# Do you own a functioning, ready-to-go turntable? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831 "2012-05-14T01:51:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/1 "2012-05-14T01:51:53Z")
I am curious as to how many of you own a turntable. Not just own one, but own one that is connected to a stereo system and is ready to spin. Comments encouraged, of course. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dano83860](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dano83860](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dano83860)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/2 "2012-05-14T02:08:04Z")
I converted a lot of my vinyl to digital this winter. Had to get a drive belt and stylis but it’s good to go now. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/3 "2012-05-14T02:10:23Z")
I voted on behalf of my SO, but I have full access to it - I hope that counts. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/4 "2012-05-14T02:10:42Z")
I have one, with a bright shiny new Shure cartridge. It’s not a top of the line turntable, but most of my vinyl comes from garage sales so it doesn’t need to be. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/5 "2012-05-14T02:14:29Z")
Out of curiosity, why does age matter? I’m a freshly-turned forty, but I’ve had my turntable for twenty years. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/6 "2012-05-14T02:16:26Z")
Not anymore. Mine’s had a broken cartridge for the past 25 years. I have loads of cartons of old warped scratched LPs to go with it, though. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/7 "2012-05-14T02:40:33Z")
Yes I have one and so does my brother, I use mine infrequently, he uses his all the time–he picks up an album or two almost every week at Amoeba in LA. We’re both over 50. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/8 "2012-05-14T02:46:00Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Out of curiosity, why does age matter? I’m a freshly-turned forty, but I’ve had my turntable for twenty years. It doesn’t, other than the fact that it makes dissecting the results more interesting. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/9 "2012-05-14T03:27:17Z")
Voted on behalf of my spouse, cuz they’re really his, but yes. We have three working turntables in the house. One of them is used every day. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/10 "2012-05-14T03:31:14Z")
Yes, but all the vinyl is going to a resale shop this week. The turntable will go to Salvation Army the week after. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/11 "2012-05-14T03:32:12Z")
I have one, set up on it’s own preamp. But it is just for digitizing records to the computer. 1. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/12 "2012-05-14T03:32:30Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Not just own one, but own one that is connected to a stereo system and is ready to spin. > > Comments encouraged, of course. > mmm what do you have against mono? do spring powered ones count? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/13 "2012-05-14T04:09:08Z")
Until ~five years ago, I would have said yes ( a Music Hall w/ a Grado cartridge ). But I gave it to my father who uses it more often than I ever did. The vinyl is all now moldering in the garage - I have succumbed to slightly more modern technology. Only slightly - I don’t really download music, it is all still CDs for me, even a few ancient cassette tapes that can’t be easily replaced ;). ETA: Oh and I’m in my mid-40’s. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/14 "2012-05-14T04:13:00Z")
Two, in fact. Neither has been used in years. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/15 "2012-05-14T04:30:20Z")
61, Yes. I use it once or twice a year to needledrop vinyl to cd. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/16 "2012-05-14T05:16:27Z")
Does a USB turntable count? It plays LPs, but via my PC, and not via any formal stereo amplifier. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/17 "2012-05-14T05:29:45Z")
I do, but it is packed away in a box. I could find it quickly and hook it up, though. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/18 "2012-05-14T05:46:58Z")
I’m 50, and I ditched that thing probably 30+ years ago, and I cannot understand why anyone else wouldn’t have. And I don’t own a buggy whip either, nor a pet rock. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/19 "2012-05-14T05:59:56Z")
I have a turntable hooked up and ready to go. I think it still works but I haven’t actually tried to use it in about 15 years. (ETA: I’m 46) Geek Child #2 actually has a brand new turntable. It’s styled like an antique, but also has a CD player and a jack to plug in her ipod. I gave her a lot of my old records and she’s bought a few dozen at the local thrift store (50 cents apiece!). She’s 17, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831/20 "2012-05-14T06:13:32Z")
Yep. Well, theoretically, it’s my husband’s, but we both use it. It’s a gadget that is a radio, turntable, cassette player, and CD player all in one. He asked for it a couple of years ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-functioning-ready-to-go-turntable/621831.md?page=2)