View Full Version : A system for under a grand ?
Stranraer
06-04-2021, 21:16
Hi all, fancy spending somebody else's money ?
A friend's taking baby steps into hifi and asked if he could get a decent CD and vinyl system for £1,000.
He's not keen on used equipment, so I've thought the following might work but interested in suggestions if you're game.
NAD 316 amp / Nad 538 CD player / Pro-ject Essential III turntable / Accoustic Energy 100 speakers.
As best as I can tell the Nad has a phono stage, and I can lend him some leads.
He also wants a cassette deck but I'm not even sure if they're made anymore.
Fancy pitching in............ ?
topoxforddoc
06-04-2021, 23:56
£1000 - new or used?
Upgraded Lenco GL75 with new tonearm and decent AT cartridge £495
https://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum/topic/150651-goldring-lenco-gl75-multilayer-veneered-plinth-12-cf-arm-atvm95e/?tab=comments#comment-2731098
Rotel RA-920AX £95
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rotel-RA-920AX-Integrated-Amplifier/265111509991?hash=item3db9e09be7:g:FUgAAOSwnA1gW0y Q
Speakers - maybe a pair of vintage JBL L19 £300
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JBL-L19-loudspeakers/274743196942?hash=item3ff7f87d0e:g:DooAAOSwazlgYx4 F
Plus £100 for a CD player
PS: I have no association with the sellers of the items
fatmarley
07-04-2021, 06:00
£1000 - new or used?
Quote "He's not keen on used equipment"
TEAC still make a tape deck but it's a big chunk of the budget https://www.amazon.co.uk/TEAC-W-1200-Twin-Cassette-Black/dp/B07CTX4QVZ/ref=sr_1_10?adgrpid=1290826996753628&dchild=1&hvadid=80676773197020&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=132168&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=b&hvtargid=kwd-80676890642371%3Aloc-188&keywords=technics+cassette+deck&qid=1617775203&sr=8-10
fatmarley
07-04-2021, 06:38
When the shops finally open again I'd take a trip to Richersounds, and possibly Currys to see what they've got to offer. The Wharfedale diamond 12.x series may be worth a look. I wouldn't turn my nose up at giving a Denon, Yamaha or Teac etc mini system a listen either.
Firebottle
07-04-2021, 06:45
Although your friend's not keen on used I would look at these speakers
https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?72716-Fs-Quad-77-11L-speakers
Jac Hawk
07-04-2021, 09:38
Although not keen on used i would look at these speakers
https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?72716-Fs-Quad-77-11L-speakers
I'm the complete polar opposite, if you do some digging you can get some great used equipment far better than what's been suggested by the OP, more importantly that if you decide something isn't for you and you want to sell you're not going to lose money on as you will probably be able to sell it for what you paid for it, something you won't be able to do with new kit unless you get the bargain of the century.
willbewill
07-04-2021, 10:44
Well I make NAD 316 amp / Nad 538 CD player / Pro-ject Essential III turntable / Accoustic Energy 100 speakers closer to £1100 so here goes:
Rega Planar 1 turntable (with a view to upgrading the cartridge asap)
Rega IO amplifier (or Denon PMA600NE if matching amp and cd is more acceptable, but that may need the Planar 1 plus as I don't think it has a phono stage?)
Dali Spektor speakers - plus some cheap stands?)
Denon DCD 600NB CD player
fatmarley
07-04-2021, 11:22
I know a lot of people hate seeing measurements, but from someone who tries to design their own speakers (me) - I like what I see here. From other 'recent' measurements I've seen, I think Wharfedale know what they are doing, unlike a lot of manufacturers who don't seem to have a clue (modern day Kef for example):
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wharfedale-diamond-220-budget-speaker-review.16752/ (£129 from Richersounds). I'd definitely listen to a selection of the Wharfedale models if it were me.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?pages/SpeakerTestData/
You can't buy a good turntable for less than $1000 new. Period. That's the biggest issue. But then again bang for buck you can do really well for $1k used, and really disappointing for new.
Stranraer
07-04-2021, 12:12
With thanks for the thoughts so far, you're preaching to the choir re used equipment but my guy's risk averse and wanting new.
I've bought some lovely second hand kit over the years and with the £1,000ish budget that would be my approach.
However.............
