minimal table

[beck]

i need a minimal turntable, not over $700...any suggestions? thanks beck

[JoeE SP9]

Music Hall MMF-5 $549 at www.needledoctor.com
This is a very nice reasonably priced TT. It includes everything so you can play LP's right out of the box. Of course this presumes your receiver has a phono input. If not get the Music Hall Phono Pack $120 from the same place.

[JohnMichael]

Music Hall MMF-5 $549 at www.needledoctor.com
This is a very nice reasonably priced TT. It includes everything so you can play LP's right out of the box. Of course this presumes your receiver has a phono input. If not get the Music Hall Phono Pack $120 from the same place.

Good suggestion that I will second.

[JoeE SP9]

Two of my audio buddies have Music Hall TT's. They and I are favorably impressed with them.

[beck]

thank you sir...

[emorphien]

I'm really happy with my Rega P2 which I got for $450 new with the glass platter. It's a much simpler and more minimalist table than the MMF-5 (which seems pretty nice but I haven't heard one).

Mine didn't come with a cartridge, that cost me another $130.

[dean_martin]

Check out the Pro-Jects while you're looking at the Music Halls at needledoctor.com. The new RM-5 is right at your budget and looks interesting with its carbon fibre tonearm and minimalist plinth. I've had one of the older Pro-Jects for several years and have been pleased. The Rega P3 may still be $695 too. I don't think the P2 is still in production, but if you can find one still in stock somewhere, especially one with the glass platter, you might get a good deal.

[emorphien]

I don't think the P2 is still in production, but if you can find one still in stock somewhere, especially one with the glass platter, you might get a good deal.

Ooh crap thanks! I meant to mention that. The P2 is over and done with as far as production (although there's plenty of support). I had to hunt around and call this weird place in way up in north-eastern NY to get mine.

[dean_martin]

Ooh crap thanks! I meant to mention that. The P2 is over and done with as far as production (although there's plenty of support). I had to hunt around and call this weird place in way up in north-eastern NY to get mine.

Congrats for snaggin' one of those. I followed the buzz about the P2 being discontinued. I wish I had had the extra money at the time to get one of those last ones with the glass platter. (I've learned though that something else will always be there to take my equipment money when I have it.)

[musicoverall]

Ooh crap thanks! I meant to mention that. The P2 is over and done with as far as production (although there's plenty of support). I had to hunt around and call this weird place in way up in north-eastern NY to get mine.

www.cadencebuilding.com? They're actually in northwestern NY - just north of Syracuse. Vladimir is a great guy - part audiophile, part recording engineer. Really knows his stuff. I think he's still got some P2's left. Shipping is free, too!

My second turntable, now in storage, is an old Technics SL-QD22. Got it for $25 on Ebay. The only thing that keeps it from being by far the best sub-$600 table I ever heard is the fact that it only accepts p-mount cartridges, which limits how far you can take it. The thing is dead quiet, something I wasn't sure a direct drive could do. Great arm. Really a steal. I sold my old Rega P3 when this came along.

Still, for the original poster, I'd recommend the P2. Enjoy!

[basite]

The thing is dead quiet, something I wasn't sure a direct drive could do. Great arm. Really a steal. I sold my old Rega P3 when this came along.

Still, for the original poster, I'd recommend the P2. Enjoy!

dunno, my luxman pd-282 is also extremely quiet, in fact, you don't hear it spin.

[JoeE SP9]

dunno, my luxman pd-282 is also extremely quiet, in fact, you don't hear it spin.

You are not supposed to hear it spin.

[musicoverall]

dunno, my luxman pd-282 is also extremely quiet, in fact, you don't hear it spin.

My Technics is the one and only direct drive that I have any experience with at all but the audiophile scuttlebutt for years has been that the motor isn't decoupled from the table the way a belt drive is and therefore excessive noise is introduced. For all I know, it's a mythical problem, although it appears scientifically sound. But apparently you have no problems, as I do not.

[emorphien]

www.cadencebuilding.com? They're actually in northwestern NY - just north of Syracuse. Vladimir is a great guy - part audiophile, part recording engineer. Really knows his stuff. I think he's still got some P2's left. Shipping is free, too!

