IGNORE the Shamers Who Say You Need EXPENSIVE Equipment

Everyone starts somewhere, and it's all about the joy of vinyl. It's not about how expensive your equipment is or how large your collection is.
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My mission here at the Joy of Vinyl is to bring together a community of vinyl record enthusiasts and to introduce a new generation to the "joy of vinyl".
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#VinylCommunity #VinylCollection #RecordCollection

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Please tap LIKE and SUBSCRIBE Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter at JoyofVinyl.com

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Motor Humm, if not separately 😮

[@markadams4316]

We all started somewhere. Buy what you can afford and if you are happy with what you have, that's all that matters.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

It really is all that matters, Mark. With you on that.

[@neilfisher7999]

Spot on Rick! You can apply this same logic to other hobbies and other interests. Spending more doesn't always make it better.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

If I had any more hobbies Mandie would freeze our assets 🤣

[@rossheard9446]

I own a $500 Dac Amp combo and many tell me it's not enough to "really" enjoy my music through my various headphones which range from $50 to $2000. I once visited an audio store and listened to a system costing over $5000. I spent some time listening and when I left the store the smile was ear to ear not because it blew my mind but because it sounded no better than what I had for a fraction of the cost. Many times it's just a rabbit hole. Cheers.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Don't you just love that, Ross 😎

[@TheCollectorCave]

AWESOME video! After years of wanting to get into vinyl I finally took the plunge in April of this year. Bought the Audio Technica AT-LPGO-BT from Walmart and I absolutely LOVE it. I'm even running it to my surround sound via Bluetooth! The audio snobs would feast on the very notion! But you know what? I absolutely love it. The subwoofer and sound stage with my setup sounds great to MY ear. And I can BBQ on my back deck, have a drink, and hear my records playing. I liken the vinyl journey to slowly developing your palette for wine. It took me quite a few years of drinking wine to find out what I liked and how much I am willing to spend on a bottle, etc. I know the same will hold true with my vinyl experience as I mature with the hobby. But for now, my setup gives me tons of joy, and that's all that matters.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Great analogy. Same with scotch. Never understood it years ago. Squired a taste for it and began a journey to understand what I liked. While I'd love to spend the money on a good single malt every week, my wallet keeps me with blended, and I'm okay with that.

[@Jeep_on_audio]

Good analogy. That's what I wanted to say too. I'm getting more into wine and there's just soooo much to learn. Same for whiskey, and artisanal beer. Many things to enjoy. And appreciate more the more you learn. Fortunately an LP lasts a lot longer than a bottle of single malt or merlot.

[@TheCollectorCave]

@Jeep_on_audio If a record lasts longer than a bottle of Merlot....you're drinking it too fast! 😁👍

[@TheCollectorCave]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Haha yeah. I've started a bit with scotch too!

[@TheCollectorCave]

@stevecruz465 Thanks! It's been really great so far! Thinking I might upgrade to the 120 for my next TT.

[@glennlittle124]

Videos like this are one of the reasons I look forward to every time you put out a new video! Love the attitude and truthfulness!( the comedy certainly helps too! LOL) I have an early 80s technics turntable with a P- mount along with some Fisher floor speakers that I am perfectly happy with and thoroughly enjoy every time I play a record! Will upgrade someday, i am sure, but for now, I love it! Great video, as always!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Always appreciate your comment, Glenn 😎

[@iankirk4660]

Great video again Rick. Absolutely 100% correct these snobs should be ashamed of themselves.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thanks, Ian!

[@quocrip]

As fellow youtuber Andrew Robinson says “The only person who has to like your system is you”. This is so true. I’ve saved to the point where I have a Pro-Ject Debut Pro, Ifi Zen phono stage, Cambridge Audio AX-A 35 integrated amplifier and some second hand Celestion 5 bookshelf speakers. To my ears, pure class. But you don’t have to go to those lengths. You’re so right Rick. It’s all about the music, NOT the gear.

[@net_news]

100% true but most (young) people don't have previous experience with vinyl so they don't know what they like beforehand. I think ~$500 is a good starting point for a TT... if you spend less than that... well, the audio experience you'll get won't be better than CD or Streaming.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers!

[@luisperez-fs2gz]

I saw the hit piece about your post. I could not believe that you could cause so much harm to that poor soul. I have many hobbies, and what I have learned, is that money and shiny objects will not always take you to the promised land. I was open to hear his critique up to the point where he went "Tone derangement syndrome". Your advice to all of us is sincere, genuine and very informative- no matter what experience level we find ourselves. Keep up the good work!

[@DarKnight0064]

😊 100% well said 👏

[@luisperez-fs2gz]

By the way, my F150 is stick shift- which also serves as an antitheft device.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

🤣 - yep - nobody under a certain age can drive it

[@DarKnight0064]

​@@luisperez-fs2gz😂😅

[@greyhoundude6112]

This is a good video. Nice to see some common sense. Having said that, I'm glad I have my $95 Blu-ray player and all of the used CDs that I've been picking up for between $2 - $5 thanks to all the people that are dumping them and buying expensive vinyl. For me it's all about the music (CDs sound great, BTW) and not about the music delivery system. And I drive a 7-year-old Honda with a manual transmission. It will never die.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers to that!

[@davidmorgan6896]

CDs objectively, measurably, quantifiably sound better than vinyl.

[@justinparkman3585]

Not on my house they dont ​@davidmorgan6896

[@SP3152]

BRAVO for standing up to the insanity of Record collection and sound systems. Thank you for your bravery and keep it up. Love your channel.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you!

[@garyrobinson8665]

I've got an Audio Technica LP3XBT with Bluetooth speakers. I love it. Best system I've ever had. Sounds great.

[@sarahbannon4752]

@@garyrobinson8665 I have this TT too, it sounds great to me.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's what it's all about, Gary. 🍺

[@ricotubbs1]

I'm one of those ppl that after many, many years of collecting vinyl records, decided to upgrade to a better turntable. Currently, I have the Audio Technica LX60 and it has served me well over the past 10 years. Now, I'm considering The Fluence 81+, the Rega Planar 1, or the Audio Technica LPW30. All three are priced within the $500 range. So, the audiophile snobs can kick rocks.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

🤣... if you think of it, let me know what you end up getting.

