Opinions / Advice on this set-up

[Thomps557]

Yeah, I only mentioned RicherSounds as it's well known, to me anyway, for selling better than average gear, and if I'm perfectly honest I would rather spend my money locally (Newcastle) than buy online.

Some great suggestions there - thank you.

As I say, I did n like the look of the Brio - R when I noticed it, so I think I would likely opt for that one.

TT: From the looks of it, they all have their merit, but I would probably go for the Rega for continuity's sake.

I spotted some cheaper, smaller speakers Q Acoustic ones still:

* http://www.whathifi.com/review/q-acoustics-2020i. Makes sense to get smaller, considering the room size.

Need to think about speaker stands now

* Don't be telling me WhatHifi is frowned upon too?

[mr sneff]

If you like the Rega TT and fancy the Brio R (not sure if you do or not from your post) for a similar price to the Q Acoustics floorstanders you could get a pair of Rega RS1s. Fantastic speakers, which would obviously work well in an all-Rega set up and, in a smallish room like yours would work well, even close to the wall.

[Marco]

Ignore all the snootiness toward Richer Sounds - Julian Richer's stores are usually very well managed, their prices keen, and their staff well trained, enthusiastic and knowledgable.

I'd have no problem in recommending a system like the one you are proposing. The overall performance should be well balanced, if laid-back in the upper midrange and treble. However, given the trend for excessively thin, bright and forward sounding equipment, this is no bad thing. Bear in mind a lot of how a system sounds falls to the integration between room and loudspeaker, and if the speakers are destined to end up dominating a room 2m x 3m (or disappearing into a room 20m x 30m) you might need to consider smaller (or larger) loudspeakers.

I'd also possibly suggest going for a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable as an alternative to the Rega. It's a little more than the RP1 (£300 instead of £230), but has a better cartridge (Ortofon Red) in situ. While there isn't a lot in it between the two decks, I think the Pro-Ject will be a better match for this system.

Whichever deck you choose though, make sure you place it somewhere level and isolated - a turntable is virtually a backwards seismograph and siting it close to the loudspeakers or on a wobbly floor can play havoc with the performance. It doesn't need to be a dedicated wall shelf designed for the task (although that is ideal), but placing the turntable on top of the amp directly in front of one of the speakers is a definite no-no. Somewhere between the two extremes is best.

+1 (especially the bit in blue). Good advice there, Alan (and Dave)!

Richer Sounds are very good at what they do, and most importantly, understand the needs of their customers, which unfortunately cannot be said of all so-called 'high-end' hi-fi dealers.

Marco.

[Thomps557]

They look pretty sweet. Definitely think i will go for the Rega Amp, but these would be pushing my budget a little. I could use run my 1210 that I already have through the Rega Amp/Speaker until I've got a few more quid and buy the TT later...

Decisons. . .

[Marco]

I could use run my 1210 that I already have through the Rega Amp/Speaker until I've got a few more quid and buy the TT later...

Trouble is, Steve, if you do that, you may not wish to 'upgrade' to a Pro-ject or Rega later.....

Marco.

[Thomps557]

Hahah I absolutley love my Technics, and would be buying the Rega out of curiosity actually. There can't [I]really[I] be a TT better than a 1210... can there?

[Roy S]

I've got one of those Yamaha amps and wasn't impressed with the build quality or sound, gave it to my stepson & now running second-hand Quads.

[Marco]

Hahah I absolutley love my Technics, and would be buying the Rega out of curiosity actually. There can't [I]really[I] be a TT better than a 1210... can there?

Lol... There are plenty, if you're talking about an unmodified one. However, even a stock 1200 or 1210, with a decent MM cartridge fitted, will give most Pro-ject T/Ts a hard time, and certainly the entry-level Regas

My advice? If you're going to get another T/T, then make sure it's fundamentally better than what you've already got!

Marco.

[Clive197]

Ignore all the snootiness toward Richer Sounds - Julian Richer's stores are usually very well managed, their prices keen, and their staff well trained, enthusiastic and knowledgable.

I'd have no problem in recommending a system like the one you are proposing. The overall performance should be well balanced, if laid-back in the upper midrange and treble. However, given the trend for excessively thin, bright and forward sounding equipment, this is no bad thing. Bear in mind a lot of how a system sounds falls to the integration between room and loudspeaker, and if the speakers are destined to end up dominating a room 2m x 3m (or disappearing into a room 20m x 30m) you might need to consider smaller (or larger) loudspeakers.

I'd also possibly suggest going for a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable as an alternative to the Rega. It's a little more than the RP1 (£300 instead of £230), but has a better cartridge (Ortofon Red) in situ. While there isn't a lot in it between the two decks, I think the Pro-Ject will be a better match for this system.

Whichever deck you choose though, make sure you place it somewhere level and isolated - a turntable is virtually a backwards seismograph and siting it close to the loudspeakers or on a wobbly floor can play havoc with the performance. It doesn't need to be a dedicated wall shelf designed for the task (although that is ideal), but placing the turntable on top of the amp directly in front of one of the speakers is a definite no-no. Somewhere between the two extremes is best.

Please understand my question mark over Richer Sound was not snootiness. My last experience of a Richer store was exceptionally poor. The salesperson was unable to answer most of my questions and she kept trying to sell me a product I was not interested in, furthermore the store ( I can name and shame if requested) was filthy and everything was covered in dust. The salesman had to blow off the dust when it was picked up.
I know the products are cheap, mainly because they are old stock and the pile it high and sell it cheap is still the business model, but that is no excuse for a dirty store.

Clive

[Marco]

Clive, if you were to report your experience directly to Julian Richer (he usually welcomes such correspondence from customers), I'm sure that he would take the matter very seriously, and deal with it accordingly.

I certainly can't say I've had the same experience with the Chester store, which is always immaculate, and where the staff are always unfailingly polite and knowledgeable.

I wouldn't condemn a whole chain of stores, simply because of a bad experience in one of them, unless of course what you've outlined has happened in other Richer Sounds outlets?

Marco.