Traditional turntable help and advice needed

FOXGLOVE_2

I have a lot of old vinyl that I have been wanting to play and without my old turntable/hi-fi I now want to go about getting the equipment I need to do this.

I've looked at the USB turntables but not convinced of their quality or user-friendliness. I have also seen a few turntables with built in speakers but some reviews say the sound is a bit poor due to the speakers being small.

Here's what I want:
A traditional turntable that I would hook up to speakers. I don't know if I need to buy an amp to be in the middle. I don't want a full hifi or CD system or radio.

I'm not sure what type of amp I would need for this purpose. I have read about pre-amps but they seem only suitable when connecting it to a stereo set up.

I don't want to be spending loads of money, just need advice on what equipment I need and I will probably look out second hand gear.

Thanks in advance for any help.

A._Badger

FOXGLOVE wrote: »

I have a lot of old vinyl that I have been wanting to play and without my old turntable/hi-fi I now want to go about getting the equipment I need to do this.

I've looked at the USB turntables but not convinced of their quality or user-friendliness. I have also seen a few turntables with built in speakers but some reviews say the sound is a bit poor due to the speakers being small.

Here's what I want:
A traditional turntable that I would hook up to speakers. I don't know if I need to buy an amp to be in the middle. I don't want a full hifi or CD system or radio.

I'm not sure what type of amp I would need for this purpose. I have read about pre-amps but they seem only suitable when connecting it to a stereo set up.

I don't want to be spending loads of money, just need advice on what equipment I need and I will probably look out second hand gear.

Thanks in advance for any help.

If you look in a secondhand shop you will find any number of hi-fi amps for sale (probably turntables, too). A decent Japanese brand (Denon, for example) made ten years ago would probably be three times the quality of some of the junk on sale today and would cost very little. They are (almost always) integrated amps - so you get your pre and power amp in one package. Just plug the turntable in, plug the amp into a pair of speakers and away you go.

fwor

A._Badger wrote: »

If you look in a secondhand shop you will find any number of hi-fi amps for sale (probably turntables, too). A decent Japanese brand (Denon, for example) made ten years ago would probably be three times the quality of some of the junk on sale today and would cost very little. They are (almost always) integrated amps - so you get your pre and power amp in one package. Just plug the turntable in, plug the amp into a pair of speakers and away you go.

Agreed - though even 10 year old integrated amps may ~not~ have a phono amp built-in, so make sure it's got a Phono input or you won't have enough gain (nor the RIAA equalisation that makes it sound right).

mikey72

I use one of these, http://www.maplin.co.uk/stereo-phono-pre-amplifier-28732 plugs into a line input, (currently into the tv at the moment)

Norman_Castle

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/local-ebay-deals/

FOXGLOVE_2

mikey72 wrote: »

I use one of these, http://www.maplin.co.uk/stereo-phono-pre-amplifier-28732 plugs into a line input, (currently into the tv at the moment)

I was wondering if something like this existed! Can a pre-amp be connected to the turntable, connected to a tv and then speakers out instead of using the tv's built in speakers? Would allow me to treat myself so a decent home cinema system for shared purpose

Thanks to all suggestions so far.

mikey72

FOXGLOVE wrote: »

I was wondering if something like this existed! Can a pre-amp be connected to the turntable, connected to a tv and then speakers out instead of using the tv's built in speakers? Would allow me to treat myself so a decent home cinema system for shared purpose

Thanks to all suggestions so far.

Yes, mine goes to the front AV, (well just the front A) but could connect to a spare scart, with a phono to scart lead, then I select the input, and listen with a black screen. I could connect the tv to a set of decent speakers, but I'm ok with the built in ones.

googler

How much do you want or are able to spend...?

FOXGLOVE_2

mikey72 wrote: »

Yes, mine goes to the front AV, (well just the front A) but could connect to a spare scart, with a phono to scart lead, then I select the input, and listen with a black screen. I could connect the tv to a set of decent speakers, but I'm ok with the built in ones.

Think I'll try the set up with tv speakers first and see how it goes. I can always tart it up later but that little pre-amp is probably my best bet.

FOXGLOVE_2

googler wrote: »

How much do you want or are able to spend...?

No more than about £30-40, second hand. Not sure if I can get a new one at that price.

mikey72

I've still got my Sony from the 80's. Although I do tend to burn them to mp3 so I can listen in the car as well now.