Is a GREAT turntable under $2000 possible???

I recently got my hands on a Scheu demo with an Ortofon Super MM 40 and Rega arm for well under your $2000 price...truly a work of art!

I had never used a Scheu table before, but the performance seems to be that of tables costing quite a bit more....especially with the separate motor unit.

I think I could take this table through an upgrade path (new cartridge, new arm, ect) and not max out the capability of the actual plinth, plater and motor until I got well into the $$$$s of dollars in upgrades on other parts of the system. Which at this point is my plan!

Don't know @rjsmith1 as this is my first go at vinyl. I think it's a good place to start!

Question is what is good enough to serve your purpose? I bought a Pro-Ject  Debut Carbon Esprit SB (DC) that cost ~$500 US about three years ago. I have a tin ear and listen almost exclusively to hard rock, so opinion is not well qualified and I can't tell enough difference between the good stuff and the great stuff to justify the large price differential. But I really liked the turntable. Big, thick acrylic platter and Ortofon cartridge that killed anything I could afford as a college kid several decades ago...  Back to qualified opinions. 

I just upgraded my table to an RPM 9.2 with a Sumico Blue point special EVO III for just over $1800 on sale from Audio Advisor.  That unit retails for close to $4K so its a great deal.  Very heavy acrylic platter, carbon fiber arm, and what I like best is it is filled with metal shot for dampening and uses opposing magnets on the feet so it is, literally, floating on air.  I can pound on the table top where it sits and it doesn’t resonate through.  I’ve very impressed with the soundstage of this set-up through my Martin Logan SL3 electrostats run through a Creek class a amp with a phono section.  Tight, accurate, tremendous separation.

Clearaudio Concept

Thank you @cd318 for you insight.

Vibration/resonance control is what all turntables are trying to achieve as they go about tracking the previous grooves. It's an endlessly complicated business, but basically you might want to help lower the already good resonance floor of the Technics a bit further (let's say -10Hz where deck/cartridge resonance starts creeping). 

The lighter the structure the better it normally filters out traffic rumble etc, but movement is a no-no. That's why shelves can be difficult to get right - the wall is usually moving too much.

Huge mass can help with keeping it still, but it depends upon where your turntable lives. It might be worth checking if you could find an phone app to measure surface resonance before placing down your deck. That could take away a lot of the guesswork. 

Have fun! Always, always have fun with audio.

You could find a very nice Thorens TD-124 or TD-125 for that much money. There was a version of the 125 that Thorens built that came with a 12 inch SME tonearm. Buy a Schiit Mani, and if that seems too budget there's a company that makes an external PSU for it.

Any opinions on putting the Technics TT on a piece of Mapleshade for vibration issues or not necessary. It's going to sit on the stereo cabinet below the tv. Interested if anyone has a thought on this. Thanks!

Howdy folks-

Here's what my round 1 trip into vinyl looks like:

SL 1200GR Technics 
Lehmann Audio Black Cube SE II 
MasterTracker MM and a Gold Note Vasari MM

I'm got nice Au24 interconnects for this baby already. Everything should be here this week. Hopefully my buddy Erik can stop by and help me set everything up. Ohh and I got my first album today, Amy Winehouse- Back to Black. 

Very excited to experience vinyl in my system and in my life in general. I whole new experience awaits....

Stay tuned!

I too have a SL1200GR and it is a solid performer. Good choice!

My vote goes to a WTL Amadeus....estimate $1,250-$1,400 used. I’ve heard good things about the MFSL carts from a close source I trust. Pair that setup with a good MM phono like a Heed. I thought the Quasar was great for the money, so I would consider their lower priced Questar MM phono stage. This should keep you south of $2,500.

I appreciate everyone's 2 cents. I've decided on the SL Technic 1200GR for my TT. Still percolating on the phono pre and carts. I've got some nice recommendations to mull over. 

