I’m a man in his 50s who, like many of my age, spent a lot of time in my youth listening to records, until the digital age took over and it was all sent to landfill (apart from the records of course). Over the last year or so I was bitten by the urge to get back into vinyl listening again, partly because of the shithousery most streaming services seem to operate under, and partly because I missed the romanticism and tangible nature of records. Today I finally finished my snazzy (imo) little budget set up.

Here’s what it all is and cost for anyone interested:

Pioneer PL-12D - £75 from eBay and it actually arrived in one piece. New Thakker belt fitted, spindle and motor serviced.
Storage unit - £5 from FB Marketplace
Audio Technica AT-VM95E cartridge - £39.99 Amazon.
Denon PMA-255UK - free from recycling centre.
Pyle(of shite, I know) PP555 phono pre-amp - 12.99 Amazon.
Polk XT15 speakers - £99 Amazon
Stands - £15 FB Marketplace

All in all I’m very happy with how it sounds given how much I’ve spent overall, the phono stage is the weak link I know, so any suggestions there would be welcome.

It’s great to be listening to vinyl again after so many years, it’s been a good day.

Just sharing as I like the community.
Was considering an upgrade for my Rega P1 with the carbon and considering the Rega P3 rs (NZD$2,500) but found an unused display model P3 with ND3 for $1,300 which felt to good to pass up ($2,300 usually).

Wasn’t sure what to expect sound wise comparing side by side but sounds warmer, clearer, less sharp and bright, I guess(?). Not sure how someone with more attuned ears would describe it. But it sounds lovely.

This hobby is dangerous. How much difference would a dedicated phono amp make, say a Fosi X5?
Receiver is Yamaha R-N803 D, speakers are Lintons.

1977 JVC QL-5 with a custom epoxy job on plinth.. Absolutely obsessed with this thing so far & hopeful it will outlive me!

Got this system a few months ago at a thriftstore for €50,-. I'd never seen a combo like this so i grabbed it!

Turntable plays fine but i'm going to change the stylus.

Tape needs a new belt and the buttons need a little contact spray. After that the chassis is going to get a lot of TLC.

I really love this device.

My dad went searching for an unrelated item in the attic today. Their attic is very old, dusty and just used for storage. He uses a portable floodlight to see up there.

The floodlight caught the silver of the amp and I am a retro video game collector so naturally was curious what it was.

He brought down the amp (Emisound Octet, a vintage 1970s Hi-Fi stereo amplifier and tuner unit) so I asked why he had it.

Next thing I know he brings this GL75 down!

It has definitely seen better days but if anyone has any further info that would be amazing. He said he's got some "freestanding matching wood effect vintage speakers" too and will dig them out over the weekend.

So yeah, any info on whether it's worth restoring etc would be wonderful. Thanks.

Just upgraded RCA cables + Ground Wire thanks to End to End Audio (Alex) on my Dual 1225. Was dealing with static and soft left channel. This fixed it and now my Duel sounds like new!

These Duals are really easy to work on and with a little bit of maintenance can last longer than us. I replaced cables, steuerpimple, grease and oil.

Hey all, I currently have an LPW30BKR with an AT-VM95ML. This is paired with a Schiit Mani 2, an Aiyama A80 amp, and Polk Signature Elite ES20 speakers. I'm happy with the sound overall, but wondering if my turntable is lacking. I got it at a massive sale and it's been fine (after I had to return the first one), but I've been researching potential better ones.

Ideally the next one I purchase will be my last for years and years. A couple people have suggested a Technics SL-100C, AT LP8X, Rega Planar 3, but I wanted to ask the wider community. I know these posts can be redundant but i thought it'd be easy if people can see all the components in my setup to help with suggestions. Thanks to anyone who reads this and hopefully you all can be kind enough to leave a comment.

Just picked up the dual 1009 from a local gentleman who services and restores them. This is my first idler/ auto table and I’m loving it. It looks beautiful and sounds good (not as good as my other set up yet). Have an Ortofon om5e on it now and well, it sounds like that stylus and all the things I don’t like about it. Waiting on a Nagaoka mp- 110 cart to go on it. Happy spinning yall

hi i’m looking to get my first turntable and im overwhelmed with information. my budget is probably $500-600 for turntable and speakers. are there speakers that i can connect my turntable to but also play music from my phone via bluetooth? what are good beginner but still good quality turntables? same goes for bluetooth compatible speakers?

Looking for a turntable for my setup: home listening with mid-priced active speakers (thinking about the Ruark MR1 Mk3).

Technics: €750 TEAC: €550

Right now I don’t have enough money for the Technics SL-1500C, so I’m choosing between these two, leaning towards TEAC at the moment.

I’m also open to suggestions for active speakers in this price range!

I used to own several vintage turntables, including the National Panasonic SL-18, the National Panasonic SG-2070L (which is more of a music centre), and now I have a Telefunken HS800. All of them had an automatic stop feature (the Telefunken is actually fully automatic), so I’ve gotten used to it. It’s really convenient because I usually play music in the background while I’m working. When a record ends and I’m in the middle of a brainstorming session, I don’t really want to get up just to put the tonearm back on its rest so I don’t waste hours of stylus life.

I was considering buying the Audio-Technica AT-LP120X, but then I found out that it’s fully manual, meaning it doesn’t even have auto-stop. Those aftermarket Q-Up tonearm lifters don’t seem to fit this turntable properly either.

