Musical Intruments Review
  • Home
  • Harmonica Reviews
    Hering Vintage Harp Harmonica Review

    Hering Membi Chromatic and Vintage Harp 1923

    Fender/Lee Oskar Limited Edition Harmonica

    Fender/Lee Oskar Limited Edition Harmonica

    Hohner 270 Deluxe Review

    Hohner 270 Deluxe

  • Intruments
    • All
    • Drums
    • Guitar
    • Piano
    • Recording
    • Saxophone
    • Trumpet
    • Ukulele
    18 Best Phin Guitar Reviews 2020

    18 Best Phin Guitar Reviews 2020

    9 Best Lap Harp Reviews 2020

    9 Best Lap Harp Reviews 2020

    20 Best Pocket Guitar Reviews 2020

    20 Best Pocket Guitar Reviews 2020

    4 Best Rainstick Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Rainstick)

    4 Best Rainstick Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Rainstick)

    20 Best Music Theory Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Music Theory)

    20 Best Music Theory Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Music Theory)

    20 Best Ocarina Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Ocarina)

    20 Best Ocarina Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Ocarina)

    20 Best Mozart Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Mozart)

    20 Best Mozart Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Mozart)

    20 Best Marimba Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Marimba)

    20 Best Marimba Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books to Learn Marimba)

    20 Best Lute Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books To Learn Lute)

    20 Best Lute Book Reviews 2020 (Best Books To Learn Lute)

    Old-Time Music

    Top 10 Best Humbucker Pickups For All Budgets 2020 Review

  • Other
    Best Tin Whistle In 2020 – Top 10 Rated Review

    Best Tin Whistle In 2020 – Top 10 Rated Review

    Top 8 Best Blues Harmonica In 2020 Reviews & Buyers Guide

    Top 8 Best Blues Harmonica In 2020 Reviews & Buyers Guide

    Best Hardware Sequencers In 2020 – Top Picks Reviews

    Best Hardware Sequencers In 2020 – Top Picks Reviews

    Pioneer PLX-500-K Review [2020] – Old-Time Music

    Pioneer PLX-500-K Review [2020] – Old-Time Music

    Teenage Engineering OP-1 Portable Synthesizer Review

    Teenage Engineering OP-1 Portable Synthesizer Review

    Best DJ Mixers For All Budget 2020 – Ultimate Reviews

    Best DJ Mixers For All Budget 2020 – Ultimate Reviews

    RME ADI-2 DAC Review – Don’t buy before read this!

    RME ADI-2 DAC Review – Don’t buy before read this!

    Top 5 Best Mountain Dulcimers On The Market Reviews

    Top 5 Best Mountain Dulcimers On The Market Reviews

    Top 10 Best Mandolins On The Market 2020 Reviews

    Top 10 Best Mandolins On The Market 2020 Reviews

No Result
View All Result
Musical Intruments Review
No Result
View All Result
Musical Intruments Review
Home Other

Stanton ST.150 MKII Turntable Review

vina by vina
June 19, 2020
in Other
0
Stanton ST.150 MKII Turntable Review
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


The turntable began to disappear sometime around 1989. Of course, most of them weren’t turntables as we know them today. Many were scratchy old record players or gramophones with scratchy needles.

Technology is not always better…

First, Sony and then others stopped pressing vinyl records as people turned towards more transportable music options. The digital age was arriving. Not many seemed to notice, and we were all carried away by the emerging technology at our fingertips.

In 2007 though, they started their comeback as vinyl returned. We woke up and finally realized just what we had been missing in sound. Somehow the sound of digital reproductions and recordings just weren’t as good. Since then, they are now back in a big way and still increasing in popularity.

Probably because we realized how sterile the MP3 sound could be, it might be convenient; you might be able to carry it around in your pocket. But sound-wise, it is not comparable to vinyl. The CDs were similar. Although there was a higher quality over the MP3, the individual nuances of vinyl could not be captured.

Many DJs, though, persevered, and they too now have seen a surge in vinyl use. Today’s modern high-tech breed of DJ often uses a controller with a laptop. But for a serious DJ, a turntable is still a must and something you simply have to have.

It can cost a lot of money to get a professional turntable. So, in this Stanton ST.150 MKII Turntable review, we will look at a turntable that isn’t going to require a mortgage and see if it measures up.

But before we do, who is Stanton?

Stanton

Stanton Magnetics was founded by Walter Stanton in 1946. Originally they were involved in manufacturing audio equipment for consumer use. But as more professional products began to be required, they focused much of their energy on this developing market. Their turntables have become recognized as some of the best available.

They are part of the Stanton Group, and as of now, are owned by Gibson guitars, although why we don’t know. Nevertheless, despite Gibson’s involvement, Stanton continues to produce quality equipment. Some of these designs are for professional DJs, and turntables are one of their product lines.

