dangerben

After about a week or so, I've finally read through all 19 pages (granted, I had to skim through some posts because they were a little over my head). There's a lot of great info that I really appreciate- especially love the list compiled by alexschelldorf!

I got a Rega RP1 as an early birthday gift and need to build a set-up from the ground up. I’m going from a Crosley so have no idea about audio equipment since it was an all-in-one. I was wondering if I could get some personalized help. The set-up would be in my living room and I would like it to be clearly heard throughout the room and the kitchen (which is open to the living room- altogether the space is 11’10”x 23’). I’d mainly be listening through the speakers, but if possibly, I’d like something that will allow me to listen through headphones as well. I’ve read the advantages of vintage equipment a lot of people have listed, but the truth of the matter is, with as new as I am to this type of equipment, I don’t even know where I would begin with testing equipment I find on Craigslist and such. Also, yes, I am really impatient.

I would like to stay between $400-800 if possible- for something reliable, that will give me good sound quality (granted, everything will sound better than the Crosley). I’ve googled most of the preamps, receivers, speakers people have suggested thus far, but because I don’t really know what I’m looking for with the reviews I just find myself looking at the price and being very confused as to whether or not a certain piece of equipment is really better than the last one I looked at because it’s more expensive.

Here are some basic questions I have:

1. bookshelf vs floor standing for the type of room I’m trying to fill

2. if I get the Cambridge Audio 640p (may just get it because of how highly recommended it’s been- unless someone that has a Rega can offer a different suggestion) if I’ll need an amp and receiver as well

3. would I be able to plug an ipod player (currently have an ihome) into speakers. I'm guessing not because it has built-in speakers, but figured I would ask.

Also, if I could get specific recommendations, I would really appreciate it. Thank you!!

if you spend the money on a decent amp that has enough power for higher end speakers you shouldn't need anything above a good set of bookshelf speakers...

end of the day it sort of comes down to aesthetics... once you choose how much money you are going to spend on each item, everything within that price point sounds pretty much the same with a few minor tweaks here and there...

just my two cents.

oh i mean Travis can do what he wants. and he will. it is totally shit that ferret records didn't even bother to consult with or notify the guys, but that's sort of par for the course.

very disappointing. Hopefully someone doest the right thing and sends a few copies to the band. they wrote the album everyone is drooling over after all........

and the band wasn't even notified about it. 100% respect.

C. Charles Lovat-Fraser: Trainwreck is on vinyl?!

3 hours ago

Dave Costa: Apparently a Hot Topic release of it limited to 1000. So fucked, especially considering we probably wont get copies for ourselves.

3 hours ago via mobile

C. Charles Lovat-Fraser: Wow. I don't even know what to say.

3 hours ago

Call me crazy (or just thorough) but I have assembled a list for this thread. I compiled in each category only items mentioned on one or more occasions, with the exception of speakers.

Hope this helps some.

Turntables

Rega P1

Pro-Ject Debut III

Technics SL-1200 mk5

Pro-Ject Xpression III Classic

Pro-Ject Debut Esprit

Music Hall mmf 2.2

Cartridge

Audio Technica AT95e

lpgear AT95he

shure 97xe

Audio Technica AT440MLA

Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge

Ortofon VM White

Preamp

Cambridge Audio 640p

Music Hall PA 1.2

Behringer PP400 Phono Preamp

Pro-Ject Phono Box SE

AJT DJ Pre 2

Amp

Behringer a500

Yamaha A-S500 Integrated Amp

Musical Fidelity A3

Marantz 1300DC (integrated)

Receiver

Marantz 2270

Marantz 6100

Harman Kardon HK 3490 120 Watt Stereo Receiver

Harman Kardon HK 3390 80W Stereo Receiver

Onkyo TX-8255 Stereo Receiver

Speakers

Epos ELS 8

Klipsch RB51

Wharfedale Diamond 10.1

Monitor Audio BX2

DALI Lektor 2

Tekton 6.5n's

Krix Equinox Bookshelf Speakers

Altec Lansing FX6021 2.1 Speakers

Klipsch Synergy F-10 Premium 6.5-Inch Floor-Standing Speaker

Dali Mentor 2

Dali Suite 28

M-Audio Studiophile AV40 Powered Monitor Speakers (Latest Version)

Sony SS-F6000 Floorstanding 4-Way Speakers (Pair, Black)

Focal Chorus 806V Bookshelf Speakers

Sony SS-B3000 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black)

