[u235vu239]

I know you must've heard this a 1000 times, but what is best at low prices: a belt or a direct drive turntable?
And what does a "normal" amplifier need in order to be used as a pre?

Thanks in advanced

u235vu239 wrote:
I know you must've heard this a 1000 times, but what is best at low
prices: a belt or a direct drive turntable?
And what does a "normal" amplifier need in order to be used as a pre?

Thanks in advanced



Well,

A 'normal' amplifier needs to have an RIAA equalized phono input, for a
'normal' turntable. However, since fewer and fewer new amps have a
phono input, some turntables now have a built in phono preamp and can be
connected to the same inputs (CD, AUX, TAPE, etc.) as most other
components. There are also external phono preamps available running
from $30 (US) to $thousands.

While I don't think either belt or direct drive is inherently better, I
would think in a cheap product a belt drive would be easier to do. I'd
worry about the quality of the tonearm and cartridge first.

I would likely choose a used Dual or Technics (among other brands)
turntable over some of the new junk that is out there today, but it
depends on your definition of cheap.

Regards,
Tim Schwartz
Bristol Electronics

[u235vu239]

Thanks. I was looking at rega turntables. Are they really worth the price? And what about lenco?

u235vu239 wrote:
Thanks. I was looking at rega turntables. Are they really worth the
price? And what about lenco?


Hello,

I've heard that Rega turntables have a good reputation, but I've no
experience with them. Audiophile Systems (www.aslgroup.com) imports
Nottingham another British turntable. I know Audiophile systems, but I
don't have any experience with the Nottingham either. Music Hall
(www.musichallaudio.com), also have some turntables that I've had no
experience with.

Regards,
Tim Schwartz
Bristol Electronics

"u235vu239" wrote in message
...

Thanks. I was looking at rega turntables. Are they really worth the
price?

I've got one. It's OK

And what about Lenco?

I've had one - it wasn't OK.

[u235vu239]

Originally Posted by Arny Krueger

"u235vu239" wrote in message
...

Thanks. I was looking at rega turntables. Are they really worth the
price?

I've got one. It's OK

And what about Lenco?

I've had one - it wasn't OK.

Hello. And what about a Elac turntable?

Thanks

"u235vu239" wrote in message
...

Arny Krueger Wrote:
"u235vu239" wrote in message
...

Thanks. I was looking at rega turntables. Are they really worth the
price?

I've got one. It's OK

And what about Lenco?

I've had one - it wasn't OK.

Hello. And what about a Elac turntable?

They haven't been sold in the US for decades. In the best day of their life
the ones that were sold in the USA looked better than they sounded.

"u235vu239" wrote in message
...

I know you must've heard this a 1000 times, but what is best at low
prices: a belt or a direct drive turntable?

Depends what you call a low price.

I think that at the lowest prices, belt drive has better price-performance.

And what does a "normal" amplifier need in order to be used as a pre?

What's a "normal" amplifier - more details please?

[u235vu239]

Originally Posted by Arny Krueger

"u235vu239"

What's a "normal" amplifier - more details please?

I consider my amplifier a normal one: pioneer stereo amplifier SA-408, pretty similar to the SA-410, I think.
It doesn't have pre outputs, so I guess it couldn't work as a pre, right?

"u235vu239" wrote in message
...

Arny Krueger Wrote:
"u235vu239"

What's a "normal" amplifier - more details please?

I consider my amplifier a normal one: pioneer stereo amplifier SA-408,
pretty similar to the SA-410, I think.
It doesn't have pre outputs, so I guess it couldn't work as a pre,
right?

Seems like.

For future reference, a SA-408 or 410 is called an "integrated amplifier"
referring to the fact that it is the combination of an preamplifier
integrated with a power amplifier.

Integrated amplifiers almost don't exist any more as products. Yes there are
dozens of models of them still on the market, but compared to total sales,
almost none of them are sold. The market has split, and people either buy
receivers with everything in one box, or they buy power amps and separate
system controllers of some kind.

In the modern context, a receiver is just an integrated amplifier with a few
bucks of worth of circuitry added so that there is a tuner.