Markman Posted May 2, 2022 Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 digging out some of my old vinyl - bound to be a bit crackly so I am not looking for high end geek kit but it seems you can pay between £40 and £150 for something that looks ok on Amazon anyone got anything cheap and cheerful that sounds ok they can recommend? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTonyTony Posted May 2, 2022 Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 40 quid sounds cheap to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norn Iron Posted May 2, 2022 Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 If you have a half-decent amp and speaker system then £40 would be like owning a Golf GTi but you insist on 16" wheels! What amp have you got? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norn Iron Posted May 2, 2022 Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 Also, clean your vinyl. It'll make a big difference if they've been stored for a long time. There are expensive gadgets on the market. Here's the cheapest and it works brilliantly! I always use a very soft 2 inch paint brush (clean obviously)! Add a few drops of fairy liquid to one side of your vinyl. Use your brush to clean the grooves. Then shove said vinyl under a tap. The purists would say to avoid the label. I don't worry about that any more as the water will run straight off. Use your brush again to get into the grooves. Shake off the excess water and then use a very soft cloth to dry the vinyl. I use my son's saxophone cloth. Works a treat! Do same thing to other side of vinyl. It's worth playing the vinyl prior to cleaning just to see how much of a difference the cleaning makes. You'll be stunned and chuffed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taz Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 I got one about 2 years ago in HMV for about £60. Can plug external speakers/amp into it but I don't have the extra kit, nor the room for it. Plus an 18 month old that loves wires and climbing everything!! It has a built in speaker, decent sound, and does the job for me. Off the top of my head (in work) I can't remember the make or anything, but if I remember I'll check when I get home. I came across a box of vinyl for sale for a fiver a few months ago, mainly loose, and the ones that had covers were water damaged, presumably as they were badly stored. I took a chance for the price (about 100, even if only a dozen were ok i thought it was worth a shot), and despite some of them looking really ropey, dirty and having parts of the sleeves stuck to them, have cleaned up really well, and actually play ok (the ones I've listened to so far anyway). Cleaned them up with some vinyl cleaner, and a brush kit, again from HMV for about a tenner, then wipe them over afterwards with a clean microfiber cloth. Even sorts out the light surface scratches.... Obviously if you have a bigger budget and want a better bit of kit, then you'll get what you pay for at the end of the day, but the one I have ticks the boxes for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsince1994 Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 Make sure you don't go for one of those cheap "suitcase" style players, sound shit and will ruin your records. At that price range I would recommend an audio technica LP60. £130 or there abouts, nothing fancy but sounds pretty good! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Sinclair Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 8 hours ago, redsince1994 said: Make sure you don't go for one of those cheap "suitcase" style players, sound shit and will ruin your records. At that price range I would recommend an audio technica LP60. £130 or there abouts, nothing fancy but sounds pretty good! I’d agree with Audio Technica - got an AT-LP120X and it more than does the job 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markman Posted May 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 9 hours ago, redsince1994 said: Make sure you don't go for one of those cheap "suitcase" style players, sound shit and will ruin your records. At that price range I would recommend an audio technica LP60. £130 or there abouts, nothing fancy but sounds pretty good! Cheers - I confess I was................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsince1994 Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 1 hour ago, Ronnie Sinclair said: I’d agree with Audio Technica - got an AT-LP120X and it more than does the job Yep AT stuff is great. I got some LP120s to gig with until I could afford some pro gear. 6 years later and ive never replaced them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taz Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 12 hours ago, Taz said: I got one about 2 years ago in HMV for about £60. Can plug external speakers/amp into it but I don't have the extra kit, nor the room for it. Plus an 18 month old that loves wires and climbing everything!! It has a built in speaker, decent sound, and does the job for me. Off the top of my head (in work) I can't remember the make or anything, but if I remember I'll check when I get home. I came across a box of vinyl for sale for a fiver a few months ago, mainly loose, and the ones that had covers were water damaged, presumably as they were badly stored. I took a chance for the price (about 100, even if only a dozen were ok i thought it was worth a shot), and despite some of them looking really ropey, dirty and having parts of the sleeves stuck to them, have cleaned up really well, and actually play ok (the ones I've listened to so far anyway). Cleaned them up with some vinyl cleaner, and a brush kit, again from HMV for about a tenner, then wipe them over afterwards with a clean microfiber cloth. Even sorts out the light surface scratches.... Obviously if you have a bigger budget and want a better bit of kit, then you'll get what you pay for at the end of the day, but the one I have ticks the boxes for me. Jam Turntable That's the exact model I have, although the price has jumped up a fair bit. There is a chance that I may have paid a bit more than I originally thought, but not that much! As I said it suits me for what I want it for, although if you aren't connecting external speakers, then play the record with the lid up, as otherwise the sound can sound a bit tinny as the speakers are underneath the lid! Second the comment about the suitcase turntables - father in law had one brought for him for Christmas a few years before he passed, and it wasn't great at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted May 4, 2022 Report Share Posted May 4, 2022 First thing, advice I got given when I first bought HiFi equipment . Don't worry about the price, if it sounds good to you, that's all that counts. Try and listen before you buy. Richer were always good for prices, but I'm not sure they have a listening room any more. They used to let you take your kit up to listen with any new bits you wanted. It would be a good place to start. Getting some cleaning kit is a good idea too. I'd steer clear of the really cheap ones though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norn Iron Posted May 4, 2022 Report Share Posted May 4, 2022 2 hours ago, 1960maaan said: First thing, advice I got given when I first bought HiFi equipment . Don't worry about the price, if it sounds good to you, that's all that counts. Try and listen before you buy Absolutely correct. I could tell you to listen to a Linn Sondek LP12 with appropriate arm and cartridge through your amp and speakers but if you thought you preferred the Amazon 40 quid special for its tonal qualities, then this is what you buy. A visit to Sevenoaks AV would help you out as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isawjonshaw Posted May 5, 2022 Report Share Posted May 5, 2022 I’ve got a record shop on Discogs if anyone is interested. https://www.discogs.com/seller/DolmanF/profile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted May 6, 2022 Report Share Posted May 6, 2022 I don't know if this interests you but you can pick up ION record players on eBay for anything from £20 and up. They are reasonable players and if you have a laptop or PC, the USB ones can be used to convert your albums into MP3's via their software which you can download off their site. Failing that you could get lucky like me, and have your muso neighbour give you a £500 Technics deck he just had laying around his garage. (I bought him a couple of premium bottles of Gin and Vodka as a thank you). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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