Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

BazookaTooth said:
came across the Dali Zensor 7 a few times and its well within my budget. there seem to be dealers around where i can listen to them.
are those worth checking out @HiFi Guy , @Joe Mac maybe ?
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Auditioning new speakers is NEVER a bad idea if you are seriously looking to buy. I don't encourage taking up a dealer's time if you're not actually shopping, but if you are shopping go listen.
Worst case is that you don't like those speakers but you now have a better sense of your personal taste. A good dealer with help you articulate what you don't prefer about them, and discuss brands/ models that might be more to your liking.
The best case scenarios are that you love the speakers and take them home, or the dealer shows you something you hadn't considered that you simply fall in love with.
 
radiodead said:
So I have about $1,000 to spend on some new equipment. I for sure need a new TT. So that’s item 1 on the agenda. I’m looking to stay in the $500-$700 range. What would you guys recommend? I was thinking either the Fluance RT85 or Pro-Ject Debut Carbon SB Esprit. Any other suggestions? And after I get the TT squared away what is the next piece you would drop money on?

I was thinking probably a new phono preamp? I have a Sony receiver and some shelf speakers that I think I can get by with for a little while longer. But my current preamp is about as crummy as it gets. The Rega MK3 caught my eye but I’m not sure what kind of sound I want or how different preamps effect it.
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I have purchased various turntables in this price range and found the Rega Planar 1 to sound the best.
 
displayname said:
Auditioning new speakers is NEVER a bad idea if you are seriously looking to buy. I don't encourage taking up a dealer's time if you're not actually shopping, but if you are shopping go listen.
Worst case is that you don't like those speakers but you now have a better sense of your personal taste. A good dealer with help you articulate what you don't prefer about them, and discuss brands/ models that might be more to your liking.
The best case scenarios are that you love the speakers and take them home, or the dealer shows you something you hadn't considered that you simply fall in love with.
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thanks. i was also looking for some feedback on the brand in general.
 
My buddy is looking to buy a first turntable and wants to spend $200 or less. Any recs? Needs a built-in preamp as well (preferably one you can switch on/off so if he wanted to upgrade later). I tried to push for him to get a UTurn or Pro-Ject as an entry-level but once you add everything to the UTurn, it gets closer to $300. I understand that it might be better for him to go vintage for a better quality TT for under $200, but any recs are appreciated! I don't know too much about the entry -level TTs...
 
MikeH said:
My buddy is looking to buy a first turntable and wants to spend $200 or less. Any recs? Needs a built-in preamp as well (preferably one you can switch on/off so if he wanted to upgrade later). I tried to push for him to get a UTurn or Pro-Ject as an entry-level but once you add everything to the UTurn, it gets closer to $300. I understand that it might be better for him to go vintage for a better quality TT for under $200, but any recs are appreciated! I don't know too much about the entry -level TTs...
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At $200 it's going to be tough to get something with a little quality behind it, he might have to look vintage, used or go with an LP120, which I think will still be slightly over $200

LP120 on Amazon - $230
 
AnthonyI said:
At $200 it's going to be tough to get something with a little quality behind it, he might have to look vintage, used or go with an LP120, which I think will still be slightly over $200 LP120 on Amazon - $230
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That's what I figured--thanks! We have quite a few record shops near me so I might recommend him going vintage with it and pop into those shops to see what they might have...will also look at reverb/craigslist locally.
 