[@ricotubbs1]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Will do.

[@ricotubbs1]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Settled for the Audio Technica ATLPW30. Cost, $330. The biggest issue is the learning curve that comes with balancing the counterweight on the tone arm and anti skate adjustments. Head. Ache. Once I'm over this hurdle, I believe I will enjoy this turntable for awhile. The only change I might make is the stylus. The one that came with the table sounds a little bright for me.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

@@ricotubbs1 It does take a bit to get used to adjusting VTF and anti-skate. I was always intimidated by it at first until I did it a few times (hopefully you won't have to do it more than once - unless you change the cartridge). Speaking of which - it sometimes takes a cart a few hours to settle in. The brightness might be tamed.

[@ricotubbs1]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Good to know, thx!

[@williamcampbell3868]

This is from a 64 year Black man and music loving audiophile. In my mid to late 20's I had a somewhat audio elitist attitude but was not extreme with it. This developed after college and trade school when I could afford high end equipment. Earlier, of course I went through the stages from my parents consoles, boom boxes, combo stereos, and my first reciever. From there to separate amps and vacuum tube amps, etc. I've long ago ditched my audio elitism. To all music and audio enthusiasts, keep spinning the vinyl, CDs, reels and etc. Let's just enjoy the music and our systems! New or vintage! 😁👍👍👍

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Truer words were never spoken! Thank you for being here 🎶

[@JimmyV1530]

Love my Fluance RT85 TT, Klipsch speakers & my Dayton audio HT100 integrated tube amp. My entire set up for about $1,000 / this is probably my final set up after up grading to this set up. I love the sound & it all fits perfectly into my listening room.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's great, Jimmy!

[@alexzekany6001]

Hi Rick, first let me say I truly enjoy your channel and when you do a video like this, you take your channel to a whole other level. My wife and I kept our records from when we were young, so we had a good collection. I more than her got back into vinyl when we decided to replace my old Dual CS5000. Needless to say I have increased our collection and I have rediscovered my interest in music, both new and old (mostly old - LOL). She shares my love of music but does understand the search for the perfect sound, but she lets me explore!! Also I loved your reference to the tactile experience, I too love a manual gear box and taught my youngest to drive one - which he loves. Thanks again for a great channel, please keep up the good work!!!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you, Alex! Made my day 😎

[@darthwarren4599]

I started with a fluance rt82 and moved around the vintage tables until I got a sl-1200mk2 5 months ago and am in love with it. We have to start somewhere and upgrade or even stay with what we like

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Exactly!

[@christianmrkhansen9991]

Great video 😊 My mum who is 78 got back in to vinyl about 5 years ago and she runs a 200$ turntable and 200$ active speaker setup. With the speakers placed in the living room wherever they fit. She got me in to vinyls about 4 years ago, and I have spent significantly more money that her, 800$ turntable and som beautiful A500 Buchardts… BUT somehow listening to records with her in her living room is just magical ❤ 😊

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's really great, Christian. Thanks for sharing that!

[@si1208]

What a refreshing point of view! Ignore the audio-snobs and enjoy your music however you want to. Good job !

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you, Simon!

[@richiehimes7990]

Thank you for doing this video. The truck analogy is perfect. Sufficiency is a concept not too many people get. I believe it is a means of them justifying their purchase. No matter the item, if they aren’t going to buy it for me, their opinions mean very little. 😎👍

[@NeedleDropRules]

You nailed it right on the head. My first record purchase was back in 1982. I had a cheap plastic kids record player. And I played those records to death. Not long after that, I got an all in one Lloyds stereo. A definite improvement, but no where near audiophile. In the mid to late 80’s, I got what I thought was my first “real” turntable. And all it was was a Fisher taken from a rack system with a Pickering cartridge. I thought it was absolutely amazing and couldn’t believe how good it sounded. The whole point I’m getting to is that I had turntables that audiophiles would consider mediocre to horrible, and I loved them. I’ve since upgraded to stereo equipment that is so much better. But it took me 40 years to get to where I’m at. And I lived listening to my records on every system I had. If you’re happy with what you have, then you’re doing it right.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Your experience pretty much mirrors mine. It also took me 40 years to get where I am, and I loved my various setups (certainly not audiophile) every step of the way.

[@velchuck]

I have a Fluance RT85, and love it. Man, I don’t waste my money! I still have my JVC JL-A40 which I bought new in 1978. I also love it. They work very, very well for me. 😆😆😂

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Great turntable there!

[@dasherf17]

I started with a Dual 1218 and Empire 1000 SE/X cart, Kenwood 3130, Omega 4" "full sound" speakers...totally happy 'til the receiver lost a channel... Since then I've bought used, my brother gives me his cast-offs (a Sansui 1000x right now) and acquired up to 22 turntables of various makes and models...oh, sure, I'd love one of those multiple tonearm tables (DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!), but until the right one comes along at a good pace, I have the one I have to change out every so often (I also have 33 cartridges)... Thanks Boss!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

22 turntables! Wow! Had to laugh at the 'Lost in Space' reference 😂

[@dasherf17]

​@@TheJoyofVinylRecords that was my first impression when I saw a pic of one of those...absolutely a holy grail for me... I wonder what it sounds like with all tonearms on the record at once...especially on Revolution 9...🤪...buuut that's me... Thank you Rick!

[@frankplissken143]

Here is a starter system of great quality, affordable components that comes under $600 total. Fluance rt82 >$299 Schiit mani 2 phono stage>$149 RSL iA255.1 integrated amplifier >$110 Neumi Bs5 speakers $109 $30 left for cables. You're set. This can grow with you gradually if you want, or it is great as is. Don't feel left out if you cant jusify spending as much as a car on your stereo.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Awesome advice Frank!

[@louismartinez7387]

Rick your advice for those new to vinyl or to those putting together a startup system for the first time is spot on!! I think it's always a good idea to start out slowly and build from there according to budget..adding or changing a piece of equipment only after serious listening and determining if its value is monetarily worth the investment...hopefully rendering improved sound quality...so keep the videos comin Rick...the VC needs your intelligent approach and sound advice to all things audio.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you, Louis - I appreciate that!

