The Return of the Portable Record Player | Turntable

[Bernie]

For those who have need for a small, cheap and portable turntable that can easily be hooked up to a computer for digital transfer then you may want to take a look at Numark's PT01.

This turntable, which has a built-in phono preamp, speaker, headphone jack and can also run on 6 D batteries, could really fill a void for those that like to shop for records in outdoor flea markets, garage sales... where a turntable is normally not available. I've bought lots of records only to discover when I got home that they weren't what I had in mind or sounded worse because of hidden skips... May have to put this one on my Christmas list. Would love to hear from anyone who has used this portable turntable.

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

[BrunoRepublic]

On a related note, I recently got to try out a solution I'd read about for very stubborn skips. I'd found a copy of LTG Exchange's Waterbed 7", only to find that the instrumental side had a stubborn skip backwards that the stylus couldn't clear, even with zero antiskate. Ages ago, I read about someone who would gently push an artist's paintbrush against the headshell for these situations. So, I went to a local art supply store, picked out a brush that was soft and cheap, and... with a very steady hand, it worked! I was able to edit out the repeating grooves in software, so now I can enjoy the record all the way through. :)

[Nano]

Actually, I thought Bernie was talking about one kind of turntable I had when I was a kid (around 1973). It was called "tragadiscos" (record eater) and you couldn't see the plate, only a slit on the side where you feeded it with records (only 33/45 7' singles). Then you pushed down a red button near the slit, downing the whole platform where the record was resting (a bit like those on front-charged CD and DVD players) to a lower level, where the needle was placed looking up (so you had to put the record upside down).
The thing was both record & needle got somewhat protected from outside movements, thus letting you carry the thing anywhere while it was playing! This wooden box (with a red plastic skin) was placed in a leather-like bag which you carried on the shoulder, the turntable resting on a 90º angle from the floor. And you could walk listening to the records! People could look at you surprised on the street ("What's that music?") because boom-boxes didn't exist by then, at least in my city.
Sadly, I once opened and disarmed the whole thing trying to make a radio on my own (yes, the thing also had an AM radio receptor). I never could make it work again, and the thing ended in the trash bin. :cry: Now it would be vintage post-modern stuff for sure.
The brand of the apparatus was DISCOPHONIC.

[Disco Funk]

I hate to ask this silly question, but is it only good for playing 7 inch records? From what I gather, it's too small to play a 12".

As for taking it to flea markets, yeah, that would be cool. Or to Goodwill. Of course, one would have to ask permission first before sticking those records on! :)

Disco Funk

[Bernie]

I hate to ask this silly question, but is it only good for playing 7 inch records? From what I gather, it's too small to play a 12".

As for taking it to flea markets, yeah, that would be cool. Or to Goodwill. Of course, one would have to ask permission first before sticking those records on! :)

Disco Funk

It will play 12" discs.

[Westwood]

...not to mention I'm pretty sure some people will be against you playing before buying :(

I'm gonna google a bit and see if I can find a picture of the portable 7" player I had as a kid. It was red. it had a handle which was basically an extension of the whole thing, and the loudspeaker was built in, and the casing had round holes on one side to let the sound out, and the holes became smaller as they reached the edges of the casing. Y'all know what I'm referring to?
I neeeeed to find that thing, I wonder if my mom kept it.

[Westwood]

Well I was at least able to find it on the net lol:

Retro To Go: eBay Watch: Mangiadischi Penny portable record player

[canadiantire]

My motto?
- "Don't force it; get a larger hammer"

[Westwood]

What's that brown buttony thing supposed to be tho?

[BrunoRepublic]

Two pennies to help the stylus grind apart the grooves.

[canadiantire]

Two pennies to help the stylus grind apart the grooves.

:icon_lol::icon_lol:

For those who do not know yet about my corrosive sense of humour;

Just don't try any of this stuff!

(but the penny trick, I have seen it done before )

[Westwood]

Two pennies to help the stylus grind apart the grooves.

So the grooves are like, damaged and they try to straighten them with the stylus??? Won't that damage the stylus? or wear it out? Do styluses wear out? Mine always only broke torwards the bit where they are stuck in the head.

[KoolChris]

My motto?
- "Don't force it; get a larger hammer"

Two pennies to help the stylus grind apart the grooves.

So the grooves are like, damaged and they try to straighten them with the stylus??? Won't that damage the stylus? or wear it out? Do styluses wear out? Mine always only broke torwards the bit where they are stuck in the head.

Usually, where there's friction, there's wear.

Forcing a stylus through the grooves is NOT a way to improve the condition of a record. Seriously overweight cartridges will harm the grooves, thus the sound, over a number of plays. It seems playing a record immediately after washing liquid has been applied can help improve sound, though.

