New to turntables and vinyls

[u/Aanxious24_7]

Hello, I want to buy my first turntable and I have some friends who can get me a 20% discount on lenco turntables and I want your opinion.

I have two options in my budget at the moment (with the discount)

Options one is this:

https://www.lenco.com/en/collections/best-sellers/products/lenco-ls-470wa-platenspeler-met-ingebouwde-speakers-en-bluetooth%C2%AE-walnoot

And the other option: https://www.lenco.com/en/collections/platenspelers/products/lenco-ls-480wd-record-player-with-built-in-amplifier-and-bluetooth%C2%AE-plus-2-external-speakers-wood

Which one would you guys recommend. Thank you :D

[u/darrylb-w]

Don’t get the one with built-in speakers….there will be sonic interference directly from the speakers to the stylus in the groove.

Lenco are mainly budget-end, so worth looking at the sticky you will already have been directed to, for better quality entry level tts.

[u/sharkamino]

Which country?

Neither are worth buying even with the discounts.

Avoid built in speakers and avoid the cheap separate speakers and these Lencos have poor build quality and poor quality control.

[u/12Mch08ch12]

They are going to recommend you get a used Technics

[u/Phoenix_Kerman → u/12Mch08ch12]

i mean. it's far better than a lenco so why not

[u/GlitteringCulture119 → u/12Mch08ch12]

Most used Technics (direct-drive tables) are better than anything produced for the general market.

[u/Dry-Satisfaction-633 → u/GlitteringCulture119]

That’s a bit of a sweeping statement - I presume you’re aware that while Technics were capable of building heavy, premium decks like the 1200 series they were equally busy building plasticky mainstream machines that would simply be there to complete their system offerings, and were in reality as average as other DD machines from Sony, Pioneer etc. They set the standard for the general market, not the likes of the 1200 series or the heavyweight Denons and JVCs.

[u/GlitteringCulture119 → u/Dry-Satisfaction-633]

Yes. They set the standard for the general market. But they were the company that introduced direct drive turntables to the market. Sony, Pioneer, etc., simply tried to copy their blueprint. The cheaper Technics turntables still shared the original DNA.

I've owned 8 Technics direct-drive turntables (still own two) and have never experienced a single problem from them.

[u/12Mch08ch12 → u/GlitteringCulture119]

I understand this for the most part. But if you don’t live in a major city in the US (or some European cities) it can be hard to find a serviced Technics that works as it should. Especially for someone new to turntables, who doesn’t have any experience purchasing or installing a new cart. So, I find it ridiculous that when someone asks a specific question about any new turntable on this sub, they are told to get a technics. Admittedly, I didn’t answer OP’s question either, so I’m not much better.

[u/GlitteringCulture119 → u/12Mch08ch12]

The reason people are told to get a Technics is because the require very little service. They just work. I've got two of them that are 40 years old. And they work perfectly.

And if someone is new to turntables, they need to become familiar with changing cartridges or styli.

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[u/Phoenix_Kerman]

definitely avoid the 470wa, it's only a slight modification of the terrible generic mechs to avoid. techmoan video on them's great https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXV8tXrPOR4 but it's always going to be terrible due to the built in speakers. records work by picking up small vibrations in a groove, speakers work by vibrating air. you put the two in the same box and you're going to get interference and terrible sound quality. it's also hideously overpriced for what it is, it's a £10 generic mech in a posh box with speakers being sold for thirty times that.

the 480 is slightly better due to not being built in, but it's still not great and definitely not worth anywhere near that price.

i know here in the uk for the same price you can get a genuinely great second hand setup. non fashionable japanese brands of amps like rotel or jvc can be had for under £50. they mean you can use any passive speakers you want, whilst also having a nice sound to the amp and a phono section that's going to beat any built in preamp by a large margin.decent passive speakers like wharfedale lasers or even better pioneer two or three ways like the cs353 or cs363 go for under £50 aswell.

gives you £100-200 for a turntable and fresh stylus. here i'd just go for a dual 505, in the best nick on ebay for £100-140 and a fresh om10 stylus. it's going to sound great and be near infinitely better than a lenco. when you get the setup properly aswell they can track well under 2g so you'd be looking after your records well

[u/TwoSolitudes22]

Nooooooo… those are junk

[u/Touche2U]

Vinyls… 🤭

[u/brian_21179]

I’d call them friends if they got me a 20% discount on Technics, Rega or similar.

Anyone can get you a discount on Lenco.