[@vinylordie1301]

The source material is so important. With good records you can have a really good experience with inexpensive gear!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Agreed!

[@lokerola]

I went to Capital Audio Fest with my son last weekend. We expected to be blown away by all the high end gear. Some rooms sounded great, but some were very so-so. It all made me appreciate my humble system at home. Yea, I probably have close to $10k in the entire system. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything at the show. There were CABLES that cost more than my entire system. LOL !

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Glad you got to go! I was watching some of the footage from it (couldn't go this year myself). I saw one pair of cables mentioned that were 29k. 😱

[@TheModestAudiophile-oq2hy]

Great video! I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks for posting.

[@thomasrandleman7057]

Very incisive and a “real world” video! It good to reminded that certain people are more interested in the gear than the music. Fine. But the magic of music is “magical.” I finally gave up the chase and listen to the music . I think I am Blessed to come to this realization. Thank you for all your videos!🤗

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you, Thomas. I appreciate you being here.

[@Jeep_on_audio]

All true. I like to help new enthousiasts on a budget. I also have 40y experience in soft- and hardware. It doesnt have to be expensive at all. But it DOES help to have more budget! Especially on the lower end improvements are big. Fortunately there are now many more really good, really affordable options than say, 10 years ago. Especially phonostage and amplifiers. Also many lp pressings are really good, even if they are rather pricey. It is the second golden age for music lovers on vinyl. Unfortunately there are also many 'experts' that give really bad advice. And envious killjoys. "You can't buy it because I cant afford it" telling you a Crossley scratchomatic is good enough. "You cant hear the difference anyway". There are two extremes on that spectrum of know-it-alls. Nice talk again! Bringing some nuanced common sense. Highly appreciated.

[@net_news]

Define "expensive".

[@AncientEgyptArchitecture]

Absolutely agree. And one should not overlook used gear, which can be just as good as when it was new and deliver good quality performance for a fraction of the cost. My Technics SL-10 is a fabulous turntable....$200

[@moogoomoogoo5990]

I started off with a $289 Sylvania, I believe, combination record player, 8 track recorder and receiver, that I bought with paper route money in junior high. Kept the same system thru high school and college. Had some of the best times with friends discovering music. So retrospectively the best $289 dollars I ever spent on gear.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Great way to look at it. I could say the same for my old Sony back in the early 80s 😎

[@whome8192]

Agreed, you have heard it many times from me. I have a $300 Audio-Technica AT-LP3XBT, an EAR 834P “clone” phone preamp. Some of my records sound better than from my Bluesound node and $1500 DAC. The preamp really helped with adding dynamics and detail to my setup. But I just do not feel the need to upgrade my turntable. Maybe, a $1000 turntable would have as good of a phone preamp as the one I built for $500, but I doubt it. Maybe one day I will upgrade my turntable, but I suspect the result will be me going…well that was a waste of money. Going to an audio show this month, maybe I will change my mind and be convinced I need a $120,000 turntable…who knows.

[@sarahbannon4752]

I have the same turntable, and the internal preamp sounds great to me. Do you think an external preamp would improve how it sounds? I also think it would be nice to upgrade someday, but suspect, as you said, that it would be a big waste of money and I wouldn’t really notice a difference, particularly as I probably wouldn’t go for anything other than a TT without Bluetooth and an internal preamp, so probably a Fluance RT 82.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I was perfectly happy with my setup for year and it's only been recently that I upgraded. Took a long time and I was never unhappy with what I had previosuly.

[@sarahbannon4752]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords That’s good to know, thanks.

[@festersuncle6298]

U Turn makes a turntable I would have purchased as a teenager in the 80's. I bought my son an AT LP60 and Edifier powered speakers. Perfect for a young man in a small room.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

It really is. Same setup I bought my son and his girlfriend for their first apartment.

[@philipbolton7265]

The most joy i have ever had listening to music was when i was a very young boy back in the 70s, on a suitcase turntable in my bedroom, discovering The Beatles, The Kinks and The Clash... despite having much better gear now i cannot replicate that experience.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I completely get that

[@dobieprime]

Agree with you so much. I have a high end audio store in my town and the people there are extremely nice...so nice to me in fact that they have allowed me to try gear in my home before I decided If I want to purchase it or not. They will talk to you. Not look down on you. I have not started thinking about "high end" gear until the last fear years and have been, up till then, a staunch believer in retro gear. I still love it. My Pioneer fully automatic turntable broke and it would have cost about as much to fix compared to going and buying a brand new turntable. I started with a Rega P1. Bit more expensive but... ok. I loved it until the grounding and the arm went bad and the store went through about 3 arms before they could fix it. In the meantime, I began to use a NAD C588. A bit more expensive than the Rega. And that is what I have now. It's manual. And I love it. All of that to say....I kind of 'accidentally' came into the "high end" market. If my Pioneer had not broke, it was a turntable I loved, I would still be using it. Maybe with a slightly more expensive cart on it. Inexpensive is NOT cheap. There is a difference.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's great about your local audio store and how they treat their customers. We need more stores like that! 🎶

[@keirhardman2769]

Brilliant video Rick and I agree with every word. I have been upgrading ever since my first "real" hifi purchase in the late1980's. I now have an LP12 based system which would cost a fortune if you bought it all at once, and I think I can say that my upgrading days are over at last. However none of the upgrades I have made can overshadow the revelatory experience of my first Rega based system since most upgrades tend to obey the law of diminishing returns to some extent. I don't know how much a Rega Planar 2 would cost in the US now, but that would be plenty of money to spend on you first deck: and if it turns out to be your last, then good luck to you and so much the better!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I'm with you there, Keir. For me, the more folks that enjoy vinyl, regardless of the system, the better. There are always opportunities to upgrade should they ever wish to.

[@patricksullivan9340]

Hey Rick, Great video on a subject that should be covered more often. I have put together at least a dozen sub $1000 systems for Friends, family members, coworkers, and myself. A Thousand dollars can go a long way new, and, of course, even further with vintage. As an example, here is my current office system: Sansui AU-3900 amp…$200 used Sansui SR-717 turntable…$225 used A-T VM95SH cart…$190 new SONY DVP-S9000ES CD/SACD/DVD…$25 used KEF IQ1 bookshelf speakers…$29 used Definitive Technology sub…$29 used Schiit MODI DAC…$99 new For about $800, this is an absolutely killer little system. A no excuse hi-fi listening experience! Keep these videos coming!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Appreciate all that, Patrick!

