Recommendations for a Good Starter TT For Ripping? (2024)

Hi --

Was Wondering if I could poll for suggestions on a good starter turntable for vinyl rips?

At the mo, I have these:

https://www.amazon.com/ION-Audio-Vinyl- ... 00WG3OXRA

https://www.amazon.com/Turntable-Blueto ... QH6GQNE01

The second one may have run down its batteries or tripped a fuse in the wall outlet because it does not turn on anymore.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Lord Reith wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 2:01 amI have a Project Debut. Didn't cost the earth but is solidly respectable and been around for years.

Yes a Pro-Ject is a good choice. Or a Rega Planar. Depends where in the world you are though...they are similar money here in the UK but I think Rega can be a fair bit dearer in some territories.

You'll need a DAC with a Phono stage or a good soundcard and a Phono preamp. Ideally don't get a turntable with a DAC built in.

The best thing ever was when I bought the Debut and started going through some old records. I fished one of them out of a box (the soundtrack to the film Witness)and as I took the disc out, out plopped four hundred smackers onto the carpet! I almost fainted!

I have no idea how it got there, but my best guess is that I put it there for "safe keeping" a long time beforehand (like, 10 years before) and forgot it was there. If that's true there must have been point where I thought I had lost it.

The eerie thing was that the turntable cost exactly 400. Since I'd never have bothered looking at that record ever again otherwise, it essentially paid for itself.

...further thought for you.

Don't rule out a good secondhand deck. If you can find an 80s or early 90s Rega you will have a better table than the ones being sold today. And if you get it for a good price put the money you saved towards having it properly set up by a hifi specialist.

I'd also recommend going the vintage route --- but with '70s era Japan gear: bullet-proof construction and above average sound vs. (certainly) any "modern equivalent/same price-point" component you'd find out there today.

If I were a budget audiophile looking to do vinyl rips for archival purposes, I'd seek out a setup chain like this (now, I mention these particular pieces because I've had them: but, IMO, one couldn't get better results at such a low/sub-$700 TOTAL cost for 4 components...and, really, no need for a computer interface in the process).

TT: 1976 belt-drive Pioneer PL112D
Cart: Ortofon MM 2m Red
Phono section (inclusive of an integrated amp): 1973 Marantz 1060
Digital recorder: Tascam DR-O7

Controlling the record level from a stereo RCA "Y" patch cord from the "preamp out" jacks of an integrated amp, run-into the digital recorder thru a stereo 1/8" mini plug: avoids any point of having to process it through a computer. The purity of the analog signal is far better preserved.

Store it on a 32GB San Disk memory card and then upload it to Mega/etc. thru a burner phone (number) anon. E-mail account.

hogshead of hellfire wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 10:21 pmI'd also recommend going the vintage route --- but with '70s era Japan gear: bullet-proof construction and above average sound vs. (certainly) any "modern equivalent/same price-point" component you'd find out there today.

If I were a budget audiophile looking to do vinyl rips for archival purposes, I'd seek out a setup chain like this (now, I mention these particular pieces because I've had them: but, IMO, one couldn't get better results at such a low/sub-$700 TOTAL cost for 4 components...and, really, no need for a computer interface in the process).

TT: 1976 belt-drive Pioneer PL112D
Cart: Ortofon MM 2m Red
Phono section (inclusive of an integrated amp): 1973 Marantz 1060
Digital recorder: Tascam DR-O7

Controlling the record level from a stereo RCA "Y" patch cord from the "preamp out" jacks of an integrated amp, run-into the digital recorder thru a stereo 1/8" mini plug: avoids any point of having to process it through a computer. The purity of the analog signal is far better preserved.

Store it on a 32GB San Disk memory card and then upload it to Mega/etc. thru a burner phone (number) anon. E-mail account.

If you are using a 100% computer unconnected digital recorder during recording why would you then use a 'burner phone' to get the digital file onto your computer? Just connect it by USB to transfer or take out the SD and plug that into your computer. In both cases surely it is just passing an already digitised signal...no 'purity' is harmed...?