Want A Record Player, Have Questions
 

Yes that is right, I want a record player. Got down a bunch of my folks' old records today and went out to my grandpas place to listen to them on his record player and I realized that I like listening to that music the right way, on a good ol record player. So now I want one for myself.

I would like to know:

Where in the world do you get one?

How much would a good one cost?

Are there good places to get records still?

Is it worth the trouble?

You can get record players at your local music shops or online if you prefer.
Since you'd just be using it to play records, not DJ, then you can get a standard record player without having to worry about it meeting some kind of performance demand. That in mind, you could probably find what you're looking for between 50-100 us dollars. You might also get good deals on used players.

Yes, there's plenty of places that sell vintage and new records. You've probably got shops around town, and there are definitely online shops.

If you would get enjoyment out of collecting vinyl and listening to them, then yes, it's worth it.

Well thank you so much for your help. Getting a record player and some good lps is now going to be my new musical mission

If you run across some prospects on the internet and need some suggestions, let 'er rip.

finding the turntables is not a challenge. finding replacement needles is.

Just out antique stores. I got one last month through craigslist for 50 bucks with a stand and everything. You're right, it sounds so much better on a record player. I did some research on my and realized that it's from JcPenny. Yeah, I thought that was pretty weird, too. Apparently, it's a remake from the 90's of an older model, which is fine with me because it will be that much easier to fine parts. It still looks amazing and sounds even better than it looks. Definitely hook yourself up with one of these; you'll never be the same.

I got a new one from the sony store for $150can.(they might not have it in the store but you can ask them to order one for you). Sears has those old tyme ones, and radioshack sells new ones. There's lot's at pawn shops, but they're not all guaranteed to work right.

....If you live in a big city there's probably several places that sell records--the punk/independent record stores, and the the vintage places. Records sales are actually trending up because they're about as practical as the cd now but much prettier and better sounding than a cd, so a lot of old **** is being reissued.

Oh yeah I could see that. I'm wanting an actual vintage record player but the more I think about it, the more I just want one that is going to work for me guarenteed.


All be damned, JCPennys? I'll have to take a little gander in there some time. Sounds like a good deal. Haha, yeah, this record player experience has changed me forever. Can never go back to just randomly clicking songs in itunes. Just not even the same ball game.

Yeah, I like the sound of an actual vintage one, thats what I would really like, but I just don't have the money to blow on wrenching around on it all the time. I think I'm just gonna get one like what you are talking about, like at Sears or JCPennys. Well, unfortunatly I live out in the middle of the prairie, so finding ANYHING is a challenge for me, but I'm sure there are a few places around here I could come up with some albums. Thanks for the info good buddy.

....as far as record players go, there's nothing special about a record player being old....it either plays a record or it doesn't. If you buy it new at least it's guaranteed to work....I know I've wasted my time looking through pawn shops. People think records and record players are some kind of exotic animal. If you go anywhere in the big city though you'll find at least 10 copies of a particular album you wanted(hendrix, beatles, etc.).

...I don't listen to records because they're old, I listen to them because they genuinely sound better.(I think cds are compressed to like 15 tracks whereas vinyl has like 24 tracks).
....if you live in the prairie, there's websites like interpunk and insound that sell new vinyl.There's also ebay---just remember a lot of this **** isn't rare.( if you go to any record store you'll find at least 20 copies of any kiss album), so don't pay more than like $15 for any of them used.

....the hard part in the whole record collecting deal is finding a decent stereo receiver that still has a "phono" output. Though this might change soon because vinyl will probably be the only physical piece of music that's still available in 10 years.

Flower Child, I'm in the exact same place that you are. I got hooked on vinyl just a couple of weeks ago. I don't have a turntable, But my grandparents do, so i took my parents old records down to the Grandparents house. I was HOOKED! I am also looking for a turntable, so if I find anything in my hunt I'll let you know!

Well no kiddin! Thats great, I've still been on the hunt, because the ones in the department stores are rare and when you do find one they are pricey. Alot more so than I expected. Right now, I have my eye on one on the internet and am saving up money for it. Also will be sifting through the flea markets in the mean time. Good luck to you

Yeah, all the ones that I have seen have been really expensive. I already have an amplifier so I may just get a turntable.

Do u want belt or direct drive?

From the research that I have been doing, direct-drive looks like a better option. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which is better? Is one better than the other? Or are they equal.

It's simple really.

If you're just playing records, belt driven is fine. If you have any DJ aspirations, direct is unquestionably the way to go.

Svengali is right. If your just playing records it doesnt matter. I mix so I use direct drive. If your into that sort of thing I buy all my gear off PSSL.com.

Get a Project Debut USB - top quality deck for budget price, and you can make mp3s from yr vinyl really easily (although why would you want to when vinyl is better yadda yadda...).

It plugs into a Line In - ie, you don't need a dedicated Phono in on your amp, because it's got a very reasonable little pre-amp on board - bit toppy, but fine for most amps where you can just crank the bass up a little.

Can't recommend enough - it's a great deck.

I'd go for a nice second hand technics with an S-arm if I were you.
Belt drive or direct drive doesn't really matter. Even an idler wheel machine can sound quite allright.
Most really audiophile players are belt drive though.
But really, it doesn't matter that much.
Overhere you can get a decent technics for as low as 15 dollars.
A bit better one (e.g. an SL-3310 of SL-Q3) would cost about 40 dollars.

But, it's not all that simple. You will need an amplifier that has a Phono input. A record player only gives a very, very little amount of sound compared to a CD player, you will need a 'preamplifier' as it's called. You can buy these, but most seperate amplifiers have one built in.

Then there's the cartrigde problem. I don't know how good your ears are, but the differences between cartridges (noob mode: That's the thing you stick the needle in) are huge. And then there's the problem of matching.

The Advise I give everyone who wants to start buying records is:
Buy a simple technics with an S-arm, buy an Audiotechnica AT95E cartrdige and, if you need a seperate phono preamp, don't go for the cheapest ones. This might be the most expensive part of your vinyl journey. Often an amplifier with built-in Phono preamplifier is way cheaper. Be advised.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

About the pro-ject mentioned above: It's value for money, but it's still low-budget. It is in no way better than a cheap-ass second hand technics (and I've tried, believe me ;)).

About Direct Drive/Belt Drive: None of those is better or more expensive. There's bad, cheap direct drive turntables and as I mentioned above, most really expensive (more than 2000 dollar) audiophile turntables are actually belt drive.

When in doubt: Don't buy anything that's made out of plastic and weighs the same as two packs of cigarettes. Look for wood and steel ;).

About needles (Styli), they are no problem whatsoever overhere, but I don't know what it's like where you come from.