Help - I want to buy a turn table for my son

Check out the Needle Doctor they have a very nice Audio-Technica LP-120 USB TT for 299.95. It has a built in phono but you can switch it off if your phono in your receiver is better. Also it's a direct drive w/3 speeds 45/33/78 so he can play any vinyl format on the TT.

The Audio-Technica 120 is a good choice. See this review.

The 240 is a better table, aimed more at the audiophile than the DJ. Better specs overall, including speed stability and noise. OTOH, I don't think the 240 comes with a cartridge, which means you'd have to buy and install that, as well. The 120 comes with a cartridge (though not a particularly good one—an early upgrade would be a good idea).

If you order the TT see if they'll add on a better cartridge for an extra charge. A Shure 97xE would be a nice inexpensive add on. If your not very skilled at putting on a cart yourself this would be a safe way for installing one.

I have the atlp120usb with the m97xe. Im using the onboard phono stge to a receiver running in source direct mode. I dont know if its just me but it doesnt sound too great. I am using the reccomended tracking force by shure and the tonearm was properly balanced. What can i do to improve the sound?

I would start with cartridge. Get AT440, you may like it better. Then phono preamp. I recommend CA 540. If still do not like it after that, get ready to spend $1000 for a new table.

You know, I've often wondered if the M97 is such a good match for that table. IIRC, it's a pretty high compliance cartridge, by current standards, and that S-shaped arm may be higher mass, as well. (Spec sheets are woefully incomplete.) Not an ideal combo.

The M97XE is a very good sounding cartridge. It's possible the AT's onboard phono stage is the problem. Does your receiver have a phono preamp? You might consider getting a receiver with a phono preamp, or else buying a good external phono preamp.

Try the MUSIC HALL - USB-1. Has USB port and mounted AT cartridge. About $250.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-9826-mu...turntable.aspx

I'm in the researching stage for buying a table. The LP120 is going for about $225 on Amazon. The LP240 got axed and replaced with the LP1240. Which added features desirable by jocks. Pitch adjustment, dual start/stop buttons, upgrades preamp, still beautiful piano black. Sporting a $419 price tag and no cart.

The deal at DJ Gear with the LP120 + an upgraded cart is intriguing. I'd like to get an LP240 with a decent cart for not much over $300.

A lot of people are saying that Shure cart sounds flat, it does not like heavy tone arms. The AT 120E looks like a great cart for $100. But it's very fragile.

The search goes on.