[Music] Buying a turntable and speakers advice

bluenitsuj said:

Looks like a good option and I can add an amp later on if I wish. With the automatic arm, does that cause an issue if you want to play a track that is not the first track?

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Not really an issue - you can use the automated start/stop button but you can also move the arm manually, all good.

Not to patronise but just to make clear - there's an UP/DOWN button - to lift and lower the arm, once lifted you can move it across to where you want to listen from, then press again to lower it onto the vinyl.

I haven't read everything in this thread, but here's my 5c.

Firstly don't by anything that looks like a suitcase, they're all crap. Nor anything with the Crossley label on it.
It you want new gear. Audio Technica probably make the best budget stuff. Personally though, I've never nought a record player new in my life, if you go second hand you can get a much better quality table for less money. £300 might get you a reasonable new turntable but leaving nothing for speakers, but it will get you a fairly high end second hand turntable,

Think about how you want to use it. Back in the 2000s I still had a proper hifi with turntable, CD, Tape, radio proper amp the works. I don't anymore, and depending on how you want to listen you possibly don't need it and it's worth looking into powered speakers that don't need a separate amp.

I'm still using one of my old decks from when I used to DJ. It has (like all older decks do) a phono level output, which is much much lower (we're talking milliVolts) than a standard lineout, it's basically what the cartridge puts out. Older amps (and some new amps) have a phono input with a built in pre-amp to bring it to line level, many new amps and powered speakers don't have this though, which means you'd also need to buy a pre amp. Some modern turntables have a built in pre-amp so they can provide a direct line level output. You need to check this whatever you buy. Some modern turntables even have built in bluetooth or a USB digital output that you can plug straight into your PC.

Like many people these days my speakers (surround sound) are connected direct to my TV and my laptop is also connect to the TV. I bought a combined pre-amp and analogue to digital converter which was cheap and works very well. My old turntable plugs directly into one end (red white and earth) and the output is a USB cable. So I just pay records through the laptop. There's no loss in quality that I can tell and the converter was a lot cheaper than buying a new hifi setup. The one I bought is made my Citronic, but unfortunately discontinued but there are others out there.

deletebeepbeepbeep said:

Since there are a few hifi experts on here can I ask a related question? I bought the this Pro-Ject+ Elemental turntable nearly 10 years ago.

Home review

The Elemental is yet another top class budget deck from Pro-Ject. It’s a fine first step on the vinyl ladder

www.whathifi.com

It has been through about 3 house moves since then and given that it has basically no housing has seen a bit of wear. I need to get a new needle for it as the one the cartridge came with has snapped. Is that all I need or do I need to replace the whole cartridge? If so what cartridge would be best?

Tempted to just buy one of those Planer turntables linked elsewhere in this thread to be honest.

Also to the OP I have an amp (Onkyo A9010) in my garage that turns on but won't produce any sound. You are welcome to it if you want to see if you can get it fixed (I asked Richer sounds but they weren't interested due to it's age). I don't want to just throw it away as it might just need some soldering.

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That project table should have come with an ortofon 5E cartridge so if it is just the needle that has snapped then you do not need to replace the whole cartridge just pop on a new stylus

for people who want to get in to vinyl but are really short on space the Audio Technica Sound Burger is a great little device.

What leads would I need for connecting Wharfedale 9.1 speakers to Cambridge axa25 amp, please?

bluenitsuj said:

What leads would I need for connecting Wharfedale 9.1 speakers to Cambridge axa25 amp, please?

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Bump

bluenitsuj said:

Bump

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Just some speaker cable. Richer, Audio T or Amazon will sort you out