Vinyl listeners? hifi systems?

Hi all,

My vinyl collection is starting to get a bit bigger and I am (more) actively collecting records. Outside of "DJ music," I do listen to lots of music. Right now i have a NAS drive with my iTunes library and use my Technics 1210/DJM 900 to listen to records. Unfortunately, I may be getting rid of the TTs and mixer (still weighing my options) and would like to replace them with a good "listening turntable" and speakers. For sound, I use the 5" pioneer DJ speakers/monitors.

tl;dr: any recommendations for a good "for-listening turntable" and speaker? I would like something that is...uh...pretty. lol seems shallow and half stupid, but these pieces would probably front and center in my living room.

Just stick with your Technics.

I bought a pair of Technics for this reason.

Technics were originally marketed as Hifi tables, but DJs picked them up. Speakerwise, that's a bit more complex...

Just buy a hifi cartridge in place of your dj cartridge. I just bought an Ortofon Omega for 30 bucks since the needle can be upgraded to their top of the line MM cartridge stylus (OM-40). Otherwise, Shure M97XE and Audio Technica AT-95 are good bets too. Denon has some nice ones as well.

Awesome site that I'm using to rebuild my Technics:
http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/

Never sell your technics, unless you have more than 1 set

agree with what silverdragon said, unless you are going to spend some cash.
i would get better speakers/amp before upgrading your technics table.

I don't dj on vinyl. I used to, but i rather have the record collection i share with my old man just for listening purposes.
At home we were always about 1)good music and 2) good sound, so much that we more often than not gave up on vacations just to buy new gear :P
We're currently using a kuzma TT&tonearm +grado cartridge to a rotel pre->krell amp to a pair of old b&w matrix 801, and a pair of diy mahogany floorstanders built with Accuton drivers as 2nd speakers :)

Best thing you can do is search for "turntable" on eBay and spend a good few hours looking through the 35k-odd listings you'll find. Find a few you like the LOOK of, then check reviews on them. Then read up on cartridges, and pick one you think will suit the genres of music you listen to most.

EDIT: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Tu...item3cd1d0bf37

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Originally Posted by mdcdesign

Best thing you can do is search for "turntable" on eBay and spend a good few hours looking through the 35k-odd listings you'll find. Find a few you like the LOOK of, then check reviews on them. Then read up on cartridges, and pick one you think will suit the genres of music you listen to most.

EDIT: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Tu...item3cd1d0bf37

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I just don't see a purpose in trying to hunt down a vintage table. You're gonna have to spend like 500+ dollars to get a table that'll compare to the Technics. The wow and flutter of the SL1200 is just insane for its cost not to mention the tonearm.

He's after a "pretty" one though.

Take a look at Pro-Ject Debut turntables; they have a few under $400 brand new that are quite nice looking and have great reviews. And they come in different colors as well. If you have a few more bucks to blow take a look at Rega.

You can buy a plinth that will sit around the Technic.

http://www.soundhifi.com/sl1200/index.htm#other
http://www.kabusa.com/m1200.htm bottom of page

Those Pro-jects and Rega are nice, but they aren't going to be as good as the Technic.

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Originally Posted by SlvrDragon50

Those Pro-jects and Rega are nice, but they aren't going to be as good as the Technic.

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You're probably right if you're comparing an M5G but I would guess these belt drives do better than the Mk2 as far as speed stability goes (but in reality we're probably splitting hairs between them). I haven't compared specs though fwiw.

If there's a "prettier" table than a technics 12 I don't want to know about it.

Even a single technics is a beautiful thing... Have that badboy front and centre.

You seen the film Shame? Mans got a nice set up with a technics at the centre :) that's the vibe IMO

Nah. I'm talking MK2 djproben. The mk2 and M5G are pretty much the same mechanically.

The SL1200 has 0.01% wow and flutter while the Project Carbon has 0.1%.

Good little read:
http://www.kabusa.com/myth2.htm

the project debut carbon with a Red pickup is the same price new as a used 1200 and its really good for listening, also good looking as furniture!
when i worked in a hifi store i sold loads of them, more popular than cd players.

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Originally Posted by SlvrDragon50

Nah. I'm talking MK2 djproben. The mk2 and M5G are pretty much the same mechanically.

The SL1200 has 0.01% wow and flutter while the Project Carbon has 0.1%.

Good little read:
http://www.kabusa.com/myth2.htm

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Interesting info, but there's a huge difference in pitch stability between the M5G and MK2 (at least the ones I've owned). "Huge" as measured in Traktor using timecode btw, I don't mean you can hear the difference; as I said earlier this is basically splitting hairs. But I did not know that was still probably better than the Pro-Ject.

