New turntable and cartridge for college bound freshman?

[ChrisAZ]

My high school senior is graduating in May and over the weekend he told me that he'd like to get a turntable and headphone system for college - he's already eyed up some of my albums (some of which I'm happy to part with since they're more his style than mine - punk classics, et al). So I plan to give him my head phone set up (which I almost never use, don't really care for headphones) and an old phono pre consisting of: Schitt Lyra, Schitt Bifrost, HiFiMan 500s, Musical Surroundings Phonomena. That is a nice set up I've got to say to get him started. Question is, what turntable and cartridge should he get? I let him use my set up at home (see my signature), but would like him to have something that sounds good, is easy to use and set up (he wants it to be fully manual), and is fairly bullet proof (well, as much as a TT and cartridge can be) since he's going to be in college after all. I'm thinking entry level Rega and cartridge. Your thoughts?

[W9TR]

Chris,
A Rega RP3 and Elys 2 is a great place to start. Excellent arm and cartridge. The 'table is so so but will live through a lot of abuse. I still use my Planar 3 and Elys and they sound great.
Tom

[tdelahanty]

A good cartridge for a young student would be, an 8-penny nail and two bobbins of wire

[harri009]

I would make sure whatever cartridge he buys is capable of being used to scratch. I am pretty certain that even if he is careful the first guy who walks into his room is going to try and scratch on the table, wrecking his cartridge. Most my friends think that's what you do on turntables and I am 30 lol.

[Mikado463]

one of the Classic Technics 1200 Mk(whatever) that I assume you could score used (saw one at my local record store a cpl weeks back), add a sturdy shure cartridge and your all set for 'dorm life' …….

[Antonmb]

As Tom says, it doesn't get simpler than Rega table with Rega cartridge. No worries about alignment or VTA, good sound and great rhythm and pace, which would be important criteria for a dorm room.

[harri009]

Originally Posted by Mikado463

one of the Classic Technics 1200 Mk(whatever) that I assume you could score used (saw one at my local record store a cpl weeks back), add a sturdy shure cartridge and your all set for 'dorm life' …….

[Robert_Anderson]

The VPI Nomad might be a tough and versatile on the go turntable.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-213934-...turntable.aspx

[harri009]

Originally Posted by Robert_Anderson

The VPI Nomad might be a tough and versatile on the go turntable. http://www.musicdirect.com/p-213934-...turntable.aspx

Nomad isn't fully automatic though

[Robert_Anderson]

Oops, I missed that! On another note, I am so stoked about getting my amps!