For those of you looking for a belt-drive turntable, this may be a good deal. It is regularly $149.99, and it has pretty good reviews.
Belt-drive turntable with fully automatic operation / Professional aluminum platter / 2 speeds: 33-1/3 and 45 rpm / 1 Year Warranty - Audio Technica AT-PL50 Fully-Automatic Stereo Turntable has been Refurbished to perform as new. It comes with a 1-Year Limited Warranty. Dynamic balanced tone arm with soft damping control - Built-in, pre-adjusted antiskate and antitracking force - Phono pre-amp gain: 38dB nominal, RIAA equalized, for connection to audio systems that do not have a phono Input (selectable on/off) - Power: 120 volt AC, 60Hz, 3W - Balanced tone arm with soft damping control - Switchable pre-amp with outputs - Easily-accessible front controls - DC servo-controlled motor - Includes stereo RCA-to-1/8" mini-plug stereo Adapter cable and 45 RPM adapter
This deal shows up a few times a year. Great deal. This is a good starter turntable for those of you looking to buy older records or others who are into independent music who would prefer to have vinyl instead of digital in their colection. Vinyl's making quite a comeback in some circles!
Just a few tips on the creampuff of a deal. The stylus is very common and is the same for this, the Sony, Pioneer and Denon branded versions of this unit. The stylus is $20 or less for a genuine AT. It can be upgraded, but the elliptical stylus costs more than this entire unit - which from my experience will be in true like new condition.
This unit (and it's twins) has a problem with groove jumping, and there really is no fix. I suspect that is why there are so many refurbs on this and the Sony units (which can be had for under $60 delivered or less often). There is no anti-skate on the arm (not just adjustment - there is none at all) and the arm is balanced by a fixed spring. A 1970s BSR changer has a more sophisticated arm.
But the plus side is that these sound surprisingly good for non-audiophile ears. Good, strong bass stands out. Also it is fully automatic. All in all, for less than the price of an entry level modern cartridge for an oldie but goodie component turntable, this plays those old records with better sound and much more gentle than a "nostalgia system" with it's carp ceramic cartridge.
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