Vinyl help - Record player for the living room

i don't play my records* often enough, because at the moment that means going to the office and using the trusty technics 1200s.. this is all well and good when i'm upstairs, but thanks to getting a new macbook i find myself spending hardly any time in the office these days, so i'd like to be able to play vinyl in the living room - not mention that this would be nice for when we have guests round and want a spot of music rather than default to the TV as background noise..

to that end, i want something that is small and stylish that will play vinyl, suitable for a living room.. a brief google seems to suggest this is a good option:

(click for big)

Teac LP-P1000​

i like the way that it is styled like an old hifi separate system, but it is completely self-contained (bar the speakers) and even has bluetooth and audio inputs, so i could use it to play audio from any source (including the TV)..

i am far from an audiophile - i know to get the best sound quality i should be looking at separates, floor standing speakers, a sub, etc. but that's not what the focus is here.. my primary criteria are compact, simple, and suitably styled for a typical living room.. i'd even be happy to look at all-in-one units (i.e. with speakers built-in), as long as the sound wasn't too awful and it looked nice and worked well..

so come on, middle class hipsters / crusty old rockers / people with too much time & money on their hands - what are my options for achieving my dream?



* yes, "records".. there is no such thing as "vinyls" and if you have ever said that word in anything but an ironic way then we shall never speak again..

 

oh, and is there anywhere in stafford that sells stuff like this, so i can actually get my hands on something before buying?

 

Unsurprisingly @Goldilox might be able to help - not so long ago he brought a lovely turntable for the lounge

 

Often, there are record players, of various types, in the Hospice Warehouse - I don't recall there being any there today, though - but, I didn't know that I should be looking...

 

Music Matters (http://www.musicmatters.co.uk/) next to TKMaxx / Laura Ashley etc might have something you can play with

 

Let us know if you find a decent one please @db. I've been thinking of getting a proper record player for a while now myself x

 

A Rega RP1 - they are the kind of thing What HiFi call "entry level", a separate turntable at about £230. It does sound lovely though.



The only experience I have of an all-in system like you seem to want is a Sony LBT-D105 I picked up from Katherine House Warehouse a few years back. Sounds great for what it is, but it's not the stylish little thing you were after. They do turn up for not much on ebay though.

 

ah, ebay - good idea! a lot of them seem to be "collection only", but i'll keep an eye out in case something interesting pops up.. if not, i think i might end up getting the Teac one i mentioned..

 

The Teac unit is from a well known hifi manufacturer, 25w per channel would not leave a huge amount of power in reserve but should be ok for your requirements. It might be worth keeping an eye out for second hand mini stack kit from Technics and Denon on ebay ? They would be better sound quality, you would not need to use/stack all the components just the turntable amp and speakers. Something like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/technic-hi-fi-/291522657342 although not the retro look you like.

 

i've got some sony separates in the garage, funnily enough (and some absolute 2 monitors that were the crème de la crème in their day), but that sort of thing is a bit too utilitarian looking for what i want, really..

tempted to get something like this, but it is most definitely style over substance.. and not terribly good style, either - just struck me as an interesting alternative!

as it stands, i still quite fancy the Teac in my OP.. i have to get some new furniture for the living room first, though, and the style/dimensions of that will have some influence over the record player!

 

I think a unit like the Teac would sound better, if you have room, as the separate speakers decouples the vibration which would otherwise affect the turntable.

 

There's an Akai AP-D210 in the Hospice Warehouse for £15 - direct drive, no having to worry about forty-year-old rubber giving up on you.

 

thanks, but i'm after something a bit more modern! can't be bothered with separates, RIAA phono preamps, etc..

i like the way the teac has bluetooth, so if something isn't on wax i can still play it through the same unit via my ipad/phone/computer/etc..

it's made from vulcanised rubber, so it won't perish

 

They had one of those modern USB ones, as well.

 

This is now SOLD..............to me, and is sitting in my living room

Well happy, always liked stuff made in Japan, has a bit of quality about it, so cheers for the heads up!

 

Can I just say avoid Crossley like the plague. they are BAD, VERY BAD!

I recommend the 80's turntable and amp route, particularly if you can find something Japanese, good quality and there are some bargains around. Other than that, if you want something modern I echo the vote for Music Matters on the Wolverhampton Road. Starter turntable in there £200 though. You have been warned!!!

 

Good move - I considered it myself - but the Sony PS 212 direct drive that I bought from Tom Reekie in 1978 is still going strong.

 

Likewise my Hitachi, but it's not direct drive and I suspect the belt is worn/stretched, so the Akai for £15 was too good an opportunity to miss.

 

These people can be useful - http://www.needledoctor.com/New/Turntable-Belts - for all sorts of bits...


Cross reference chart - http://www.needledoctor.com/core/me...c=ACCT106601&h=6eb4e1427fc5f19fc41c&_xt=.html

 

Cheers for that, good to know. I'm going to check the Akai works and then get it a new stylus also, just to prevent damage to our treasured vinyl so I'm sure that site will get a visit