AT-LP120 but it’s going to be slightly more than a hundred bucks. Any record player you get for just that will most likely be garbage.

 

[CougarArcher]

A Crosley is total crap. A good beginner record player would be something Audio Technica. I would suggest the AT-LP120 but it’s going to be slightly more than a hundred bucks. Any record player you get for just that will most likely be garbage.

Is the sound good from a record if you buy a Bluetooth player and use Bluetooth speakers? I just don't want to mess up the sound...

 

[MSUDAWGFAN]

Probably the "best" record player is by Mcintosh, but it cost 10 grand. The platter lights up. Looks really cool. I got a Pro-ject Debut Carbon in 2016. Its a solid record player that runs around $400. My advice would be to save a little more and go a little higher than $100. The previous poster that mentioned Audio Technica have good advice.
It's a solid record player that will be better than any beginner record player.

There's debate on whether or not playing a record will damage it in the long run. Maybe it does and maybe not. The reason I got a debut carbon is that the arm only exerts 1.8 grand on a record, so if it does damage the record, it won't damage it as much as most other record players.

 

[Rebeldude]

Look at the Fluance RT80. It's only about 170. The RT81 is 250. It's what I have. It has a built in phono pre-amp that can be bypassed if you get a better external pre-amp later later. You'll need powered speakers. Edifier makes a good pair for about 100 bucks. Unless you plan on hooking it up to a dedicated amp and speakers. The Fluance and Edifier setup makes a nice little standalone system that sounds good. I personally started with the RT81 and Edifiers.

As for your Bluetooth question, it can be done but you'll need a Bluetooth adapter with RCA cables that can plug into the player that then pairs with your speaker. I think you'll suffer some quality in sound, but it would be a nice option to have to listen outside or something.

Vinyl setups can quickly become a rabbit hole you can throw a lot of money at if you go down it. Amps and pre amps (both solid state and tube), speakers, records, etc. Lot of info out there on the web.

 

[engie]

I don’t know anything about that, so I’m going to let someone else explain it.

 

[aTotal360]

Need any advice on a high quality smoking jacket too?

 

[RocketDawg]

Are you talking about a turntable? Many years ago, when they were pretty respected in affordable component systems, I had a Dual 1229 along with a Marantz receiver and AR speakers. I really liked it and used it until CDs came along. Some say vinyl sounds better than digital ... I can't tell much difference, other than a scratched vinyl disc has a lot of pops. I've still got it somewhere.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Audio Engineer. We've finally found out engie's profession.

 

[rebsgoingdown]

Victrola 750b..has cassette and cd also built in...less than 200.00...not the fanciest or the best but was gift for Christmas and I really enjoy listening to all my old albums and cassettes on it.

 

[ColoradoDawg]

Audio Technica is the brand I bought and it has worked really well. They have a lot of different price point. I think you mainly want to avoid buying the 2 in 1 record player/stereo. Get a decent turntable and then connect it to your audio system.

 

[Rockydawg]

It depends on what type of sound you are looking for. I wanted that rich, organic, warm vinyl sound. So I bought a vintage Sansui receiver on ebay for about fifty bucks. I've kinda pieced together my system over the years. Most of the stuff has been given to me; A pair of massive Klipsch speakers, plus a pair of dry-rotted 8" woofer Infinity bookshelves that I easily refoamed for dirt cheap. There are a few other little toys to make it sound bright, but overall, the sound is what I wanted. Willie nelson, Chicago, Buddy Miles Band, Neil Young, and Steely Dan sound amazing. But it's not necessarily set up for like: Tool. Although Tool doesn't sound terrible, I've heard it on other systems where it sounded ten times better.
Not to mention: The Audio Technica is cusomizeable. You can spend a little bit later to upgrade your stylus and it makes a helluva difference. And a cheap tone arm scale can help you get the weight just right which (if there's any validity to playing records damages them) will help preserve them.

 

[ababyatemydingo]

The wife ordered me a record player without asking. She has already ordered a Crosley Coupe. I looked at the reviews on Amazon and they were terrible so I told her to cancel the order. What does the pack recomend for a beginner. Would like to stay around $100 or less. I want good sound.

Get on eBay and find a Technics SL-1200 from the 80's.. not kidding. They'll run about $400, because of demand

 

[seshomoru]

Since it looks like a few of you know what you're talking about

I'm coming into possession of one of these: Zenith Cobra-Matic Console

The cabinet and everything is in good shape, so it at least is going to make for a cool piece of furniture (that I'm not having to pay for). Is it worth getting this thing working again?

 

[The Peeper]

The sound is only as good as the record itself

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

second this. Especially this one. https://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT-...samzn-20&ascsubtag=bst-13-1591593813276689902