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 GEARED looks at the entry-level options for those who want to listen to their albums the way they were meant to be heard.
I receive a lot of music – too much, perhaps. Sometimes listening to everything I want to hear each week is impossible. Between streams of new releases and classic albums yet to be discovered, it’s like a never-ending arms race for musical knowledge, where the evil empire is a presumption that somewhere, somehow, I’m missing out on something vital. The Internet and iPods are great for alleviating this existential yearning, as you can screen dozens of records in a week, and use transit time to work through the best of them. But after a while this method isn’t so satisfying. MP3s simply don’t sound that great, and most headphones – yes, even the semi-expensive ones – are largely trash. There’s a sinking feel too, when listening to an album while preoccupied, or amidst ambient noise, that you’re not hearing it as it was produced – alone, in a dark room, and with undivided attention.
It was this revelation that led me to crave vinyl. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m all for technology and gadgets and junk, but wax – for me – is the pinnacle of home music listening. It’s the same way that tube/valve amplification is considered superior by guitarists and audiophiles. In music and art people typically crave organic textures – they fascinate us, because they parallel our own existence. Listening to an LP is not easy – you must flip the record at least once, and skipping tracks requires carefully, consciously, placing the needle in the right groove. It is a tactile, interactive experience, which requires a level of conscientiousness of behalf of the listener. This creates a natural selection process, whereby you – no longer being passive – spend time only with records worth the extra effort. Suddenly that age-old ceremony of consumption – of hunting down obscure items, of absorbing every second of sound, and every inch of the record sleeve – is rekindled, and music becomes exciting again, albeit more expensive.
That’s the main barrier for most people – investing in a record player means spending money on a piece of equipment that doesn’t play any of the formats you own. In addition, buying new music on LP is more expensive and less portable, so in that sense, CD and MP3 are brilliant. Yet, if you can make the initial investment into vinyl, you’ll discover that the extra expense and effort required to listen to new music actually makes the experience far more rewarding. Plus, you know, it just sounds better. Here are some entry-level options for getting amongst sweet wax.
RELATIVES + STORAGE AREAS
Second Hand Electronics
The cheapest way to get spinning is, rather obviously, to ask around at your next family gathering. Many people still have record players from back in the day, which they stopped using when CDs came along. This was a terrible idea on their behalf, but great for you! Be sure to poke around their record collections as well. My girlfriend’s father just so happened to have a massive pile of original Pink Floyd, Yes, and Monty Python LPs. That was a sweet day.
If you live in a house that has a large storage area somewhere, have a look there for any discarded electronics. I found my first record player and two massive Technics speakers under my old share house. I had no qualms appropriating them, as the owner had left the country. I still use those speakers, they’re brilliant.
Expect to spend up to $50, in case you have to replace any components: like leads and needles.
OP SHOPS + DEPARTMENT STORES
Cheap Second Hand + New
If nothing free is forthcoming, the next option is to head to an Op Shop and see if you can’t find something cheap there. Failing that, there are some pretty budget players to be had at department stores like Target, or speciality retailers like WOW Sight & Sound. A friend once commented that the cheaper the player, the more money you can spend on records. But while that’s true to an extent (and perhaps more true of certain genres), you do always get what you pay for at retail.
Try not to spend over $100 here, as there are better options not too financially distant.
 NUMARK PT-01
Portable Turntable
This is my pick of the bunch. The PT-01 is the cheapest, smallest portable on the market, and actually has a lot of good features. It takes anything up to 12-inch records on its built-in slip mat, and spins at 33, 45 & 78 RPM. There’s a +/-10% pitch control for tempo changes, a bass/treble tone knob, stereo line-level outputs, and a both 1/4” and 1/8” headphone outs. That means the PT-01 pretty much plugs into just about anything for amplification and recording. Sure, there’s a built-in speaker, but even a pair of computer speakers are going to outclass it.
