Complete vinyl based system under 1,000?

I stuck up a conversation with one of the many people who pass through the thrift shop i work at, who was looking for vinyl. He has no system at all, yet still wants to buy records. This is not at all uncommon. Nearly everyone asks for records and 50% have never seen a turntable! Anyway this guy has about 1,000 to spend in a vinyl playback system that would include an integrated and speakers. I've tried to dissuade him from vinyl at this price level but he insists. He also wants new components. I've tried doing research but there are so many compromises at this budget. I doubt he's ever heard a high end system so he will have no reference. We were tossing around tables from U-turn, Pro Ject, Music Hall and his favorite Audio Technica. He also likes the S300 Yamaha integrated. Any ideas for a system that would be acceptable?

 

Too bad he insists on all new components, it would be easier to put together a vintage system at this price.

I think you're on the right track though S300, AT-LP120 (already includes cart) and spend the rest on speakers.

 

Marantz PM6005
Rega Rp1
Monitor Audio BX2 speakers.

 

that would be a:

$700 amp
$500 Speakers
$450 Table

All before paying sales tax, about $600 over the budget of $1,000. That would however be a very nice sounding system to get going with.

 

Elac B6 speakers, $280 a pair
Audio Technica 120 turntable, around $250
Onkyo 8050 receiver $300
Onkyo 7030 CD player $170

If they don't want a CD player, they can get the floor standing Elac F5 tower speakers with the difference in funds. The Onkyo 8050 is a streaming receiver with a moving magnet input. Of course, the Audio Technica turntable has a built-in phono pre, but one has the option of using the phono in for the receiver, supposedly superior.

 

U-Turn Orbit $179
Schiit Mani $129
NAD 316BEE $379
ELAC Debut B6 $279
TOTAL $966

He can upgrade the platter and cartridge on the turntable as his budget allows. This would be a pretty great system, really.

 

Oops my mistake I was thinking GBP not Dollars. Sorry.

 

Why?

 

Because it is the most expensive way to listen to music and if you are trying to stick to a budget a bad idea. I know, a $400 table and a stack of $1 records is good fun but once you let the horses out of the barn it can be hard to get it under control.

 

these people need to stop buying my records

 

A $100 CD player will kill a $300 turntable in performance.

 

and 100 used CD's vs. the price of 100 used LP's is not even close. I love records but certainly not because it is cheap and easy.

 

No doubt. I've probably spent $1000 over the years in accessories alone.

 

Most people have to live within a budget. It can't be that difficult to set-up a turntable system for $1000.

 

So the guy should just not play records at all? I've had and played records my entire life on a budget. It's not that difficult.

 

I see even the speakers are vinyl wrapped!

 

These people who buy records and no system to play are just forcing vinyl prices up ! They should be discouraged from wasting their money .

 

You can't be serious !

 

I have this as a second system in my house, though with different speakers. It's actually quite good.

Schiit Mani $129
NAD D3020 $399
Music Hall MMF 2.2 $299 (on sale at several places)
Elac's newest speakers Andrew Jones (Debut B5): $229

Also strong digital system with a built in DAC. The D3020 is very good.

Barely over $1K and you can swap out the Pioneers by Andrew Jones to get under $1K.

 

From what I have heard the U-Turn is better than the AT. The built in phono in the AT and the external that U-turn sells are both very poor quality. They are really just designed to get you in the game.

 

Have you ever seen a CD player kill a turntable?

It's not pretty.

 

I certainly don't agree a $100 CD player beats a $300 U-Turn (the high end model) or MMF 2.2.

 

I bet it involves lasers

 

This is exactly how the conversation devolves into CD vs LP. We are 10 posts away from someone typing "crosley"

 

From what I've read, the achilles heel of the AT 120 is the Phono pre, really can't be switched out. However, there's an excellent YouTube video of how to bypass the phono preamp entirely. So one can use the AT 120 with the phono pre built into the Onkyo receiver. If they want to get trickier with outboard phono stages in the future, this modification will be a necessary first step. Beyond that, in terms of being available, simple to use, set up, great wow & flutter specs, speed accuracy and so forth, the AT 120 is a good starter deck and well within the OP's budget.