[@broederbond60]

So true. I think my 45 year old Technics turntable is a weak link, however, it still produces a clean playback.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's awesome!

[@radioonemike]

What a great take, Rick! I had a really good friend who was and probably still is an audiophile. He worked in radio and for a couple of speaker companies over the years. So, I know he loves music and that pursuit of perfect sound. But you know what I never sensed? Joy. Sure he had a Butcher Cover he bought back in the mid 1980s when we were in high school, along with Carver amps/preamps and NAD tuners. But, it all just seemed it was like accumulating commodities. Listening to music is one of life's joys. That joy isn't dependent on lossy/lossless streaming, Bluetooth or wired headphones or $5k turntable versus my $250 turntable. It's dependent on how the music you listen to makes you feel.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Exactly. Music = Emotion

[@cunawarit]

I love this video, I'm considering buying an affordabke Audio Technica turntable. Due to lack of space I'm planning to connect it via Bluetooth.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

You'll be very happy with it, Guillermo 😎

[@chrislj2890]

Heck yeah, you can get a decent turntable for well under $500. I've seen videos on KZbin of young people getting their first decent turntable like an Audio-Technica when upgrading from a Crosley. Sometimes they are just using Bluetooth speakers, but the joy that they exhibit really puts a smile on my face. They should always be encouraged to enjoy what they have and can afford. Good video!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thanks, Chris. Yeah - I love when I see that too. I saw a video just a couple weeks ago of someone, probably in their 20s, excited about a handful of records she brought home. And right there was an ATLP60. I didn't see speaker wire so have to assume it was piped to a pair of BT speakers, or maybe even one. Made me smile to see her excitement and the comments (all positive by the way - the "shame" crowd hadn't found her video yet and I hope they never do).

[@chrislj2890]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords The girls seem to get the most excited, and it's fun to see. We never had children, but if I had it would've been awesome to help them on the journey.

[@Tony-w3t]

Agree 100%, been listening to records for 30+ years and only actually put together any real kind of HI-FI setup in the last two. I picked an amp, turntable and speakers based on reviews, my needs, my budget and visual ascetics. I’m now trying very hard to resist the upgrade bug from Lintons to Super Lintons. I’m happy with my sound, I’m sure it could be better but I know that the upgrade route never ends once started. So I’m going to stick with what I have.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's where I am now too, Tony. I am at a point where I really should relax and enjoy! 🎶

[@Tony-w3t]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords yep, I mean there’s not enough time to listen to as much music as I’d like anyway.

[@Shafty1609]

Hey Rick. I no longer care what others think about my stuff. Whether that’s my house cars or stereo system. And I don’t care about other people’s stuff, I’m only happy that it makes them happy. I have a total of $300 tied up in my system and it sounds great to me. HK receiver Polk towers, Acoustic Research sub, a Samsung blu ray I use for CD’s and a 1 by One turntable. I have a new/ better cartridge on order, and isolated the turntable on an IKEA cutting board. Works great for me. I could upgrade all of it but it’s a question of diminishing returns and the fact I’d rather go to Vegas. Cheers. Cam.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I saw someone else use the Ikea cutting board solution. great way to save money!

[@gamelovers11223]

Well, I do agree with you. But, there's always a but)) To experience a mind-blowing vinyl quality and sound, hi end gear (not the most expensive, but a carefully picked out one) is highly recommended. I had a friend come over and asked me to put on some LPs because he had never experienced what it sounds like. I put on some first pressing LPs for him. He just listened with his mouth open. Then I put on same music in flac for him to hear the difference, and the difference was night and day with vinyl being better in every way. I sold my previous turntable/phonostage/speakers, basically the entire system, ready to play for $600 to my friend whose daughter wanted to get into vinyl, and that system sounded great! Again, if you're just starting, the system under $1000 is just fine, and you will enjoy music. To get the full potential and magic out, good gear and great LP recordings are needed. To save money and get the best value, you'll need to do alot of research which pressings are best sounding, which cartridges are best for the money, and what turntables and phonostages are great. Just don't trust the hi-end magazines, usually their choices are very poor. Audio forums are great to dig up information. And don't be afraid to buy used equipment.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Great suggestion on the used equipment - there are some great deals out there

[@bobmurphy3061]

Hey Rick I started with the exact same set up.. I eventually upgraded, but my whole system was still around 1000. Great suggestion, and love your channel.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you, Bob. I appreciate that.

[@joealberti8553]

Thank you Rick. You are so right. When I got back into vinyl, I bought the AT-LP120. I got so much crap about it being a Chinese ripoff of the Technics 1200, and how flawed it is. I never ran into any problems with it, and I still love it. I did buy a couple of U-Turn turntables, and love them because U-Turn stands behind them and their support is top notch. I know a few of the equipment snobs you speak of, and there are a lot of them on the Facebook groups dedicated to turntables and vinyl, and I take everything they say with a grain of salt. As you have said many times, the only one who has to like your system is you. If you are happy with it, and it brings you joy, then good on you.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thanks, Joe. And always great to hear from you!

[@SgtMjr]

I just did three things that made a huge difference to my system/set up. I have the gear after upgrading over the past three years. I have a system that is decent IMO but after setting up and tweaking the current hi-fi I did the last things I could do and now I'm done and loving it. 1. Adjusted the orientation from the short wall to the long wall and placing the mid-range drivers at ear level. Cost $0. Effect: Huge benefit to the soundstage and balance esp. vocals 2. Isolation feet for the speakers and components. Cost $400. Effect: Low end has that punch and thwack we want from percussion and bass instruments. Dramatic change right from the get go I actually said WOW as soon as I heard it. 3. Acoustic panels behind the spkrs, behind the listening position and 'Clouds' above the listening position. Cost $1200. Speakers 'disappeared' and the soundstage tightened up the center channel and brought 'air' to the staging of the instruments and vocals.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Love those inexpensive tweaks that make huge differeces.