We are going to take a look at one of their offerings, the Stanton ST.150 MKII Turntable…

An Overview

The competition in this marketplace is more fierce than might be imagined. Audio-Technica is one of the most renowned manufacturers for the DJ. But with two of the most recognized manufacturers, Technics and Vestax, ceasing production of DJ turntables, there is a hole in the market. Stanton is in there, pitching with the rest.

But can Stanton fill that gap?

stanton st 150 mkii

This is a heavy-duty turntable aimed at the DJ business. It carries many of the features that a pro or amateur DJ will need. But Stanton has been quite clever, and they have designed it so it could also be used at home.

As we shall see, there are many technological advancements included in this turntable that enhance its position in the market, not least being the near-silent motor. We shall take a look at that as we proceed. But it isn’t the only exceptional quality that this turntable possesses.

So, let’s take a closer look…

The Build

In our review of the Stanton ST.150 MKII Turntable, it is very evident when you first see this model that it is designed to be ready to go to work. It has a very heavy-duty build weighing 28 pounds. The base is made of aluminum and has a low resonance.

It has rubber shock-absorbing feet that soak up any unwanted vibrations or other noises. These can be adjusted to the height you want. The platter is made from 332mm die-cast aluminum, which provides a stable base, and it has a slipmat. The brushed aluminum top adds a touch of simple design that does a lot to enhance the look.

 Stanton ST.150 MKII Professional Direct Drive DJ Turntable

We earlier mentioned one of the features of this turntable, the near-silent motor. It is a Direct Drive, three-phase, 16 pole brushless DC motor with a very powerful 4.5kg of torque.

Pitch controls of plus or minus 8%, 25%, and 50% are built-in. The pitch control has a quartz lock. It will run on 33-1/3, 45, and 78 rpm and has a 45rpm adapter. There is an adjustable electronic brake speed and reverse speed.

It has a fairly standard design ‘S’ shaped curved tonearm. Also made from aluminum, it is statically balanced with a detachable headshell. It includes a Stanton Trackmaster V.3 Cartridge. The tonearm has very fine height adjustments and an anti-skate device. It has a target light to allow the correct placement of the stylus in the dark, which is removable if necessary.

On the rear, there are RCA outputs for Phono or Line connections and a switch to move between those operations. There is also the brake control, the mains socket and an off and on rocker switch. It also has a built-in preamp.

A delight for a pro or semi-pro…

There is no hard glass or plastic turntable dust cover. That is not a surprise and is the norm with DJ equipment. Instead, it comes with a covering cloth. You will have access to the Deckadance DVS software.

 Stanton ST.150 MKII Professional

It is designed to more than meet the exacting demands of the pro DJ and is going to delight the semi-pro and amateur. But as we have already said, there is a real quality of the features. What is built-in to this turntable also makes it suitable for the home.

If we are to look to find something that might have been omitted from the build, we can only think of one thing. We are not including the dust cover because, as we said, DJ turntables don’t usually have them. The only thing we can see is the absence of a USB connection. That would have allowed you to transfer precious recordings to digital if you needed to.

It is very well-made, as is obvious from the first impression you get. It has a weighted feel that encourages confidence in its performance. So it should, it has an excellent build quality. As most things are these days, though, this turntable is made in China.

The Design

The design of this turntable has a couple of notable features. Its construction is such that it will deliver an excellent signal quality. It is built and set up to reduce resonance and feedback and to deliver crystal clear reproduction.

The cartridge shell can be easily removed. It comes with a Stanton cartridge, but should you choose to replace it, this is easy to do. As we have already said, this is not really a consumer turntable, and its design lends itself more to the DJ.

stanton st.150 mkii review

As an example, it can be used with another turntable and a mixing board. It, therefore, handles short bursts of music with changes very efficiently. It isn’t really designed to play an album from start to finish. Of course, it can do that, but that isn’t its prime role.

The Performance

Everything about this turntable has been designed to get the best performance possible.

Some of the features included don’t lend themselves to consumer use, though. It is fully manual and therefore has no automatic start or return. It takes some attention if you are using it at home and cannot be left to play and then turn itself off.

The DJ, though, will prefer its manual status.

Adjustable tonearm height…

As we mentioned briefly, the height of the tonearm is adjustable, which is an important feature. Not all turntables have this facility. The height of the tonearm is important because it sets the angle of the tracking in the groove on the vinyl. With some cartridges, this is vital. It isn’t the only way the tonearm height could be adjusted, but it’s probably the most efficient.

The pitch lock control is also another added feature that we briefly mentioned. Sometimes you will need to adjust the pitch. Then once having got that right, it will need to be locked into position so that it cannot accidentally be changed.

The Controls

As you might imagine, the Stanton ST.150 MKII controls are functional. On the top panel, there is an On/Off button and speed control. There are also the pitch selection and set options, as well as the pitch slider and lock.

The buttons and controls are placed well and are easy to see. There is a reasonable amount of space between them. The pitch controls are all located in one area, which is also a good design point.

