Sound Advice: Turntable pairs neatly with TV speaker

Q; I am looking for a decent stand-alone record player for our living room cabinet, preferably one that has its own internal speakers. I also have a Bose TV Speaker on the cabinet that we can use with the turntable. I am considering the $249 Fluance RT81 turntable. Do you have any other recommendations between $200 and $500?

A: A $250 turntable with its own internal speakers is pretty much guaranteed to sound awful. You are on the right track with the Fluance RT81. Just turn the turntable’s output switch to “Line” to use the internal phono preamp, then connect it to the Aux input on the Bose TV Speaker. Place the turntable on a different shelf in the cabinet to avoid feedback.

If you want a setup that performs well but resembles a turntable with built-in speakers, check out the Andover SpinBase (andoveraudio.com). It is a speaker designed to have a turntable placed on it, and the design cancels out internal vibrations to eliminate feedback. Andover SpinBase speakers start at $299.

Q: With every new and better pair of speakers, there is a gently used pair no longer needed. I have used Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to sell my used gear, but the quality and sincerity of the buyers often is questionable. Can you suggest any used equipment websites that are more focused on audiophiles?

A: Websites ebay.com, audiogon.com and usaudiomart.com are the most common for buying and selling used audio gear. Selling locally on Craigslist and Facebook is still likely to work out better for you. Just stay diligent and be selective about who you work with.

Q: How do I use the save 50 discount on the Oclean sonic toothbrush you wrote about earlier this month? It is not working.

A: Unfortunately, this was the most common question I received, and the frustration was palpable. The discount was available, but there is a multitude of models and the website is awkward for some to navigate. The code save50 is one word and applies only to the X Pro Elite Premium Set at the official oclean.com website. The X Pro Elite Premium Set is found on the “Bundle & Save” page on the website. You must click on “Bundle & Save” at the top to navigate to the page with this set. You apply the save50 code at checkout and it reduces the price from $109.99 to $59.99.

Speaking of the Oclean toothbrush. another frequent question was if the screen on it does anything besides showing how well you brushed. I do think the display with the numerical score and image of your teeth showing where you missed is the single most useful feature of the toothbrush and is reason alone to buy it. But it has other functions, as well. The screen display is used to change cleaning modes, adjust brushing strength and adjust brushing duration. Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get recommendations and read past columns at soundadvicenews.com.