54 replies to this topic

[The Luscious Phil]

OK, so I have been wanting to invest in setting up a nice audio system for my room, with the full intent of essentially moving away from CD's and into vinyl. Now, I have little, to absolutely no knowledge of what type of equipment I will need to make this happen. So my question for all of you dudes is what are the essential components to setting up a nice system. What type of player to get, what speakers, etc... I am not looking to go unbelievably high-end, but I would like to make my investment something that will last with good audio quality. And since i am on a teacher salary, I really can't afford to be a real audiophile just yet. So I am open to suggestions as to where to begin. The one huge roadblock is that I am all the way in the Marshall Islands and I can only do online shopping... (otherwise I would probably do some more footwork and visit different stores)... so are there any real quality sites online?

[taste the waste]

You need three things: a turntable, an amplifier, and speakers.

My turntable is an alright audio-technica. It's definitely the weakest element in my setup. It's good, but I recommend checking out one of those pro-ject tables. Real beautiful in their simplicity.

You have many options for an amplifier: receivers, amplifiers, preamps, solid state, tube. I have an Almarro A205A, which I absolutely adore. For me, I'm just interested in the vinyl thing - no radio reception necessary - so I like having JUST an amplifier here (rather than a receiver with many functions) because the signal remains really pure. And I think tube amps 1) sound great and 2) look really cool, so I went with tube.

Speakers are where you should splurge, if you can. I have a pair of Omega Super 3 XRS speakers that I love. They're single driver speakers - meaning no tweeter or sub or anything. Again, I value the purity of the signal, and these are perfect for that.

What's your budget? You can pick up a solid turntable on ebay for ~$50, but a good amp and speaker setup might run you more. Check out www.audiogon.com. They have a classified list that has a lot of great stuff in it that's (relatively) cheap.

[The Luscious Phil]

You need three things: a turntable, an amplifier, and speakers.

My turntable is an alright audio-technica. It's definitely the weakest element in my setup. It's good, but I recommend checking out one of those pro-ject tables. Real beautiful in their simplicity.

You have many options for an amplifier: receivers, amplifiers, preamps, solid state, tube. I have an Almarro A205A, which I absolutely adore. For me, I'm just interested in the vinyl thing - no radio reception necessary - so I like having JUST an amplifier here (rather than a receiver with many functions) because the signal remains really pure. And I think tube amps 1) sound great and 2) look really cool, so I went with tube.

Speakers are where you should splurge, if you can. I have a pair of Omega Super 3 XRS speakers that I love. They're single driver speakers - meaning no tweeter or sub or anything. Again, I value the purity of the signal, and these are perfect for that.

What's your budget? You can pick up a solid turntable on ebay for ~$50, but a good amp and speaker setup might run you more. Check out www.audiogon.com. They have a classified list that has a lot of great stuff in it that's (relatively) cheap.

Budget-wise if I could do everything (after all is said and done) for under 1,000, I'd be totally smitten.

[taste the waste]

That's totally doable. You could do ~$50 for a record player, get something like this for your amp, and then spend the rest on speakers. That said, you could also spend a lot less on the amp, and just try to find something that sounds good and is cheap. Old 70s solid state receivers usually fit the bill, and can be had for well under $100. Then you have some playing cash when it comes to speakers, which I think is the real important bit. I wouldn't trust ebay for speakers though. And also, know that if you're not really into the audiophile world, when it comes to speakers, most brands you've heard of are shit. Pioneer, Kenwood, Marantz - these are good names for record players and very solid when it comes to vintage solid state gear, but don't buy the speakers.

[spin_spin_Capote]

You need three things: a turntable, an amplifier, and speakers.

My turntable is an alright audio-technica. It's definitely the weakest element in my setup. It's good, but I recommend checking out one of those pro-ject tables. Real beautiful in their simplicity.

