turntable for daughter

My daughter has asked for a turntable for Xmas. Considering a Project Debut Carbon Evolution. Maybe a Thorens TD 190-2 if she wants automatic. any suggestions or thoughts?

Not giving her my SOTA Cosmos

Nor will I give mine the SOTA Saffire, but we have similar problems… so I am watching what you do. 

For a first turntable and for the sake of simplicity. you can't go

wrong with an entry level Rega with an Elys 2 cartridge.

I second both choices -- Pro-ject or Rega. For a bit more expensive, any plug'n' play Clearaudio package.

Pioneer PLX1000 ($700) + a Grado cartridge ($90) is better than Rega! I have a PLX in my TT collection, with a Denon 103R.

I got my daughter a cheaper turntable for starters, because I have no idea if she will get bored with it and revert to Tidal on earbuds.

I got her a used Audio Technica with onboard preamp..

If she likes vinyl by next Christmas,  and she wants better quality, I can always sell the Audio Technica without significant loss of funds and ger her a nice TT.

I was pleasantly surprised with the Fluance table I bought a few years back. Their top models MSRPs for $499.99. (They even have a model now with a Nagaoka cartridge.) Depending on where you buy in the chain, you can just swap out the platter or cartridge to upgrade to a higher model. (as I recall reading)

https://www.fluance.com/turntable-comparison-chart

Cheaper, better and easier for a beginner would be to pick up a good condition Dual. The ones that start and stop with moving the tonearm. Very good machine.

How old is she and does she have any experience using a tt?  I think that's important to know. 

+1 on entry-level Rega (P1 or P2).  Manual will teach her more about vinyl and stylus handling than will an automatic.

She is 30 and works as an attorney on the other side of the country in Boston. Has little exposure to using vinyl but has listened to my system.  Also now considering the Music Hall Classic. Am not sure whether she is going to use it with an integrated amp I can give her plus an inexpensive phono pre amp plus whatever small speakers she chooses or just a pair of powered speakers such as the PSB alpha AM3.

I guess age could play into this.  Is this a 10 year old or an adult daughter.  My teenage daughter got the UTurn Orbit. I added the que mechanism and picked the grado cart instead of the ortofon options. 
 

she is in hog heaven. 
 

I would’ve purchased a Fluance if we didn’t get the UTurn.  Rega would be my next choice.  We picked the UTurn for ease of use and color options as much as anything.  
 

It has been a winner.  If I had it to do again I would make the same choice.  
 

I had a schiit mani and she had active speakers.  
 

I would prefer the Rega with the included Phono stage if I was going for an all in one package. 

Just saw the post on the age.  I would get her the Rega that fits your price point. 

Maybe it would be good to have her go to Goodwins High End in Boston & pick out what she likes. They carry Pro-ject & Rega. Fidelis &  Audio Video Therapy in Nashua, NH are also a great places to go.

@mjs For my daughter in same situation, I recently got her a Rega P1+ which includes their $300 phono stage built-in. While not great for upgradeability, for her it was better to eliminate cables and save space. Look her easy setup was for her; this might give your daughter some comfort:

Alison Rega P1+ Setup

This with the powered speakers of your choice and she’ll be rocking. Cheers,

Spencer

Has she any software? Is she serious about this or is it a novelty? If serious and with a collection, I'd plan with an upgrade path in mind and start with something solid. e.g. no built-in phono, good cables.

She has about 100 albums from her mother. Have no idea as to whether this is long term. Not gonna spend $1500 on a turntable for her. She will eventually inherit my Cosmos-Eclipse -SME5-Shelter-Herron.  Considering Music Hall Classic for auto turn off. Goodwins still going in Boston? Remember going there in the late 70's. Seem to remember someone named Jack?

Goodwins is in Waltham now. I haven't been there in a while though. I used to go to the Boston store in the late 70s also.

As long as she's okay with a unipivot. I think you should go with a PLX1000 and AT740ML but can see the appeal of the MH.

Denon DP-300f + Ortofon 2M Red