Tardcore

The neck on mine is really nice. Fatter than a typical Mustang neck. The vintage radius doesn't really bother me.

is that the Cobain mustang? I have a lefty and love it.

I really like my PM6004 with Monitor Audio RX1s. $400 US new from Music Direct (via Amazon linked here). http://www.amazon.com/Marantz-PM6004-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B005J7Y9B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389383800&sr=8-1&keywords=marantz+pm

The really disappointing news is that 10 suckers pledged an average of $62.10 to this leech. That includes 5 backers at $100+. The terrorists have won.

I noticed that too...I know basically nothing about playing 78s. Aside from the obvious speed difference...don't you need a completely different cart for playing 78s vs 45/33? Since it's a prototype, that knob might not even do anything.

at least they didn't outsource the design to some frat boys in Boston.

source I know, I know. I post too many Emotiva threads. I am seeking help. That said...I was reading up a bit more on their new phono preamp and came across a mention of a possible turntable offering. There are several photos (page 4) of a prototype developed in partnership with Clearaudio. Could be new a player in the entry-level/mid-range market to shaking things up as soon as Q2 2014.

good to know Lemmy is still alive. He had to cancel a few shows over the summer.

if you can get a similar price from Needle Doctor then that is 100% the route to go. That said, when I ordered from MF, I didn't bother trying to get a color that wasn't in stock (aka black). I just went with blue.

link

Not sure how you could expect a reasonable answer. How could anybody comment on the reliability of thrift store audio gear short of just making up some bullshit? If you want an actual answer, first read (homework) and then specify a budget of some sort.

my local Costco (YMMV) sells a 2x4 thingy that is basically the same as an 2x4 Expedit but far more sturdy. They usually sell for $130 but are on sale for $100 until 1/19. Costco stores can vary quite a bit so I can't say for sure whether your local store will actually carry the item or have the sale price. The link above is to the manufacturer. Costco does not have it listed online.

depends on your definition of cheap. I just ordered these after dragging my feet on building my own for far too long.

need to move those speakers. don't the vibrations fuck with your turntable?

very nice. it's a shame that silver finish versions do not seem to typically be available in the US.

You're right. I'm sure there are some that are good and I do not think I have seen the interface on either of those lines. I still would not buy or not-buy a TV based on whether the smart features were good or not.

I usually go with Panasonic. I have a 50" Panasonic from a billion years ago that is still going strong and looks great. I also have a 32" Panasonic LCD in the bedroom and no complaints. Whatever you go with, I would ignore the "smart" features on the TV and just plan on picking up whatever external media box strikes your fancy (apple TV, roku, PS3, chromecast, whatever). The user experience is way better and the software gets updated more frequently.

I've had similar Polks in the past, but not that exact model. You will likely find that they are competent at surround sound duty but not really up to the task of carrying a stereo setup.

I have a degree in Management Information Systems. It was sort of a general program that covered project management as well as light programming, database, and networking topics. I ended up getting away from the actual programming side of things and work mostly in project management with a lot of database work (SQL). If I had it to do all over again, I would have gone into the programming. I think that whatever you do, you should get an idea of what actual jobs are out there and what you would like to do. You could even go so far as to identify companies you would like to work for and keep an eye on their job listings. There is no such thing as a general "IT guy" anymore. The guy who fixes desktops isn't likely to be the same guy who manages the network or handles security. An internship goes a long way. Education doesn't get as much respect as having actually done the work.

-207 weeks

added bonus--it looks like they're using the same chassis that they use for their remotes. my xda-2 remote is hilariously overbuilt. if the preamp sucks, you can just use the thing to smite evil-doers.

Honestly, I think I would have been happy either way. I decided to try the MAs mostly because they were supposed to handle bass a little better and were discounted a bit on Audio Advisor. Aesthetically, I think the MAs are much nicer. However, you are paying a bit for the wood veneer finish vs the vinyl covering on the Kefs. It wasn't a major consideration, but the walnut finish versions that I went with are beautiful.

$130 link noticed this while mulling over the purchase of a 2nd XDA-2 DAC (now only $250) for my bedroom setup. sort of interesting. if nothing else, the build quality looks rock solid. rather unfortunate name, as they already have a product named XSP-1 in their line-up.

FWIW I was eyeing similar speakers with a similar setup (Pro-Ject Debut Carbon + Marantz PM6004) and wound up buying a pair of Monitor Audio RX1s for $500 here. A bit over your price range, but they are worth checking out. I am happy with the results overall. Another front-runner for me were Kef Q300s (also ~$500). These are nice because they are front-ported, which allows you a bit more flexibility in where you place them.