Excellent advice @kahlenz  Your recommendation of the Mofi Master Tracker is the second time that one's been mentioned. I look forward dabbling a lot. Looking forward to this new vinyl experience.

Take a good look at the Mobile Fidelity tables. I have the Ultradeck with the Ultratracker cartridge. This table replaced a Clearaudio table that cost more than twice the price. The CA table was lean sounding, and the MoFi table is just plain fun to listen to. It's built like a tank, and it's dead quiet. It's simple to set up, and comes adjusted right from the factory. It should give you years of trouble free service.

+1 Shubert! I too have a Pioneer PLX1000/Denon 103R and it is certainly the best under $1000 TT today! And it is made in Japan (if I am not mistaken!).

+1 pkvintage! I have the Thorens 160/SME4 and 125/Rega300. Both are great TT's and capable of competing with the expensive machines!

Thorens TD 160, a few mods and any number of cartridges. Alwayd a solid performer. 

Forget to mention that the Schiit Mani will work with your modified Denon 103 when you get it.  You will be surprised.  I ran a regular 103 through it and was impressed.  I'll admit I have stepped up my MC game a bit, but I probably spend more time listening to my MM carts.  Go figure!

While you are waiting around for the Zu modified 103 and stressing out over compliance issues and phono-preamp matching, get ye an Ortophon 2M Blue and a Schiit Mani and listen to some records. There are tons of really cool MM carts out there that will be fun to try without breaking the bank. I’ve got an old Grado that brings me back to listening to Zep in the dorm, an AT 440 mlc that still gets into rotation, and a new Mofi MasterTracker that is sublime (got that instead of the Ortophon 2M black, but it was a close race). Also have a few old Stantons and Pickerings that are fun to dink around with, and an old Shure V-15 V that is a bit high compliance but works fine with the brush down. Buy a couple cheap headshells and a 6 pack and you’ll be having more fun than you thought possible without breaking any laws!

Marantz, all the way!!

I’m currently looking for the Zu modded Denon 103 for my cartridge but Zu is sold out.

I use Zu Audio speakers and cables, but if you want to put Zu Audio Denon 103 on your technics stock tonearm it will be a mismatch. You’d better look at what Zu Audio used for their Zu DL-103 HERE It’s Audiomods tonearm from UK on ZU Technics SL1210. You need high mass tonearm for any versions of Denon 103, the effective mass of the stock Technics tonearm is too low for such a low compliance cartridge like Denon. That’s why Audiomods tonearm was chosen by Zu Audio for ZU DL-103

About tonearm/cartridge matching: https://www.ortofon.com/support/support-hifi/resonance-frequency

I picked up a new in box Marantz TT 15S1, 2-weeks ago from Amazon for $1200.  Great sounding  turntable for the money.   The money I saved I can spend on a nice acrylic hood.

I know only of two candidates, the suspended Michell Gyro SE £1899.00 complete
 
https://www.vickershifi.com/Products/MICGSE202?gclid=CjwKCAjwt5DXBRAtEiwAa3vyEg3lhbt4JvabvZiSVs7ehfl...

and the vectored Funk Firm Little Super deck £1584 w/o cart.
http://www.analogueseduction.net/funk-firm/funk-firm-little-super-deck-turntable-with-funk-firm-f5-t...

However for a simpler life you might prefer the lovely Project Classic or my choice the fuss free bomb proof Technics 1200GR.

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I've purchased the Technics Sl 1200 Gr. I'm currently looking for the Zu modded Denon 103 for my cartridge but Zu is sold out. Will aquire with them too regarding a suggested phono pre.

I have to add...
If your system budget is over $20,000, you could do far worse than checking out the Technics 1200G.  These new Technics tables are a different animal than the old Technics 1200 series tables (although they look the same).  As an old AR and Grarrard guy, and more recently a fan of British belt drive tables, I am not enamored of the looks (your audiophile friends will deride you for having an 80's style DJ 'table), but soon you will be having the last laugh when you stop looking and start listening.

