What turntable, $500 or less

I am in the same boat as you. Tomorrow I am previewing the Debut Carbon and The RPM 1.3. I have already heard the Rega RP1.

I own a Thorens 145mkii that I am getting sick of babysitting.....I just want a machine to play music, not fiddle with like a 20 year old car.....

I will let you know how it goes.....

db

Arrived at "the Sound Room" in Traverse City MI. on Saturday. After listening to the Debut Carbon Fiber and the RPM 1.3 for what seemed like 2.5 hours I decided on the Debut Carbon.

Once getting it to my dads { I Live 3 hours away and he is only 1/2 hour from Traverse, plus he has great gear to listen on! VTL preamp, Jolida Tube amp, Linn Sodek and these big ass Merlin speakers. All this really lets you feel like you are right there with the band!} We listened for a few albums and decided that the Ortofon 2M that came with it had to go. So I put on my Denon DL-110. BLAMM!!! The cartridge smaked the record like it was weighted with gold. After checking with tracking force and trying to figure what else might have changed we were stumped as to why the cartridge was riding against the record. My dad happend to leave the arm "next" to the record and as we watched it was drawn to the platter. So you see the Pro-Ject Carbon Fiber has a metal platter and the Denon Dl-110 has a strong magnet in it. We were floored at this finding. I have video of it I will post once I get around to it.

I notified the owner of The Sound Room and he was ever so gracious to meet me there on Sunday and I upgraded to the RPM 1.3. The Pro-Ject 1.3 has an MDF platter. We listened to the Sumiko Pearl for a few albums and determined it to had to go. Placing the Denon DL-110 on the Pro-Ject 1.3 is an incredible sound. The cartridge is brand new and I have to admit we were both very pleased with this set up right out of the box. {It does not compare to his Grado Sonata that is on his Linn, but it was in the same area code}

I have been waiting for this moment for months. Like many who read this you probably have poured over all the entry level budget turntable reviews wondering which one is right for you. I spent way to many hours on that subject on my google page. I have to say that this is the right turntable for me. I like everything about it. The sound is full, deep and high with this Denon. It has handled everything from Andrew Bird, Ray Brown, Miles Davis, Echo and the Bunneymen, Tom Petty, Don Cherry, Canonball Adderly, Norah Jones, Coutning Crows, Pink Floyd, Wilco and Neil Young exactly as I expected to hear them! {Thats all the albums I have listend to so far so if it sounds like this now I cannot wait until the cartridge opens up.

I have heard this set up on an incredible tube system and at home now I am using my Soundcraftsmen Pre-Amp, Music Hall 25.2 Amp and my Athena LS-500 Speakers. It really sound awesome.

Two Thumbs way up!

db

Hey B_limo, re-read my post and you will see why I went with the 1.3. I have not had any vibration problems. I have had zero problems. My wife has problems with me playing all my records!

As far as keeping it around $500 then my advise would be to get the carbon and maybe you will like the Ortofon that comes with it.

I dont know your system but you could get the Cambridge pre-amp or even the Pro-Ject phono pre...or something cheaper and keep it all at $500 easy.

The Carbon sounded fine but not once I went to the Denon DL-110.... {See my post above}

Hope that helps a little....

db

There certainly are other options out there. But after my long search I landed at the 1.3.

I have the Cambridge 640p which sounds fine, but just came into a fantastic and rare Soundcraftsmen pre-amp that is incredible.

You certainly wont go wrong with the Cambridge or the Pro-Ject.

This is where this hobby can shake your brain and your cash :-) {and we are in the "budget" audiophile market :-)

Good Luck and listen to as many systems as you can.

db

On the Carbon you cant adjust the VTA. You can on the 1.3.

This would come in handy if you decided to flirt with different cartridges. When I put the Denon on it was almost the same size as the Sumiko Pearl that came with the 1.3 so I left the VTA alone. But its there if I need it :-)

I use tubes for listening. Once you get the right system tubes are the only way to go. {In my opinion}

For background listening I have a solid state Music Hall. Works great. But my Jolida really brings the music alive.

Good Luck!!

db