[@JoeOrber]

Perfectly well said! I have a cheap belt-driven turntable that works very well, and after a couple of years I got an AT-LP120USB. I’m extremely happy with both, and since they have removable head shells I’ve been upgrading them and trying a lot of different options and I found that it makes me happy to enjoy vinyl records that way. Have I thought about buying a more expensive turntable? Sure, many times, but then I start listening to my records and I realize that I already love the experience and how they sound 😊. Thank you for this awesome piece of advice for those that are just starting the vinyl record journey, or that feel bad because of some snobby remarks; keep up the great work! 🥰

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I appreciate that. Thanks, Joe!

[@richierey6904]

Good video. I have a Marantz 15TTS1 with clearaudio nano phonostage, an audiotechnica 1240 with various cartridges and …. An LP60. The LP 60 is a quality turntable and completely underrated. Interesting fact, two weeks ago I took a trip to see a friend and brought over a Marantz 6009 I’ve had in storage and two older B&W 7 series speakers so she could hear what her LP60 is capable of. We listened to an OG Star Wars vinyl. And I created a monster. Because the next weekend she went to a custom HiFi store and purchased a Marantz cinema 50 and two B&W 703 S3 speakers. All because of the LP60. Cheers!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

LOL - you did create a monster 😂😂😂

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

I love the U Turn Audio Orbit.

[@piet65]

Hey Rick, this is why I love your channel 👍 🙂

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Glad you're here!

[@12_inch_spinnerz]

Shoot I just paid $135 for an excellent condition Technics sl-1800 MK1 and this thing is engineered so good. It's a straight forward no frills manual direct drive. Suspended platter , metal plinth, damped sub plinth, easy to tear down and service. Runs solid locked in at 33 snd 45.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's great to hear!

[@dannygalaga1748]

I started with a sony ps lx310bt, which is pretty much the same as the AT 60. I then upgraded to a second hand Denon DP-47F. Cost about $450 USD including freight from Japan to east coast of Australia! For that price i may have bought my last turntable. Certainly, with this, everything else in my system is now the bottleneck 😂 Keep up the good work Rick 🙂

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you, Danny! And especially for sharing. Cheers 🍻

[@christopherseely1151]

Rick I totally agree. audio is not about how much you can spend. Yes, it is about sound, but and to your point, it is also relevant to how much one can afford and how they like the sound. To some, a $500 pair of speakers sound better than a $5000 pair. And I also agree on the manual transmissions. I'd rather drive a VW Jetta GLI with a manual than a BMW or Mercedes small sedan with an automatic!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Great to hear from another manual transmission advocate!

[@SuperSagedal]

Very very good video. It's mostly about the music. We all have different starting points and not everyone is able to understand that. So it was very good that you made it absolutely clear through your video. All the best from Kristiansand 😁👍

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers Norway 🍺🍺🍺😎😎

[@xoundsbythimo4614]

Some of us live in apartments and don't need expensive equipment , that we can't use to it's full potential.I am more than happy with my humble setup.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

And being happy is really what matters more than anyone else's opinion when it comes to listening and enjoying music.

[@sarahbannon4752]

@@xoundsbythimo4614 Yes, I have to keep in mind that my neighbours don’t want to hear my music, so I don’t need really powerful speakers!

[@stevengaddis1362]

Anyone that wants to enjoy vinyl, or music in general, should be able to dive in at any level and feel encouraged to do so. If someone comes to me to ask for advice, I will encourage them to purchase a turntable that uses counterweights on the arm so that their records won't get worn out quickly, but brand shaming or price shaming is not the objective.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers to that, Steven! 🍺

[@jake105]

Great video. My vinyl record experience changed for the better when I bought a separate phono stage about 3 yrs ago. Once I stopped plugging my turntable directly into my receiver, it was like Dorothy from the wizard of Oz stepping out of her black and white house into brilliant technicolor. It never had much to do with the 2 other turntable upgrades I did over the last 7 yrs. I also upgraded my stylus, but it was the phono stage that made the huge difference. It also has the ability to switch from an MM to a MC cartridge should I choose.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I love how you put that, Jake . Adding an external phono stage is like discovering new colors for the first time.

[@francescotenti193]

A lot of people are constantly chasing "that perfect sound" and, as a consequence, a lot of gear is bought and sold and that usually means loss of money. In 1980 I bought a Technics SL-D2 and that's still the one I use to listen to records. The speed is accurate, still looks brand new, the cartridge is an Ortofon 2 Blue and it sounds good to me. Chasing that ghostly upgrade is like chasing something you cannot grab and so, for now, the SL-D2 will do. Nice video.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you, Francesco!

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

I personally have zero time for hifi snobs. If people love what they have, who am I to say different. I have had a few comments on my wee channel disparaging my equipment too. Happy listening to all, from Scotland. Jim🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers from New Hampshire, Jim! 🍺

[@7JANEWAY]

The turntable I would recommend as an upgrade to the LP 60 is the LP 120. This is a direct drive turntable, so you don’t have to mess around with belts. But if you still want a belt drive turntable, the one I would recommend is any of the Fluance turntables. Unlike the U Turn, you don’t have to move the belt yourself to change speeds. It has a dial (or button, as it were) that you can turn to change the speed and turn the turntable on and off. These are quality turntables that many recommend, and if I was a belt drive person (I prefer direct drive), I would have one myself!!!

[@vinnie4v277]

I am going for a lp70.

[@7JANEWAY]

@ I agree! I would recommend the LP70 over the LP60, due to being able to customize the stylus, which you can’t do with the LP60.