The Technics 1200GR is the best turntable I could find for my under $5000.00 vinyl front end project (buying new;  if you are willing to go used you can likely do better in some respects, but at some risk).  The 1200 GR is not the end-all/be-all of turntables, but it is a solid performer and flexible platform that allows for simple set-up and easy experimentation with various cartridges.  Climbing up the ladder from there requires careful matching between cartridges, tonearms, and preamps (and a lot more attention to system synergy).  If your total system budget is under $20,000, and you are not inclined to endless critical tinkering and evaluation, the 1200 GR would be well worth investigating.

The technics 1200gr really makes things unfair to many turntable manufacturers.  it is a lot of table for the money.   a lot.  you should listen to one.  The VPI scout is also a lot of table for the money, especially an older one with the acrylic platter.  just a steal for what they are going for.

Of course, it all depends on your definition of 'great turntable'. I'd say a good enough turntable is definitely possible to build for under $2,000.

For example, you could hunt for a used Systemdek IIX. Off the shelf maybe not that fantastic, but it is endlessly tweakable, and you can quite easily nudge it to the very respectable level for very little investment.

I have tried it with Jelco 750E 10" tonearm, and it sounds stunning. Jelco will give you the ability to try out various mid-to-high-range cartridges, so you won't be limited in that area (I'm currently using Denon DL-103 and Ortofon OM20). I'm mating Jelco with Nagaoka cables, which is an awesome upgrade.

Lastly, you can top it off with iFi Micro iPhono 2 preamp and still won't break the bank. iFi iPhono 2 is maybe the best bang for the buck I've seen lately (but don't bother with iPhono 1, it's not nearly as good at 2). It will give you that much coveted 'silky' and deeply sonorous sound that I was previously only able to hear with seriously expensive phono stage.

With the above configuration, I am convinced that you will be able to give more expensive turntables a good run for their money. Of course, you won't be able to beat ultra high end gear, but for the meagre $2,000 or so you're sitting in a very respectable audiophile position. Nothing to scoff at.

It depends on your definition of great.

@wspohn @alanholvey 

the OP already purchased new Technics SL1200GR 

The new Mobile Fidelity turntable goes for under $2000 and supposedly is quite good for the money.  Recently a nearby high end audio dealer dropped Rega and now only carries Music Hall and Mobile Fidelity in his lower cost turntable offerings.  I myself was able to purchase a mint Thorens/Rabbo combination for $950 so there is always the used market as well.  Of course I would have to pay considerably more to do better than my Thorens/Rabco combo.  Oh yes, I also have an original AR turntable which works quite well for my small audio system.

Excellent advice everyone. Thank u Peter @pbnaudio for the headsup!

IMHO, the best way to go if you are a discerning buyer, is to get a used table/arm and maybe cartridge ensemble that cost up to $6K for your $2K.....

People that own that sort of table tend to take very, very good care of them and you can find some excellent deals from some poor misguided audiophile who has decided to go over to the dark (digital) side.  You might luck into some hard to find LPs, too.

You should not plug the Japanese version directly into your US wall outlet as this will result in a 20% over voltage - it possibly could handle it for a while but you’d be pushing the internal regulators pretty hard. Their heat sinking is designed to only dissipate so much.  The small step down trafo I recommend above will do the job easily it’s rated, optimistically @ 500W, your turntable draws less than 10W.

You certainly can get better ones, in our GrooveMaster Turntables, the versions based upon the Denon DP80 which was only made as a 100V unit, I install a custom made made step down isolation transformer for an example.

Good Listening 

Peter 

@knollbrent

I’m thinking the Lehman black cube statement and the Orotfon Quintet Bronze Cartridge will pair nicely.

Why do you think so? Just because someone use it ?

JLTi phono stage from Australia is amazing, with this phono stage you can try different loading with MM and MC cartridges.

