CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[bhecox1]

I have recently become paralyzed and now have more time to enjoy music. I have always loved the sound of vinyl but fell into newer technology. I would like to enjoy my records like back in the 70's. My equipment is a Toshiba SA-7100 receiver, Marantz 6170 DD turntable, and two pair of Pioneer HPM 100's. This equipment sounded really good back then and still sounds pretty good but not as good as I remember. I can spend some money but want to do it wisely. The speakers are in good shape and the receiver works but I know that my cartridge and stylus are weak links. Should I buy a new cartridge and stylus, if so what is a good match or should I buy a new turntable?

[Nashou66]

I like the Denon DL-110. Many good reviews on it.

Welcome to the forum by the way!! This will be a fun place for you
to spend time not that you have more leisure. Too bad about the circumstances though

God Bless

Athanasios

[CIR Engineering]

I have gotten lots of enjoyment from my Rega Planar 2 and Dynavector DV 10x5. I just love the combo. I picked them up about 7 years ago. Got the P2 on audiogon unused for like $500 and the cart I got from somewhere and I don't remember how much... it was expensive for a cart, but man it is nice.

craigr

[Nashou66]

That is a nice Cart Craig! How does it handle quick base?

Nashou

[CIR Engineering]

[Nashou66]

[CxTurbo]

I have been toying with the Idea of getting a new cart myself. I have a Pro-Ject RPM Genie at the moment that came with a Ortofon 2M Red. Just for the sake of easy set-up I was looking at the 2M Black. It is regarded as on of the best MM Carts. I am torn with that or getting a New table completely something like the VPI Super Scoutmaster with the 9T tonearm and a quality MC cart. Dynavector being on the list as well as Lyra and maybe the Sumiko Blackbird.

Need a new Phonostage first though. I am thinking of building a Tube unit with MM or MC inputs so a step-up xformer would also be in there somewhere..... Still looking for a set of plans though. I like the Akido or Tetra Sans and was thinking of adding the Janus Shunt regulator and a small DC Heater supply. That is a different topic though.

James

[Nashou66]

[bhecox1]

[quote="Nashou66"]

[Nashou66]

That is sad to hear. Drunk Driving is a serious issue. We recently had a big Case here in Buffalo NY where a Doctor hit and killed a girl and got away with it. The Jury IMO made the wrong decision.

I think a old Belt Drive TT would me a little better than your DD Marantz although i think its a fair TT.

Not sure how much your looking to spend so Let us know your budget and many guys here have also been revisiting
Vinyl.

Athanasios

[bhecox1]

I want to build a system around vinyl. my musical taste is mostly classic rock but is truly all over the board. I would like to get a tt ,cart, and a phono preamp. I really like what I read about the ortofon 2m black but not sure I can stay on budget and still have it at the heart.
I want to try to spend only $2000 and get quality equipment. Maybe with a good vintage table? What do you think guys, can I do it?

[bhecox1]

I was looking on needle doctor and came up with this. Music Hall MMF-5.1,the Ortofon 2M Back, and the Clear Audio Nano phono preamp. It adds up to $1975 plus tax of course but then I always tend to overshoot budgets anyway. I have only read about these products and have only specs and reviews to go by but it makes me want to drive to Minneapolis for a listen. What do you guys think? Worth a drive (5 hours) or should I try to get better equipment on ebay?

[CxTurbo]

I know it would be a stretch on your budget but the VPI Scout JMW-9 combo is a stellar package.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7703-vpi-scout-turntable.aspx

With the Blue Point Special Evo-III H/O MC cartridge

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7611-sumiko-blue-point-special-evo-iii-ho-mc-cartridge.aspx

And the Bellari VP130 Phono pre

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-3401-bellari-vp130-tube-phono-preamp.aspx

Personally I think this would be a fantastic set up. Without looking for great deals your around $2,500.

You could always look on Audiogon for a good used Table and phono pre as well.

James

[Nashou66]

I have the EVO cart james and it is a nice cart. I have to send it to Soundsmith for a new cantilever/tip( i bent it) So for now I use the Denon and its far less expensive but has a really great sound for all types of music. Its a great general cart.

Cox, id look at some of the older AR Turntables that you can change the arm . they are really fun. Anything with a suspension. The Linn LP12 are expensive but a super nice TT. Its up to you if you want new or old and play around with modifying etc. Depends on your mobility I guess for working on this stuff.

