CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[AnalogRocks]

What current components would you put into it today?

What 'table and tone arm would you choose?
Which phono stage?
Which preamp?
Which amps?
Speakers?
Cables?

Keeping in mind you would ONLY use this for vinyl.

[AnalogRocks]

What current components would you put into it today?

What 'table and tone arm would you choose?
Which phono stage?
Which preamp?
Which amps?
Speakers?
Cables?

Keeping in mind you would ONLY use this for vinyl.

[draganm]

What's the budget? You can spend between $2K and$200K.

[AnalogRocks]

Pick your own personal budget. Maybe you have wanted to build a rediculous system for years. Maybe you just wana spin some stacks of wax.

Be as decadent or as conservative as you want .

[AnalogRocks]

Pick your own personal budget. Maybe you have wanted to build a rediculous system for years. Maybe you just wana spin some stacks of wax.

Be as decadent or as conservative as you want .

[emdawgz1]

Speakers: Diapason Adamantes LE
http://www.diapason-italia.com/eng/homepage.htm
Beautiful, the most transparent small speaker ever.

Amplifiers: Pair of Conrad Johnson LP140M Tube monoblocs. 140W each.

http://www.conradjohnson.com/It_just_sounds_right/current-products.html

Preamp: Mark Levinson L32 reference stereo pre amp w/ dual phono stage installed.http://www.marklevinson.com/products/details.asp?prod=no32

Cables: Nordost Valhalla Speaker Cables
http://www.nordost.com/Cables/speaker-reference-valhalla.htm

Valhalla Intreconnects
http://www.nordost.com/Interconnects/analog-reference-valhalla.htm

Turntable: VPI HRX
http://www.vpiindustries.com/products_hrx.htm
Grado Reference Cartridge
http://gradolabs.com/frameset_main.htm

[StylinLP]

Sure, I will help out since I'm at work with nothing to do but stir up trouble on the internet. It all depends on your price range. But I can give you an entry level price range with my bent on what is acceptable in audio quality. Other tables either just don't stack up vs the competition or you will not get the night and day differance of vinyl vs CD's.

Entry level system:

TURNTABLES
-Thorens TD-145 II or TD-124 used turntable (Best model-Poor mans version of the prestigious Linn LP12) $300 - $500
-Music Hall MMF-5 turntable (Not as good as a table as Thorens but is new and easy setup) $500
-JA Michell Focus One w/ grace 707 arm (Better than any Rega P3 clone)$500
-Rega P3 turntable (alot of fans) $750 or $450 used

Pre/AMP intergrated
-Nad C325BEE (best amp under $500) $300

Speakers to match
-Quad 12L (beautifull high quality recommended!) $500 used
-Epos M 5 Bookshelf Loudspeaker $600
-Nola Alan $350 (highly recommended by everyone)
-Usher Audio S-520 Birch Shielded Loudspeaker

Phono Pre-Amp MM
-Bellari VP129 tube phono pre (hands down best under $500) $200

Disk Doctor cleaning system w/fluid (Cheapest way to acceptably have clean records) $50 *(highly recommend a cleaning machine)

Turntable stand
-Solid Steel 3 tier rack $400 (welded and high quality)
-IKEA LACK endtable $10 (Perfect for Rega type Ridgid technology)

Cartridge
-Dynovector 10x5 cartridge $300 (best MM for the price)
-GRADO Platinum cartridge $300 (best MM cart unshielded)

Interconnects
-Harmonic Technology TruthLinks $150 (best without spending crazy money)
-VH Labs $160 (better maybe)

Speaker cables (HT pro cost the most)
-Harmonic techology pro 11 $250
-DH Labs T-14
-Cardas CrossLink
-Kimber kable 8TC

[Curt Palme]

I'd do something completely retro.

