Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

[Joe Mac]

Oh I think that was me. It was a place I’d seen recommended elsewhere online for them. Give me a sec and I’ll dig out the post for you.

This is the one!

Marantz WC-22 / WC-42 Wood Case - Vintage HIFI Audio

Marantz WC-22 Wood Case. Beautiful cherry or walnut replica wood case for Marantz receivers. Universal foot pattern fits most 22xx models. Fits: 2215, 2215B, 2220, 2220B, 2225, 2230, 2240, 2245, 2250, 2270, 2275. 2440, 4230, 4240, 4270, 4415, 4430, 5020, 2216B, 2216B(L), 2226B, 2226B(L),2238B...

vintagehifiaudio.com

 

[McGlam]

This is the one!

Marantz WC-22 / WC-42 Wood Case - Vintage HIFI Audio

Marantz WC-22 Wood Case. Beautiful cherry or walnut replica wood case for Marantz receivers. Universal foot pattern fits most 22xx models. Fits: 2215, 2215B, 2220, 2220B, 2225, 2230, 2240, 2245, 2250, 2270, 2275. 2440, 4230, 4240, 4270, 4415, 4430, 5020, 2216B, 2216B(L), 2226B, 2226B(L),2238B...

vintagehifiaudio.com

Ah perfect thank you. $100 less than the one I was looking at on ebay. I wonder if they come with longer screws for the legs. I will ask.

 

[Rowan]

This is the one!

Marantz WC-22 / WC-42 Wood Case - Vintage HIFI Audio

Marantz WC-22 Wood Case. Beautiful cherry or walnut replica wood case for Marantz receivers. Universal foot pattern fits most 22xx models. Fits: 2215, 2215B, 2220, 2220B, 2225, 2230, 2240, 2245, 2250, 2270, 2275. 2440, 4230, 4240, 4270, 4415, 4430, 5020, 2216B, 2216B(L), 2226B, 2226B(L),2238B...

vintagehifiaudio.com

I keep looking at the technics surround. Well tidy

 

[Joe Mac]

I keep looking at the technics surround. Well tidy

Where you are I’d recommend this guy. Makes the best stuff and will take on pretty much any bespoke hifi isolation project you want. Am well impressed with the isolation box he made for my pro-ject a few years back!

www.acoustand.co.uk

 

[Rowan]

Where you are I’d recommend this guy. Makes the best stuff and will take on pretty much any bespoke hifi isolation project you want. Am well impressed with the isolation box he made for my pro-ject a few years back!

www.acoustand.co.uk

Definitely on the In the New Year list!

 

[kvetcha]

thanks! i'll give a looksie. I think I might go with Soundsmith since I have heard good things and they are located about 10 minutes away from me. They can be retipped/rebuilt right?

Yes, and the rebuild costs are extremely inexpensive vs the cart cost, I think between $120-140 for the Otello.

 

[AnthonyI]

Alright--cart question! Probably for @AnthonyI !

Entertaining the idea of getting a Soundsmith cart as my next move. Probably would want to swap out my MoFi cart for it if that's a good fit....thoughts? I have a 15% off coupon at Music Direct so have been contemplating using it on that...I noticed they seem to have two different Otellos. @AnthonyI which one do you have?

DMed you

 

[duke86fan]

Look at offerings from Topping.

thanks.. i'll take a look at the G5 or maybe something cheaper like the nx7 (I don't need the bluetooth of the G5)... i also heard the hidisz S9 pro is good for something super small i can use as both a phone and laptop dongle (dunno how well it can run the 6XX but hey my laptop can apparently run them at 50% volume so who knows) and in the digital thread I was recommended a tempotec sonata from an ASR article (though I dunno how much I trust ASR because of how robotic their analysis can be)

 

[Nee Lewman]

Question about cables stemming from conversation in the Linton thread… so if I stick with the current plan of putting floorstanders on either side of the fireplace, it more than likely means I will leave the set up where it is. There is not a lot of space in the rack the turntable and amp are on. I suppose when I get a phono stage, I might put the table on an iso shelf above the rack and put the phono stage where the turntable is. Does it matter how long I run interconnects? Like the transport will more than likely go in the cube where my 7” flipbin is now, I’ll need to run like six feet of coaxial for that, but like if I do other things, I may need to put them on top of the Kallax, would 8, 10 ft or 15 foot rca cables need special consideration either between components or in regards to noise?