You have many options for an amplifier: receivers, amplifiers, preamps, solid state, tube. I have an Almarro A205A, which I absolutely adore. For me, I'm just interested in the vinyl thing - no radio reception necessary - so I like having JUST an amplifier here (rather than a receiver with many functions) because the signal remains really pure. And I think tube amps 1) sound great and 2) look really cool, so I went with tube.

Speakers are where you should splurge, if you can. I have a pair of Omega Super 3 XRS speakers that I love. They're single driver speakers - meaning no tweeter or sub or anything. Again, I value the purity of the signal, and these are perfect for that.

What's your budget? You can pick up a solid turntable on ebay for ~$50, but a good amp and speaker setup might run you more. Check out www.audiogon.com. They have a classified list that has a lot of great stuff in it that's (relatively) cheap.

I second the pro-ject recommendation.
I have one of their turntables (entry-level stuff for them). It was cheap, cool-looking (see picture below) and the sound is really good, probably the best you can get for that money. I see a lot of people "in the know" recommending this brand all the time.

My advice would be to contact them and see if they have some e-tailer handling online distribution. They're based in Austria, I think although components on entry-level pieces come mostly from China

http://www.project-audio.com/

[The Luscious Phil]

Dudes, this is exciting stuff. I think I will do some serious searching online for the next couple of weeks. My goal is to have this all by Christmas time (kind of a Christmas gift to myself. But I will totally take more recommendations on stuff. It's good to know about the three main components.

[Rob Gordon]

Dickorice is offering some good ideas but he's way over your $1000 budget. Closer to $4000. Plus, he's recommending boutique brands, meaning small company stuff. Yeah, it's nice but if you have problems with them it'll be a bitch to fix on the Marshall Islands.

For your budget of $1,000 and your location I'd go to Crutchfield. They are the largest legit online audio dealer.
I mean legit because you'll find prices online that seem too good to be true and usually they are. Shady dealers. Avoid the temptation.

Anyway at Crutchfield, look into some Klipsch or Polk speakers. My personal preference are Paradigm speakers but Crutchfield doesn't sell them. Speakers are the most important part of the system. Spend the most on them.

An Audio Technica turntable's a good choice for your budget. Make sure it includes a stylus/cartridge.

Going separates, meaning a pre-amp, amp, tuner, is a great idea but again out of your budget. Go with a 2 channel receiver by Yamaha. Maybe the RX-497.

And don't forget to get a length of good speaker wire. 16gage is good. 14 gage is better.

That's all you'll need. It's in your budget. It's a simple and safe acquisition through Crutchfield.

[taste the waste]

Dickorice is offering some good ideas but he's way over your $1000 budget. Closer to $4000.

Actually, I got my rig together for $1600, and the speakers were brand new. And going with a vintage solid-state receiver and turntable, the total would be right around a grand, ~$1200.

[Rob Gordon]

Dickorice is offering some good ideas but he's way over your $1000 budget. Closer to $4000.

Actually, I got my rig together for $1600, and the speakers were brand new. And going with a vintage solid-state receiver and turntable, the total would be right around a grand, ~$1200.

Yes, but again, vintage is great...all for it...but being on a remote island there's not much help in any repairs needed.

[taste the waste]

Dickorice is offering some good ideas but he's way over your $1000 budget. Closer to $4000.

Actually, I got my rig together for $1600, and the speakers were brand new. And going with a vintage solid-state receiver and turntable, the total would be right around a grand, ~$1200.

Yes, but again, vintage is great...all for it...but being on a remote island there's not much help in any repairs needed.

Sure, all I was saying is that what I was recommending is NOWHERE NEAR $4G.

[Rob Gordon]

Dickorice is offering some good ideas but he's way over your $1000 budget. Closer to $4000.

Actually, I got my rig together for $1600, and the speakers were brand new. And going with a vintage solid-state receiver and turntable, the total would be right around a grand, ~$1200.

Yes, but again, vintage is great...all for it...but being on a remote island there's not much help in any repairs needed.

