Is it possible to build a audiophile quality turntable without breaking the bank,,lets set a price range of around 300.00 not including Cartridge,,,done with ordinary tools and intellegence,,,lets have some opinions ,,,thanks

It's possible, though maybe not for me. I had the same question the other day, and with a little searching turned up a cool link:
http://www.altmann.haan.de/turntable/

A machinist might be able to do it; otherwise, I'd say no.

I dunno what the gross profit margin on something like turntables is, but as far as I am concerned I've seen NOTHING in the realm of new production tt's under $1000 that look to me like they'd be worthy of spending hard-earned $ on (e.g., the Marantz/Clearaudio is about the gateway). I suspect this product costs Clearaudio more than $300 to build.

The one "ringer", I guess, is the Panasonic (Technics) SL-1200 MK whatever (II?), which is still in production and is, if nothing else, rugged and robust. I don't think one could build one of those from scratch for $300, either, though.

EDIT: Here is a product that you can buy that essentially started as a "what if?" DIY project from a guy who knows enough about the basic skills to DIY a TT. Costs a bit more than $300, but the price hardly outrageous, depending upon the arm one selects to use with it! I have heard and seen one of these; it works quite well.
http://www.progressive-engineering.com/

http://www.progressive-engineering.com/images/pics/table_pic2.jpg

EDIT^2: Jeez Louise, I just noticed what record is playing in that photo! :-) If you know Mikey, you'll detect a note of irony...

A machinist might be able to do it; otherwise, I'd say no.

I dunno what the gross profit margin on something like turntables is, but as far as I am concerned I've seen NOTHING in the realm of new production tt's under $1000 that look to me like they'd be worthy of spending hard-earned $ on (e.g., the Marantz/Clearaudio is about the gateway). I suspect this product costs Clearaudio more than $300 to build.

The one "ringer", I guess, is the Panasonic (Technics) SL-1200 MK whatever (II?), which is still in production and is, if nothing else, rugged and robust. I don't think one could build one of those from scratch for $300, either, though.

EDIT: Here is a product that you can buy that essentially started as a "what if?" DIY project from a guy who knows enough about the basic skills to DIY a TT. Costs a bit more than $300, but the price hardly outrageous, depending upon the arm one selects to use with it! I have heard and seen one of these; it works quite well.
http://www.progressive-engineering.com/

http://www.progressive-engineering.com/images/pics/table_pic2.jpg

EDIT^2: Jeez Louise, I just noticed what record is playing in that photo! :-) If you know Mikey, you'll detect a note of irony...
Eagles greatest hits...Take it Easy?

It's possible, though maybe not for me. I had the same question the other day, and with a little searching turned up a cool link:
http://www.altmann.haan.de/turntable/Red-boy this guy sscares me,,he,s got to much time on his hands

I don't think so. There's just too much precision involved with bearings, motors, controls; it's not like building a better bigger speaker box.

Now one certainly can improve/upgrade something, especially the plinth/base, but with all the quality Duals, ARs, Thorenes, etc, etc out there why would you go to the trouble. I've seen a quite nice Rek-o-Kut Rondine rebuild here, but still that was taking something and bettering it, not starting with a couple of chunks of steel and a lathe.......

I don't know, I have access to a CNC router and turret press (although not direct use of a machine shop) and even if I viewed my own time as unlimited and free, there is no way I could build one for $300.

I would think that a typical high-end turntable would use a bearing that costs at leat $150 wholesale, so there goes your budget right there.

The rule of thumb on commercial products is that the materials are 10-15% of the cost of the finished product. So for a $5000 turntable, they're probably using $500-600 worth of material.

I would find a good used one that needed work and mod it. AR made some nice tables and with a little work.......

I would find a good used one that needed work and mod it. AR made some nice tables and with a little work.......

This is what I do. Here is a before and after of my first little project, TD150.
Sounds damn sweet if do say so myself.

Ok guys i,m not saying starting from scrarch ,,what i,m refering to is using parts of components readilly available and going from there ,, ive seen stuff on e-bay ,bases, tonearms etc thats why i,m curious ,,hell even considered upgrading my sl1700

Ok guys i,m not saying starting from scrarch ,,what i,m refering to is using parts of components readilly available and going from there ,, ive seen stuff on e-bay ,bases, tonearms etc thats why i,m curious ,,hell even considered upgrading my sl1700Do you have a SL-1700 MK II? If so there are plenty of mods for it and can be repainted to look very nice.

Well, a popular and logical approach is to get a high quality direct drive unit for accurate speed, already plinthed, then just add the desired tonearm. Of course, it would be fully manual as opposed to your 1700 which is semi-auto.

i'd love to turn a rega p2 or p3 into a 3 point suspended deck...:scratch2:

Do you have a SL-1700 MK II? If so there are plenty of mods for it and can be repainted to look very nice.you obviouslly have never seen me paint,,i can turn nice stuff into junk with just by looking at a spray can,,besides i,m not opposed to the way it looks now

Have you read up on the " Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II " on Audiogon? With a lot of luck you could possibly come out around 300 for a Lenco rebuild but that would not include a tonearm or cartridge. All work would have to be done by you, therefore no labor costs involved. Diligence and taking your time will result in an audiophile quality turntable. The more you spend on wood the better it will look. Here is a picture of my first Lenco project, total outlay in TT, arm, cartridge, wood and supplies came to around $650 with well over 100 hours in design and construction.
There are quite a few people here who have undertaken such projects with different turntables and have had great success. Possibly some will add their views and insights.

Kim

Wow!!! That's one fine looking, huge plinth. Nice figuring in that wood too, what is it?

Andyman,
It is Bubinga. Here is the thread http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=815633#post815633

Kim

I would think that a typical high-end turntable would use a bearing that costs at leat $150 wholesale, so there goes your budget right there.

I think you've been deluded by audiophool advertising. I doubt there is a turntable-applicable bearing in existence that costs more than a few dollars. Unless it is a liquid-cooled, superconducting magnetic ceramic levitation bearing or something.