Turntable

Originally posted by Stairmaster E:

I just got a great technics directive drive table for under $50.

I let Orpheus Recs have mine for $20 when I junked my vinyl last year

I hear that you and your band have sold your guitars and bought turntables.
I hear that you and your band have sold your turntables and bought guitars.

I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.

Whatever you do, don't get a belt drive…WAY worth it to get the direct drive. Also love my Denon.

Originally posted by bearman:
Whatever you do, don't get a belt drive…WAY worth it to get the direct drive. Also love my Denon.

Very high-end turntables (over $1K) are often belt-driven because of the weight of their platters. Heavier platters have steadier speed (which is pointless if you have an off-center disc, a common problem with vintage vinyl).

My understanding of the great direct vs. belt debate is as follows: Direct drives have the motor connected directly to the platter. Belt drives separate the motor from the platter. The latter is preferable because it reduces vibration. Higher-end direct drive tables resolve the vibration problem with damping mechanisms. DJs prefer direct drive because they do all that wiki-wiki mixmaster stuff and donâ??t want the hassle of knocking the belt off the spool or stretching it. For home listening, belt drives are generally a better choice because you can get higher quality at a lower price.

Been collecting for decades and still love the vinyl. This web site could be your new best friend:

http://www.needledoctor.com

Personally I had a Pro-ject $300 turntable that I bought new and loved it. I had no choice to jump ship though when I scored a nice condition Thorens from my brother. Ciao, Toby

I bought a Sony PS-1700 a few years ago at Plan 9 in Richmond. I picked it because it was an older model and had a vintage look, plus I got it for $30 because a friend at the store hooked me up.

It worked pefectly until I moved in September. I also broke the cover in the move.

Record and Tape Exchange, I think that's the name, in Annadale/Fairfax is where I get most of my vinyl. I went through my CDs and grabbed anything I hadn't listened in years and sold them for store credit. I received enough credit to buy a good number of records to start a collection.

When it comes to vinyl I try to be very selective and only get albums that I will listen to start-finish (Low, This Years Model, All Mod Cons, The Queen is Dead…).

People think direct drives are essential because it's common knowledge that DJs like them. But direct drive is only important if you're going to be messing around with scratching and stuff. Otherwise, it doesn't matter, and belt drives even have some advantages, described above.

In real life, the odds of ever having to replace the belt are very low.

I respectfully disagree about not needing direct drive. The thing I love about my direct drive is being able to control the pitch, not only that but the great thing is that the speed is constant. I've found that belt drive turntables tend to wear and there's nothing worse than a warbly LP. Maybe it's just me, but I can hear those slight variations and it drives me nuts.

Belt drives to me are like automatic transmission on a car. Sure they are fine and really easier if you're just taking the kids to a soccer game. but if you really want to drive…get a 5-speed (6-speed)

and i agree with bearman, i like DD for its pitch control abilities, not the "wiki wiki", whiteboy phrase ggw used, lol.

as far as quality goes i dont think buying a $100 table is gonna matter which style it is very much.

Came across this the other day after reading this thread:

http://www.hammacher.com/publish/74106.asp?promo=mp3

Anybody have any thoughts/opinions about the conversion quality?

Pitch control is not unique to direct drive turntables. It's generally not necessary unless you're trying to play a record at a non-standard speed - you know - if you're doing all that wiki-wiki stuff while rolling on X and sucking a pacifier.

Generally speaking, guys who like direct drive tables wear Axe body spray and drive Hondas with chrome rims. Is that the kind of guy you want to be, Hoya?

i wear old spice deodorant and don't own a car, i guess i should get one of these belt drive things?

I don't think I'd confess to that if I did!

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
i wear old spice deodorant

Sundazed Music is selling a Music Hall turntable for $349, plus you get you get to choose three LPs to go with it, all of which are pretty cool.

http://www.sundazed.com/

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Pitch control is not unique to direct drive turntables.

Yeah. The turntables I started DJing with (which I'm looking to sell, actually) are Gemini belt-drive and have pitch control.

Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I don't think I'd confess to that if I did!

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
i wear old spice deodorant

Hey, don't knock the Spice. It's one of the very few brands that offers deodorant without anti-perspirant.

Originally posted by Christine Moritz:

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Pitch control is not unique to direct drive turntables.

Yeah. The turntables I started DJing with (which I'm looking to sell, actually) are Gemini belt-drive and have pitch control.

Hoya Paranoia and MissP:

I'll plan to PM you with information about my turntables in case y'all might want to split them between you.

Originally posted by le sonick:
Belt drives to me are like automatic transmission on a car. Sure they are fine and really easier if you're just taking the kids to a soccer game. but if you really want to drive…get a 5-speed (6-speed)

So can I get a paddle-shift turntable to give me the best of both worlds?

why would you need pitch control unless you're a DJ or an Axe-wearing wiki-wiki-er?

This reminds me of the kind of thread where someone asks for a practical get-around-town bike, and half the recommendations are for bikes over $1,000 because that's what the recommender has…