Turntable (or swap for amp).

WTD: Turntable (or swap for amp).

Hi all,

I'm interested in getting hold of a turntable, anything considered but must be working. Preferably with cart etc. Looking to pay no more than £300, seriously no more! OR I have a Croft Twinstar 1 with very little use (just drives my rear speakers!!), probably 50 to 100 hours on this so effectively new (boxed mint etc.) It's £1500 rrp so would be looking to swap for a decent turntable.

I'm in Bedford and can dem. + I can collect the turntable from you too (assuming you're not in Scotland).

Thanks! Tim

 

Go for the Logic DM101 on eBay, a fantastic TT.

 

Hmm not fussed with travelling that far but I'll take a look. thanks for the info.

 

The dm101 was very under rate give it a decent psu like the flutter buster or similar and its a match for most of the sub 1k decks. Oh yes, I used to have a mark II, and now a mate has it, its still going strong twenty odd years on.

 

It's the cart on the deck that doesn't look too good (is it ok?) + I'm reading that the arm is very average. I've been offered a new (couple of hrs use) Project Classic with a new Goldring cart (£120 quids worth) for £285, with the other decks current set up would you expect it to be better (+ I'd have to travel for the 101).
hmmm advice appreciated.

 

Tim,

Its been my experience that a good phono stage is a pre-requisite to a good sound, and that inbuilt phono stages are rarely any good.

If you can get the Logic deck for under £200 that leaves you with plenty for the likes of a Graham Slee phono stage. These come in at around £125, and anything less will compromise your deck.

Seriously mate, even second hand you cant get a decent phono stage under approx £60-£70 as an absolute min

cheers
chris

 

Ah ok, I have a basic project one at the mo (my first cheap deck got smashed up by the post office). Although that is very interesting as I was going to skimp here. The logic deck is £280 + the travelling, probably around £310.

 

Tim

If the dm101 is more than you can spend, a Thorens TD160 is a good bet at under £150.

Plenty of room for a new cartridge if you need one, and a phono stage then.

Here's the sort of thing: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thorens-TD160...5833154921QQcategoryZ3283QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Rega also made some great phono stages that you should get used for circa £100.

The valve'd Project phono stage is supposed to be ok (but I havent heard this one myself).

TBH a: "Graham Slee 2, Denon 103 cart, Thorens TD160 with Rega 300 arm "..

is about as good as you will see for £300 all in.


I dont remember the dm101 (think I heard one a long time ago), but if Lee and Zanash say its excellent - Im sure they are right.

 

*nb*

just noticed this Thorens floundering on ebay at 99p with 4 hours to go!

might be a bargain to be had there for you..

(the arm doesnt look to be as good though, but for pocket money prices it might be worth picking up)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thorens-TD-16...5832096564QQcategoryZ3283QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

that thorens would be sweet if the reserve is nice and low

 

I upgrade from a thorens 160..the dm101 is several magnitudes better ...but the thorens is a good deck to.

 

Thanks all.

Got one... Thorens TD160B Mrk2 with Rega R200 arm and R100 cart (probably change this). Aparently in superb condition too. £75 quid... not bad me-thinks.

Any advice \ opinions on this one?

Cheers, Tim

 

Tim,

Im moving this to the 'hifi' section of the forum because you will get more people reading and more responses.

 

phono and cart are very personal choices.

Sticking with your original budget of £300,

I'd get a second hand EAR 834p (one at retro reproduction for £225) and a Denon 103 (about £75).

If that blows the budget I'd look at Graham Slee phono stages.

Im sure you will get some other advice though.

 

Ah cool. Would the EAR be too good for the TT? I thought the 160 was a "budget" sound.

 

There's loads of good thing you can do to the td160 to raise its performance ...pm me

 

IMO I wouldnt go too nuts on the cartridge - Id consider a couple of hundred to be as much as I'd ever put on a rega/thorens. I dont see why you shouldnt get the most out of it with a decent phono stage though... and £225 is a great price for an 834p.