Good record players for under $100

Buying a record player, turn table (TT) is pretty easy. Getting one that sounds better than a CD player at the same price is almost automatic. There are many "non-audiophile" inexpensive TT that can get you started:

Features you want:
* Anything with a wood base is a good start
* A simple design, no automatic parts that can break down
* It should be heavy, 15 pounds
* High end Sony, Philips, Denon, Pioneer, Marantz can be a steal
* End of the production TT form the 80s may have a lot of gimmicky parts, but if they work, represent the state of the art.
* If the tone arm and the platter "bounce" together they are isolated from vibration. That's a good design detail.

My own short history:
I started with a plastic Philips "HiFi". It is belt-driven did the job well and I gave it to my sister. Then I found a Sony, with a Biotracer arm, contradicted the simple design advice, but it was heavy and I read a good review on line. It was worth it and easy to resell at cost. Now, I've gone "audiophile", realizing I listen to soo much vinyl it made sense, but I stayed old school. I use a Thorens TD-160S with a SME 3009 arm, and yes, it's the best thing I've heard yet.

Audiophiles tend to want "belt driven" TT. There are some who insist a really well built direct drive (DD) can be just as good, but they are the vast minority. What's that mean to you? It means audiophiles are not putting value on all those high end DD TT from the 70s and 80s, so they are a very good buy. What's the beef on DD? DD motors are cranking on the platter directly, this transferring motor vibrations to the platter, then to the needle, which can increase noise levels. How much noise? Depends on the motor, the bearings on the platter and the overall design. A belt driven table isolates the motor from the platter and uses a taught rubber belt between the two to transfer the energy, but not the vibrations.

Lastly, if you're buying a TT on okay, think carefully about the feedback of the seller. Inexperienced stereo equipment sellers may not know how to properly pack a TT or how to rate their function. gemunication is the key to getting a bargain. Find out if the non-reputable seller knows what they're doing. Ask if they know how to "lock down" the platter, and "secure the tone arm". Ask if you can get the TT double boxed too. A seller with the original box might have better luck packing the TT than others.

Good luck!