Swapping Technics for a 'proper' listening player

Having owned a pair of Technics for around 15 years, I've come to the conclusion that they're now surplus to requirements, and that all I really want is a solid player that a) plays records nicely b) doesn't cost the earth. I can admit to being way out of touch these days with what's around, so before I go looking, does anyone have any solid recommendations for vinyl listening enjoyment? I'd rather the opinions of people who might own what I'm after than wade through marketing babble.

Also, if anyone is interested in a pair of Technics Mk3s in top condition, drop me a PM!

Sell one of the Technics, and keep the other. Unless I'm missing something here.

Granted, I myself own two 1200's and while they are not primary my listening player, I don't see any reason why one of them couldn't be if I had no other nice turntables.

  On 5/13/2013 at 2:54 PM, acroyear said:

Sell one of the Technics, and keep the other. Unless I'm missing something here.

Seems too logical

I don't know, part of me just wanted to let the whole 'DJing' side of things go, I've moved on tbh. You don't need to tell me twice how solid they are as players - they're beautiful beasts of burden that could withstand a nuclear strike of DJing proportions (and they have - when DJ Kentaro used mine a few years back he basically tore them a new one, in a good way), but I just feel like parting ways and having a fancy dedicated player to do the job from now on.

Nothing wrong with that, but you said you don't want it to "cost the earth".. yet you want it fancy. What is your price range roughly?

You're right to point that out, I have been a bit vague there. Probably somewhere around £500, give or take.

I've got a Rega P2. It's absolutely great. I'd have a look at any of the Rega range really as they're all highly regarded.

They certainly look the part - minimal, subtle design... very much a contender! How long have you had yours? Good sound quality?

I scored one these for $ 350 usd. I just had to put my own ortofon cartridge and stylus on it. You want used, or new? You don't have to spend a fortune.

If you're going to just the player route I'd suggest the previously mentioned Rega or something in the Project Debut range (I personally have a Debut III but I think that may be discontinued now and is now Debut Carbon - http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?list=debutline&cat=turntables&lang=en ). You should easily get a good one with ace stylus and pre-amp for under 500 quid

Very tasty. Would need to be a new unit.

Pretty much a ProJect or a Rega then. I agree with the other posters.

If you're into vintage turntables, especially those would wood metal bases, 70s era Pioneers, Marantz and Denon units seem to be the most popular, and you can easily restore one, or buy a refurbished one within that budget. They might be easier to get in the States though. It's really odd - audiophiles on messageboards like audiokarma and vinylengine seem to prefer belt-drive record players over direct drive from the 60-80s, with Technics being the major exception.

  On 5/13/2013 at 3:20 PM, jasondonervan said:

They certainly look the part - minimal, subtle design... very much a contender! How long have you had yours? Good sound quality?

Great sound quality, my speakers are probably my limiting factor and it sounded amazing on my Dad's Linns when he bought it. I think it's about 10 years old, I've had it for 5 years.

What's wrong with the 12's?

i'd rather invest in a nice audiophile cartridge and a nice phono pre-amp (tubes?). nothing wrong with the techs for listening pleasure, imho.

  On 5/13/2013 at 3:28 PM, jasondonervan said:

Very tasty. Would need to be a new unit.

My debut was £140, I got a new stylus for £55 (OM10), a preamp for £120 (Cambridge Azur 651), a mains isolation/cleaning speed box for £100 (Project Speedbox mk2), and cork mat to reduce vibration/noise for £20. So in total £435

  On 5/13/2013 at 4:18 PM, mcbpete said:

 

  On 5/13/2013 at 3:28 PM, jasondonervan said:

Very tasty. Would need to be a new unit.

Aye that's under £500 for a new everything.

 

My debut was £140, I got a new stylus for £55 (OM10), a preamp for £120 (Cambridge Azur 651), a mains isolation/cleaning speed box for £100 (Project Speedbox mk2), and cork mat to reduce vibration/noise for £20. So in total £435

 

I have a Cambridge 640 preamp already, so that's sorted. Looks like a nudge over £300 could get me where I want to be?

  On 5/13/2013 at 4:03 PM, CJM said:

What's wrong with the 12's?

 

i'd rather invest in a nice audiophile cartridge and a nice phono pre-amp (tubes?). nothing wrong with the techs for listening pleasure, imho.

