Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice
- Thread starter Joe Mac
- Start date
MattHasIdeas
Member
Perfect. MP-7 it is!
He sometimes has B stock units that may save you some money.
BazookaTooth
Well-Known Member
So by buying that SAE cart last week , im going to save money on a cart in the future, i spent that money on one of those Oyaide mats today.
Thats totally reasonable , right ?
Thats totally reasonable , right ?
Russ I
Well-Known Member
Flawless logic in my book.
hayema7
Well-Known Member
Hey all,
My wife was asking what I wanted for the holidays and I mentioned a new preamp with a headphone jack. We have a new baby coming, so I'd like the opportunity to listen to some tunes with a snoozing newborn without destroying their ears.
I currently have this which came with my Pro-ject DC Evo. Realistically, I don't know what price range is realistic, but I'd like to keep it around $200 if possible (willing to go a little higher if needed). This is my first upgrade so I don't really know what to expect.
Thanks in advance for any help!
My wife was asking what I wanted for the holidays and I mentioned a new preamp with a headphone jack. We have a new baby coming, so I'd like the opportunity to listen to some tunes with a snoozing newborn without destroying their ears.
I currently have this which came with my Pro-ject DC Evo. Realistically, I don't know what price range is realistic, but I'd like to keep it around $200 if possible (willing to go a little higher if needed). This is my first upgrade so I don't really know what to expect.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Splunders
Well-Known Member
A phono preamp with a headphone jack for $200 probably won't sound much better than your current phono, and the headphone amp portion will probably be mediocre. You'd maybe have to get up closer to the $400-500 range for a Mofi Ultraphono w/ headphone jack to upgrade.
Assuming the amp you're using doesn't have a headphone jack, I'd suggest holding on to your current phono pre and adding in a dedicated headphone amp instead. Something like this...
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Not really an upgrade but it might help you know when to upgrade your stylus.
thevinylfactory.com
Keep track of your cartridge's life with the Timerette stylus timer
The Timerette stylus timer is a fully automated playtime counter that can be used with any turntable once placed next to the platter rim.
thevinylfactory.com
kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
I’m still trying to figure out exactly how this thing operates.Not really an upgrade but it might help you know when to upgrade your stylus.
Keep track of your cartridge's life with the Timerette stylus timer
The Timerette stylus timer is a fully automated playtime counter that can be used with any turntable once placed next to the platter rim.
folsom_lives
pretty_lil_dirt_boi
It's a little tiny magnet and almost like a revolution counter? I think they use the same tech on bikes for cadence and speed.
Seems kind of like a waste since there's so many variables on stylus wear. Also let's put a magnet next to a sensitive cartridge...
EDIT: I guess I can't actually figure if that small shiny piece on the platter comes with the unit or not... If it doesn't then I'm stumped too.
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Selaws
Well-Known Member
I wondered it it actually touches the platter and works out 1 revolution then multiplies?
kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
I dunno. It would make sense if there was some sort of a reflective sticker you’d attach to the platter, but I wasn’t able to piece out whether that was part of the kit or not. Maybe it just detects any sort of motion and begins counting up, it’s not like it has to count revolutions.
folsom_lives
pretty_lil_dirt_boi
$100 trinket or a free timer app on my phone. It's horeshoes and hand grenades either way; close enough.
debianlinux
Well-Known Member
TBH it would be a cool feature to have built-in on a TT. There'd be the main motor odometer and then a resettable trip(stylus) odometer. Patent that idea and sell it to all the big boys, I just want 10% royalties in perpetuity.
folsom_lives
pretty_lil_dirt_boi
LG&M
Member
Does anyone have a strong opinion one way or the other re: the Thorens 403 DD table? I'm getting toward the tail end of a basement reconfiguration and will be putting a second setup down there. I had been eyeing the Technics 1200GR but my wife doesn't love the look. She saw the 403 DD, though, and liked the style -- and it seems to have a number of similar features to the 1200GR. Thorens hadn't been on my radar, I've heard it discussed in the context of vintage gear but not so much their newer lines. Thoughts?
Thorens isn’t the company they once were. The vintage Thorens was built in Switzerland. Currently it’s a name owned by a German man who outsources construction to China.
I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with that, but be aware of what you are buying.
I wanted this too but was worried about the setup and quality when I knew the Technics is rock solid. I ended up with a silver technics and I’m gonna buy one of those wood boxes to drop it into for that sweet 70’s look. Someone here did that and it looks awesome.
Custom Wood Turntable Bases, Cabinet, Box. Fits Technics SL-1200 & SL-1210 | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Custom Wood Turntable Bases, Cabinet, Box. Fits Technics SL-1200 & SL-1210 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
LG&M
Member
Thank you so much, this response ended up tipping the scales in favor of the 1200-GR! My current table is a Project Debut Carbon with an integrated preamp that I can't bypass, so this will be my first chance to play with different setups and I'm pretty psyched.I wanted this too but was worried about the setup and quality when I knew the Technics is rock solid. I ended up with a silver technics and I’m gonna buy one of those wood boxes to drop it into for that sweet 70’s look. Someone here did that and it looks awesome.
Custom Wood Turntable Bases, Cabinet, Box. Fits Technics SL-1200 & SL-1210 | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Custom Wood Turntable Bases, Cabinet, Box. Fits Technics SL-1200 & SL-1210 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!www.ebay.com
Is the Darlington Labs still the sub-$1k preamp of choice around these parts? I'm looking for something with a mono switch and can probably live without an MC setting (I grabbed one of the SAE 1000E cartridges, which I think has a high enough output to run into a MM stage). Anything else obvious that I should be considering?
I replaced a Debut Carbon as well. I think your plan is a good one. The Darlington is still highly recommended. The only other thing I got was an extra headshell since I had two cartridges. The little technics tool makes alignment a snap.