[@vinnie4v277]

@@7JANEWAY True that. I was looking at lp120 first. But i want auto return. Cuz sometimes i would be too lazy to move needle, and if it keeps turning the stylus would degrade alot. And im a newby, so i think a beginner friendly table where u dont have to set the skating and balance urself is a easy way to start. Did lots of research the last week pffff. And as im in europe i can get a fluance but its a bit more expensive. But even if it was same price i would go for lp70 because brand security, and beginner friendly. Over the more feature packed fluance. Ussually i go more feature packed route. This time in going beginner friendly route

[@VinylRescue]

Yep, lots of great points! I also don't have a deep pockets to spend on high-end turntables. I have a Rega Planar 2 that I bought new in late 2017 and later over time bought five used vintage turntables that I've refurbished. I now wished I had only bought the used vintage ones and saved me money and headaches, but too late. I still have a few LPs that I bought when I was in HS in the late 70s so my collection has grown over time. It would be a lot larger if it wasn't for CDs! 😅

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Those damn CDs. 🤣

[@QoraxAudio]

Hah! I can say from experience that it really never ends: When I got my 150 bucks Reloop RP-2000MK2, it was crap and I needed better according to others. When I got my 350 bucks Stanton ST-150, it was crap and I needed better according to others. When I got my 800 bucks Pioneer PLX-1000, it was crap and I needed better according to others. When I got my 1000 bucks Technics SL-1200MK4, it was crap and I needed better according to others. When I got my 4000 bucks Technics SL-1200G, it was crap and I needed better according to others. Now that I added a 5000 bucks NOS SME V tonearm to that SL-1200G, it's still crap and I need better according to others. Well, I think you get the idea by now... Many people *literally always* have something shallow to complain about - if it's not about your looks, it's about your stuff 😅

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

😂😂😂 Yep! You nailed it.

[@davidrichardson3573]

Excellent point. Between my turntable and speakers I have spent around $500 not counting shipping and duty and I love it. I don't plan to spend any more for quite a while. I am deliciously happy with my sound. And a $100 record player is still better than no record player.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Love that way of putting it "deliciously happy". 🍺

[@JoaoSilva-nm3us]

You can totally enjoy audio with "cheap" stuff. I myself have had many pieces of equipment (my current setup costs around 5k€) and I think I never enjoyed music as much as when I was a kid with a chep cassette player. We lose ourselves in this insane pursuit. Just enjoy what you have, regardless of cost.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Sage advice, João 🎶

[@Gauntlet1985]

You would have worried me if you said... You can enjoy your expensive vinyl collection for years on a Crosley 😆 I completely agree with you though, I spent about 350 ish on my Audio-Technica ATLP120XBTUSB turntable and I'm thrilled with it. A mid range turntable will work amazingly well for years and not damage your vinyl records. The key is taking the time to balance the tone arm, replace stylus when needed and keep your records clean. That really goes a long way in my opinion .

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I second your opinion! 🎶

[@Recordology]

There are a LOT of great turntables under 300. Even the Crosley C100 and C200 which are made by the same company that makes the LP60 and LP120 (Hanpin.)

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Hey there! I didn't realize they were made by the same manufacturer. Good to know!

[@ziggichaos803]

Hi Rick... Love your videos and this one really got to me... I have the ATLP60X and Iove it. I know I'll probably get battered on here but that's my budget... Now then for the fun.... I replaced the AT felt mat with a cork mat... Better sound straight away.... And now Audio Technica have released a stylus upgrade... ATN3600LE, yep I have an eliptical stylus on my ATLP60X and the sound is upgraded again. The sound is great for me and my mixture of vinyl ... Cheers

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

This is great to hear, Ziggi!

[@Rheasound]

Analog ( Records) audio is like to be a pilot or you know or you crash, doesn't matter how expensive is your device.

[@toddlee2571]

Audiophilia is the constant pursuit of the unobtainable. I'll never let a person who is never satisfied with their gear tell me I shouldn't be satisfied. Their only expertise is being dissatisfied.

[@gregcarson3444]

I hear you brother, key words, get what you can afford. My turntable, $500 RT85, ended up with that, because of price, and I am a fan of the Ortofon 2m blue. Not my first turntable either. It is funny on the facebook groups, you always get. Q. I am looking to buy a turntable $700 to $800. A. Save More money Someone always gives that answer, come on dude. Some if you don’t spend 10 grand it is a toy. Well you know what I am happy with my set up in my office, makes me happy, and I only spend $500 on the turntable, and it is a great turntable.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

And I would bet it will last you a very long time too, Greg.

[@Downhuman74]

People shaming you for not wanting the same expensive gear they have are trying to justify their purchase to themselves - always. Because the idea that someone could pay so much less and still be completely satisfied with their experience is a threat to their enjoyment. I'll NEVER be able to justify paying over $1000 for a turntable. But, then again, I listen to music, not equipment. The law of diminishing returns unfortunately is in full effect. My main deck for about 5 years was a vintage Technics SL-1300 - it unfortunately was retired and needs some repairs. I'll get to them eventually but I bought an Audio-Technica AT-LP5X in the meantime to get me through. And you know what? That turntable is completely fine - I'm in even less of a hurry to get the Technics fixed now.

[@KarlUppianoKarlU]

I think I spent around $350.00 in 1982 for a turntable upgrade. Today, it would probably cost more than $1000.00. I still have that gear (I've replaced the stylus a few times, and did regular maintenance on my turntable). I still love it.

[@TBNTX]

I love my Fluance RT95-t. I won't be switching it out any day soon.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Great turntable!

[@ijuggle42]

I play all my records on a 1967 Magnavox and I think they sound just fine. I will admit that albums pressed after about 1985 depending on what they are do not sound as good as most of the prior stuff. Even though I can afford modern more expensive gear I like the aesthetics of it all. Thanks for another good honest video.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

And thank YOU for being here, Michael 🍺

[@alrightnow1124]

It’s all about what sounds good to you……and if your sound pleases you, that’s all that matters..🎧

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Exactly!