 

[kvetcha]

Question about cables stemming from conversation in the Linton thread… so if I stick with the current plan of putting floorstanders on either side of the fireplace, it more than likely means I will leave the set up where it is. There is not a lot of space in the rack the turntable and amp are on. I suppose when I get a phono stage, I might put the table on an iso shelf above the rack and put the phono stage where the turntable is. Does it matter how long I run interconnects? Like the transport will more than likely go in the cube where my 7” flip in is now, I’ll need to run like six feet of coaxial for that, but like if I do other things, I may need to put them on top of the Kallax, would 8, 10 ft or 15 foot rca cables need special consideration either between components or in regards to noise?

You want to minimize the interconnect length between the table and the phono. It's less of a concern between the phono and the amp.

 

[Joe Mac]

Question about cables stemming from conversation in the Linton thread… so if I stick with the current plan of putting floorstanders on either side of the fireplace, it more than likely means I will leave the set up where it is. There is not a lot of space in the rack the turntable and amp are on. I suppose when I get a phono stage, I might put the table on an iso shelf above the rack and put the phono stage where the turntable is. Does it matter how long I run interconnects? Like the transport will more than likely go in the cube where my 7” flip in is now, I’ll need to run like six feet of coaxial for that, but like if I do other things, I may need to put them on top of the Kallax, would 8, 10 ft or 15 foot rca cables need special consideration either between components or in regards to noise?

So with RCA you come into issues with noise and signal strength the longer the run. The absolute key run is from the turntable to the phono. It’s such a low voltage as is. I’d be loath to go beyond 1m for that run. For most other live level connections 1.5m to 2m should be ok. 3m is probably ok too. Longer than that and I’d be looking balanced personally.

If you still think you want a tube phono placing it on top of the unit with a bit of air above is probably a good idea anyway.

 

[Nee Lewman]

So with RCA you come into issues with noise and signal strength the longer the run. The absolute key run is from the turntable to the phono. It’s such a low voltage as is. I’d be loath to go beyond 1m for that run. For most other live level connections 1.5m to 2m should be ok. 3m is probably ok too. Longer than that and I’d be looking balanced personally.

If you still think you want a tube phono placing it on top of the unit with a bit of air above is probably a good idea anyway.

Definitely tube. I’ve got my eye on three. Not sure I can audition all three. That would probably be year after next. I figured phono was the biggest issue which is why I was already thinking I might need to platform the table to the wall. Plus it will make all you whimps chill out about the guitar.

 

[Joe Mac]

Definitely tube. I’ve got my eye on three. Not sure I can audition all three. That would probably be year after next. I figured phono was the biggest issue which is why I was already thinking I might need to platform the table to the wall. Plus it will make all you whimps chill out about the guitar.

Oh nice! Which ones have piqued your interest?

Also the Google machine tells me that with coax digital too short can be more of an issue. Whilst you don’t want to go crazy long they say less than 1.5m is bad so you’ll likely be fine running a decent quality to coax from that kallax square down.

 

[AnthonyI]

So with RCA you come into issues with noise and signal strength the longer the run. The absolute key run is from the turntable to the phono. It’s such a low voltage as is. I’d be loath to go beyond 1m for that run. For most other live level connections 1.5m to 2m should be ok. 3m is probably ok too. Longer than that and I’d be looking balanced personally.

If you still think you want a tube phono placing it on top of the unit with a bit of air above is probably a good idea anyway.

I've gotta redo my cables some day soon

 

[Joe Mac]

I've gotta redo my cables some day soon

I hate that job!