KEF 103.2, 104ab

Dynaco A-25 or A-10

Advent Loudspeaker, Smaller Advent Loudspeakers, Baby Advents

EPI 70, 100

Genesis model 1+ or 10

Avid 100, 102a

KLH Model 5, 6, 17 or 24

AR2 through AR7

A/D/S L810, L710 or L570

Wharfedale W40, W60

Klipsch KG-1, KG-1.5, KG-2, KG-3

Boston Acoustics A40, A60, A70

JBL 4408, L96

Dahlquist DQ-6, DQ-8, DQ-10, DQ-20

Mission 70MkII, 770, 771, 773

Frazier MK IV, MK V

Pioneer HPM-40, HPM-60, HPM-100

Celestion DL8

PSB Model 40

Infinity Qe or RSe

Yamaha NS-690II

Altec 890C

Cizek Model 1, 2

Ohm C2

B&W DM4, DM2

Realistic Mach 1

Burhoe Blues

Audioengine 2 Powered Desktop Speakers

Cables

QED Silver Anniversary

good work man, this is a perfect list. we should put this front and center for all new visitors. kudos.

through being cool.

anyone that hates this album for being short is insane. its great and it just makes me want to hear so much more. cant wait to get the 10" and will not be flipping anything because i am not an awful awful person.

wish this guy would pony up and get his visa and finally come over to Australia. two failed attempts. god damn.

Got my pro-ject in today, was super easy to set up. Now i just need a new pair of speakers and a speedbox.

Thanks for everyones help

looks awesome man, congrats.

*bump*

a simply not bullshit explanation would suffice...

*bump*

this cant just get ignored, can it???

I pulled the trigger on a Pro-ject Debut III is there anything i should be aware of or have to configure out of the box?

if you havent set up a turntable / tonearm before its a really good idea to find a local record shop / hifi store that will set it up for you.

If you are lucky the guy will show you how to correctly align the cartridge which imho is the hardest part of setting up a turntable out of the box...

enjoy the table - i love my pro-ject xpression iii and i can only guess that all their tables are quality!!!

i am all over this

also Corey Delley - used to be in "in name and blood" and used to work at Missing Link Records - crazy collection.

also track down Bruce Milne. He used to run the tote and his collection used to be amazing - i know he sold a lot of his records to try and keep the tote running, but i'm sure its still better than I could ever hope to have

go and speak to jackson over at ritual music + books. that shop destroys.

I can't believe no ones said Kind Of Like Spitting

+1. this guy rips my heart out.

1330 Oak 1995 is the most bummer song and i love it so much

dangerben

unique i know

i went black... because fuck colours.

boom. ordered.

jumped on this as soon as i saw it. can not wait

just reviving this post so that everyone can get stoked about it.

Isn't it annoying to manually move the belt to change from 33rpm to 45rpm with the Rega P3 & the Pro-ject debut III turntables?

And doens't that affect the lifetime of the belt?

That's the only thing that's holding me back atm to buy one of those.

(Does anyone has an opinion about "Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB"? It was asked before by someone else here but I didn't saw a reply.)

not really, no. it is such a quick and painless process to change it over. I cant speak for the regas but the pro-ject tables come with a little tool that allows you to change the belt.

in saying that - and i've said it before on this forum, you can spend a little bit extra and pick up the speedbox accessory pictured below

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=speedbox&cat=boxes〈=en

It stops you having to lift the platter and apparently improves the overall speed reliability of the table.

Would a post about what makes a turntable "good" and what makes it "bad" be useful to people? I mean, I feel like most of it has been touched on at various points in this thread, but maybe someone needs to spell it all out in simple terms. It just seems like the same questions are being asked over and over again.

Honestly, turntable technology has essentially stayed the same for years and years and other than build quality and reliability, you're basically looking for two things. First, does the TT spin my records at a steady speed? Second, is it quiet? In other words, when you place the needle on the record, the only sound you want to hear in the music ... not rumble from the platter bearing or vibration from the tonearm (for example).

There are other thing that come into play, like how well does your deck track records, but now we're getting into cartridge / stylus / tonearm territory. Any decent TT that's set up properly is going to track just fine.

Of course, at the end of the day, every turntable has its own sonic characteristics and the only way to tell if you really like something is to actually listen to it. Some TTs sound open and airy, some have a solid bass kick and some are more neutral. One thing is for sure - this can be a complicated, confusing hobby, but once you educate yourself a little bit, I think that the audio equipment side of it is just as fun as the record collecting part.

couldn't agree more man - I really wish there was more equipment threads on this board. not that 800 posts about brand new represses aren't exciting.... but ya'know....

broken bones and make yourself sick were like my god damn anthems when they were newly out. trainwreck was great too... i'd spend stupid amounts to get make yourself on vinyl. I've got broken bones on vinyl - signed by all the guys and their merch bitch / good friend dave arnold.