Topic: ISO: Used Turntable - $100-300 Range - What should I look for?

[H₂O]

I am looking for a used turntable and was wondering what I should be looking for?
 
Looking in the $100 - 300 range but prefer to be less then 200
 
What Thorens models should I look for?
 - TD 145's, 160's?
 
I have seen Rega P1's go for right around $300 used.
 
Anything other tables I should be looking for?

[som]

I love my older Denon direct drive automatic turntable. Flys in the face of convential wisdom, but I like not messing with belts, and I can't imagine not having auto return. THese are well-made, *quiet* direct drives.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1275422592&/Denon-DP-51F-Box-and-Manual-

[spcyrfc]

^ same question.  any other suggestions?

[mfrench]

At the high end of the range now are Lencos.  They are idler drives, not belt or direct drive.
I cannot say enough good about them. They're budget decks that eat $10k turntables for snacks, before spitting them out, and moving on to the next to deliver a dose of embarrassment, and an audio asskickin.
If you like hearing stylus drag in heavy movements, then go with a belt, or direct drive.
If you want something that will cut through stylus drag as if it were a diesel idling through the heavy stuff, and making it look easy, get a Lenco (or their US counterpart, a Bogen, Bogen-Presto).
This is known as Pace Rhythm and Timing, or PRaT. Lencos ooze PRaT.

Here is a recent critiquing of a forty year old modified Lenco (they are DIY dream machines and can easily be built out!);
http://www.high-endaudio.com/RECENT.html#May
followup:
http://www.high-endaudio.com/RECENT.html#June

[mfrench]

oh yeah,... crucial,...
Lencos motors were made for two markets; Euro at 50hz, and North American at 60hz.  They are not interchangeable between markets. A 50hz will not work properly in the US, and a 60hz will not work properly in 50hz regions. They will both spin up with the opposite power supplied, they just don't achieve proper speed control, as 50hz is slower than 60hz in the power delivery supply rate..
So its crucial, and adds rarity, and ultimately making the 60hz models more expensive and rare.

[mfrench]

Far more affordable decks are Duals. They have an absolutely classic series of idlers, the 1009, 1010, 1015, 1019.
These decks are thought to have one of the finest TT motors ever made.
Any of these decks would be fantastic decks as well, and far more affordable (still, the Lenco would make silly work of these).

[StuStu]

I bought a Thorens TD 160 from eBay a few years ago. I don't remember exactly how much it was. It was certainly within your price range. It's not in perfect shape, but it gets the job done. I've been pretty happy with it.

[cheshirecat]

I had a dual 1218 that was a nice piece of machinery.  I 'upgraded' to a Rega P1 more recently, but the dual is still kicking at my brother's place.

[mfrench]

closing in a couple of hours:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-BOGEN-TURNTABLE-W-SHURE-M32E-CARTRIDGE-/390210177468?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item5ada56c9bc

This is a Bogen B60 (an American rebadged swiss built heavy platter Lenco L70), with a Lenco arm. This arm is highly acclaimed amongst Lenco heads.
Sure, it needs some cleaning up, but, it'll be a gem of a table, a giant slayer, with some elbow grease and a lube job.

[mfrench]

Here is a Lenco L75 heavy platter, in what appears to be immaculate condition:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=300442184857&Category=48649&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D2

Buy It Now at $295
this one will not last long! they've commonly been running up to $400 at auction.
I'm not claiming that it is a 60hz North American model, but most of them here in the US are 60hz. You'll need to ask for verification to be sure. Its on a label tag below the platter, and no pictures show that, so,...

[mfrench]

Bogen-Presto B60, missing headshell:

http://cgi.ebay.com/BOGEN-PRESTO-LENCO-TURNTABLE-WORKS-PROJECT-REPAIR-/120589752659?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item1c13b59953

auction, starting at $99 -- sold $176

This is a Swiss made Lenco L70, rebadged by the American company, Bogen-Presto
its a heavy platter idler drive turntable.  They typically have a plastic idler that is best replaced with an aluminum idler wheel. So some upgrades are advised.

[spcyrfc]

checked out for a minute, but am now back on the hunt.  i'll keep my eyes peeled for a presto or lenco.  thanks moke.

[mfrench]

Bogen-Presto - not Presto.
Presto makes a nice deck, but I'd suggest you shy away from them.  I built one to a total hot-rod status; but, they're nowhere near a plug-n-play deck (the early prestos).
At any rate,.... Bogen-Presto, and specifically from BP, the B62

The Lencos/BP decks are far closer to plug-n-play, with exception to the tonearms. Some of the tonearms are fine, others have eroded v-blocks. I've heard of fine results with new v-blocks, and, with v-blocks that have somehow survived.
The v-blocks are what provide you with the vertical motion to lift the arm, and to ride through hop warps. The arm has corresponding metal knife-edge bearings that ride within the V's. The V's are large enough to provide plenty of fore-to-aft vertical rise/fall.
Its a good design, executed with a plastic that lost its plasticizer and the knife edge cleans out the eroded plastic.
There are replacements available in rubber, plastic, and brass, and allot of people make their own easily enough.
The v-blocks are the reason allot of people bolt in aftermarket arms, and some make the jump to 12" arms.

[spcyrfc]

found a dual 1250 for $50 on cList.  passed it up.  thanks moke for all the suggestions.  still got my eyes peeled.  if all else fails, i been thinking about a rega p1.  tho it is a bit outside of budget, it seems like it should work well, with not much maintenance.    the 'city wide garage sale' is this weekend, so im gonna wait till after then to make a purchase, but i'll sure be hawking the place for camera lenses. 

playback is gonna be a slow build for me, but i am determined to make it start with a record player.  thanks for all the input.

[spcyrfc]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120596497086&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en#ht_500wt_1154

looking at this, any thoughts?