 Stanton ST.150

Up or down with ease… Stanton ST.150 MKII Turntable Review

To allow you to place the arm accurately on the vinyl, there is a lever that will raise and lower the tonearm. The tonearm, of course, does need to be positioned in the right place before it is lowered. You will also use this to lift the tonearm when the track or the side of the album is finished. When not in use, it will lock safely back into its rest position.

The controls are well-made and have a positive feeling about them. The lack of any plastic in the manufacture adds to the security of its operation.

Stanton ST.150 MKII Turntable Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Modern design.
  • Enhanced performance.
  • Brushed aluminum top.
  • Quiet motor.
  • Low resonance base.
  • Adjustable tonearm.
  • Allows for pitch control.

Cons

  • No dust cover.
  • No USB connection.

Still, Got You Spinning?

Still not sure this is the one for you? Well, we’ve got something for everyone! So, check out our reviews of the Best Turntables under 100 Dollars, or perhaps the Best Turntables under 200 Dollars, the Best Turntables under 300 Dollars, the Best Turntables under 600 Dollars, and finally at the top end, the Best Turntables under 1000 Dollars currently on the market.

What We Think?

Earlier on, we mentioned that with Technics and Vetsax withdrawing from the manufacture of DJ-suitable turntables, there is a gap in the industry. Audio Technica, as we said, is still there. But could Stanton be able to at least partly fill the hole left at this level and price point?

Good performance and price…

It is not the top, high-level design we are looking at. But those with a reasonable price point that still offer great performance. No easy task.Let us first take a look and remind ourselves of where we think some people might think it could have been improved a little.

One area is that there is no hard plastic dust cover. A cloth cover is provided, but that is not going to look so attractive in the home. We must remember, though, that the design priorities are not aimed solely at the consumer but at the DJ.

On DJ turntables, dust covers are rarely provided, and a cloth cover is a norm. However, if this turntable is for you, then there is a dust cover available as an optional extra. Stanton has covered the bases for both consumer and DJ use.

Again… No USB connection? One last little thing…

The issue that must be raised againis the absence of a USB port. This would have allowed you to make copies of some of the vinyl that needed preserving for whatever reason. ]

This facility might have been used by the DJ but is more likely to be utilized by the home consumer. There are some DJ tables with USB and some without, but we can agree that might have been an asset to this turntable.

Some might argue they prefer a belt drive instead of a direct-drive motor. Or possibly that they prefer an automatic rather than manual turntable. But if so perhaps they shouldn’t be considering this turntable in the first place.

Really that is about all that we can identify on a turntable at this level. The positives far outweigh the negatives in our view. Let us just remind ourselves of some of them.

Beauty in design and durability…

The all-steel construction means it is durable but also stable during use. A very tough build for the working DJ. But also a design that has an acceptable aesthetic for the consumer at home. It has a high-torque motor that is direct drive.

It comes with a quality Stanton cartridge. Plenty of user-friendly controls, including three speeds, pitch control, and lock. There is no need to list the rest of them all again.

In our view, this is an excellent turntable that sits neatly either for the working DJ or for home use. We asked the question earlier, could it fill the gap and challenge the likes of Audio-Technica? The answer has to be, yes, it does, both in design and performance.

And at the price point is a very good buy indeed.

Happy Spinning!


Previous Post

Top 10 Best Ukuleles for Beginners in 2020 Reviews

Next Post

Top 10 Best Drum Thrones Of 2020 Detailed Reviews

vina

vina

Next Post
Top 10 Best Drum Thrones Of 2020 Detailed Reviews

Top 10 Best Drum Thrones Of 2020 Detailed Reviews

Top 10 Best Student Trumpets To Buy In 2020 Reviews & Buying Guide

Top 10 Best Student Trumpets To Buy In 2020 Reviews & Buying Guide

YAMAHA YAS-280 Saxophone Review – Is this review worth a look?

YAMAHA YAS-280 Saxophone Review - Is this review worth a look?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement Banner

Recommended Reading

    TOP REVIEW

    Hering Vintage Harp Harmonica Review

    Hering Vintage Harp Harmonica

    The Hering 1923 Vintage Harp looks like something straight out of
    Fender/Lee Oskar Limited Edition Harmonica

    Lee Oskar Harmonica

    If you are looking for an instrument that you can rely $43.99
    Hohner 270 Deluxe Review

    Hohner 270 Deluxe

    The Hohner 270 Super Chromonica was released more than 70 years $241.89

    About Us

    We bring you the best Premium WordPress Themes that perfect for news, magazine, personal blog, etc. Check our landing page for details.

    Follow Us

    Popular Tag

    Acoustic Guitar chromatic harmonica diatonic harmonica Hohner

    Recent News

    18 Best Phin Guitar Reviews 2020

    18 Best Phin Guitar Reviews 2020

    August 30, 2020
    9 Best Lap Harp Reviews 2020

    9 Best Lap Harp Reviews 2020

    August 28, 2020
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Privacy & Policy
    • Contact

    © 2021 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • Harmonica Reviews
    • Intruments
    • Other

    © 2021 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.