Optimus LAB-1100

Good turntable for the everyday system – Has great sound for the price although you can hear a lot of low frequency turntable noise if you crank up your sub woofer. But for the average system you can't go wrong. The stylus is excellent so shouldn't harm your record collection and it has a built in pre-amp so doesn't require a dedicated phono input on your amp. Show details

Good beginners turntable – Bought for$50 years ago second hand . Sat in cupboard for years. Pulled out recently plugged into HDMI amp sounded crap on both settings very weak . Got an old harmon kardon amp plugged it in and much better sound quality. Not great but good. Plugged in proton amp much richer sound through custom made 3 way speakers. Auto start has never worked but that's not a big deal . Good beginners turntable Show details

Great Quality for the Price – Been using this model for many years. Originally purchased from Dick Smith for $99, this model still turns up a lot on eBay for $30-$50. It's got everything you need in a turntable, including a phono pre-amp. The sound is fantastic for such a basic unit, the cartridge and stylus are the same as you'll find in higher end models. If you're looking… Read more

to get into vinyl then you can't get better than this to start with. It's too bad this has been discontinued. If you find a second-hand model, grab it.

This thing shouldn't sound so good! – I repair and sell lots of turntables, for example Linn, Thorens, ERA, Yamaha etc. You name a turntable, I've probably worked on one of them. I often get asked if I have a cheapie for sale, so when I saw an unused 10y/o Optimus Lab 1100 for sale for $20, I thought, OK, lets see what this is all about. I had low expectations, but the price was… Read more

right. When it arrived and I unboxed it, OK, I wasn't much impressed, it was all plastic after all, not something I'd be be seen dead with in my lounge room. Anyway, straight away was impressed by the quality of the user manual. It was not in Chinglish, so that was a good start. The instructions were better than a lot of quality, modern stuff. The audio cables were quite respectable also, and there was an earth lead with a spade fitting. OK, well that's not bad either, I thought.

Next, I looked at the cartridge and stylus. It was very familiar, but unbranded. I can say that without hesitation, this is an Audio Technica AT3600 with the carbon cantilever and conical stylus. Haha, talk about flying under the radar, this is the same cart you'll find on a lot of quite high-end stuff. Rega even use it as their stock supplied cartridge and call it the Rega Carbon!

Reading the manual, I notice it has a built in phono-stage, which means that if your amp doesn't have a phono input you can connect it up to a line level RCA connection. No way! this is too weird for a budget plastic thing! Now that I'm intrigued, I am wanting to hear what it sounds like. I connect it up to the Yamaha amp and the Richter speakers, put a record on the platter and hit Play. The thing ques itself perfectly and drops the stylus gently onto the record. Mmm, not bad at all. Then, the opening track starts. No way!! It shouldn't sound this good, it's $20 worth of turntable!

OK, The sound won't match a Linn, Thorens or ERA, but it's quite decent and the stylus won't wreck your records. If you're starting out in vinyl and you're on a budget, you can do much worse than the Optimus Lab 1100 cheapie, so if you see a decent used one, get it, buy a new ATN3600 stylus and away you go. For the sound it produces for less than $60 online, get it and start enjoying vinyl. Then, if you're hooked, get a proper turntable that will last you forever, something from the 70's preferably...

Reliable and sounds good – I too have had this Optimus LAB-1100 turntable in storage for years. I think I bought it in the early 2000s from either Dick Smith or JB HiFi. It's extremely versatile given that it can be hooked up as phono or line and it genuinely sounds good. Unlike high end turntables that cost heaps and need regular adjustments this thing simply sounds good with minimum effort. It is also very reliable.  Show details

Budget price but does the job – I have had this stored in a cupboard for years - can't even remember why I purchased it. I took it out yesterday, noticed it had a built in pre-amp, dusted it off and plugged it into my Yamaha RX-V377. I played a recently purchased second hand album, Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn, recorded in 1961. The sound was superb and filled the house.… Read more

Now to dig out the two boxes of vinyl that haven't seen light of day since, hmmmm... Probably the 1980s. Recommend this turntable as it is a great change from digital music.

Great for casual listening – I got mine second hand and have it connected to a decent phono amp and speakers and I find it definitely higher quality than an mp3. I don't have much experience with turntables so I'm only guessing but it is definitely good sounding to me. It's easy to use as it is fully automatic and you just have to press buttons. It also has a built-in phono preamp for amps without phono in or active speakers.  Show details

Cheap and pretty good – I picked up one of this from the side of the road, so it didn't cost a lot! I got it home rigged it up through my Denon HIFI and it sounded terrible. I read some reviews on the net and discovered that it has a built in pre-amp for use when plugged direct into a computer. There is a switch to disable this located under the turntable - just left the… Read more

mat and spin the turntable round until you can see the switch. Once I switched it to PHONO mode it sounded pretty good. Now to find some cheap records :-)

The kids for some reason are fascinated with the whole ye olde record thing - I must admit one record I found at vinnies is 50 years old... and once the mould was cleaned off it, it sounded great. Cheap, sounds pretty good. no clip to secure arm when in transit

Terrible – Two machines and not a sound out of both. Poor instructions for a start. I have visited Tandy and Dick Smith Stores (bought one at each). Their staff are Salespeople not Technicians. None were helpful! I am not a Technical person but I can follow Instructions, that is, if the Instructions are there. I have 700 vinyl Tracks to convert and so far… Read more

after five years of trying, I have not copied one to my PC. What am I doing wrong? ... or am I?

I am into my second machine and both have not sent one audio sound down the line to a Ripper or into a Stereo. I have a 2008 model Apple MacBook, not a sound into the Stereo or a file. I have "Golden" Ripper" which says "awaiting audio" .during track play. I have connected the two speaker leads to a joint and plugged the joint it the microphone slot n the Macbook. Nothing!

Good – has an in-built preamplifier that gives RIAA equalisation; can be connected to computer directly without having to connect through another amplifier Cheap, small and lightweight can’t think of any

Good – This turntable produces crystal clear sounds even to old vinyls of Kenny Rogers and George Strait. I'm happy with the belt-drive feature as it reduces turntable noise. I am enjoying this possession so far. Belt-Drive System Sometimes causes radio/tv interference when ON