Entry level turntable for my son

For a 16 year old person i would buy ONLY (made in japan) Technics Direct Drive, the SL1200mkII on used market is $300-400. This turntable is unbeatable and build like tank, so he can do whatever and you can make sure it will last forever, in case of the spare parts - there is a huge market and they are cheap.  

The prices on the sl-1200’s seem to have climbed north of $500

On used market the price can be from $300 to $500 depends on condition, also depends how quick the seller would like to get rid of it. Some people taking offers. For top condition $500 is ok.  

Belt drive turntables must be avoided for sure, this is the worst investment, especially the cheap ones. Comparing cheap belt drive to $300-500 used DD Technics SL1210mkII is very bad idea, Technics always better in everything (and can be upgraded, if needed, by changing the arm, feet, power supply etc). You can’t buy anything better than this for $300-500 for a 16 year old kid.

Also in a youth comminity Technics is a legendary turntable used by their idols (deejays) in music videos and on stage, in the clubs etc, your hi-fi belt drive is nothing for them.

Technics DD previously used by DJ has no problem at all (if the tonearm is not damaged, which everyone can check). It’s impossible to damage Technisc DD motor, no matter who is the user, i have those turntables for 23 years, my neighbour have them for 30 years. Many friend purchased them used and some of them made in the late 80s or early 90s, still no problem to use at all. Every spare part for SL1200mkII or SL1210mkII available on ebay new in the boxes and can be replaced by any technician. This is Made In Japan quality and a cult turntable in the history. They made more than 3 000 000 of them and this is the reson why the price is so low.

A bnad new cost just $1399 (with phono stage and cartridge included)!
https://www.technics.com/us/news/20190107-sl-1500c/

DJing is not about "RAP" at all, real DJs play vinyl, most of them are serious record collectors of many genres of music, including live music , good music (original pressings). Our sleepwalker65 have to talk to psychologist to find out why he has a problem with "Rap DJs" and why in every post about Technics he’s jump in with his mysterious "Rap DJs" who penetrated his turntables in his fantasies. Has anyone seen them? Maybe in America, maybe in the wrong neighborhood with their own turntables?

Technics SL1200mkII designed originally for Hi-Fi, this is the best turntable you can buy for a teenager, because it can’t be damaged like those old or new belt drive toys, and his school mates will be very impressed by Technics (this DD has a cult status). I think i bought mine when i was 19 and i still have a pair of them (but fully upgraded). Many users declared the same in this thread.

Teenagers are not a Hi-Fi snobs, it’s a lot of fun to use Technics without worrying to damage it. The tonearm is one of the best at its price range to adjust properly, super easy to use and train for entire life.

The price is extremely low for such unbeatable Direct Drive made in Japan. These decks serve their owners forever without any maintenance/service, belive it or not. Easily for 30+ years. Technics can be sold anytime quickly.

@sleepwalker65

If he wants to be a rap-“DJ”, then he doesn’t need a turntable, but need a serato box and a rap controller or two.

Since you have deleted my post with the moderator i will repead again that everyhting that coming from you about the art of DJing is an insult to a certain group of people. No matter what do you think about RAP (nobody cares about it), you’re trying to represent an artists like an idiots. I don’t care much about rap, i am into jazz and funk. But you have no idea what you’re talking about and you have a problem with black music, maybe you’re a rasist ?

It’s so obvious how you hate a Rap as a genre, this is a bad word in your vocabulary. For some reason all that negative coming from you related to Technics brand and their turntables, which is rediculous!

Even Jazz Legends like Mr. Ron Carter performing with Rap / Hip-Hop artists, here is the video.

Educate yourself a bit before you slagging off RAP artists or their DJs.

And learn a bit:

DJing is not about RAP at all !

RAP is the rhyme.

Rapper is the one with a Microphone, not the one with a turntable or "rap contoller" as you call it. This culture coming from the black ghetto in the late 70’s and became very popular in the 80s. In the 90s is was worldwide phenomenon, a new culture for youth people.

Their music is Hip-Hop. This genre was born when artists start sampling old Jazz, Funk and Soul from the original records made in the 60s/70s.

Real DJs play vinyl. And even those who DJ’ed with Rap Artists have been doing it with
vinyl  at least for 30 years, most of them still Vinyl ONLY and they are serious record collectors or the different genres of music (original pressings).