Why I Buy Used Turntables (and you should too) 

For a beginner who's overwhelmed by a lot of slightly negative videos telling people what NOT to do, this was a refreshing change. A positive, informative, helpful video. Thanks!

I refurbish old turntables and most of the time,a little oil,deoxit and a new belt is all they need.Been using a 1978 Denon Dp-1200 for the past 15 years with zero issues

Got 2 technics sl1210-mk2 new out the box……30 years ago…..still got m…still work like a charm. Best investment I ever did!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

I have a Garrard DD75 and I've repaired it 5 times and I have to fiddle with it almost every time I use it but I love that thing, it sounds good and looks good. You can't go wrong with Technics direct drive units.

The days of $15 turntables are gone. Hard to find any vintage for cheap. Still cheaper then new, thought.

Great video, I'm always on the lookout for vintage equipment. I still have a Pioneer PL-570 table that I bought in 1979 - the thing is a warhorse and I have used it consistently over the years with zero problems

Just used your code and website suggestion for my allegro unit! They were super nice on the phone. Thank you much

That was helpful. Thanks sir!

Thanks Deaf Man!

I used to years ago have Techniques equipment turntable amplifier and double cassette player way before CDs came in.I remember the time on the record handle it was like the needle wasn't hitting the vinyl the correct way it would almost float in the air ,but I fixed it by putting a penny on top of the handle with a rubber band to hold it down to make it play correct. I'm sure a lot of us have done that before back in the day

There are turntables and there are turntables. My favorite turntable in the whole world was manufactured in the mid 1970s. As an engineer IMO it beats everything on the market today at any price. It has many innovations that are still unique. In its day it was about 400 dollars. Today Ive seen them used for 4000 dollars on ebay. For example the tonearm bearings are sapphires. If you need to replace a stylus on a high end vintage cartridge you should buy new old stock. It's going to be expensive and finding one can be like looking for a needle in a haystack 🙂

Love your videos!!!

Dude, what are the chances the TT I found in my pops basement a few weeks ago is ALSO a DC Servo!? Amazing. Bought the rubber band and stylus online already and you just gave me the confirmation I needed, instantly subscribed. I'm about to plug it in and spin!

I picked up a Harmon/Kardon ST7 for $60 with owner and service manuals. Spent a lot of time going through it, replacing a couple of capacitors, belts, rubber drive tire, lights, and dust cover. Made in 1976, thick aluminum base, linear tracking. Looks and runs beautufully now. I use a SoundSmith Otello cart and really couldn't be happier.

Great video!

Pioneer P-88F front loading player. 1985. Still works great

My old Technics SL-5 finally died (none of the 4 buttons would work anymore). I talked to a record shop tech about it and he said parts were hard to find and the labor was like $50 or $60/hr. I decided to replace it with a brand new Rega P2 and an upgraded cart. Maybe I'll try to sell the SL-5 for parts on E-bay or FB Marketplace.

Very nice place you got there

Great video thanks Deaf man! I cant find your video about how to choose a stylus.. Are you able to post a link here in the comments please?

Good Basics for getting started. The Technics turntable you're using has a P-mount cartridge. These quite often have a screw through the side to make sure that they are fully mounted. A drawback to the P-mount would be the limited number of choices for replacement cartridges, and you may be able to find a better cartridge for a little more than the cost of a replacement stylus.

Agree a technics used at my record store was 175

*too. appreciate your content.

I just noticed you had "Misplaced Childhood" by Marillion. Great album, and it came out the year I was born (1985)!

my akai turtable uses a cartridge very similar to the one on that turntable

I had a Technics in the same series (SL-QD33) for decades that’s a far superior starter unit than almost all of the current crop of turntables that you can buy, especially if you don’t mind that it’s always live and makes horrible sounds when landing on and lifting up from the record. Because I got sick of hearing those jarring sounds after growing up with a Dual 1229 that muted during the automatic cycle, I wanted a better unit than the Technics. I originally wanted something from Sony’s Biotracer series, but all of the ones that I found were much, much more than what I wanted to spend. I eventually settled for the Sony PS-X55, which I loved so much that I bought TWO of them! Peace.

What up Deafman, just picked up a 1965 Duel 1019, question for the man. What speakers do you recommend I look for, and what power amp should I get? Thanks for any info you can give. Rock ON!

What’s your opinion of Plus Audio: The +Record Player Turntable + Integrated Audio System w/Bluetooth? Someone is selling used and wondering if this is a good option versus buying a standalone turntable? My budget is $500.

At this level of turntable I would suggest buy cds. There have been some great innovations with turntables and tone arms in the last 20 years . On the other hand any technics sl 1200 is a great buy

The vintage turntables usually had a lot of wood and metal in their construction. The newer turntables seem to have a lot of plastic and plastic.

I just got a philips component table in a trade for computer scrap. It is missing a headshell nut, the needle and the dust cover. Everything elce looks to still be there including the counterweight and the belt. Glad the belt is still there as it is a weired smaller round belt like a VCR belt. Not like the commone square vcr belts either

Just picked up a sanyo g2422kl for £15 - Any advice on How to plug speakers into it? completely new to vinyl and not quiet sure which wires/speakers will work or if i'll need a preamp etc. any advice would be really helpful 😃.

