Looking at Turntable: belt drive or direct drive?

I don’t share Mijostyn’s blanket aversion to buying used LPs, but when I do buy them, I am ultra-finicky about condition and I only buy from trusted sellers after pesonal inspection (or in Tokyo, because the Japanese on average take splendid care of their LPs). One reason for my open-minded approach is that I do already own a few thousand LPs, some of which I purchased new as long ago as 40-50 years. And they sound better now than then owing to the fact that my system(s) are better now than then. By that criterion I know that LPs do not per se deteriorate with age (unlike CDs) if well cared for by a responsible owner. Also, in many cases the original pressings are superior to modern re-issues.  So, if you are very choosy, and if you don't seek hyper-collectible, hyper-valuable original issues necessarily, you can probably buy close to 50 LPs for $500 from a good source.

@rockanroller , rauliruegas is asking if you already own LPs or are you just getting started. This is very important for several reasons. If you are just starting a record collection and have not experienced the "full Monte" you might decide it is not for you. Spending a lot of money would be foolish. A Rega P1 with a moving magnet cartridge to test the waters would be a wise move. If you are already an experienced LP spinner and have many records then by all means spend more. 

Another consideration is how you build you record collection. Newbies will buy a few records and play them over and over until they get tired of them then go buy some more and continue the process. What they do is build a collection of worn out records they are tired of. It is always best to seed a new collection with 20 or 30 records expecting to buy two or three albums on a monthly basis to keep the collection fresh. This way you build a collection of records in excellent shape that have not been worn out on you. Along with the turntable you have to be ready to spend $500 or so on records.  

$1,500 is a ton to drop on a "dipping your toes" kind of venture, but I can say +1 for the Technics SL1200 MK2. I have a few decks (new, used, dd, belt) and the 1200 continues to be my go-to. Built like a tank and rock solid on delivering beautiful sound quality. Probably find one for about $500 with a decent cart. Or just buy a brand new MK7 for $1K. 

Your amp's phono stage will handle both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, so you're good on that front for now.

If you can find a used Technics SL 1200 MK2 that is in decent shape and hasn't been used by a DJ, add one of the Hana or Denon lower cost carts, and get a Parks Puffin phono stage you'll have yourself a pretty decent setup within your limited budget. 

If you like it, then you can start looking at some of the upgrades available from KAB for the SL 1200 MK2 and take it to another level.  Upgrading with MNPCTECH feet will also solidify the sound and improve vibration isolation. 

This is one of many paths you can choose.  There is no absolute "best", just best for you.

Notice I didn't say anything about DD or belt.  I have 3 DD tables and 2 belt drive tables.  I wouldn't start worrying about things like tonearms, other than making sure the table you buy has a decent one that is in good working order. 

I would avoid tables with built in phono stages.  The phono stage is as important (if not moreso) than the turntable and nothing in your budget is going to come with a decent table/arm/phonostage/cartridge all in one.

Just my opinions, for what they're worth.

@elliottbnewcombjr Sorry, I have owned all three arms to which you refer. 1 & 3 do not fall into the budget category and are not what I would call high performance arms. Moreover they are totally unsuited to moving coils and therefore limit the user if he or she wishes to try different types of cartridge. The SME 3009 with its knife edge bearings is a real old school ’pipe and slippers’ arm that does not do PRAT well at all. The Acos is hardly stellar in that department either. Rega and Project make modern fixed headshell arms which will outperform those listed and give the user more options in terms of cartridge choice and upgradability.

I still own 2 & 3, but when you put them up against a Jelco 750D you realise just how compromised they are in terms of removeable headshell arms.

"rauliruegas"

answer to your question:????????????

Dear @rockanroller  : How many LPs do you own?

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

some of the most highly respected arms have removable headshells.

i.e. SME's 3009, 3012

technics 250

Acos lustre GST-1; GST-801

significant performance compromises is an absurd overstatement IMO, especially for a beginner

some headshells can provide adjustable VTA, far more important than imagined improvement of fixed arm

for a beginner, KISS.

then there is the argument that detachable headshell arms in the budget category incur significant performance compromises in comparison to some of their fixed headshell brethren

you have to weigh up the the pros and cons..

venturing into vinyl.

the most expensive TT and Cartridge will NOT sound good unless the TT/Arm/Cartridge is professionally aligned. It takes time to acquire the skills, and a few inexpensive tools are needed.

to dip your toes, with

no serious investment or initial need for knowledge, alignment tools and skills,

I would buy a simple TT with a switchable built-in phono eq, to ascertain if you will stick with vinyl.

removable headshell is important when beginning.

I had and recommend this one:, quartz locked direct drive, factory aligned arm and cartridge, optional built-in phono (use it to start, use external later)

I actually preferred the sound of it’s built-in phono eq to my McIntosh C28 SS Preamp’s phono eq. When you decide to stick with vinyl, 1st thing to do is a more advanced MM cartridge.

this microline stylus profile comes pre-mounted in a headshell, all you would do is loosen the headshell locking ring and swap the headshell, re-check tracking force and anti-skate force.

any future ’better’ TT, stick with a removable headshell, then that cartridge can be used on it, as well as others you may progress to, i.e. Moving Coil; Mono; ....

I think the Pioneer DD would be the best choice for a first table. Just get your feet wet with analog and see if you want to continue playing records. Some people get too neurotic with record cleaning and turntable setup and constantly worry about whether the record is clean enough, surface noise, VTA, et al, and they decide to stick with cd’s.  Just buy something decent and then upgrade it a year or 2 later if you feel the need. 

My recommendation would be a new Rega package with matching Rega phono stage. Its a great starter, easy to set up and musical. P3 plus MM phono & cartridge.

turntable drive - as always, thre are no absolutes, depends on the implementation..

I would definitely get turntable without a phono stage. Phono stages are critical in the performance of a turntable, probably the first thing you will want to upgrade. I wasn’t happy until I got a $1.6K + over 30 years ago. This way you can upgrade the cartridge, and Phonostage before the table. In this price range I would look at Rega.

Does the Rogue have a phono stage? If not, then a Schiit Mani will be a good choice ($130). Or for more money a Bellari.

Pioneer PLX1000 direct drive TT ($700) + Hana SL mc cartridge ($750). You can go lower on the cartridge: Hana EL ($500) or a Denon 103R ($350). Even lower would be a Grado or AudioTechnica mm cartridge.