Dominic_ Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I have a relatively nice hifi setup, but something is making it just sound kind of "meh". Here are my parts Receiver: Marantz 2225 Speakers: Technics A30 EQ: Panasonic SH-253 Turntable: Pioneer PL-7 Cartridge/Needle: Shure M44G What here is my "meh" part that needs upgrading? What should I upgrade it to (vintage)? Thanks a lot guys! Looking forward to some better audio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney Crosley Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I think what you need is a Crosley... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney Crosley Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 In all seriousness, I don't know a whole ton about vintage gear, but I have heard the Marantz 2235 and it is fantastic. Was looking for one for myself for a while, but ended up with a newer NAD amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 The Marantz is ok, but everything needs an upgrade. Get rid of the EQ for starters. Don't replace it, just don't use one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic_ Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 The Marantz is ok, but everything needs an upgrade. Get rid of the EQ for starters. Don't replace it, just don't use one. I listen to some metal music that needs to be adjusted because otherwise the vocals are lost in the mix and it really pisses me off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I listen to a lot of metal. Ive never used EQ. You don't need it with proper equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic_ Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 I listen to a lot of metal. Ive never used EQ. You don't need it with proper equipment. Do you have any recommendations? What kinds of metal? My Children of Bodom/In Flames/Slipknot/Anything with a screamy vocal sounds really bad. (please keep the smartass remarks to a minimum. I know a lot of people don't like that style ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 If you read the stickied thread at the top, it has plenty of recommendations on gear in several price ranges. I listen to a variety of sub genres of metal. From Classic metal to grind core. Find my trade list on deadformat (same user name) if you're intrigued! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic_ Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 If you read the stickied thread at the top, it has plenty of recommendations on gear in several price ranges. I listen to a variety of sub genres of metal. From Classic metal to grind core. Find my trade list on deadformat (same user name) if you're intrigued! I'd prefer vintage gear. More for the money and I've never used New gear so no idea if I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 New gear has years of audio advances and innovation. Technology does improve over time. Vintage gear is old and will probably need repair. Buy nice, or buy twice! Though I've always bought nice... I do like buying new and better things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circuit bored records Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I listen to a ton of (mostly death) metal, grindcore, thrash punk and tons of genres that are nothing but screaming on would never EQ anything. I would say personally I think the cartridge should be your first upgrade, but if you go down that route I wouldn't really recommend putting a more expensive cart on that table. So if you can save up, I think a new turntable and cartridge (and losing the EQ as ajxd suggested) will make a huge difference for you. If you must though, upgrade the cartridge by itself. It'll still have a big Impact on your sound and help with what I am assuming is distorted high-frequencies that your M44 produces. As far as recommendations, check out he beginners guide on the forum page, there should be some cartridge recommendations in there. Also to counter ajxd, I run a Pioneer PL-550 and it's my favorite and best sounding table I've ever owned, and it's never been serviced (although it spent the vast majority of its life in storage). I've even auditioned higher-end ($1500-2000) turntable options and I still prefer the 550 over all of them. Vintage is not always a bad thing, you just need to either find something that was well-cared for or befriend someone who does restoration/servicing work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I listen to a ton of (mostly death) metal, grindcore, thrash punk and tons of genres that are nothing but screaming on would never EQ anything. I would say personally I think the cartridge should be your first upgrade, but if you go down that route I wouldn't really recommend putting a more expensive cart on that table. So if you can save up, I think a new turntable and cartridge (and losing the EQ as ajxd suggested) will make a huge difference for you. If you must though, upgrade the cartridge by itself. It'll still have a big Impact on your sound and help with what I am assuming is distorted high-frequencies that your M44 produces. As far as recommendations, check out he beginners guide on the forum page, there should be some cartridge recommendations in there. Also to counter ajxd, I run a Pioneer PL-550 and it's my favorite and best sounding table I've ever owned, and it's never been serviced (although it spent the vast majority of its life in storage). I've even auditioned higher-end ($1500-2000) turntable options and I still prefer the 550 over all of them. Vintage is not always a bad thing, you just need to either find something that was well-cared for or befriend someone who does restoration/servicing work. An eq is only there to mask problems elsewhere so no you shouldn't need it regardless of what you listen to. The M44 is perfectly good but possibly not up to what you are asking of it also how old is the stylus? ajxd and yanquiuxo are both sort of right on Pioneer turntables and vintage kit in general, this is because a company like Pioneer makes and has made all the way down to utter cack and all the way up to stunning. The PL-7 is average at best and the PL-550 is the dogs wobbly bits. Take something like a Debut Carbon and a PL-550 and the 550 if in good condition will eat the DC for breakfast in every measure you can name. My advice get a better cart or at least a new stylus, get rid of the Eq, and get new speakers as your speakers probably have tired drivers and crossover caps and speakers are the one place things have really improved in regards to quality and manufacturing tolerances etc and the other place in the chain apart from the stylus that suffers most with wear. Vintage kit can be great and there is really nothing new in hifi although the marketing men would like to convince you otherwise, as you say more bang for your buck but time does have an adverse effect so that is only really true once you are higher up the tree than the run of the mill crap as the good stuff tends to get less abuse Sidney Crosley 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circuit bored records Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 What'd you say about my dogs?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 They are well endowed sir English Colloquialism "The dogs bollocks" An item or person of the highest quality and standing. Usage "that geezers deck is the dogs" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Do you have any recommendations? What kinds of metal? My Children of Bodom/In Flames/Slipknot/Anything with a screamy vocal sounds really bad. (please keep the smartass remarks to a minimum. I know a lot of people don't like that style ) This will be cartridge or speakers and most likely a combination of both but I'd hazard a guess at speakers mostly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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