Great video. I do want to add that if do replace the belt on a turntable that uses an asynchronous motor (speed tied into the 60 hertz AC cycle), you might need to coat the belt in talcum powder ensure proper speed as the belts can be too sticky and you need the powder to create a bit of slippage for the centrifugal force of the platter to even out the speed.

I just found the Sanyo G 1212 record player in my dad's garage

I used a Technics SL used direct drive automatic turntable for few years but it started giving trouble initially with auto system and finally I bought audio-technica AT LP120USB in 2016 which is very good for 350 dollar. Monirul Islam Dhaka, Bangladesh. 05 May 2024

I inherited a vecter electronics T 150 turn table from the 1980s, and no amount of love could pet this puppy. As I return to vinyl, I'm caught between the cost factor of nostalgia and efforts to bring back a 45 year old turn table vers a new 350.00 entry level 2022 turn table.

Refurbed my dad's old Pioneer turntable last year. RCA cables and power cord were chewed by rats, the belt was totally disintegrated, and the cartridge had a dead channel. Total cost of the replacement parts was around the same price as a decent modern Audio Technica turntable, but was well worth it.

Hello to the Deaf Man just came . upon your site by accident I loved this video I also like vintage TT's I like mostly automatics I grew up with these mainly the cheaper models but I also found the high end type like Dual which I repaired and it works great today's TT'S are manual and very expensive don t know why there are some automatics out there I did find A Dual Cs 440 auto this one I would consider I saw. Vid on it and it looks like a well built one not much plastic inside from what I saw ,I recently bid on a Realistic lab 440 direct drive automatic TT I bid on it and got it for 100 dollars funny when I was one of those audiophile guys I considered the realistic brand sub par not good enough but I bought one it looks great and it is fully operational I was wondering on your opinion on this brand were they a good brand or unreliable it has several reviews so far all were good it is on its way so I hope I got a good deal what do think not expecting a quick response but at least I have another channel to enjoy thanks JRo📀

(new subscriber here)Another nice and simple video w/ the needed info on the subject! I'd like to know if you think "shielded" RCA's really make a difference, or even the length of the RCA's.

Just found myself a scott ps 76 for 25 euro's and it is working fine happy me

Dude that T-shirt is BITCHIN! Just discovered your channel and LOVE IT! Cheers from Ottawa, Canada eh!

At 2:55, you forget to mention that this type of "P-mount" plug-in phono cartridge may have a screw in the side of it that has to removed first before you can unplug the cartridge. And of course, if its not a P-mount turntable, the cartridge and headshell removal, and subsequent reinstallation *and alignment* is quite different..

What about used direct drive turntables? What should we watch out when buying a used unit?

My late father has an entire section of his dusty old wood shop dedicated to records and record players. There's got to be at least 7 old junk record players in a box. I'm not sure what he was doing with them and Idk if any work fully but I'm thinking I'm going to try my hand at creating a working one.

About to pick up a turntable....the large cabinet style with sliding top cover access. Very good condition on the cabinet. Turntable turns and arm(?) moves automatically. FM radio works. Has the 8-track player. I assume it completely works since everything else in the place does. Has wheels on bottom of cabinet and it is HEAVY. So, what will I have? Worth the trouble to move to my house?

Anyone rate the SANYO G 2811KL-2? Can’t get any info on it

Great video about vintage turntables. I have a 'vintage' Philips 777 direct control. I'm very pleased with it. I do have a question though. I just replaced my stylus (or a stylus with cartridge, does that make?) and now it seems like the cartridge is much closer to the record when playing. Closer than before. It does not seems to affect playback, in fact it sounds great, but should it be higher? Can I damage my records this way. I even had to look closely 'cause optically it seemed like it was touching the record, but that was not possible of course, the sound was good, it was not dragging. Do you or anybody else have any advice on this? Is there a way to adjust the height of the cartridge? It also seems that this stylus is a bit shorter than my previous one. Many thanks. Cheers. Tim.

i have the audio technica AT- LP60-BT and i just looked and saw it’s discontinued and idk what to do! like i don’t have a stylus for it or anything

Hmmm... good one, I think I will see what it takes to replace the RCA cables that come out of my turntable.

so how old can you go ? I am looking at a Garrard 5-300. apparently works and has a new needle, probable good purchacs ? i only have 5 albums i bought 20 years ago and never used them. i have a local store selling vinyl so looking at getting more. did get a rotel rx 102 for 70 that sounds amazing with cardas/hales/arcam, deals to be had.

Found a pioneer MCS today. 30$. What speaker?

I bought a sears solid state turntable, it can also play cassette and 8 tracks. The only issue is I have no idea what speakers I should be using for it and how to connect. Any suggestions?