I laughed when I saw the patent pending VRSCADC apparatus. My father has a crappy Sears brand record player, which I sometimes listen to records on when I come back from the Pasadena flea market (he lives on the way home). Sometimes I need to use a similar homemade system (a penny, usually) to hear a record through.

[BrunoRepublic]

So the grooves are like, damaged and they try to straighten them with the stylus???

Yes, it was an unfortunately common trick.

Won't that damage the stylus? or wear it out?

Yes, and also damage the record too.

Do styluses wear out?

Yes.

[Nummymuffin]

Well, since nobody asked... is this any good? I've seen a very similar looking one, an Ion, but I am a little hesitant. The price is making it very attractive though! I'm in the market for a $100ish turntable, willing to go to $150ish if it's extra good, preferably with USB capabilities so I can just plug it into my Macbook. A portable sounds like a great idea but not if I am sacrificing sound unnecessarily. Unless someone has a better idea... I'm open to them! :)

I don't know how doable this is, but my ideal turntable would be $100ish, pretty decent sound (I know I won't get mindblowing sound for the price and I'm willing to accept that but I won't settle for mediocre sound either), USB connection preferably, a headphone jack would be quite nice as would an external speaker... I don't care if it's a kind of crappy external speaker though, just as long as a headphone jack came with it and it sounded a lot better over those!

Anyway, I was thinking of creating a new thread asking you guys because you're probably experts on what's good these days. It's been a good 15+ years since I had a turntable, so I've been out of the game for a while!

Thanks in advance for any help... I really do appreciate it!

For those who have need for a small, cheap and portable turntable that can easily be hooked up to a computer for digital transfer then you may want to take a look at Numark's PT01.

This turntable, which has a built-in phono preamp, speaker, headphone jack and can also run on 6 D batteries, could really fill a void for those that like to shop for records in outdoor flea markets, garage sales... where a turntable is normally not available. I've bought lots of records only to discover when I got home that they weren't what I had in mind or sounded worse because of hidden skips... May have to put this one on my Christmas list. Would love to hear from anyone who has used this portable turntable.

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

[BrunoRepublic]

I don't know how doable this is, but my ideal turntable would be $100ish, pretty decent sound...

- You are unlikely to get decent sound with any USB turntable; they are built for convenience and not sound quality.
- $100 is about the minimum price for a decent cartridge, never mind the rest of the table.

[Nummymuffin]

Yeah, I keep reading that people get a low hum or a buzz when using the USB, not to mention questionable reviews of two of the USB turntables, the Ion and the Audio-Technica, so I was considering this one:

Amazon.com: Sony PS-LX300USB USB Stereo Turntable System - Black: Electronics

It has a USB/line switch, apparently. I figure in case I absolutely needed the USB, it'd be available, but that if I can use line instead, it'd probably sound better. Maybe not better by your standards as far as I can tell, but probably better than using the provided USB, seeing as I really don't have several hundred dollars to splurge on a turntable at this point but I'd still like to enjoy my old LPs that are just sitting here sadly unused.

I think I should probably make a new thread for this, in case anyone has any specific opinions on the Sony. Since I'm a bit of a noob right now, I can use all the help and information I can get. :icon_mrgreen:

- You are unlikely to get decent sound with any USB turntable; they are built for convenience and not sound quality.
- $100 is about the minimum price for a decent cartridge, never mind the rest of the table.

[Cory Ander]

I don't hear any humm or buzz when I use my USB....I suspect you'd need to check your connections to make sure they're snug.

[Nummymuffin]

Thank you for your reply! If I may ask, which player do you have? Right now (if you see my other thread here in this section of the forum) I'm considering a Sony but much more strongly considering the Stanton T.90 due to this review. If you know of an equal or better, fairly affordable ($200 or less) one, I'd love the advice. :)

I don't hear any humm or buzz when I use my USB....I suspect you'd need to check your connections to make sure they're snug.

[Cory Ander]

I don't hear any humm or buzz when I use my USB....I suspect you'd need to check your connections to make sure they're snug.

I have the Numark TT USB and I'm very satisfied with the sound quality. My only complaint is that you have to move the arm manually because there's no lever to lift it like my other turntables have, and that takes a very steady hand, especially when you're trying to reach a track near the center of the record. And I was VERY surprised at the customer service...the representative I asked for help was very patient and polite. But after I finish using the turntable to transfer album tracks into audio files I probably won't use it much anymore.

[Cory Ander]

when people mention portable record players, I thought they were referring to the ones with the built in speaker and the tinny sound. Those never really went away, they just lost their popularity. Anytime I go to a record collector's convention several people bring those phonographs with them, and they've always been availalble from mail order houses like Carol Wright gifts and the Sportsman's guide.