I would like to buy a turntable for use with my system. I currently
have about 300 LPs almost all of which are used, non-audiophile
pressings. Mostly classical with some jazz and some rock. I would
prefer standard mount so the cartridge can be changed.

I'm specifically looking at the Project Debut II ($279) and Goldring
GR-1 ($399). Which would you choose? What else should I be
considering?


thanks
Sathyan

System:

Onkyo SR500 receiver
Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 speakers
Music Hall CD25
Pioneer DV-563 DVD/SACD

"Sathyan Sundaram" wrote in message
om...
I would like to buy a turntable for use with my system. I currently
have about 300 LPs almost all of which are used, non-audiophile
pressings. Mostly classical with some jazz and some rock. I would
prefer standard mount so the cartridge can be changed.

I'm specifically looking at the Project Debut II ($279) and Goldring
GR-1 ($399). Which would you choose? What else should I be
considering?

You might also consider the Music Hall MMF 2.1, even though I haven't used any
of the 3. The only problem I have with these 'tables is that they come with
cartridges already installed. As an audiophile, I'd like some choice in that.
Now basically the good news is that in the price range you're looking at, all
these designs are fairly simple, and therefore will probably sound decent
without any easy way of screwing that up. What that also means is that there's
not a lot that can wrong with them over time. That means buying used is a good
deal. You might buy a used one with a cartridge that is old, or even not
included, which means you don't have to pay for it and you can buy your own. (A
used cartridge is a much more risky proposition than a used turntable.) Having
said that, make sure the turntable has a good, stable location (this is much
wiser than spending $2,000 on a turntable design that tries to deal with
problems partly associated with bad turntable placement.) Second, cartridge
alignment and setup is *very* important. A $100 cartridge set up properly will
sound much better than a $2,000 cartridge set up poorly.

A little off the topic, I think the AR was the best budget table ever
designed, and the Merrill mods made it into a machine competitive with
the overpriced and arrogantly vended Linn Sondek. Since Merrill is out
of business and I'm not buying anything with a certain competitive
'alternative' logo-I mean, they can do what they want, but not in MY
living room!-I can't recommend buying an AR anymore. But I'm
disappointed no one makes a relatively inexpensive table with the
salient AR/Sondek features, to wit, the three point suspension, and a
choice of AC or DC motor which are silent and magneticaly inoffensive.
With the AC motor you can build a variable freq supply to drive the
table at 78 on the 45 rpm pulley, say, or use the 33 for 45. DC motors
offer variable speed at the price of using a PLL. (A 3 phase high
cycle motor, of course, would be probably the best.)

wrote in message
ups.com...
A little off the topic, I think the AR was the best budget table ever
designed, and the Merrill mods made it into a machine competitive with
the overpriced and arrogantly vended Linn Sondek.

But IMO, the suspension is one reason I don't like turntables like the AR,
at least in the cheaper price range. I was never happy with mine. Now my
brother's SOTA is another matter, but also an order of magnitude more
expensive.