Here is a breakdown of some of the turntables Amoeba currently sells and a bit of an overview of each one. Please see store for specific stock as our inventory differs between locations. 

	Crosley Keepsake 249 USB 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM Fully Automatic Belt Drive Auxilliary input Adjustable tone control Dynamic full range speakers with switch for line in play (iPod/CD, etc) USB enabled Software suite for ripping and editing audio included
	Numark Portable PT-01 USB - Available Online - 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM Belt Drive RCA line & headphone outputs USB enabled Wall-powered with included AC adaptor or battery powered ±10% pitch control Internal speaker
	Numark TTUSB 33 1/3, 45 (78 RPM with software) Adjustable anti-skate control Built in pre-amp Line level RCA outputs USB enabled EZ Converter software included
	Jensen JTA-460 Compact USB Turntable System 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM Belt Drive Built in speakers Remote control AM/FM receiver USB enabled
	Audio-Technica AT-LP60 - Available Online - 33 1/3 and 45 RPM Fully Automatic No Pitch Control Belt Drive Built-in pre-amp Phono or Line/Aux outputs Replaceable stylus USB model available
	Audio-Technica AT-LP120 USB 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM Manual operation Pitch Control Direct Drive Built-in pre-amp Phono or Line/Aux outputs Forward and reverse play USB   Continue reading...

      

As you've no doubt already read, vinyl sales are up so to meet the accompanying increase in demand for turntables Amoeba Music recently began selling various turntable models. As outlined in the excellent recent Amoeblog about buying a turntable at Amoeba Music, the three Amoeba stores each have a really good selection of turntables for sale.  Recently I stopped into the Berkeley Amoeba store to talk a bit with turntable expert Brendan about the variety of turntables to choose from at the Telegraph Avenue store. Note that the San Francisco and Hollywood Amoeba stores may each have a slightly different array of turntables to chose from. Call ahead to your local Amoeba (scroll down for phone numbers) to double check on which models are available. 

As outlined by Brendan in the video interview clip above, the Audio-Technica model on display is a wonderful hands-on, easy to operate, sturdy model that comes with a good quality, built-in cartridge (so you don't have spend any extra time and money getting the needle cartridge) for only $129.98. This exact same model - including the extra feature of a USB connection that is geared for folks who, as well as listening to their records, want to dub off their vinyl into a digital format to have on the go in their iPod and other mp3 listening devices -- sells for $179.98. A great deal if you plan on doing a lot of digitizing of your vinyl collection is the Numark TTUSB model with USB compatibility, on sale for just $149.98. As Brendan says in the video clip, this belt-driven model is "a really solid design for 150 bucks!" It also comes with pitch control, which is perfect for DJs and anyone who wants to increase or decrease the speed of the record being played.

The winter NAMM is an international music products event held annually at the Anaheim Convention Center. The event showcases thousands of exhibitors featuring new instruments and gadgets. Although it is not open to the general public without invitation, tens of thousands gather from all over the world every January to check out the latest trends. Basically, the four-day experience is Guitar Center on 'roids, or, to be more appropriate, a Disneyland for music geeks (coincidentally, the real Disneyland is right across the street from the convention center).

I've been coming to the NAMM show for over ten years, both as an exhibitor (for Vestax) and as an attendee. Surely the main attractions are the new products by your favorite brands. You can forecast trends before they happen, as most exhibitors debut product lines at the show, and engineers on-site are eager to hear critical feedback from musicians. It's quite impressive when you observe the long process of how products are conceived, designed, and manufactured from innovative ideas. Equally motivational as far as getting people to show up at the trade show is the camaraderie factor. In this open and crazy atmosphere, you bump into many DJs and producers, so you can chop it up with them and trade contacts. Sometimes mega-stars (Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Bootsy Collins, Snoop Dogg, to name a few) come around and show face as well.