Athanasios

[CxTurbo]

8(

That sucks Nash....... Sorry to hear that.

The Denon would bring him closer to budget and then the possibility for upgrades are always there as time allows.

Rome was not built in a day as the saying goes 8)

Starting with a good base means the possibilities are endless.

For the record I think the Music Hall tables are made by Rega. No that that matters much, so do not limit yourself to just MH but look into Rega as well.

[ecrabb]

No comments on the speakers, guys? I read up on them, and I know they were designed by the ex-JBL guy, and they're apparently pretty well-regarded by their fans, but they're also nearing 40 years old. The OP did say his music taste was mostly classic rock, so maybe they're appropriate, but he also said his tastes were "all over the board". I'm not even a vinyl guy, but it seems that all the turntable, cartridge, amp, and preamp upgrades in the worlds won't be any good if the OP has grown tired of the sound of the speakers, or if they're not performing up to snuff anymore. I would think some review/auditioning of the speakers would be in order.

There's some Klipsch Heresy's for sale here in Des Moines - probably 3-4 hours from the OP, and could be on the way to Minneapolis for him...
http://desmoines.craigslist.org/ele/3336781846.html

No idea how the Heresy's would compare, I'm just throwing out ideas.

Even if he stays with the Pioneers, what about the caps in the crossovers? Shouldn't they be replaced now that they're 35+ years old? Crossover theory sidenote... What happens to the crossover as the caps age? Do the caps age to short, or age to open? What happens to the sound, then? Would the tweeters attenuate or boost?

I'd definitely be doing some frequency sweeps, or at least use a spectrum analyzer to make sure the speakers are still working like they should.

Again, just throwing out some food for thought.

OP, sorry to hear of your misfortune, but welcome to the forum from a fellow Iowan.

SC

[CxTurbo]

Heresy's are bad ass speakers Crabb.

Also the Lascala's I believe they are called the ultimate are the Klipsch Horns.

No comment on the caps in the crossover but I would think they would need some form of restoration cap wise. Passive crossovers are a science I will never understand. Or should I say an art I do not have a talent for 8)

Regardless, I am a BIG Paradigm fan (Being a Canadian company and all). If it was me I would look at the S2's or if Budget allowed S6' or S8's from the Signature line. I have heard them all on a set of Bryston mono blocks. Breathtaking comes to mind. I listened to some live Jazz as well as Disturbed, Metallica, Sabath and The Dire Straits . All was fantastic with the Pro-Ject Xperience TT, 2M Black and Bryston preamp.

Also l would look into some of the bookshelves in the Utopia line from Focal. I love the sound of Be tweeters but even in the signature line from Paradigm they come at a huge cost in comparison to other tweets.

Regardless I think the concern was initially on the TT and cart combo.

James

[Nashou66]

I know a guy here in Buffalo selling a pair of Klipsch La Scalla's vintage 1974.

He wants 1200 for them.

These things are huge. What do you guys think? I have seen pics of La Scallas but not the ones in question.

Nashou

[CxTurbo]

No question about it but, they are the smaller sibling to the Horn...... The Klipsch speakers being discussed here built that company and are the reference that all other Klipsch product should now be measured. I am not a big fan of most of the Harman era products that have been released as of late.

[bhecox1]

Not working due to paralysis so I want to build a system one piece at a time. Right now I want to put together a good tt, cart, and phono preamp. Next year, next step, more than a couple grand at a time and the wife might get excited. As for my speakers they are actually fine. They were designed by JBL guy(s). Bart Locanthi left in 1970 and took quite a few engineers from JBL with him. Don't let the name Pioneer scare you these were a vastly improved version of the JBL 4311. They used crazy new stuff like carbon fiber and... well you get my point. Anyway I wondered the same thing so we hooked them up to a friends system ( I call it a lab) and they performed admirably at 100 + watts out of his Phase Linear amps (vintage like my stuff) also still damn near flat as a pancake up to 18,000 (at my age I can't hear well that high). Long story short (almost) I want to start with the tt. Anyone?
Oh, all over the board means that I listen to classical, old country, bluegrass, but mostly the stuff that we played in our rooms, parties and making out in the back seat when all was well.


Thanks turbo I'll check out the combo you put together.