Rega are doing a system for £999, turntable amp and speakers brand new, got to be worth a look.I’d rather have that with a cheap used CD player and save for a better CD player down the line (Apollo-R).
HIFI Dave should be able to advise I would think.
https://www.whathifi.com/news/the-rega-system-one-is-an-easy-all-in-one-vinyl-solution
https://www.rega.co.uk/news/item/system-one-coming-soon
Risk adverse,? Personally i would go 1970s grunge big brash silver fronted receiver, make a statement of it being vintage. Easy to work on easy to repair, seldom go wrong and an appreciating asset, rarher than modern throw away difficult to repair class d stuff. Couple with some more modern speakers. Far less risk. Through in sansui sr222 for good measure and a cd63 for the shiny discs
Jac Hawk
07-04-2021, 15:39
Risk adverse,? Personally i would go 1970s grunge big brash silver fronted receiver, make a statement of it being vintage. Easy to work on easy to repair, seldom go wrong and an appreciating asset, rarher than modern throw away difficult to repair class d stuff. Couple with some more modern speakers. Far less risk. Through in sansui sr222 for good measure and a cd63 for the shiny discs
I'd agree with that, but as we all know sometimes there's just no way of talking people round they just have to go down that road and realise for themselves, i did it with the 1st and only new car i bought, i could have had exactly the same car with a slightly better spec that was a year old and way cheaper, but no i had to buy new, it took a few months until i realised what a dick i'd been.
Matching used gear is a challenge to say the least. For a first time system it would be nice to have the synergy which I expect the Rega to have from the start so you can sit back and enjoy the music. Very easy to upgrade within the Rega range piece by piece as time and budget permit.
That’s not bad advice actually, I should take it myself :lol:
Another off the wall idea, project juke box e, with project streamer and speakers.
In all seriousness i have three record decks, 2 cassette players, several tuner amps, cd players, streamers and more amps than i care to count BUT the only sources that get regular use are the cd players and tuners. Focussing on what will be used might get a better result
Filterlab
07-04-2021, 18:28
When the shops finally open again I'd take a trip to Richersounds...
THAT would be where I'd start. They're top chaps and know their Hi-Fi for those on a budget.
However...
Turntable: Pro-ject Primary E Phono (line level output) £249
CD Player: TIBO TI435 £120
Active speakers: Edifier S3000 Pros £589
Speaker stands: Mission Stancette £69
Slightly over at £1,067.
The Edifiers are absolutely superb and have multiple inputs (RCA, Balanced, Optical, Bluetooth, USB) and a remote, and DSP. The built in DAC is very very good, and they are absolute powerhouses capable of huge dynamics and unbelievable weight. And they never seem to run out of power. I have a pair of those in my second system and they're so well balanced that I use them for remastering my music. They are seriously that good. They bridge wirelessly rather than with a long cable and the DSP accounts for the distance between them so the timing is right. They would demolish the AE100s too.
TIBO make some pretty cracking audio too. I had a pair of their little floorstanders and they were staggeringly good. A CD player is pretty much what it is at this price level, the DAC is what makes it and the Edifiers take care of that.
Second hand speaker stands would drop the price further of course.
That would be a heck of a system for £1k and brand new. And as the front end is upgraded, the Edifiers will cope with much higher end equipment being fed in too.
Pigmy Pony
07-04-2021, 19:04
THAT would be where I'd start. They're top chaps and know their Hi-Fi for those on a budget.
However...
Turntable: Pro-ject Primary E Phono (line level output) £249
CD Player: TIBO TI435 £120
Active speakers: Edifier S3000 Pros £589
Speaker stands: Mission Stancette £69
Slightly over at £1,067.
The Edifiers are absolutely superb and have multiple inputs (RCA, Balanced, Optical, Bluetooth, USB) and a remote, and DSP. The built in DAC is very very good, and they are absolute powerhouses capable of huge dynamics and unbelievable weight. And they never seem to run out of power. I have a pair of those in my second system and they're so well balanced that I use them for remastering my music. They are seriously that good. They bridge wirelessly rather than with a long cable and the DSP accounts for the distance between them so the timing is right. They would demolish the AE100s too.
TIBO make some pretty cracking audio too. I had a pair of their little floorstanders and they were staggeringly good. A CD player is pretty much what it is at this price level, the DAC is what makes it and the Edifiers take care of that.
