Author Topic: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)  (Read 660 times)

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Offline Progmetty

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Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« on: August 31, 2021, 05:38:01 PM »
Hey DTF, I'm looking into something that plays vinyl records, I have zero experience or knowledge on the matter so I need some help please.

This, or something like it, caught my eye. I like the prospect of having it include an FM/AM radio and Bluetooth connectivity. But as we all know; any device that has more than 2 functions is not great at any function. I hope this is the exception to the rule though.

I also need it to have built-in speakers, cause I have neither the physical nor the mental space to set up something nice.

Suggestions, brands recommendations, advise, any knowledge, would be appreciated  :)
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Online El Barto

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2021, 07:31:40 PM »
That certainly covers all your bases, and it's probably passable. My concern would be limited output options. I think USB turntables are what most people are going for nowadays, though. If you've got decent speakers set up to your computer then it would very likely be an improvement (though I think you may be a laptop kind of guy). It also gives you the option to convert your vinyl to digital, which is the bigger appeal.

It really depends on what you want it for. If you've got old vinyl that you want to listen to, you'd probably be better off just DLing it and listening to it in digital. Or buying the USB version that would allow you to rip your vinyl to digital. If you want to listen to vinyl because you think it sounds better (and I would agree with you on that), then this isn't going to help you much. To get the most out of vinyl you really need a quality amplifier, IMO.

And lastly, the wildcard in all of this, depending on how that thing is wired, a good set of headphones (which I'm guessing you own) may actually sound pretty good. My guess is that's probably its strong suit.
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Offline Progmetty

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2021, 10:32:41 PM »
Good deal, I might go with that one then, I like how it looks a lot tbh.

I'm definitely all switched to digital in all media and been that way for a few years, but I'm being gifted the Metallica Black Album box set, which comes out in a couple of weeks, and it has like 3 LP's on it that kinda encouraged me to look into this. I know it's a silly reason, since I don't think I'll ever deliberately buy a stand-alone vinyl record.

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Offline gazinwales

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2021, 11:51:33 PM »
If you really want to experience vinyl, then you need to spend more than $90  :biggrin:
I would not recommend a stand alone player such as the one in the link.


Offline ReaperKK

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2021, 06:47:24 AM »
I have an audio-technica record player that I like, the AT-LP120XBT-USB. It's not cheap but sounds great.

goo-goo, what cd player is that?

Offline goo-goo

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2021, 07:23:24 AM »
I have an audio-technica record player that I like, the AT-LP120XBT-USB. It's not cheap but sounds great.

goo-goo, what cd player is that?

Denon D-M41 CD Player

Offline ErHaO

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2021, 07:36:43 AM »
It depends on what you want, but I sincerely doubt the device you linked will be a quality item. Competent vinyl players are not cheap, even budget ones not really aiming for "audiophile" quality. It is mechanical/analog, meaning the quality of the motor, stylus, the table itself etc. all have a major impact on overall sound quality. Unlike digital signals, where anything that reads 1's and 0's correctly can be a good source (if connected to a good DAC and amp). I have heard 100 euro turntables that were off in tempo and sounded really muffled.

If you just want to play some thrift store vinyls and have that old scratchy vinyl sound, a cheaper player could suffice. But if you want to listen to music and want to take care of your vinyls, you do want a better vinyl player.

Also, in general you will be paying for the speakers, bluetooth and radio parts, which will likely mean this vinyl player will perform even worse than your average sub-100 player.

If new record players are too expensive, it might be worth considering looking on the second hand market (perhaps one that includes a phono for the sake of simplicity).


As for the speakers, there are good and affordable active speakers these days (meaning no amplifier is required). I doubt any all in one solution will be close to ideal.

Offline Progmetty

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2021, 09:08:54 PM »
Nice setup goo-goo!

I definitely still wanna maintain my no-physical-media policy as far as audio goes, it's just that I'm about to receive a couple of vinyl records with no way to play them.

So yeah I probably don't need anything that needs to appeal to audiophiles. But also I don't want something that's gonna fall apart in a a few month, and from the reviews I've been reading; it seems this one won't live long.

I'll probably just put these vinyl records away until I find more durable product that's also more affordable.

Thanks everybody for your input!
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Offline King Puppies and the Acid Guppies

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2021, 01:36:25 AM »
I've been using https://www.denon.com/en-us/product/turntables/dp-400 for a couple years now. Great turntable!
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Offline deggs37

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #10 on: September 02, 2021, 07:39:38 AM »
Check out U-Turn too. I've been recommended these guys by the reddit vinyl community and have been very happy. When I bought this I was on a budget but wanted quality. 5 or 6 years later and I still use it as my only player. If you're on a budget you can get the basic setup now and upgrade it later if you want - that's what I've done.


https://uturnaudio.com/pages/turntables

Online El Barto

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Re: Vinyl Players (Recommendations)
« Reply #11 on: September 02, 2021, 08:19:19 AM »
Nice setup goo-goo!

I definitely still wanna maintain my no-physical-media policy as far as audio goes, it's just that I'm about to receive a couple of vinyl records with no way to play them.

So yeah I probably don't need anything that needs to appeal to audiophiles. But also I don't want something that's gonna fall apart in a a few month, and from the reviews I've been reading; it seems this one won't live long.

I'll probably just put these vinyl records away until I find more durable product that's also more affordable.

Thanks everybody for your input!
Buy a USB record player from Amazon. Rip your new Metallica albums to FLAC. Return the record player to Amazon. Bask in your victory.
Argument, the presentation of reasonable views, never makes headway against conviction, and conviction takes no part in argument because it knows.
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