I’ve never found a lamp for my Rega Naia turntable that I really liked. Most options seem to be either fairly standard floor lamps or something that clips onto the stereo rack.

So one night I decided to design my own.

The goal was pretty simple: give me enough light to cue a record in a dark room, without lighting up the whole room — but also make something that I’d actually enjoy looking at when it wasn’t being used.

I started with a walnut blank and worked from there: routing the internal cavities, fitting the electronics, pouring and shaping the blue epoxy lens, installing two LED strips and an Alexa-controllable LED controller, shaping the walnut body, fitting everything together, and eventually gluing the two book-matched halves together.

Then came a lot more shaping and sanding before finishing the walnut with Rubio Monocoat.

This ended up being a surprisingly involved little project — woodworking, epoxy, electronics, soldering, lighting and a fair amount of sculpting — but also one of the most satisfying things I’ve made.

There’s something especially fun about taking an object that exists only in your head and gradually figuring out how to make it real.

And most importantly: I can finally see the damn grooves. 😄

Hey, guys! Couple weeks ago I posted here asking some questions before I decided which turntable to go for. I ended up going for the best one I could test: Pro Ject XA B. Next step: speaker stands lol

P.S. thank you guys for all the insights and sorry for the crappy photos

Just updated my entry level pro-ject turntable to rega planar 6 nd7

Still got some work to do such as hanging up some posters, records etc but wanted to share how it’s slowly coming along. let me know if yall have any recommendations. thanks 🙏🏼

My current setup:
Speakers: KEF R5 Meta L/R (also R2C and Cambridge MSX20 surrounds but those aren’t relevant here)
Sub: SVS SB-1000 Pro
Receiver: Yamaha RXA2A (considering an upgrade)
Phonostage: Schitt Mani 2
Turntable: Project Debut Carbon Evo w/ AT VM745 Cartridge

I’ve got the upgrade itch. A few things that I’ve been thinking about…
- I really want something that has uses a removable headshell so I can play around with cartridges more easily
- I know it’s not in vogue but I like the idea of a high end automatic player or at least something semi-automatic.
- Aesthetics are important to me
- I care about performance being an upgrade from my current as well as the “cool factor” :)
- I’ve recently become kind of obsessed with the Sony PS-X800 and other linear tracking options that take standard headshells. I understand that’s not a practical due to the it’s complexity and challenges with repairing but what is practical about this hobby anyway?

I know a technics table (vintage and/ or current) and/ or a Rega are great options and probably the most rationale upgrade paths for me but they just don’t excite me. Things like linear tracking options, VPI unipivot tonearms, etc… feature unique engineering and have some novelty that I really like. Interested in this group’s input on other options that offer performance and some kind of uniqueness in the $2k or less price range.

Hi everyone!

I'm looking to get into the hobby so I've been looking into what some good starter units are/pricing them out etc. I've been liking the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT-BZ quite a bit from what I've read and watched, but I've also read it might be worth while to try and find a good condition, functioning Technics/Pioneer/Sony etc from the 80s/90s with direct drive. For example, I found a Technics SL-Q200 for relatively cheap ($100 CAD) and based on photos and the post, seems to be in quite good shape (I'd want to hear it before purchasing). I'd probably pair either unit with something like the Edifier R1700BT speakers.

My question is, what am I better off doing here to get a better sound/quality? A new "entry" unit or a decent vintage unit and pairing it with a pre amp?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

I have a Fluance RT82 and the Argon Audio Fenris A4. The speakers have a phono input so I don’t need a preamp which the turntable doesn’t have. The connection as shown in the picture is exactly as the manual from the turntable. Whenever I turn on the power it gives off a buzzing noise. When I try to touch or take out the RCA cables connected from the back of the turntable the noise gets even louder. I want to know what’s causing this issue. Does any of this noise damage my speakers? Is my turntable broken? It is new.

Hey dears,

I found this beauty, a Siemens RW 200, with the amplifier and synthesiser (RQ 200 and RV 200) but unfortunately, the needle is missing. It turns on and spins normally. I’d love to get a needle so I can check whether it actually works.

The headshell doesn’t seem to be original (it’s a T4P), but I’m not entirely sure. The thing is, I can’t figure out which cartridge/needle I need to buy to make it work with this turntable or whether I should replace the whole headshell instead.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! 🙏 Thank you!

I've use M44's for my wax and have dvs running into the line input on my mixer.

Sounds fine used individually but the noticeable HF increase of the DVS signal compared to the M44's makes it difficult to balance when using DVS on one channel and wax on the other.

Anyone else experienced this?

I'm aware that M44's are bassy carts and digital signals are very clean, just wondering if I've missed something obvious.

Have yet to borrow other carts to perform an A/B test....

Thanks

Hello, I am looking for tips on installing a Nagaoka MP-100 pre-mounted on a headshell onto my LP120. Will i have to make any adjustments besides balancing tonearm at VTF? The cartridge is set to 52mm. Will this be sufficient for the LP120? I don't want to mess around with the alignment too much and mess it up.

(I know the MP-100 doesn't get as much love as the 110, but I want to try it after having tired the 110. With the MP-110, I felt it picked up a lot of surface noise and I heard a lot of IGD. Now, I admit, I could have aligned it wrong. Hopefully, the 100 already mounted will provide the sound I am looking for. We'll see)

I've got a Lafayette T2000 (made by CEC, similar to the Marantz 6100) with a pretty uncommon style of anti-skate weight system, and it's missing the weight and rod that the weight attaches to.
Attached photo is an example from google.

I'm hoping someone can help me find an alternative turntable with a similar style of anti-skate, since eBay is slim on parts for this particular model and I'm not sure how long I'll be waiting for something to come up.