I have never stopped playing Dual 1216 turntable I bought for $50.00 in 1980. It is like my Dads Dual 1215S that he bought in 1971. By 1981 bought me and my Dad our second table the Dual 506. I now have my Dads tables and my tables. I did have everything overhauled over the last 15 years. They had never let us down, only a little sticky. Now perfect condition. Plus I acquired six others. All top notch condition. Own a modern Victrola all in one. What junk. Table never played 5 records and slow as ever. It does have a purpose. I burn CDs for the car, using my Dual turntables for source

i buy magnavox changer that are 50+ years old they sure beat ones that were made 15-19 years later

Tracvking gauge is what matters the most an speed stabilityImportant!

I've found 4 vintage turn tables, 2 pioneers, 1 yamaha, and 1 panasonic didn't pay more than $100 for all 4, garage sales.

The one exception to the phrase "it's just a simple piece of equipment" is trhe BSR transcription series-unlike the normal geared wheel cam driven off the platter shaft,these have a cam type of changer mechanism that is a mechanical nightmare--ever seen one of these? I have the model 710.Now I have worked on a fair number of turntables and changers over the last 40 years.Some,like the Empire 398,and AR turntable ARE very simple.My own choice of turntable,Dual,uses a fairly sophisticated,and sometimes fussy mechanism to adjust-but,once they are set up and lubricated properly,they will continue to work reliably for a long time.BUT--the BSR cam mechanism is so complicated,that even those who serviced them said that if you find one that is still working,DON"T TOUCH IT,don't even try to lube it--just LEAVE IT ALONE!

I saw a Sanyo TPX3 turntable yesterday. The price sticker was too squiggly to make out.

Toss the desk cover away? There are lots of videos on how to clean them up and buy the scratches out.

This is a great vid for noobs. A $100 on a working TT with a decent cart is good these days. No crosley, bsr, or lenoco. Budget 50 for a stylus. DD models are the best for low maintenance. Those servo motors dry out and require electric motor oil in the bearings.

One could fix and polish ugly turntable lids , I do it all the time , most end up looking like new ,

I'm still kickin myself in the behind for dropping off a Marantz 6300 turntable at Best Buy to be recycled due to it's failure to hold an accurate speed on 33 and 45. What a dummy I was.

i prefer the old turntables to the newer models which do not last long.

or be kinda shiny /glossy as it hardens and slip

I agree, I was in the market for a table and tried a few new ones (fluance, rega project) at about 4-500 cost. I then got oppertunity to buy a pioneer pl707.. for 250 bucks ?! I regretted my new tables immediately. Sold them, I'll never buy a new one again ..it's toys compared to the older stuff out there.

I've been looking for a 2nd turntable to replace my suitcase player. And i try convince my dad to allow me to buy a new turntable. And i said to him that i want a vintage player, but my dad says no. Because he believes that the turntable wouldn't last very long because of it's age and he said to buy a new turntable instead (like the audio technica LP-60). But due to inflation, that turntable is way out of my budget, and only thing i can afford is a used vintage turntable.

I have Yamaha model p-10. Serial # 3462

I would not recommend buying used to a beginner,with the exception if the turntable can be checked before buying it. Simply because more of a decade after vinyl reached the mainstream again there are very little bargains left on the market for used stuff. What is on sale is mostly defective or overpriced, or worse: both.

Is Soundesign a good company?

Too 'Technique-al' (Technical) for me, I'll stick with the Crosley!

The "rubber band" is much more than that ---- the diameter, width and thickness of the belt are key not only to getting the speed right (or close enough that it can be electronically adjusted) but also to ensure low wow and flutter, and not put a lot of sideways stress on the motor bearings. Getting a belt that is really right can be tricky, and many on-line sellers who purport to be selling "exact replacement" belts, aren't. Measure the old, hopefully original belt, including width and thickness, and use that as a starting point. Buy replacement belts only from turntable specialists and make sure you have the option of returning it. If you don't have a stroboscopic speed disc or some way to check the speed of the turntable you should probably get one. If the turntable has a DC motor then the speed is probably adjustable internally, and it may have a user-adjustable pitch control as well. If it has an AC motor then it likely will not have any kind of speed adjustment, internally or externally, and selecting the right belt is absolutely critical or you will never get the speed correct. PS, A little known fact: when the proper, correct or original belt starts to stretch a little bit, the turntable platter speed actually *speeds up* instead of slowing down. I was an audio installer and repair tech for years.....

Beogram 4000

You'll spend more money on a decent cartridge than you would on a vintage

Remember you get the quality of sound you pay for.....idler drive....

Deaf Man Vinyl, excellent intro to vintage turntables. Well done, sir. I'm sure it will be very helpful to many newly minted (or should I say pressed) vinyl fans. To add my $.02 worth: Yes, dust covers on used gear are usually pretty beat up. But they are also often fairly easy to polish. Anybody with a DIY streak should be able to make a good go of it. There are a number of RU-vid vids out there on the subject. I don't think any intro to vintage turntables is complete without a mention of phono pre-amps. Probably should have included a reference back to your previous vids on them. (like this one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tCRcRhN18nk.html )

Platter is way too insubstantial for a decent quality deck...

Why do you call yourself the Deaf Man?

Why do Americans pronounce Technics as though it has a ‘Q’ in it? As in Techniques! Surely it’s pronounced Techniks? No Q😁

wrong advice, get a turntable WITH direct drive. END OF THIS CONVERSATION