Panasonic Technics SLBD20D Semi Automatic Turntable

I had doubts about a simple turntable doing the job as well as this one. It works just fine. Tracks well, and the included cartridge is not at all bad in squeezing decent sound out of those old albums. This is semi automatic,meaning you set a switch to "cuing,' place the tone arm above the lead in track. Then close the plastic hatch if you like, and then move the switch to the down position. After the last track,the arm returns to its plastic holder. It is easier than it sounds. For initial setup the skinny silicone rubber belt needs to be slipped onto a shaft that connects to the platter underneath the unit (a two minute job with a pencil) and then you are good to go. This one will sit on a shelf with about 10" of hatch clearance. I attached the ground wire,but I suspect that it is not needed. I would place it on a stable shelf just for avoiding thumps at low frequency if you touch the shelf during play.
True, the cartridge is a budget one,and the P mount is simple,no gold contacts or frills. But it sounds really fine! I am tryihg a slightly better Grado (ca 60.00) I have owned, and it shows marginal improvement to my ears. Cartridge replacement entails removing one tiny jeweler size Philips screw. The Technics P mount system has always been under rated in my opinion,it is so beautiful and no fuss for the simple but pure of heart... Technics has provided one table adjustment, a vertical clearance screw,in the event the cartridge replacement clearance is too close to the disc. (I didn't need it with the Grado BTW). One can spend a lot of money on a turntable,-don't let me stop you--however if you just want to transcribe old discs to other media, or just have a working turntable, I would give this one a shot. Don't tell the listeners what you paid...they won't notice the sound difference over a superduper model. If you do not have an audiophile budget,go for it. And last but not to be dismissed, the shipping and packaging were superb. Five stars to Amazon on this one.

This turntable performs flawlessly, the factory adjustments are right on spec... Sound quality is very good... If you want to listen to music and not constantly mess with adjustments then this is the one to get... The supplied stylus tracks very well, never skips or jumps, and produces very good quality sound... I also have one of those so called DJ turntables with direct drive and all the beeps and whistles for adjustments and a very expensive shure stylus with it, and the sound quality is just as good with this semi-automatic SLBD20D. Plus with a direct drive you can hear the rumble of the direct drive system if you listen closely... with the belt drive there is no wow or flutter associated with the mechanical operation of the platter... In my opinion a belt drive table is the only way to go for superior sound quality... Don't worry about replacing the belt due to wear, if you can't spring for $5.00 to $10 every 5 to 10 years then suffer with rumble of a direct drive... by the way the direct drive rubber wheel can also wear and get hard and crack and it cost alot more to replace than a simple rubber band... I suppose that there are other brands that are a little less expensive that would get the job done as well but I happen to trust Technics, they have been making turntables a long time and also their turntables are the benchmarks by which all others are compared too.
If you want to put a more expensive stylus on, that probably your ears would not be able to tell the difference then go and make your wallet lighter... maybe a more expensive stylus does do a better job... but who is going to put this thing on an osciliscope and measure the difference and look at a bunch of green lines on a screen... I just want it pleasant to my ears and to produce good sound quality which this table does do...
I can play a record and if I happen to leave and forget to turn it off, no problem it will shut itself off when done... try that with a DJ style and if you happen to be gone for a weeks vacation by the time you get back you won't have much of a stylus left and a sever scratch at the end of your record...
If you are going to DJ and scratch then yea get a DJ style table but if you want listening pleasure then get a belt drive semi or full automatic table that will produce probably better sound quality for less money...

True you don't get the high end features like adjustable tracking force or pitch control, but this belt-driven turntable is perfect for people who just want a decent turntable to play their treasured vinyl on at home. My turntable I bought fifteen years ago as an open-boxed by for $40! Though it is not my best turntable anymore, I still have it hooked up to my second system in my bedroom. It still plays like a champ with little or no flutter. This unit does not come with a cartridge, but buy yourself a decent cartridge and you'll be good to go. Make sure the cartridge you buy tracks at around 1.25 grams, since that is what preset weight is. Though there are cheaper models from other brands out there, this one is the best of the lower end models, along with its slightly more expensive BD-22. For those who are looking for replacement belts, just go to Panasonic's website and look up the parts. You can order it from them directly.

Please be advised that this turntable is shipped without a belt! If you order it you also need to order the belt separately. At least that's what the folks at Panasonic said when I called to ask them about it.

..mine arrived with no belt for the turntable! ..can not use it!ordered a panasonic~received a panasonic in a technics box
..instructions are marginal, at best!..a set of technics and a set of panasonic!