Sure, all I was saying is that what I was recommending is NOWHERE NEAR $4G.

Ok, still over $2000 new, used...you are correct.

[st. park]

lucious phil, this is my set-up... it's close to your range and it sounds pretty good. pro-ject debut III turntable ... $300 b&w 601 bookshelf speakers ... $450 nad bee320 integrated amp ... $300 rolls vp29 phono pre-amp ... $50 total cost: $1100. i'd like to upgrade the phono stage one of these days, but still, the set-up sounds pretty good. you can find a good deal on a used turntable, but it requires some knowledge, luck, and time to look. i bought a used turntable a few years ago off ebay and i ended up trashing it because it wasn't worth the money to fix up. i'd recommend something like the pro-ject turntable which is pretty much ready to go from the moment you buy.

[taste the waste]

If you're willing to go bookshelf speakers instead of floor standers - and if you're not too familiar with hi-fi speakers, a good pair of bookshelfs will still sound overwhelmingly great - a whole world opens up to you in your price range.

[Hans Christian Anderson]

this thread is (unfortunately) why i'm not switching to vinyl any time soon. i'll stick w/ my populist (crappy) cds, mp3s. boombox, and decent (7 years ago at least) computer speakers/sound card.

[taste the waste]

this thread is (unfortunately) why i'm not switching to vinyl any time soon. i'll stick w/ my populist (crappy) cds, mp3s. boombox, and decent (7 years ago at least) computer speakers/sound card.

One of the reasons that most people like the sound of vinyl better is because vinyl is usually played on better equipment. There's not really a viable vinyl boombox market or anything - like you intimated, the cost of admittance is steep. But this is less of a vinyl vs. cd thing and more of a hi-fi vs. lo-fi thing. The only different element in a vinyl hi-fi setup is (arguably) the cheapest: the turntable. All the other stuff is necessary if you're looking to get a nice system going of ANY type. My computer speakers and boombox certainly get the job done, but the step up to a hi-fi(ish) system is astonishing. And, honestly, you can put together a totally decent sounding rig for under $500, easy. Even under $300 if you're willing to wait for a bargain.

[Petition]

Check out Audiovox's website. They have really, really good components of all kinds and prices. Acoustic Research speakers are the best, to my ears, anyway...

[Fiat Records]

I spent $15 on my turntable setup. I already had speakers and a stereo receiver with phono inputs, and I got a used turntable for $15. I've spent thousands on records though. It's strange that you'd want to totally abandon CDs... they're so handy for taking on trips, playing in any room of the house, etc I like vinyl because it's so nice to sit back, relax, and watch the music being physically taken from a nice pretty record. My advice is: don't try to make such a drastic change in music listening philosophy. Don't listen to pretentious audiophiles who tell you everything you need to acquire in order to become a pretentious audiophile.

[The Luscious Phil]

I spent $15 on my turntable setup. I already had speakers and a stereo receiver with phono inputs, and I got a used turntable for $15. I've spent thousands on records though. It's strange that you'd want to totally abandon CDs... they're so handy for taking on trips, playing in any room of the house, etc I like vinyl because it's so nice to sit back, relax, and watch the music being physically taken from a nice pretty record.

My advice is: don't try to make such a drastic change in music listening philosophy. Don't listen to pretentious audiophiles who tell you everything you need to acquire in order to become a pretentious audiophile.

Oh I am not abandoning CD's, but as the majority of my listening is done at home, I feel like it is the time to invest in a nice setup. It really is just me wanting to add another component to my music listening.

[_____________]

shit, this thread just made me realize that A LOT of kids these days have never even listened to music via the traditional receiver/amp component and speaker set-up... that is a real shame.

[spiritofeden]

the cheapest way to do this would be to just scour garage sales. or its likely you have a relative that just has all this shit just sitting in their basement. i pieced my entire setup together, and i paid $0 for the equipment.