My children are now old enough that I can pull all of my old albums out of storage, I need some advice on turntables

out of these 4 which I have which would be the best, or should I just get a new one

pioneer PL-514
technics sl-83
realistic lab-440
sanyo tp-1030

I have a shure v15 III cart that I would probably use

thanks for your advice

Any chance of posting pictures? The Pioneer PL-514 is decent, but the others are less common. The SL-83--that's a new one on me. You sure that's not an SL-B3? If you can't post pictures, some details such as s-arm or straight arm, direct drive or belt drive, quartz lock, pitch control, the relative weight, whether the base is wood, plastic, metal or other--these are things which can help determine when the tt was made and where it fell in the lineup.

Oh, and welcome to AK!

you are very right it is an sl-b3

pioneer PL-514 S arm belt drive heavy
technics sl-B3 S arm direct drive, medium
realistic lab-440 straight arm direct drive, light
sanyo tp-1030 S arm direct drive ? heavy

I recently acquired the pioneer and sanyo (I have never used them)

bill_mr, Welcome to AK! :music:

I'm not familiar with any of your tables, but one word you posted there is key - heavy. If I had no other info on the tables but that, I would go with the heaviest one to start out.

The nice thing is you can get a cartridge (or just a new stylus if you have a nice cart) and audition ALL of them to see which you like best! :thmbsp: That's part of the fun, you know... :D

The SL-B3 is belt drive. The two best look like the Sanyo and the Pioneer. I agree with Ozmoid. Try 'em all and see what you like best. It's unlikely you'll better any of them with a new turntable without dropping a lot of cash.

You may want to consider the Rega P1 if going new. Only $350 and it's supposed to be a winner from all the reviews I've read. Google it and check it out.. I heard one and really liked the table itself but couldn't listen long enough to really hear it, that and I didn't care for the amp it was hooked up to.

I'm still seriously considering one though............R1