MikeH said:
My buddy is looking to buy a first turntable and wants to spend $200 or less. Any recs? Needs a built-in preamp as well (preferably one you can switch on/off so if he wanted to upgrade later). I tried to push for him to get a UTurn or Pro-Ject as an entry-level but once you add everything to the UTurn, it gets closer to $300. I understand that it might be better for him to go vintage for a better quality TT for under $200, but any recs are appreciated! I don't know too much about the entry -level TTs...
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Fluance RT-80 $199

www.fluance.com

RT80 Classic High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

Fluance's Classic High Fidelity Turntable plays traditional LP and EP vinyl records with stunning quality that achieves the purest sound reproduction. When you want the absolute best in music performance, pull out your favorite 33 1/3 or 45 RPM records, hook up your sound system, drop the...
www.fluance.com www.fluance.com
 
For under 200 vintage is the way for sure. There's actually quite a few perks to vintage and almost no downsides provided you are semi smart about it. I got a "broken" SL 1900 for $40 and put maybe $40 in parts and a couple hours of time into it and it is literally as good as new. Included in my parts were spindle lube and a replacement interconnect. Those were optional. All that was really needed was a $10 cue arm and some elbow grease.
 
debianlinux said:
For under 200 vintage is the way for sure. There's actually quite a few perks to vintage and almost no downsides provided you are semi smart about it. I got a "broken" SL 1900 for $40 and put maybe $40 in parts and a couple hours of time into it and it is literally as good as new. Included in my parts were spindle lube and a replacement interconnect. Those were optional. All that was really needed was a $10 cue arm and some elbow grease.
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Vintage may not make sense for those new to vinyl.

Also, for those who don't know what they are looking at, there was a lot of plastic junk in the mid- late '80s- mid '90s. You got lucky and had the ability to make repairs. The really good gear is overpriced now and will be priced way above the stated budget.
 
HiFi Guy said:
Vintage may not make sense for those new to vinyl.

Also, for those who don't know what they are looking at, there was a lot of plastic junk in the mid- late '80s- mid '90s. You got lucky and had the ability to make repairs. The really good gear is overpriced now and will be priced way above the stated budget.
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I will admit to prowling pawn shops for nearly a year straight before sizing this one up and sniping it when they finally dropped the price and then I talked them down some more. It helps if you know more about the thing than the people selling it.
 
I'd like to wall mount my turntable for sounds isolation and to get it off of my receiver where it currently sits (lol). Pre engineered solution are substantially more than I expected to pay ($200-$500!). I was curious if anyone else had economical success with wall mounting.

This solution looks economical at the expense of aesthetics (also questionable utility setting the feet onto screw heads?):
Turntable1.thumb.jpg.5c60291e51f924848bdc27b0537d51e3.jpg



Using the same principles (bottom shelf affixed to wall top shelf floating) it seemed these little gems might work better like this:
Screenshot_2019-12-27 Amazon com GAOHOU 4 X Dark Gray Brass Speaker Isolation Spike DAC CD Cha...png

Any input is appreciated!
 
debianlinux said:
I'd like to wall mount my turntable for sounds isolation and to get it off of my receiver where it currently sits (lol). Pre engineered solution are substantially more than I expected to pay ($200-$500!). I was curious if anyone else had economical success with wall mounting.

This solution looks economical at the expense of aesthetics (also questionable utility setting the feet onto screw heads?):
Turntable1.thumb.jpg.5c60291e51f924848bdc27b0537d51e3.jpg



Using the same principles (bottom shelf affixed to wall top shelf floating) it seemed these little gems might work better like this:
View attachment 27701

Any input is appreciated!
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Do you have the space to possibly build a riser, a platform over your receiver? Maybe get something like an Ikea bamboo butcher block, a set of Iron pipe and fittings for the legs, you can get them in various lengths. I was toying with this idea a while ago before building the entire rack.

Brooklyn Pipe on Amazon (Flanges & Pipes)
1577507002950.png

One flange on the top screwed to the butcher block and one flange as the "foot" so to speak. Same idea as this except the bottom flange is just the support foot, you can put maybe rubber or felt under it.
1577507242692.png
 
So I finally upgraded my LP60 to a lovely RT85 and I have those plugged directly into the phono stage of my Klipsch R-51PMs. I take it I should probably invest in an external pre-amp, what are the favorites around these parts, what should I look for?
 
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