Technics 1200- still a current model, mega rugged, everyone uses these for DJ purposes, so it's not considered audiophile, but it's been tested and tried and is bulletprooof. Cheap-ish on eBay, either new or used. For simplicity, AR made one turntable that was considered high end, perhaps a later model Dual direct drive, or heck the Kenwood 'Rock' was popular without being major bucks.

Cartridge- I swore by the Empire 2000Z back in the late 70s 'cause a friend had one, the Shure V series was decent as well, no idea what's current now..

Preamp- something like Hafler, Phase Linear, Bryston, Harman made some nice stuff in the 70s as well.

Power amp- Phase Linear, Harman Citation series, McInTosh, Bryston something like that.

or

Pioneer Sx receiver series, well made Japanese stuff. McIntosh, maybe Marantz.

Speakers- completely retro, JBL 4311 or larger, Cervin Vega if you want thump more than accuracy, EV Interface series, Quad electrostats if you're not cranking it and like electrostatic sound.

You can probably get all of the above if you shop carefully on Craigslist and eBay or whereever for well under $1500 not including shipping.

[Curt Palme]

I'd do something completely retro.

Technics 1200- still a current model, mega rugged, everyone uses these for DJ purposes, so it's not considered audiophile, but it's been tested and tried and is bulletprooof. Cheap-ish on eBay, either new or used. For simplicity, AR made one turntable that was considered high end, perhaps a later model Dual direct drive, or heck the Kenwood 'Rock' was popular without being major bucks.

Cartridge- I swore by the Empire 2000Z back in the late 70s 'cause a friend had one, the Shure V series was decent as well, no idea what's current now..

Preamp- something like Hafler, Phase Linear, Bryston, Harman made some nice stuff in the 70s as well.

Power amp- Phase Linear, Harman Citation series, McInTosh, Bryston something like that.

or

Pioneer Sx receiver series, well made Japanese stuff. McIntosh, maybe Marantz.

Speakers- completely retro, JBL 4311 or larger, Cervin Vega if you want thump more than accuracy, EV Interface series, Quad electrostats if you're not cranking it and like electrostatic sound.

You can probably get all of the above if you shop carefully on Craigslist and eBay or whereever for well under $1500 not including shipping.

[StylinLP]

Hey Curt. True you could do that. It is attractive to have a classic system to enjoy. More out of nostalgia...
True that an older system like that will sound nice but they cannot compete against modern equipment. Electro-mechanical engineering has come along way since the 70's. Also, all those caps and resisters will need to be replaced. They have a life span of no more than 7 years at best.
If you but my recommended system up against an older classic one would be interesting. For the same money I would still recommend going new.

[Curt Palme]

[Curt Palme]

[StylinLP]

I hear what your saying Curt. You the man when it comes to doing stuff like that!

Most us consumer types would have to pay someone else to do all that restoring or pay a premuim for someone elses reconditioned unit for sale. Then when all said and done you would have some nice equipment I'm sure. The audio magazines do write articles of late on such projects. THeir findings are favourable but even then they still do not fair well vs a modern day well made item. Of course they make junk today too which shouldn't be considered. Stuff today built to last cost thousands of dollars. But there are some low cost valued gems out there. That Nad C325BEE intergrated for $300 is one good example of audio sound value.

If you want something modern built to last with that standard of point to point wiring like a modern BlueCircle, McIntosh, Portal, Pass Labs, Jeff Rolland etc etc your going to have to spend serious money. So I see your point that you get something built to last for very little money compared to the cost of that today. But when it comes to audio sound quality I still would go with a newest Tube or SS pre/amp or intergrated unless I had other reasons to go with classic equipment for nostalgic.
Hey I wouldn't mind an old 70's McIntosh or Marantz receiver. That would be fun and kewl! But I would know it would not be able to compete with todays highend gear.

[Curt Palme]

[Curt Palme]

[StylinLP]

Posting on a sunday I see! I forgot about this thread until I came back to work today. Interesting. well, I do know all about that Bryston 3B and i could have one for cheap off audiogon if I wanted one. The only Bryston model I wouldn't mind owning is a Bryston 4b SST. Those sell used for over $2000 .