[@ericelliott227]

Spot on Rick. An analog front end doesn't need to cost a fortune. In fact, it is still true that one can spend a lot less on a decent quality turntable than what they will have to spend on records. Having been around this block for 45+ years, I would not recommend any of those suitcase Crosley like jobs. I actually would not recommend anything like an AT-LP60 even for those just starting out. It is not a good value with it's plastic plinth and light weight and limited range. It it ok for ages 6 to 15 perhaps, but other than that...... For about the same price literally or a tiny bit more (seriously = $50 to $100 more max) I would recommend something like a U-Turn Basic or Fluance RT-80 for someone brand new to vinyl playback. The quality difference is big. A U-Turn Basic or Fluance will go a lot farther so that they will not have to think about "upgrading" for a decently long time. With tables like the U-Turn for example, one can change the game just by changing the platter mat or by changing the cartridge or getting an outboard phono preamp. Tables like the U-Turn Basic or Fluance have a better setup range and a larger cartridge range. In other words, more tweaks can be done to them along the way providing opportunity to keep the table longer. That said, down the road if one wants to upgrade ones table from there, it too need not be expensive. For example, one can save up and slide into a $600 Pro-Ject table for a notable upgrade option and that should last and make one happy for years as well. Again, with a table like that one has an even wider range of tweaks! In my opinion, once you reach around $10k to $12k for a table you are buying bragging rights and nothing more. That $10 or $12k table is going to do nothing (literally) more or different or better than a $1200 or $1500 table. Yes, when I was less than 10 years old, I had one of those suitcase jobs. When I was 12 I got a Sears turntable, same quality and everything as the suitcase job, but open and looked like a real table. When I was 16 or 17 I got a Sony linear tracker, it was around $200 new and while it had a rubber platter mat and a changeable cartridge, it was worse than the Sears table I had with its plastic platter! It regrooved two of my records making them unplayable. I did not use it but twice and then left it alone and switched to CD when those came to market, meanwhile I was king of the cassette tape. What do I use today? About 24 years ago I got bit by the vintage bug and that is what I use today for my turntable. I have a 1986 Denon DP-47f I bought in NOS condition for $400 and mounted an Ortofon 2M Bronze cart (pushing the envelope of tonearm mass) and it is my daily driver. I also have a 1971 Pioneer PL-510A I found for $25 with it's original box (which I had to throw out though as it was falling apart), but the table was in amazing shape. I cleaned it up and restored the dust cover (like new), which is high quality acrylic by the way and I first mounted a $40 AT cart on it for a time, then a $120 AT cart and now just mounted a >$200 Sumiko Olympia, which is a fabulous match for the table and it sounds amazing. I also have a 1973 Pioneer PL-530 in the wings I got for $40 cleaned up and restored dust cover (also high quality) and mounted a Shure M97-XE cart that now has about 1 hour on it. I unmounted it and put it back in the box because they are no longer made and from what I hear are collectors items even though they were not the best carts out there. I'm keeping it just because I got it new it is a complete kit and all. I'll likely mount a Sumiko or maybe a Ortofon 2M Blue or something. When it comes to setup I prefer my Pioneers, but the Denon is fine and sounds good especially with that 2M Bronze on it. I have a new Denon MC cart waiting in the wings, but not sure if I will ever mount it. I run my Pioneers with my vintage receivers I swap in occasionally and I run them through a Musical Surroundings Phenomena 2. The Denon is run through a Parasound JC3 Jr. (Yes have a big boy pants system as of about 5 or 6 years ago that took almost triple that to save up for. I could not replace a single piece myself, even the ones still being made today if my life depended on it. I may replace my Denon someday, but it will take a long time to save up. I am stuck on direct drive tables and just can't bring myself to go belt-drive. My Pioneers are deadly speed accurate, which surprised me. Of course, the Denon is too, which is not surprising because of the type of table it is. Sure my table do not have VTA or tonearm height adjustment and the tonearms can't be swapped out (Don't know why I would want to), but I'm happy with it and if it's not broken, don't fix it. Those who put down others for their choice of gear tend to also put others down for their choice of music as well! I traveled the receiving end of that road a while and got to the point that I usually do not reveal what I have. I'm getting slightly more comfortable with that, but it depends on environment. I tell others to remember that they are building a system for themselves and their own music which is personal. They are not building for the neighbors or the approval of audiophiles, which will never happen. There is also no reason to chase unicorns.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

This was a great read Eric. Thank you for sharing all of that!

[@ericelliott227]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Happy to help and participate in good messaging as I do to educate folks. To this day I still get shamed from audiophiles today for using vintage turntables! The irony is that when I first got my Denon I paid $400 for I had a lot of offers from audiophiles with $10,000 tables offering me $1200 cash in hand to buy it! I don't know why and I obviously never considered it partly because I did not understand the interest. I still don't. The Denon has less adjustments than my Pioneers! Anti-skate is automatic, it also has sensors under the platter (the platter has slits) that read the record to adjust speed and such and it can't play colored vinyl! It won't play my red Beatles record because it interferes with the sensors. Very little of what audiophiles say makes any sense.

[@larryhoffman7471]

Well said!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thanks, Larry!

[@michaelrogers8126]

I got back into vinyl this year. My whole system cost about $892 I have a Sony STR DH 190 receiver, Sony SSCS5 speakers, Sony PSLX 310 BT Turntable and an Onkyo 6 CD changer Everything to me sounds great and it what I can afford at this time. Have no regrets

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Nor should you! Sound like a great setup. I actually recommended the Sony to a friend recently.

[@jlutell]

my first turntable was an AR-XA with a Shure v15 III ca. 1975 for about $200..wish I still had them.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I wish I had some of my old gear from the 80s as well.

[@bigbadbith8422]

I have a lovely turntable that cost a lot less than $1000. Had it for years!😊

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's awesome 🍺

[@dejanhuskic7102]

I agree absolutely. This summer I bought a used turntable Technics SL-Q21 direct drive with Philips preamp and Beovox speakers for 250 €. I am very happy of course I change stylus put new Audiotehnica AT85 EP for 35 €. PS I also drive 16 years old car (Ford Fiesta) with Manuel transmission and CD player. Yes I also love CD-s.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Gotta love the manual transmission. If I ever have to get a new truck I'm afraid manual transmissions may be hard to find.

[@dejanhuskic7102]

Luckily in Europe majority of new cars are with manuel transmission even and pickup trucks, but they are smaller size compared to North America 😊

[@brucesamuelson7541]

I have a Technics SL1300 with a Sansui dual mm (quad) cartridge and new oe Shibata stylus playing through a Toshiba SA775 and Klipsch RB5 reference speakers that's more than good enough for me!

