Hey guys,

I posted a similar thread a little while ago... asking whether I should get used technics vs. new stanton/numark/vestax etc. to use with traktor duo.

I am constantly checking craigslist/kijiji to see what comes up in terms of used turntables. BTW I know absolutely nothing about turntables, I've been using only CDJs until now.

Anyways... I see some good deals come up on kijiji/craigslist but I dont know what I should be looking for in a turntable.

i.e. some random turntable comes up like a stantion t.120 for instance... but I have no clue what type of features/characteristics I should be looking out for to signify which turntables are good/bad. One thing I've noticed is 'wow and flutter'; tried looking it up on google... seems to be some sort of natural error rate or something (can someone clarify?), what level of 'wow and flutter' is considered acceptable?

Overall what I am asking for here is: what features/characteristics should I be looking for in vinyl turntables?

You should look for the characteristics "1200" and "Technics", imo

quote:

Originally posted by david.michael You should look for the characteristics "1200" and "Technics", imo

hahaha, if I can find a good pair that I can afford I will defintiely get them.

But if I can get another pair for like half the price i would probably go for it, seeing that I already have CDJs and am just getting turntables for some fun, who knows if I will switch over to them full time or whatever. As of now, I am just getting them to screw around with so I can settle for something that isnt as good as the technics 1200s!

You should really look for a pair of in good condition used 1200's on craigslist. You can get really good deals right now, given the economy and people going CDJ/digital only.

One big reason is if you decide to sell them again, you can make back your money.

Other tables in the same league as 1200's: Stantion ST150's, Numark TTX, the high end Vestax. But those you won't likely come across.

There are a few "budget" decks that are "ok", but again, I wouldn't bother.

And to answer your question: Wow and flutter is a measurement of the irregularity in playback speed of the turntable. Since you are dealing with a rotating platter, the platter will vary in speed (just a tiny amount, not usually audible). This also happens with tape decks. If the wow and flutter is too great (as in many belt drive tables), it can make beatmatching more difficult.

quote:

Originally posted by teufel-man hahaha, if I can find a good pair that I can afford I will defintiely get them. But if I can get another pair for like half the price i would probably go for it, seeing that I already have CDJs and am just getting turntables for some fun, who knows if I will switch over to them full time or whatever. As of now, I am just getting them to screw around with so I can settle for something that isnt as good as the technics 1200s!

try to get your turntables in pairs.

chances are 2 used turntables sold together will have the same usage and the same kinks making it easier to mix. Turntables are not like cdjs, with usage over time they tend to develop characteristics of their own due to how they were used and such.

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need i say that hi-end Stanton and Numark tts are > Techs?
guess not

quote:

Originally posted by boris_the_bear need i say that hi-end Stanton and Numark tts are > Techs? guess not

really?

Actually yes. The ST-150 and TTX are built really well, have higher torque, have niceties like line and digital outputs, switchable pitch range, removable cables, no need for ground, even key correction.

They aren't really any cheaper than 1200's, but you do get good more table for the money. Resale probably isn't a high though.

Personally I like the Stanton ST150's more than the TTX.

quote:

Originally posted by teufel-man really?

two words, technics 1200's, they are the industry standard of turntables. You'll find them in most clubs. The quality of the 1200 surpasses most of the turntables you see today.

quote:

Originally posted by orTofønChiLd two words, technics 1200's, they are the industry standard of turntables. You'll find them in most clubs. The quality of the 1200 surpasses most of the turntables you see today.

Yeah I am totally aware of this, I just want to know what sort of things to look out for if I find a really good deal on something else.

I am in Toronto... and as far as i can tell the price for used tech 1200s seems to be about $400, wouldnt mind finding somethign more around the $250/table range if it will allow me to play records without any major drawbacks.

quote:

Originally posted by teufel-man Yeah I am totally aware of this, I just want to know what sort of things to look out for if I find a really good deal on something else. I am in Toronto... and as far as i can tell the price for used tech 1200s seems to be about $400, wouldnt mind finding somethign more around the $250/table range if it will allow me to play records without any major drawbacks.

well if you find something else rather than technics look for direct drive, wow and flutter and high torq for quick startups

my advice would be, keep checking ads, and try google for anything hidden. surely you can get a steal, if you wait around for it... whent he pitch is set to 0.00% difference the dots on the patter shouldnt be moving, so most of ur worries are included in there. next i guess i would be the toenarm, make sure its not fked up, not too hard to tell. also, practice getting the first beat, it shouldnt skip... but skips are retarded, hate them, even if youve calibrated your stuff it can still happen. I wouldnt get anything other than a used tech 12, even if theyre fucking ancient theyll still be over then decent. I grabbed this fucked up pair long time ago, they were atleast 6 years, the motor was still beautiful. Dont worry about things like one side of the cable doesnt work, you can get that fix or repair that shit yourself.