My second turntable, now in storage, is an old Technics SL-QD22. Got it for $25 on Ebay. The only thing that keeps it from being by far the best sub-$600 table I ever heard is the fact that it only accepts p-mount cartridges, which limits how far you can take it. The thing is dead quiet, something I wasn't sure a direct drive could do. Great arm. Really a steal. I sold my old Rega P3 when this came along.

Still, for the original poster, I'd recommend the P2. Enjoy!

Are they in the Syracuse area? I thought they were further north east (a lot further).

That's where I got it, and given the complete lack of advertising and mostly word of mouth, they probably do have some left. $450 with the glass platter.

[musicoverall]

Are they in the Syracuse area? I thought they were further north east (a lot further).

That's where I got it, and given the complete lack of advertising and mostly word of mouth, they probably do have some left. $450 with the glass platter.

North of Syracuse - up by Watertown, close to the Canadian border. Not sure how they ended up there. But in the world of jazz, they are quite well known. Cadence magazine has a fairly large following. They also make some of the best sounding CD's I've ever heard, on the Creative Improvised Music Projects (CIMP) label. It's likely that they sell most of their audio gear to subscribers. The mag has been around for about 35 years or so.

[emorphien]

Fortunately for me, my tax return came just in time this year to buy the table before they were all gone!

[basite]

you can also check needledoctor for technics, with $700 you can buy any technics tt
you can also buy a pro-ject rm-5 tt, coming at $649 at needledoctor

[emorphien]

Haha no not exactly in the boonies. I'll probably get one issue of it just to see what is in it.

[jrhymeammo]

Thanx E-Stat, Cyberlight cables look very interesting and unique.

[basite]

you can also get a Clearaudio bluemotion http://www.clearaudio.de/ (-->products-->bluemotion) or a Clearaudio Emotion (-->products-->emotion)
they are both belt drive and look very good.

[jrhymeammo]

you can also get a Clearaudio bluemotion http://www.clearaudio.de/ (-->products-->bluemotion) or a Clearaudio Emotion (-->products-->emotion)
they are both belt drive and look very good.

I've considered that table also but at it's not under $700 new. Specs wise, probably the best TT package under $1500.

[basite]

dunno, i think is saw it for €650 somewhere, that's like $700, maybe $750

[beck]

thanks all, i called vladimir (www.cadencebuilding.com) and boy does he know his stuff---ordered a P2 + goldring cart, then ordered an NAD C272--he's real generous with his time on the phone, talks on the customer's level (mine's pretty low) without condescension....thanks for the tip!

[musicoverall]

thanks all, i called vladimir (www.cadencebuilding.com) and boy does he know his stuff---ordered a P2 + goldring cart, then ordered an NAD C272--he's real generous with his time on the phone, talks on the customer's level (mine's pretty low) without condescension....thanks for the tip!

Yes, Vladimir is one of the most knowledgable audio dealers I've ever met. Being a recording engineer, he really knows sound. The CD's he engineers sound incredible but I wouldn't recommend them unless you have a pretty good background in "free jazz". But he knows his beans. Which Goldring did you get, the 1012? I'm pretty sure that's what he recommends for the P2 and it's a great fit. Nice thing about those arms is that you can someday (if you want) put a pretty expensive cartridge on it and it won't be a waste. I once had a P3 that had a $1000 Benz woodbodied cartridge on it and the thing sounded awesome!

Enjoy your table and new amp!

[beck]

Yes, Vladimir is one of the most knowledgable audio dealers I've ever met. Being a recording engineer, he really knows sound. The CD's he engineers sound incredible but I wouldn't recommend them unless you have a pretty good background in "free jazz". But he knows his beans. Which Goldring did you get, the 1012? I'm pretty sure that's what he recommends for the P2 and it's a great fit. Nice thing about those arms is that you can someday (if you want) put a pretty expensive cartridge on it and it won't be a waste. I once had a P3 that had a $1000 Benz woodbodied cartridge on it and the thing sounded awesome!

Enjoy your table and new amp!

yep, the goldring 1012--do you have any thoughts on a cd player?---i'm thinking about NAD 542, rotel 1072, rega apollo, arcam 73T.....any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks beck