 

[Kris]

While we’re taking about cables. I feel like I’ve tried 10 things and nothing works long term to keep them hidden. This is for a TV console that has an open bottom. I really don’t notice/care about it but my wife does not want the cables showing through the 3 inch legs. I’ve tried command strips and Velcro and some other adhesive hook thing. I think duct tape is next.

 

[Nee Lewman]

Oh nice! Which ones have piqued your interest?

Also the Google machine tells me that with coax digital too short can be more of an issue. Whilst you don’t want to go crazy long they say less than 1.5m is bad so you’ll likely be fine running a decent quality to coax from that kallax square down.

This is the one I’ve been looking at the longest:
EAT E-Glo Petit

https://www.europeanaudioteam.com/en/eat-e-glo-petit-wp000097.html

Every time I think about tubes, I’m lead to believe these guys are the best in the business:
Primaluna EVO 100

Primaluna EVO 100 Tube Phonostage — PrimaLuna USA

www.primaluna-usa.com

This is the one I am really smitten with though:
Black Ice Fusion F159

Black Ice Fusion F159 Tube Phono Stage — BLACK ICE AUDIO

Reference Black Ice Fusion F159 Tube Phono Stage with cross talk reduction built in.

blackiceaudio.com

 

[Joe Mac]

This is the one I’ve been looking at the longest:
EAT E-Glo Petit

https://www.europeanaudioteam.com/en/eat-e-glo-petit-wp000097.html

Every time I think about tubes, I’m lead to believe these guys are the best in the business:
Primaluna EVO 100

Primaluna EVO 100 Tube Phonostage — PrimaLuna USA

www.primaluna-usa.com

This is the one I am really smitten with though:
Black Ice Fusion F159

Black Ice Fusion F159 Tube Phono Stage — BLACK ICE AUDIO

Reference Black Ice Fusion F159 Tube Phono Stage with cross talk reduction built in.

blackiceaudio.com

PrimaLuna integrated and power amps are just fantastic. Mainly because they have adaptive autobias and dedicated fuse protection with the power tubes. Huge positive difference moving to their power amp from the quad. Out of balance tubes can’t blow the amp and even a very bad tube that does blow takes out a really easily changed fuse.

Their stuff is really well made and although this is their first foray into phono stages I’m sure it’s great. That adaptive autobias they’re famous for doesn’t really apply though. Plus really expensive!

That black ice with the azimuth fozzy meter thing has always intrigued me too, I’d love to hear a hands on experience of it.

The other two that interest me thst I think are worth your consideration are the Decware and the Manley @AnthonyI has. I’d love to hear both of them too.

 

[AnthonyI]

PrimaLuna integrated and power amps are just fantastic. Mainly because they have adaptive autobias and dedicated fuse protection with the power tubes. Huge positive difference moving to their power amp from the quad. Out of balance tubes can’t blow the amp and even a very bad tube that does blow takes out a really easily changed fuse.

Their stuff is really well made and although this is their first foray into phono stages I’m sure it’s great. That adaptive autobias they’re famous for doesn’t really apply though. Plus really expensive!

That black ice with the azimuth fozzy meter thing has always intrigued me too, I’d love to hear a hands on experience of it.

The other two that interest me thst I think are worth your consideration are the Decware and the Manley @AnthonyI has. I’d love to hear both of them too.

I'm truly surprised the Manley isn't more "visible" with the hobby, meaning I don't see it in a lot of systems. Prima Luna is a great product, hands down, I never had the phono stage, but the Chinook is just fantastic, I don't see ever replacing it.

 

[SnowmaNick]

While we’re taking about cables. I feel like I’ve tried 10 things and nothing works long term to keep them hidden. This is for a TV console that has an open bottom. I really don’t notice/care about it but my wife does not want the cables showing through the 3 inch legs. I’ve tried command strips and Velcro and some other adhesive hook thing. I think duct tape is next.

Have you tried something like this ? Bunch the cords wrapped together and they can still look neat. If she wants them attached to the wall or the stand I’ve used a staple gun to secure a looped zip tie and fed the cables through that before as well.