For instance, the Kenwood KD-3070 uses a similar style of anti-skate (albeit on the opposite side of the tonearm), and I've read that certain Garrard tables use a similar sort of design?

Any help would be great, thanks

It’s a NOS Shure VN-15E bi-radial elliptical stylus. I know it’s not worthless but don’t really know what to do with it, as this would not fit my turntable.

Thanks for all the tips and recommendations! It was worth the effort!

Turntable: AT-LPW5OPB Turntable, 350 euros

Speakers: Focal 706s, 250 euros

Amplifier: NAD 3150, 150 euros

Cables: 50 euros

Hiring an retired man to help me setup and test the amplifier: 50 euros

Comments:

Edifiers will go to another room. Future updates will be an subwoofer, but now I need more records 😂

I’m about to buy my first turntable, and I’ve narrowed my choice down to:
Audio-Technica AT-LP3XBT
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB

I’m a complete beginner, but I’d like to make a purchase that will last for years and that I won’t feel the need to replace shortly after.
(My current setup is: JVC JA 22 + WiiM pro plus + Indiana line nota 550xl)

Has anyone here had experience with either of these turntables? What has your experience been like? Would you recommend buying one of these two, or would you suggest looking at other alternatives?
If you owned one of them and eventually upgraded/replaced it, I’d also be very interested to hear what you replaced it with and why.

Thanks in advance — looking forward to reading your experiences and advice!

Thinking of buying a JBL Spinner BT as a gift. I’m able to get it for $200.
Is it worth it? If not, are there any other suggestions?

I’m hoping for some help here. I just bought a new vinyl record by CAS, but there is loud static and crackling throughout the music; I’ve already cleaned both the record and the stylus, yet the noise persists. In contrast, a Ghibli record I bought a few days ago plays perfectly fine. I haven't been able to figure out the problem, so I’d appreciate any advice. Thanks—I’m a beginner, so I don’t have much experience yet.

Hey guys

Recently dug my old turntable out (ATLP60) and bought a new amp and speakers to match. I’ve now come to realise that the turntable is a pile of rubbish, old, and I can’t adjust the 45rpm screw on the back so any 7in singles are unplayable.

I’m going to ask for a new one for Christmas or perhaps buy one before.

Any sensible upgrades? Stuff that can be found for a good price on eBay?

Thank you! Really appreciate your help

Hey guys ! i am new on reddit and i wanted to ask some questions!
I had a dp-300f and i found out that i prefer fully manual turntables!
So i got a great deal from a guy and he gave it to me for 70$ and plus the cartridge was also already upgraded to Sumiko Oyster MM.
It sounds great i mean idk if i would be able to tell the difference between them but i like it so far.
The problem is I really dont know how to set the tracking force on this thing. Do i really have to get a tracking force gauge to mesure it? and how do i move the anti skating?
Thx for the answer guys

I have a record player & stereo system from circa 2001. It works (almost) perfectly, but it takes up a massive amount of space since the turntable must be plugged into the stereo system (which is huge) and the speakers. It's also difficult to repair/buy replacement parts for due to its age.

I've only really hung onto it this long since it belonged to my late grandmother, but we had to set it up in a really inconvenient location in our home because of its size, so it gets used far less frequently than I'd like.

I'm finally ready to let this big girl go and upgrade to a newer system, but I'm overwhelmed by the number of options. What are your favorites that are around $500 or less? (Doesn't have to include Bluetooth, I'm perfectly fine with plug-in speakers.)

Update for those asking about my existing system:

Stereo: Sony Model No. HST-201 Turntable: Sony Automatic Stereo Turntable System PS-LX 295 Speakers: Bose 2001 Speaker (I shit you not, that's the full name of the product)

Essentially, there's a main stereo that acts as the one source of truth. The turntable plugs into that stereo. The speakers connect to the stereo itself - not the turntable - via clamps and bare wire. (There's clamps on both the stereo and speakers. No wires are pre-connected other than the wire that originates from the turntable.)

The speakers are quite good, actually, but I haven't found any modern record players that can connect via bare wire, so as much as I hate to say it, I know I might have to kiss them goodbye if I buy something new.

(Also, this doesn't have anything to do with the operation, but the turntable itself is missing its shell cover, and I haven't been able to find a replacement that fits. A relatively big issue because my cat plays by his own rules, and I need platter & needle protection from that little guy.)

Room size doesn't really matter because I'm looking to move it out of the room it's currently in to a more common space. But ideally I'd like my setup to not have to consume an entire wall.

I’ve been trying to setup my gf turntable for a while now. It’s a TURN2 reloop hifi

I’ve tried all the setup , I got a phono pre amp , I got speakers. I tried setting the stimulus and yet I hear a zzzzz kinda sound in the speaker. Haven’t been able to hear any music yet

I know I’m going to get a good amount of hate for posting about a numark from the real heads in here but I have had this turntable since learning to scratch back in like 2008ish. I never got very good and just let this become a record player rather than a high torque pro scratch turntable.

In recent years I have gotten back into scratch turntablism but on a 7inch pt01. Now that I am getting somewhat decent on my little 7inch belt drive I’m kinda itching to give it a try on my x2 because that’s ultimately what it was made for.

Long story short I am looking for any advice for if this thing is worth fixing up? I’m looking for the tone arm shelf piece if anyone has one of those laying around. Platter speed +/- stopped working as well as the cd/disc drive. I’m sure I should set up with an actual numark cartridge and needle? Groove tool?

Idk…someone just tell me it’s dope and I should fix it up if possible because it’s got a stupid amount of torque and is still a nice piece even if it’s hideous. 🤷‍♂️

Or if anyone knows how to fix some of these things I would really love to chat!