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1182485937

This is the only Bryston model that people generally recommend. You can do much better with other companies in differant price ranges. I could list the manufactures and models if you want to check them out.
I see you compared Bryston's older model versus a low end modern amp. Please don't be offended by what that tells me about the performace of that Bryston 3b

Price range has alot to do with this topic btw.

[Curt Palme]

I still don't agree with you.

I'd take any good working 70s stereo like a Pioneer or Kenwood and put it head to head with a current model all-components-on-a-chip-that-runs-red-hot-and-weighs-10lbs-thanks-to-the-newfangled-digital-technology-POS any day.

And I have yet to hear about anyone bitching about an older Bryston totally overhauled in 2000 by Bryston or the sound quality thereof.

[Curt Palme]

I still don't agree with you.

I'd take any good working 70s stereo like a Pioneer or Kenwood and put it head to head with a current model all-components-on-a-chip-that-runs-red-hot-and-weighs-10lbs-thanks-to-the-newfangled-digital-technology-POS any day.

And I have yet to hear about anyone bitching about an older Bryston totally overhauled in 2000 by Bryston or the sound quality thereof.

[StylinLP]

Ah ha! I see where the mis-communication lays. We are kinda talking about differant things. As you obviously know, there is alot of differant gear in audio and it can be tough sorting it all out.

Your talking about vintage gear compared to modern Class-D amps. Now thats a differant subject all together! I hate class-d amps. They suck doggy doo doo's. I've read many many articles and reviews about the newest offerings because DraganM was interested in getting one because he was being a cheap-ass and didn't want to shell out the dough to to buy a real class A/B amp. The reviews were poor but a few newer models reviewed favourably for a Class-D amp. The main thing that people like them for is the cost, small size and no heat generated. Some people have those needs. But they fall far short of a strong modern day Class A or B amp. Even the venerable Bryston amps.

When it comes down to it. All modern day high-end SS amps cost alot of money. At least $1500 or more upwards to $80k! PassLabs, McIntosh, Bryston, Parasound, Edge, Halcro, Portal, Threshold, Mark Levingson, Theta, Jeff Rowland, etc etc.
All these companies manufacturer amps that are the pinnacle of modern day audio.

Another subject that was not considered is tube amps. That's another topic entirely! Modern high end tube amps cost thousands of dollars! I would love to get a $2000 Cary or Jolinda tube amps. Drool.

[Clarence]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/01/16/ces.luxury.turntable/index.html

$64,000

[draganm]

4 tonerams is a little over the top. I would love to have a TT with 2 arms and 2 different cartridges though. I don't see spending $64K. and a lot of this stuff is just for the sake of extravagance. I could build myself a nice table with two premium tonearms for about $5K.

[zaphod]

speakers: Martin Logan CLX
speaker cables: dunno. i have a number that i like.
interconnect: make my own with canare ends and star quad cable
pre amp: meitner PA6
amp: Mc60 or other old Mac tubes
table: top line LP12, arm, porbably a later series Ittok
cartridge: Koetsu Rosewood signature

although if was JUST vinyl, i'd be tempted to use a meitner phono pre which had a gain knob, or just use the gain knob on the MC60's and do away with the preamp, although the PA6 is a splendid preamp.

[Tom.W]

[Blorton]

Man, why even build a seperate room? I just moved the wife's "old" Technics DL-20 turntable to the HT receiver and we had a nice time this afternoon listening to a few albums. This turntable hasn't been used for years due to a grounding issue which I just hardwire-fixed and dropped in a great new budget $20 Audio Technica cartridge from the Bay. (It even uses a carbon fiber stylus!)

In this case, it's a decent Pioneer Elite receiver with mid to lower end Klipsch towers I snagged on a sale.

One doesn't have to always go off the deep end, ya know...

Dan

P.S. Next up is a DIY record cleaner...

[draganm]