Technically, with the slip mat, you can actually scratch with this thing, though I’m doubtful the needle on the unit is doing your records any favours. The PT-01 packs up with a hard cover for transport, and operates on either an AC adaptor or 6x D batteries. They’re reportedly quite durable, a friend has had one just sitting and playing records all day at his work for a year or so, and hasn’t had any problems with it.
When we went to print, www.storedj.com.au had a clearance on the PT-01, selling it for $149 with free shipping Australia wide.
 VESTAX HANDY TRAX
Portable Turntable
The Handy Trax preceded the PT-01, and certainly trumps it in terms of style. The speaker on the Vestax offering is louder, and also has a – rather perplexing – audio input, which could be handy for mixing a new 7-inch into old tracks off your iPod. It spins at 33, 45 & RPM, and can take 12-inch records, but the way the platter is laid out – sans slip mat and felt pads – means it’s not as easy on your vinyl as the PT-01. This could be easily rectified DIY-style though. It features pitch and tone control, and even has a Vestax slider for volume. There are stereo line-level outputs and a ¼-inch headphone out. The unit is more expensive than the PT-01, and doesn’t quite match the unit in terms of usable features, but it’s certainly a much better looking package, especially when packed in its tough plastic shell.
The Handy Trax is $259 at www.storedj.com.au currently.
VESTAX SOUNDWAGON
Portable Record Player
The wheels on the bus go round and round (the record), round and round (the record), round and round (the record), The wheels on the bus go round and round (the record), playing all my tunes! This cool Combi Van will not only drive around the groove of your record, but play the record via its internal speaker. Sure, you’re not going to be rocking any parties, or even getting decent audio quality, but hey, it’s still pretty cool. The catch? The expense. Maybe it’s good if you’re really into DIY, toys, and thought Cars was the best Disney film ever.
StoreDJ says $239, a little too gleefully www.storedj.com.au
 STANTON T.90 USB
Turntable
Now we’re getting into more specialised products designed for the DJ market, but they still represent great value for money, and lots of compatibility options for those with even a passing interest in DJing. You will of course need an amplifier for these, but that can come in any form really. If you have a stereo with right and left RCA inputs at the back, you have an amplifier.
The T.90 USB is a semi-professional quality turntable with high-torque direct drive motor and a USB output. With the Key Lock feature, you can adjust the tempo of a record without affecting pitch, while USB and S/PDIF digital outputs make the unit great for archiving vinyl. It features an S-Shape tone arm for lower distortion and superior tracking, plays back at 33, 45 & 78 RPM. It includes a Stanton 500B cartridge, slip mat and dust cover.
RRP $499, but a clearance means www.storedj.com.au has them for $399.
 NUMARK TT500
Turntable
Featuring a hefty 5kgf/cm of torque and features usually reserved for decks in a much higher price bracket, the TT-500 is one of the best value for money analogue decks on the market. The TT500 has the same build as the TTX, Numark’s flagship turntable, however the TT500 leaves out all the digital control placed into the TTX, for a simplified version. The interchangeable aluminium tonearm system includes both straight and S-shaped tonearms, which means the unit is great for both general listening and DJ applications. The platter can instant reverse and has adjustable start and brake speeds. The TT500 also carries precise cue, height, and anti-skate adjustments, which means playback is always controlled. It of course spins at 33, 45 & 78 RPM, with the pitch faders running from +/-8, with 10, 20, & 50% ranges selectable.
RRP $499, but a clearance means www.storedj.com.au has them for $399.
The bottom line? Experience the pleasures of vinyl – as you may find you like it – but remember to do so in an affordable manner. Free stuff is always best, bargains are next best, and if you have to shell-out a decent amount of cash, make sure you do so cleverly. If you’re considering spending hundreds of dollars, there are still those who would claim that nothing beats the sound of Technics SL1200s, which can be picked up for around $400-$500 second hand. I happen to be one of those people.
Check out next week's GEARED for the high end of the market, including 1200s.
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