[@6643bear]

Hi great interesting video, my main system has rega p3, with Neo psu and fidelity top end sub platter , but my other system I have pro-ject primary e, it’s been what hi fi budget award for 2 years running and it sounds pretty good even om5 cartridge. Regards mark

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers. Mark! 🍺

[@markvandenberg4606]

The people wanting to spend $5,000 on a turntable would also spend $5,000 on a streamer/DAC and the same amount of money on a set of speakers. My entire setup including amp, speakers and both vinyl and a Wiim Pro Plus for sources cost me under $3k and it sounds absolutely amazing. Does it sound $10,000 amazing? Probably not, but I have other financial obligations and priorities too. And yet I still have a great time rocking out at my home.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers, Mark!

[@MarkSchifter-o4r]

Great job - thank you

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers, Mark!

[@6643bear]

Thanks very I meant to say the project is now £199, I got mine for only £149 as was special offer at the time . Regards mark

[@ghostlyerlkonig]

It'll never surprise me when people seem to forget not everyone has 1000 dollars to drop but it will continue to disappoint me that people are needlessly rude about it. Like yes absolutely I need speakers so good I hear this 40 year old record of a Macbeth performance I got for 5 dollars from a library crack 7 times in during Lady Macbeth's monologue because of the massive scratch on side 3 as if cymbals were being slammed against my head, you're so right, I will use all my paycheck immediately and eat the dust off the vinyl to sustain myself until my next paycheck.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

😂😂😂 well put!

[@AudiophileStooge]

Bravo!

[@DAVIDWILLIAMS-qn1be]

There are too many people who just listen to their system & not the music .Has we all age our hearing deteriorates so you're never gonna be able to tell the difference between a mediocre setup & a hi-end setup 🎉

[@yoramhazan3636]

As someone who plays a variety of instruments and have listened to music for 50 plus years I can say this... There are audiophile and people who can enjoy music with medium, not cheap but definitely not expensive, equipment. Do all the best musicians ever change their gear like audiophile? Or even their musical instruments? The only question here has to with emotions .. I listen yo cds because I remember the frustration of listening to vinyl... and if I start a vinyl journey again, I would go for automatic player, because it is cool..., and I would not mind to listen to scratchy low quality records, because it is part of game... can't avoid that... Emotion... happiness

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Yes!

[@carjo512]

we all have to start somewhere . I broke my stylus on turntable a little while ago it was Ortofon nightclub E and cartridge was giving me grief with one of the channels. the price of the stylus is over $100. Canadian to replace it so long story short for the time being I bought a AT 3600l in the short term to try out it got rave reviews on line . With a good phono stage amp it does the job I need to hear my vinyl again. sure I could have gone more in price but for the time it works.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Glad to hear that worked out!

[@zman3238]

I love my U Turn TT

[@cassette_decks_and_turntables]

With a decent vintage entry level DD Japanese turntable,with a decent tonearm (usually S-shaped with detachable headshell) and with a budget cartridge with ML stylus as the AT-VM95ML you can extract 99% of the informations inside the groove of a record. So the story of the turntable ends there...and all the other components (phono preamp, amplifier, speakers) play they're role and ofcourse your taste on music and how you want your "sound" The stupid thing in this "hobby" is that many people are chasing "unicorns"

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Good way to put it 😎

[@JohnnyTheDoe]

100% this. Also, used is a GREAT option. Just do your research on the seller. My turntable should've cost £1,000 but I got it for under £600 used. My Amp should've been £420 and was under £300. But spending even less than this is not only okay, it's NOBODY'S BUSINESS except for the buyer.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Well said, Johnny!

[@ianyates7742]

My turntable is a 1984 technics 1210 mk 2 it’s in superb condition it’s one of several I own but it is the best one I have including several new ones no intention of ever letting it go it’s equipped with a moving coil cartridge, running through my KT 88 tube amplifier with q acoustics 2050i speakers I love it and I couldn’t give a damn what anybody else thinks about my set up😂😂

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers, Ian!

[@phen277]

I was perfectly happy to spend $500 on a turntable and ecstatic to get that turntable for %50 off on top of that! So I guess I should be mortified with myself for only spending $250 for a very nice and high-performing TT. Shame on me! I've bought so many more records in the past three years because of my acquisition of the ProJect Essential III (Limited edition George Harrison plinth) that I've regained what it felt like in the 70's and 80's when I was a preteen and full teen discovering all this great sound and discovering artists that I might not have heard on the radio (thanks, Tidal!). Ebay's used records section is my go-to and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself. My wife on the other hand... Listen to the music, not your money.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Yes - shame on you for such a great deal 🤣

[@phatjbl]

There are plenty of decent turntables around under $1000. Om the used market if you wanna go vintage again there is plenty of good options. Older turntables will always need some service be it caps in the power supply lube in main bearing and a belt if its a belt drive model. My turntable experience started with a Pioneer Centrex 3 in one system. It had the Pioneer Pl12 for memory. Then i got a Technics SL23 for my own separates system when i was 14. So at 50 i have gad a few turntables. As long as the player in question has a counterweight and can be properly adjusted with a decent cartridge set to the correct weight and angle you are set. Some budget tables have only a replacement stylus option and no counterweight adjustment. No need to adjust the tracking angle also. This could make turntables more enjoyable and accessible for many. Im not a fan of blutooth as convenient as it seems. Plus a quality phono preamp is a great upgrade. Good ones start at about $200. Record care is vital too. Cleaning even new records makes a big difference. Second hand records always need some cleaning unless purchased from a good record store who cares enough to clean them properly. Brands i recommend are Audio Technica Project Rega Technics. Many more but im going on what I see in Australia in our limited market. After sales service and parts availability should be included in your assessment. Good video. Too many snobs around.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Cheers, Ben!

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

There are tons of turntables that do a fantastic job for well under $1000. It feels like that the snobbery over equipment has worsened with the internet. Some of the stuff on the consumer level back in the 1970s would make the AT-LP60 (i.e. BSR and cheaper Garrard changers) look like an audiophile set up and people were fine with it. The AT-LP60 comes with a good cartridge. There are better units but one could certainly do worse. I would say now the AT-LP70 is on the market, that is one I would recommend as it features a better cartridge and arm and may even be a little cheaper. Even for more serious listeners, that can even be had for under $1000. Spend less than $1k on the turntable and put the money into a nice cartridge.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Hey there, Kevin! You're right - the LP70 is a bit cheaper