Barcon
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It does. I bought it because my surround sound receiver doesn't but I plan on getting a better amp at some point.
Hifi system for playing vinyl
- Thread starter PragueBlue
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dave_blue12
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Honestly, I rate the amps as highly as the turntables. They really are that good.
AustinBlue
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Trevor Morley's Tache
Well-Known Member
Anything mechanical (turntable, cartridge speaker) then in general the more you spend the better.
Non-mechanical (amps & cables), not so much. You can get a pretty linear very low distortion amplifier (well below audible threshold) for a relatively low price. Also, anyone who tells you expensive cables are essential is either a crank or a snake oil salesman.
Non-mechanical (amps & cables), not so much. You can get a pretty linear very low distortion amplifier (well below audible threshold) for a relatively low price. Also, anyone who tells you expensive cables are essential is either a crank or a snake oil salesman.
BimboBob
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DruntBlunt
Well-Known Member
Rega and Pro-Ject make excellent and affordable turntables. I bought the first R3 back in the late seventies and it served me well for decades. Currently I use one from German brand Clearaudio which is slightly more expensive but not silly money like some turntables that look like overweight spaceship parts. If you can get them in GB I would recommend checking out XTZ from Sweden who makes excellent and reasonably priced speakers. Priced like KEF and Dali etc. but playing more like expensive brands like B&W. US brand Parasound make amps that I really like but they might be priced a bit beyond your budget. If you are patient buying used quality products will get you far more for your money but that's perhaps something to consider later when and if you want to upgrade your equipment.
Don't buy the absolute cheapest cables and try if you can to keep some distance between power and signal cables. Speakers are the components most critical to get decent sound. Listen around but remember they will always be flavored by the room they play in. Best if you can try them at home. When you've found some you like get some qualified advice to decide on a matching amp. Read up a little bit on speaker placement and don't give a fuck what a spouse might have to say on the matter (IMPORTANT!)
Good luck.
Don't buy the absolute cheapest cables and try if you can to keep some distance between power and signal cables. Speakers are the components most critical to get decent sound. Listen around but remember they will always be flavored by the room they play in. Best if you can try them at home. When you've found some you like get some qualified advice to decide on a matching amp. Read up a little bit on speaker placement and don't give a fuck what a spouse might have to say on the matter (IMPORTANT!)
Good luck.
Chippy_boy
Well-Known Member
Spot on.
Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
So you wouldn’t recommend
Nordost Valhalla 2 Reference UK Power Cord - 2m Length Ex-Demo
for a cut price £4,995?after all, . Nordost also adopted a unique approach to sales, openly demonstrating the performance of their products against the competition. This confidence was well placed and the strategy proved a sure-fire winner, the legendary Nordost cable demos remaining high on the must-hear list for audiophiles attending hi-fi shows around the world.
Who can argue with that.
Chippy_boy
Well-Known Member
OK, you've convinced me.
Seriously, I wonder how some of these organisations are not being prosecuted for fraud or misrepresentation. Or at least, being taken to task by Trading Standards.
Fake bomb detector conman jailed for 10 years
James McCormick, who sold more than £55m worth of fake detectors likely to have caused Iraqi deaths, jailed for 10 years
www.theguardian.com
When you look at the things this guy was peddling, they were no more bogus that the cables above. And selling these, got the guy a 10 year prison sentence.
denislawsbackheel
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People who witnessed one…
Audio mafia? or snake oil strikes back.
Snake oil sales strikes back. CEASE AND DESIST – RETRACTION By Mark Waldrep Following my participation and attendance at the 2016 AXPONA Show, I wrote several posts reporting on a series of power demos held in room 450 by the high-end cable company Nordost of Holliston, MA. This morning I...
www.hifiwigwam.com
Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
Fair play, that is pretty unique ;-)People who witnessed one…
Audio mafia? or snake oil strikes back.
Snake oil sales strikes back. CEASE AND DESIST – RETRACTION By Mark Waldrep Following my participation and attendance at the 2016 AXPONA Show, I wrote several posts reporting on a series of power demos held in room 450 by the high-end cable company Nordost of Holliston, MA. This morning I...
The Black Shed
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Speakers - Bowers & Wilkins
S
S
Summerbuzz
Guest
Yeah they are definitely, definitely worth a look, especially if you like rock and/or roll.
Chippy_boy
Well-Known Member
And on the subject of speakers...
The snake oil peddlers in the 1970's and 80's - largely those obsessed with Linn products and the Linn Sondek L12 turntable in particular - who would claim that the source, i.e. the turntable, then the tonearem, then the cartridge, were the most important components in a hifi system. And that the source is more important than the amp, which is turn is more important than the speakers.
Whereas in fact the opposite is true. The speakers these days contribute MILES more to the overall sound quality. Spending more on the speakers nearly always results in very obvious, audible improvements. Spending more on e.g. a CD player or amp? Hardly at all. Maybe it's still a bit true that more on a turntable will help, but without a doubt, speakers is where the focus should be.
A £200 CD player feeding a £200 amp and £600 speakers, will sound miles better than a £600 CD player feeding a £200 amp and £200 speakers.
The snake oil peddlers in the 1970's and 80's - largely those obsessed with Linn products and the Linn Sondek L12 turntable in particular - who would claim that the source, i.e. the turntable, then the tonearem, then the cartridge, were the most important components in a hifi system. And that the source is more important than the amp, which is turn is more important than the speakers.
Whereas in fact the opposite is true. The speakers these days contribute MILES more to the overall sound quality. Spending more on the speakers nearly always results in very obvious, audible improvements. Spending more on e.g. a CD player or amp? Hardly at all. Maybe it's still a bit true that more on a turntable will help, but without a doubt, speakers is where the focus should be.
A £200 CD player feeding a £200 amp and £600 speakers, will sound miles better than a £600 CD player feeding a £200 amp and £200 speakers.
denislawsbackheel
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Spend a decent amount of money on a CD player and not the bargain basement prices you quote and you’ll hear the importance of a decent source.
And the OP wants a vinyl source any way.
Where the old mantra is quite demonstrably true.
Chippy_boy
Well-Known Member
Of course there are certain minimums, and yes with a source as a turntable, you probably do need to spend quite a bit on one to get it to sound half-decent. (Why not go the whole hog and get a wax cylinder system or a HMV style dog leaning into the horn!)
Don't get me wrong, I quite like the idea of a turntable myself - they are quite twee. But really, pound for pound, in the 21st century, they are objectively not very good. Tidal or Qobuz or Amazon Music HD and a decent streamer is a way better option IMO.
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BimboBob
Well-Known Member
Or have both?
You are missing the point mate. It's the collecting and tactile nature that draws you in. I have records. I have CD's. I stream. I even have tapes. Depends on my mood but if a whole album is going to be listened to I like to do it with vinyl. Just feels better.
Absolutely.
and if you have a good DAC even a portable cd plugged into it will sound as good as a £1000 transport. Your only as good as the DAC/amp/speakers
Chippy_boy
Well-Known Member
Oh for sure - I get that. I have a pretty decent hifi myself (NAD M33 + Revel M126be's) but still have been considering getting a TT. There's something rather nice and organic about the whole vinyl experience. Also - although this is not a widely held view amongst hifi buffs - I am quite happy with the concept of something being technically not very good, but which sounds great. Most purists think "accurate = best" and "accurate = most lifelike". I don't agree. I think "best sounding = best" even if that is technically a bit crap. Take valve amps, for example. They are technically quite dross, but actually just sound nice... sometimes at least. The warm, 2nd harmonic rich, valve "sound" is quite nice, if not accurate.