Agreed with this and earlier posts, just jettison one of them and get a proper nice new cartridge/stylus for the one you keep... most higher end series will have an audiophile max primo fidelity model, a scratch beat-the-shit-outta-me-and-your-records model, and one in between.

And don't forget the Monster cables either!

At that price point Rega RP3.

  On 5/13/2013 at 4:31 PM, jasondonervan said:

 

  On 5/13/2013 at 4:18 PM, mcbpete said:

 

  On 5/13/2013 at 3:28 PM, jasondonervan said:

Very tasty. Would need to be a new unit.

Aye that's under £500 for a new everything.

 

My debut was £140, I got a new stylus for £55 (OM10), a preamp for £120 (Cambridge Azur 651), a mains isolation/cleaning speed box for £100 (Project Speedbox mk2), and cork mat to reduce vibration/noise for £20. So in total £435

 

I have a Cambridge 640 preamp already, so that's sorted. Looks like a nudge over £300 could get me where I want to be?

 

Swapping proper listening players for a 'proper' listening player. I would stick with one of the 1200s too.

Get the original thick rubber mat and a hi-fi cartridge for it, or if you've got a Concorde, an Ortofon Stylus 30 plugs straight in (it's what I have). You could even go for a moving coil setup, or think about a tonearm upgrade etc. if you really get the urge to tinker. Not that I think it's necessary, but there are plenty of "upgraded" and exotic components available if that's your thing.

Do the affordable Pro-Jects or Regas even come close to performing within the Technics 1200 motor's specs? Not to mention how solidly built and easy to use the SLs are. The one drawback I can see from the convenience standpoint is that they are manual, but I guess the Regas etc. are too, right?

I would just keep them, they will only get more valuable as time goes by IMO. I've been on the lookout for a pair and it's impossible to find any decent ones below the 400 £ price range.

  On 5/13/2013 at 4:41 PM, Bob Dobalina said:

 

  On 5/13/2013 at 4:03 PM, CJM said:

What's wrong with the 12's?

 

i'd rather invest in a nice audiophile cartridge and a nice phono pre-amp (tubes?). nothing wrong with the techs for listening pleasure, imho.

 

Agreed with this and earlier posts, just jettison one of them and get a proper nice new cartridge/stylus for the one you keep... most higher end series will have an audiophile max primo fidelity model, a scratch beat-the-shit-outta-me-and-your-records model, and one in between.

 

And don't forget the Monster cables either!

 

  On 5/13/2013 at 5:57 PM, manmower said:

Swapping proper listening players for a 'proper' listening player. I would stick with one of the 1200s too.

 

Get the original thick rubber mat and a hi-fi cartridge for it, or if you've got a Concorde, an Ortofon Stylus 30 plugs straight in (it's what I have). You could even go for a moving coil setup, or think about a tonearm upgrade etc. if you really get the urge to tinker. Not that I think it's necessary, but there are plenty of "upgraded" and exotic components available if that's your thing.

 

Do the affordable Pro-Jects or Regas even come close to performing within the Technics 1200 motor's specs? Not to mention how solidly built and easy to use the SLs are. The one drawback I can see from the convenience standpoint is that they are manual, but I guess the Regas etc. are too, right?

I've been a Technics listener for a while. had a 1210Mk2, recently bought a 1210M5G as replacement, and it's great.

1200 series Technics are revered for their solid base alone. If you want to go audiophile you could change the tonearm to a rega one or something. or you could just get a decent cart.

my listening set up is just my 1210M5G, an Ortofon Arkiv stylus, and my amp. i've done a few vinyl rips and people have always been impressed with the sound quality.

  On 5/13/2013 at 7:02 PM, oscillik said:

 

my listening set up is just my 1210M5G, an Ortofon Arkiv stylus, and my amp. i've done a few vinyl rips and people have always been impressed with the sound quality.

 

do you use your amp for pre-amplifying your turntable or do you go straight into the soundcard?

  On 5/13/2013 at 8:14 PM, CJM said:

 

  On 5/13/2013 at 7:02 PM, oscillik said:

 

my listening set up is just my 1210M5G, an Ortofon Arkiv stylus, and my amp. i've done a few vinyl rips and people have always been impressed with the sound quality.

 

 

do you use your amp for pre-amplifying your turntable or do you go straight into the soundcard?

 

yeah I use the phono stage of my amp, it'd be very silly to go direct into my on-motherboard sound device.