If there's a difference I would guess it's only because the M5G uses a digital fader and probably makes speed settings better? I have no clue.

Either way, I don't think it's worth buying a new set up unless you really don't like the look of the Technics. Patch's Technics are BEAUTIFUL.

I've always been a fan of function over form anyways.

Another thing to note: The M5G does have better tonearm wiring than the MK2. It's something you definitely want to replace.

I still misssssss Vinyl omfg

+1 for Pro-ject Debut. Great hi-fi table.

When listening and not DJing, things like .01 wow & flutter difference become obsolete to the everyday ear unless you have super-focused listening ability. The main difference in the Project/Technics argument above is the use of belt drive against direct drive.

As said earlier, the Technics is already a hi-fi table. You'd be better off spending money on the cartridge first, then amp+speakers before replacing the turntable.

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Originally Posted by MaxOne

If there's a "prettier" table than a technics 12 I don't want to know about it.

Even a single technics is a beautiful thing... Have that badboy front and centre.

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For me the Technics SL1200/1210 design is not that pretty a turntable. It is definitely iconic but to me it’s the AK47 of the turntable world. Rock solid, dependable but definitely not pretty. Some audiophile turntables are drop dead gorgeous in comparison.

But there is no arguing it is a superb piece of engineering so why swap unless you are going for something very special.

http://www.aplusrstore.com/product.php?id=1147&cid=197
^^pretty
any other speaker options that look decent and sound good?

i think i'm going to keep the 1210s. (at least one of them...) i'll probably end up selling my mixer and just getting a pre-amp.

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Originally Posted by BestLegsinHD

http://www.aplusrstore.com/product.php?id=1147&cid=197
^^pretty
any other speaker options that look decent and sound good?

i think i'm going to keep the 1210s. (at least one of them...) i'll probably end up selling my mixer and just getting a pre-amp.

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$1800?

I tell you what, gimme $1200 and I'll make you one myself. I'll even fly out with it and present it to you on a little satin pillow.

lol yeah its a bit pricey. totally wouldnt buy it, just saying it looks nice :D

Agreed :p! though not sure it'd sound particularly good, TINY little drivers :(

Personally, I would go for a Naim amp and B&W speakers for a proper listening set-up.

I don't have a Naim myself, as my TT's are set up through a NAD / Wharfedale set-up, and my other hi-fi's are all AV set-ups, so Onkyo amps and B&W speakers. It's actually quite terrible having 2 £2500+ 4k 3D AV set-ups and running my DJ gear through 15+ year old hifi gear.

A VERY good and beautiful listening turntable:
* Technics SL12X0mkX -turntable
* Rega RB202 -tonearm
* Wood plinth for Technics
* Audio Technica AT -cartridge (95/110/120/440)

If you wanna go further with the mods, there are separate power supplies available for Technics decks. Also new platters and all kind of stuff that make audiophiles jizz in their pants.

edit: Also these feet look pretty nice to me:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-I...item20d24096a5

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Originally Posted by xs2man

Personally, I would go for a Naim amp and B&W speakers for a proper listening set-up.

I don't have a Naim myself, as my TT's are set up through a NAD / Wharfedale set-up, and my other hi-fi's are all AV set-ups, so Onkyo amps and B&W speakers. It's actually quite terrible having 2 £2500+ 4k 3D AV set-ups and running my DJ gear through 15+ year old hifi gear.

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15+ year old hifi gear is usually - not always - but USUALLY far better than modern AV set-up though ;)

Yeah, which is why I use a proper stereo system rather than AV for my DJ set-up. But I could have gone newer...

That said, my AV stuff is pretty good gear, mid-range Onkyo amps as they give the best bang for buck at the moment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xs2man

Yeah, which is why I use a proper stereo system rather than AV for my DJ set-up. But I could have gone newer...

That said, my AV stuff is pretty good gear, mid-range Onkyo amps as they give the best bang for buck at the moment.

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Yeah Onkyo stuff is nice. I love their CR series stuff, good competitors to the Teac mini amps :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xs2man

Personally, I would go for a Naim amp and B&W speakers for a proper listening set-up.

I don't have a Naim myself, as my TT's are set up through a NAD / Wharfedale set-up, and my other hi-fi's are all AV set-ups, so Onkyo amps and B&W speakers. It's actually quite terrible having 2 £2500+ 4k 3D AV set-ups and running my DJ gear through 15+ year old hifi gear.

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i can second that, sitting and enjoying my system right now.
running a naim nait xs, nac A5 cable, naim dac, b&w cm5 and a Rel T7 sub. gives me goosebumps and thats enough for me:D