If you’re looking for a new cartridges i would recommend to try Garrott P77i MM, if you need a LOMC and your phono stage is very good then look for the Audio-Technica.

Vintage cartridges like the AT-ML170, Grace F14, Stanton CS-100 WOS, Glanz MF-61, Pioneer PC-1000mkII are superior to the most of the modern LOMC and definitely much better than modern MM.

P.S. you need step-down transformer for japanese electronics, they are on ebay, Super SD-30 (30w) is what i've been using for my SP-10mkII before i bought 1000w step-down trans to connect everything. 

Is the Japanese Technics version ok with the adapter or should I order a different one? Dont want to introduce excess noise???

Thanks for your help. Quite excited 

Yes.

Maybe a VPI Classic used for $1700-1800 including arm.  Add a Denon 103-D new cartridge or possibly a Denon 103-R used.  Either would be about $200-250.

https://www.amazon.com/VCT-VT-500J-Japanese-Transformer-Converts/dp/B000PC4JL4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF...

Heres one 

Best of luck 

Peter 

Excellent table - but remember since you bought from Japan it’s likely a 100VAC unit so you will need a step down transformer. 

Readily available on places like Amazon for about $30 or so.

Good Listening 

Peter 

Congratulations!  I think you made a good choice with the Technics.

The goal of $2000 for a great table is difficult, presuming you actually adhere to the adjective great.  The Marantz is a nice enough product, presents a complete, tidy package, but great?  I can't go that far, its low-end lacks foundation and solidity.  The current lower priced Clearaudio offerings better it, but still don't come up to great  

I just purchased the Technic SL 1200 GR from Jspan for $2100.
I'm thinking the Lehman black cube statement and the Orotfon Quintet Bronze Cartridge will pair nicely. 

All highly recommended.  The Technic has been around for a long time. Solid choice I believe

@avanti1960 

Very interesting everyone. Really enjoying the comments and researching the components and learning more about how the system runs. For my first trip into Vinyl I wanna keep it simple, most likely new and between $2000 to $3000. I know I'll need help setting it up and will look my friend for that, but new makes me feel more comfortable while the feet are wet. 

Technics SL 1200 Gr
PD-441 by Luxman
Marantz TT15s

The above are pretty nice and high on my radar. Phono pre, maybe a cartridge, nice sturdy block of something for it to sit on and it's gonna sound pretty good. 

Thanks again for chiming in and I look forward to sharing my results and hearing more suggestions. 

Brent

Clearaudio Concept Wood w Concept MC cart.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CLEARAUDIO-CONCEPT-TURNTABLE-MC-WOOD-NEW-FACTORY-SEALED-WARRANTY-SPECIAL-SA...

Well worth it!!!

Budget version of PD-444 is the PD-441 by Luxman, which you can find for 2k with nice tonearm and cartridge. It’s direct drive turntabel in aluminum plinth (heavy). This little PD-441 is eye candy, classic 70s style, the motor made by legendary Micro Seiki, so the quality is top notch. If you can find it without tonearm it can be under 1k, then you can add tonearm. My PD-444 is much bigger and i prefer it to the Technics SP-10mkII. Tonearms on my PD-444 are under $750 each (Victor UA-7045 and Luxman TA-1 with removable armwand). Great combination for MM cartridges. I've been using Grace F14 and Stanton CS-100 WOS on those arms as you can see on the picture. I’m sure the PD-441 with some classic tonearm is a great start, actually it will be a great analog rig. Good luck!

I think you could do that for $2000. I would probably buy a used turntable and a new cartridge.  I would consider a secondhand entry-level clearaudio table and arm with a  dynavector MC cartridge, something like the 10X5 perhaps. I have a JA Michell Tecnodec Which is pretty nice and in that price range. You can get one with an arm for $2000 new. Find a good one used, and you have freed up enough budget for a new cartridge.

I just got the Technics SL1210GR with a mofi MasterTracker....about $2300....absolutely love it.