Technics SL-1500C

Technics introduced the first direct-drive turntable to the market in 1970, and though they took a break for a while, they've returned with an excellent lineup. The SL-1500C is an audiophile-quality turntable that comes in at a very reasonable price, and doesn't skimp on technological goodies for the serious vinyl lover. At the heart of this turntable is Technics' signature coreless direct-drive motor. It delivers high torque and rotational stability, and eliminates an audible effect called "cogging" that lesser motors may exhibit. The SL-1500C has a built-in phono preamp, so you can hook up to a receiver or pair of powered speakers without going through an outboard preamp first. There's a dedicated RCA stereo line output for the preamp, which can be switched off when not in use to eliminate a potential source of performance-robbing noise. When I was a kid, I had a cheap turntable, and one of my favorite records was slightly warped. Someone told me to put a penny on top of the cartridge, so the extra weigh...