Beginner turntable question

[jashford]

 

Hi guys,

Recently came into some money and would really like to get a direct drive turntable for listening to records and for messing around sampling/studio stuff.

 

The Stanton str8-150 look nice, little pricey

And the audio technica LP-1240 USB look sweet too 

 

Is there much of a difference between them ?

Are they overkill? Defiantly want to get into sampling but also love a good album on vinyl 

 

Any advice / other suggestion would be much appreciado !

Cheers,

 

Jack

[Scottie]

As far as dj performance goes, stanton, pioneer and the original technics 1200 mk2's are the way to go. If you're just sampling from vinyl and listening, pretty much any DD turntable will work fine.

[jashford]

Awesome Cheers mate,

One other thing is there much of a difference between a S bend arm and a straight arm ?

[LabRat]

I think the straight arm came into it for scratching purposes. I can't remember the full story but I don't think there's too much of a difference. I've had both and they both track pretty good so it's just up to you

[Mitch]

Straight arm came in for better tracking for scratching and stuff, however people have been scratching since forever on technics, so I wouldn't get caught up on that. If you're only getting something to listen to records on, you don't need anything too over the top and I'd go for curved tonearm. Mostly what you get for the extra money is better torque which is important for DJing, and better build quality. I'd say get a basic turntable, but then get decent needles for listening that have decent sound quality and minimal wear on the record, you don't need super tracking (which wears the vinyl out more) if you're not DJing.

 

I don't have much experience with anything other than Technics, but what's your budget?

 

 

[jashford]

Only need the one turntable so around $500-800

Won't be DJing just listening and sampling so anything that can do those two is sweet , can go cheaper if you boys think that's the go

 

Cheers 

[jashford]

Anyone know anything about the new pioneer turntable (500 something) ?

 

Also are Pioneer DM-40 Monitor  decent ?

[LabRat]

I find the pioneer turntable to sit inbetween the technics and the Stanton. The pioneer has a decent drive and it tracks pretty well. Definitely worth consideration.  

As a personal preference, I rate the Stanton quite high and prefer the 150s over the technics

[Mitch]

the new one is the PLX 500 - it's a digital turntable with USB out as well as normal RCA. It's not available yet in Aus as far as I know. the PLX 1000 got a decent review though, although it was a fully analogue table, and must be a better build at double the price.

 

If you're looking for something cheap just to play https://www.storedj.com.au/products/STN-T62

I think these are the ones @Cupe has and seem OK.

 

But if you want it for sampling, might be better to hold out for the PLX 500 as you can record straight from USB without needing a soundcard as well.

 

o, also make sure you get good needles - the ones that come with the turntables are usually average. These are the ones I have, which are a decent midrange concorde -  https://www.storedj.com.au/products/ORT-OCCONPROS

 

 

[Cupe]

I have T80s and they're kicking hard after like 10 years and I beat them up

Original stylus too

[eggssell]

i have st-150s for about 7 years and yeh still going strong with original stylus

so yeah stantons go well

for sampling its probably more important how you sampling (what are you using) versus the turnie you using. unless you ripping whole tracks. then i guess you'd want one that has much less wow and flutter (though it gives it that turntable feel)

[FabDJ]

Recommend you go to Whirlpool re usb turntables. Even if you rip out the junk pre preamps you still have electronics in the way of a clean output.

Just my opinion,