I really like the way the AT-LP120X looks. All of those DJ-style features make it look much more expensive than it actually is. I also like the tonearm, which looks solid and well-built rather than like cheap plastic that might break.
Could anyone suggest a good semi-automatic turntable that’s still available in 2026 and isn’t an entry-level model like the AT-LP70XBT? I think the LP70XBT is a good turntable, but as far as I know, you can’t change the cartridge, which limits your upgrade options.
I’ve gotten a bit tired of vintage turntables and would rather buy something new (or at least a model that’s still in production) and keep it for the next few years.

I'm seriously considering upgrading my turntable to either the 120 LP or a better one but I've come to realize that msot are fully manual and I'm afraid I've gotten used to the vinyl ending and the arm resetting by itself lol because most of the times I'm running around doing stuff in my house when listening to the turntable, so I would assume that with a fully manual turntable that the needle just keeps going until I reset it? Is damage to it or stuff like that to the needle , and the reason I'm sticking to the Audio Technica it's because I think I can return this one and upgrade to one of the better models and pay off the difference I've emailed them I'm going to response but now that I realize that they're all manual I'm thinking about it , I haven't really looked that far but is there semi-automatic a manual that just resets itself would be super cool if anybody has any recommendations.

This was my Dad's old setup, it works well (currently hooked up to some Insignia home stero speakers from the late 2000's), but im looking for the next step in sound quality and fullness.

Kenwood KD-52FB and Kenwood KR-A30

Im not sure if I would need a pre amp or an amp or just better speakers. Sound quality isnt terrible but it seems like I need it loud to get the most out of it.

Also I know she needs a good cleaning. Thats also on my to do list lol.

TIA!

I’m fairly new to upgrading turntables and need help. I have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo and recently bought an aluminum sub platter and acrylic platter and bought a Moonstone cartridge and ever since then the noise/static between each song has become crazy (can even hear the ‘drag’ during quiet parts of songs) idk if I bought the wrong kind of needle even though I bought one that’s made for this turntable or what but please help

I’m new to this so please help and be nice we all start somewhere

Hey dudes,
I’m setting up my Pro Jet setup after moving and cannot make it work again. The stereo box turns on, but no sound is coming out through phono/bluetooth .

Please help me brainstorm this one.

Hey guys,

Got myself a beginner level setup over here containing the following:
AT LP70X, Ifi Zen Phono 2, and Kanto YU6 Powered/Bookshelf speakers

Just wanted to know what the next logical upgrade would be to this?

I've been wanting to move from the 70X up to a Technics for a bit, but I'm also wondering if I need to add in an amp or if that's something I even need to be concerned with when I'm still using powered speakers...

Is this a good deal?? Please help me out, looking to buy my first turntable!

I'm looking to max out around $1500 for a full set up as I don't want to skimp on what I plan to be a lifetime investment. Was also looking around at Fluance RT85, Pro-ject debut carbon and evo 2's. thank you!!

I inherited some really cool slip maps from a tour dj. Some from Death Row Records and some from Aftermath Records. I also inherited some white felt slipmats. Unfortunately, they were stored in a warehouse and are somewhat grungy. Is there a safe way to wash/clean them? I have seen all of the tape tricks but these are actually grungy. I would toss them and get new ones if it wasnt for the sentimental value. I would really like to find a way to clean them up so that I can display them in my record room. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Late Father’s Day gift from my daughters. They win.

Hi everyone,

I could use some advice from you guys.

I recently upgraded from an Audio-Technica LP120 to a Technics SL-1500CS. My endgame turntable.

My current setup is:

• Technics SL-1500CS
• Audio-Technica VM540ML cartridge
• iFi ZEN Phono 3 preamp
• Klipsch The Fives speakers

What do you think of this setup? Where would you go from here? Is there anything that would make a meaningful upgrade?

Thanks a lot! :)

I won this on auction last month and it finally arrived today. Extremely happy with it as well as the aesthetic it brings to my stack.

I picked up this vintage 70's turntable for a summer restoration project, the stylus is missing and I want to replace the cartridge can anyone tell me what I need and where to order it from please?? UK based

Hello, my dad bought this turntable new in the late 90s and iv'e been using it for a few years. However in a recent move something has been knocked loose. I have been trying to find a service manual on all corners of the internet unable to find anything at all.

I figure the problem is purely mechanical since i can get it to spin and start *sometimes*. but the needle doesnt return to its starting position and the stop button is loose and non responsive. The white "Y"-shape seems to have something to do with returning the needle to its "home position but it has come loose, the screw laid inside the box and the y hanged from its spring so i know where it should sit just not *how*.

I know theres probably better models for a cheap price but this has some sentimental value to both me and my father so please, anything and everything helps!

Is there anyone who has any idea of what i should do next or maybe have a similar model and can provide a picture of the insides for reference?

I bought me a 2nd-hand Pro-Ject 2Xperience and I like it. It came with a (almost new) Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, but I think I'll mount my Ortofon MC-3 Turbo for listening to But the "screw mount clamp" is missing. Do I really need one, or is it overrated? Most of my vinyl albums are flat (enough).

On another note: I'm thinking about changing the Ortofon 2M blue for my (almost new) Ortofon MC-3 Turbo that's on my old Rega Planar 3 (turntable from 1985), for I want to use the Pro-Ject 2Xperience for listening to smooth jazz (new) albums. Any recommendations? Thanks.