Second hand speaker stands would drop the price further of course.
That would be a heck of a system for £1k and brand new. And as the front end is upgraded, the Edifiers will cope with much higher end equipment being fed in too.
The Edifiers also look pretty cool imo. Also agree about Richer Sounds - always so helpful, no matter how little you're spending :)
Stranraer
07-04-2021, 20:07
Blown away by the responses, thanks All.
I'll give it the attention it deserves on Friday when I'm free.
Just having fun running in my new acquisition, a Missing Link digital cable.
Filterlab
08-04-2021, 18:09
The Edifiers also look pretty cool imo. Also agree about Richer Sounds - always so helpful, no matter how little you're spending :)
They are exceptional speakers and very flexible.
Agreed with Richer Sounds. Some Hi-Fi shops can be very 'huffy' if one's budget is small, but RS are always accommodating. Of course, they know that when one is on the slippery slope there's bound to be repeat custom. :D
Stranraer
09-04-2021, 18:39
So, what are the learns from this so far ?
1) £1,000 is a considerable sum of money
2) Music systems can take up quite a lot of space and don't necessarily look nce.
3) You should probably speak to your Significant Other before discussing sh1t like this with your mates.
I think that's everything she said.
Grateful for the input, it's been genuinely helpful and I fully expect will be reviewed in a couple of weeks, possibly after a bedroom's been painted and Foo'd. If nothing else, my mate who's a big music fan, has come to realise the wealth of options available and has been pretty enthused with the project.
I wouldn't have been aware of the active speaker route, and a mini Rega system looks VERY tempting. I had a Brio and Apollo some time ago and was very happy with them.
The Wharfdales look like a great call too, and cheaper than my Accoustic Energy idea.
Plus after some thought and following the links attached, the second hand route proved to be more tempting too, so maybe a Partner Induced Hiatus will turn out to be a positive.
I'll be sure to let you know the end result.
fatmarley
09-04-2021, 19:18
Another speaker that measures very nicely and is also active, is the JBL 306P. They are £159 each over at Amazon, but that saves quite a bit on the amplifier. I'm tempted to get some for my pc, although I think they're a bit OTT for my needs (Youtube videos mostly).
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-306p-mk-ii-review-studio-monitor.18505/
And the 8" version look even better for not much more (only £179 each at andertons.co.uk): https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-308p-mkii-studio-monitor-review.17338/
You can't buy a good turntable for less than $1000 new. Period. That's the biggest issue. But then again bang for buck you can do really well for $1k used, and really disappointing for new.
That’s a bit harsh and highly subjective. The guys basically a beginner and you’re already scaring him off!
Also, buying a new cassette deck is madness. I bought aDenon on eBay for a friend of mine for £20 and it’s perfect, so if he really wants one, why don’t you do the finding for him? I gave mine a wipe over, cleaned the heads and pinch roller and my mate is delighted, all for the price of a few soon to be allowed beers ��
£1000 - new or used?
Upgraded Lenco GL75 with new tonearm and decent AT cartridge £495
https://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum/topic/150651-goldring-lenco-gl75-multilayer-veneered-plinth-12-cf-arm-atvm95e/?tab=comments#comment-2731098
Rotel RA-920AX £95
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rotel-RA-920AX-Integrated-Amplifier/265111509991?hash=item3db9e09be7:g:FUgAAOSwnA1gW0y Q
Speakers - maybe a pair of vintage JBL L19 £300
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JBL-L19-loudspeakers/274743196942?hash=item3ff7f87d0e:g:DooAAOSwazlgYx4 F
Plus £100 for a CD player
PS: I have no association with the sellers of the items
Well it's got to be said, this is far and away the best suggestion. As someone said you can't buy a 'proper' tt for less than £1k, well here's proof you can. Rotel make great little amps and will work well with those Tannoy's. They all look in good nick and if I were the op I'd be talking some sense in my friend, because if there is anything there he doesn't like in the next month or two he won't lose much, if anything, on any of these items.
Stranraer
17-04-2021, 18:23
Grateful for the ongoing suggestions, they're being filed away for future use. My guy's gone a bit quiet but I'm pretty sure he'll reappear soon. We generally catch up at gigs so can go months without contact, and of course that's not happening currently.
Anyone else have single purpose mates ? I've got one friend who I only ever see when the Coen brothers have a new film out.
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