himynameisShane Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 To start, yes I read through the "Beginner's Guide" - got a few of my ideas from there. I currently live in a town house and my room is pretty small. I'm currently working with a AT-LP60, Sony STR-DH130, and Sony SS-B1000 speakers. Put it together based on recommendations of a friend. Obviously need to upgrade everything. I'm liking Pro-ject turntables, Marantz integrated amps, and M-Audio bookshelf speakers(not sold on these yet) I think for this new set up I'd like to stay around $1000 and I'm gonna have to buy them in pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I think the M audio speakers are all active (they have an amplifier built in) so they are a bit pointless with the Marantz amplifier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinch Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 My opinion: $360 for a Debut Carbon, $100 for a phono stage, $500 for a set of really solid active speakers, then try to squeeze in some stands with whatever money's left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himynameisShane Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 I think the M audio speakers are all active (they have an amplifier built in) so they are a bit pointless with the Marantz amplifier I didn't even think about that My opinion: $360 for a Debut Carbon, $100 for a phono stage, $500 for a set of really solid active speakers, then try to squeeze in some stands with whatever money's left. Do you have any recommendations based on use / experience for the phono or speakers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 buy this discounted Pro-Ject 1.3 so I don't have to. ~400 http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1PRRM13 Or call Musician's Friend and get a discounted Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC for around $360. Ask for 20% off but they might only do 15% http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/pro-ject-debut-carbon-dc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himynameisShane Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 Those are both solid. I went into my local shop today just to see what he had and I figured maybe I'd just get it from him, he told me what I wanted was unnecessary and insisted a Music Hal USB-1 to some $100 computer speakers was all I needed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Ew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afterman88 Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Those are both solid. I went into my local shop today just to see what he had and I figured maybe I'd just get it from him, he told me what I wanted was unnecessary and insisted a Music Hal USB-1 to some $100 computer speakers was all I needed... Wow....either this person is an idiot or thought you couldn't afford any of his "good" stuff. Which is even more insulting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himynameisShane Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 He's a really nice guy usually, it just seemed to me that his preferences were weird. He has more expensive Music Halls that looked similar to some Projects, but no Projects. He just said he doesn't see the need to fork out $400-$500 for a turntable. It was really odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papercup Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 He just said he doesn't see the need to fork out $400-$500 for a turntable. It was really odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 He just said he doesn't see the need to fork out $400-$500 for a turntable. It was really odd. I suppose if your question was just framed around digitising your vinyl rather than actually listening to it the answer makes a small amount of sense but other than that my reaction to his equipment suggestion is accurately and eloquently transcribed below Ew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himynameisShane Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 He just expanded his shop to include equipment, but it seemed overly lacking. Checked out the other record store around here and they have the same lower end equipment. I wonder if the guys in this area just don't know. The headphones they sold were all JVC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoFxpunkguy Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 which record store recommended that??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himynameisShane Posted December 25, 2014 Author Share Posted December 25, 2014 which record store recommended that??? Vinyl Daze unfortunately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoFxpunkguy Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Vinyl Daze unfortunately Yikes!!! I figured/hoped you'd say Birdland. Lol. I wish I could recommend a hifi shop but I don't know any. There used to be one in the college park area but I think it closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Oh. There's your problem. 1. Go to a hifi shop, not a record store. 2. That place sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himynameisShane Posted December 25, 2014 Author Share Posted December 25, 2014 Yeah I just wanted to see what he had and was let down. I'll likely buy stuff online as thats where the best deals seem to be anyway. Pretty sold on a Pro-ject turntable (either the Debut Carbon or RM 1.3) Now just deciding what I want the rest to be. Haven't seen amplifiers or speakers that jumped out to me yet, so really I'm trying to see what you guys suggest. Hoping to buy it all early 2015 and would like to have an idea what I plan on getting soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Get the 1.3. It's a much better table for the money, but wait about a month for the 1.3 Carbon. It's going to be even better than the current 1.3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himynameisShane Posted December 25, 2014 Author Share Posted December 25, 2014 Thanks! It would be about that long before I will have the money for it so I probably will just wait for that 1.3 Carbon and check it out. Any suggestions on pre amps /amps /speakers /etc. that would sound great with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 With the 1.3 I've had the stock Sumiko Pearl, an Ortofon 2M Blue, and currently Ortofon Quintet Red. All 3 are great. I think the Pearl is a great beginners cartridge, but you'll see drastic improvement with the 2M Blue. I used it with a Marantz 2330B, a Rotel RA-1062, and currently Parasound 2100/2125 combo. I've never been a fan of separate phono stages, as Rotel has a great MM phono stage, and Parasound has an even better MM. I think turntables have to pair with carts and phono stages... Less with speakers. Speakers should pair better with your integrated/amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 I used it with a Marantz 2330B, a Rotel RA-1062, and currently Parasound 2100/2125 combo. I've never been a fan of separate phono stages, as Rotel has a great MM phono stage, and Parasound has an even better MM. Sadly a lot of modern (post late 80's and AV amp) built in phono stages are piss poor although with the resurgence of vinyl that will hopefully change. I think turntables have to pair with carts and phono stages... Less with speakers. Speakers should pair better with your integrated/amps. Cartridges and arms are mated by using the mass and compliance values but these tend to take a big of digging to find now, the hifi mags used to publish lists for this regularly so if you can get hold of one a lot of the info is still valid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Totally agree. I was very lucky with the Rotel, but the Parasound? Way better. Yes these aren't the pieces the every day VC user will be looking at, but I still believe both Rotel and Parasound make a great integrated phono. And for tonearm/cart: exactly where I was going with that statement. If you remember my Denon 103 issues... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Good point on the Denon. I should really scan in the cartridge and arm guide I have, I think it might be useful for people so I'll give it a go over the holidays. I've not heard the Parasound so can't comment but have had plenty of Rotel kit and on the whole found it to be a very good standard musically, ironically their stand alone phono stage is not liked but I've always found it good value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 I will say the Rotel crushed the Marantz 2330B's phono stage. It was a nice surprise bc at the time of purchase I was also looking into a Joldia JD9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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