+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 12 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 113

Thread: Looking for some guidance please

  1. #11
    Join Date: Mar 2009

    Location: South West-ish, UK

    Posts: 457
    I'm Patrick.

    Default

    I would start with the speakers.

    If you want to put the speakers in a open plan home and hear music throughout, consider something omni-directional, like Shahinian or efficient like old Tannoy.

    Choose your amplifier to suit your speakers eg Shahinians will need a more powerful amplifier than most other manufacturers. Ideally hear the speakers with the amplifier before you commit.

    Buy the best turntable/arm/cartridge combination you can afford.

    Stream via a USB DAC. Rip the CDs to FLAC.

  2. #12
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,771
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by walpurgis View Post
    I liked the Totems I've heard and don't care about measurements, users seem to like them too and they've been well reviewed.
    I'm sure they sound fine, they'd be unlikely to put them out for sale if they didn't, but it's more a question of whether you could do better than Totem for the same or less money. I'd say you can.

    'Well reviewed' is meaningless these days. Everything is well reviewed. Most reviewers are clueless and mates with the manufacturers. I saw a good reviews of cable lifters the other day.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  3. #13
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

    Default

    And no doubt Totems will be cheaper in their home country.

    I expect Steve is probably looking for a straightforward system that he can just set up and enjoy with minimum fuss. Recommending obscure, exotic, specialised or very vintage items may not be the best way to go about this.
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  4. #14
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Seaton, Devon, UK

    Posts: 13,239
    I'm Adrian.

    Default

    So I have tried to find suitable items in CA, I have enjoyed spending your money and have tried to give sensible suggestions which will work well together, some combinations may go over your budget but you can work that out.

    I have just noticed some previous posts have mentioned not recommending vintage stuff and that you may want a simple plug together solution, in my mind with CA$8-10K you can end up with a system that sounds very nice indeed, hence my selections below. One area of caution is older Solid State amps, these can be difficult a pricey to get repaired, whereas tube amps it is general easier. The turntables I mention are pretty well known and reliable. The speakers as someone else mentioned is where you will really can win, the Tannoys being tops and possibly the Ambience(note investigate reliability on these), not everyone likes Klipsch but they are good.

    If you have a largish vinyl collection and are mainly plaining to listen to them then I would spend a bit more on the TT

    Turntable

    A good starting point Turntable, I used to have one and to be honest if you set it up on a well isolated platform then you would need to spend quite a bit more to get a much better experience(excuse the pun). Partner it with an Ortofon 2M Bronze or Black, or Goldring 2500 if moving magnet or if you want moving coil then consider Ortofon Quintet range or Hana HL or SL.

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...mages/2906745/

    If you want to post the boat out this is VGM and is with cartridge

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...ion-turntable/

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...arm-see-photo/ a cheaper option, arms a good on if still OK ask dealer, needs cartridge

    Amps

    A nice tube amp would match the speakers pretty well.

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...ated-tube-amp/

    A seriously nice Single-Ended Pure Class A tube amp, even though its probably new top end spend for you, it would be worth it, you will get a pure musical sound from it

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...-pure-class-a/

    Solid State

    these have had very good reviews and would sort you streaming out, and are a great price I believe

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...-audio-system/

    Old school but seriously nice

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...900-amplifier/

    Here is a lovely beast

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...1070-for-sale/

    Speakers

    I would not go for anything smaller than these, have been to CA many times and owen a couple of houses there, I know the rooms can be large and you want to be able to shift lots of air for a reasonable bass, unless you intend to listen close up to the speakers, and not have them more than 3m apart.

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...-century-l100/ thee will give you a good musical rendition, and nice bass, I used to have a pair, and are easy to drive, buy some stands for them from JBL to get them off the floor. You can order replacement foam grills online from Poland for about CA$350 plus postage. Make sure the crossover pots are working OK if you go to hear them, or another pair.

    A possibility a great horn speaker and easy to drive

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...mages/2864974/

    Well worth consider similar to Magnepan but reportedly better.

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...00-super-slim/

    Seriously nice speaker, but more money, they will sound great

    https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...beautiful-loo/

    Streaming
    A few words on "Streaming", there are lots of solutions and you can spend a fortune, if it is going to be you main source and primary listening experience then you may wan to invest in a good quality Streamer/DAC. Whatever you buy then ensure you can access Network Access Server(NAS) or it is DNLA complaint to hook onto an iTunes library if that is what you use. You say you have lots of FLAC file, I would move these to a NAS drive look at Buffalo they do a good range, ensure it has a backup drive or is RAID configured.

    One solution with is very cost effective and is a good toe in the water approach is a Raspberry Pi(RPI), a credit card sized computer, plugged up to a DAC board, which you hook up to your amplifier. The RPI is a whopping $60 and a good DAC board $100 to $$250, have a look at https://volumio.org/shop/, a single box and highly rated solution is the Volumio Primo. So a complete solution RPI/DAC CA$200 to $400, or Primo for about CA$600

    On the DAC front for RPI you won't go far wrong with these

    https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/board...berry-dac2-hd/ and RPI 3 or 4

    https://www.allo.com/sparky/katana-isolator.html

    For RPI and DAC they can benefit from using linear power supplies or lithium battery packs, there are many on the market for 5v.

    Both solutions will run the interface software 'Volumio' and you connect to it wirelessly using a tablet, mobile phone or computer to select what you want to listen to. You also configure Volumio to see your NAS drive and music files and/or an iTunes library, you can also access a huge selection of digital radio stations from all around the world. Also you can subscribe if you wish to Tidal, Qobuz for example and access these through Volumio.

    To be honest in my opinion you will have to spend a lot more to get much better sound quality from a digital streaming system. By the way whatever you go for connect the RPI directly to the ADSL bocages by ethernet, and similar the NAS drive, avoid wifi for either if you possibly can.

    If it was me I would go for:

    Project 2Xperience Turntable with MM cartridge

    If you can afford it the THE ICON AUDIO UK ST 30se if not the Audio Space AS-3i Integrated Tube Amp

    with the Tannoy Monitor Gold 15 inch Dual Concentric Speakers

    and top it of with and RPI/DAC solution or Primo if you have enough cash left.
    Last edited by AJSki2fly; 08-10-2020 at 15:10.
    Listening is the act of aural discrimination and dissemination of sound, and accepting you get it wrong sometimes.

    Analog Inputs: Pro-Ject Signature 10 TT & arm, Benz Micro LP-S, Michel Cusis MC, Goldring 2500 and Ortofon Rondo Blue cartridges, Hitachi FT5500 mk2 Tuner

    Digital:- Marantz SA-KI Pearl CD player, RaspberryPi/HifiBerry Digi+ Pro, Buffalo NAS Drive

    Amplification:- AudioValve Sunilda phono stage, Krell KSP-7B pre-amp, Krell KSA-80 power amp

    Output: Wilson Benesch Vector speakers, KLH Ultimate One Headphones

    Cables: Tellurium Q Ultra Black II RCA & Chord Epic 2 RCA, various speaker leads, & links


    I think I am nearing audio nirvana, but don’t tell anyone.

  5. #15
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: Gravesend and France

    Posts: 1,498
    I'm paul.

    Default

    Steaming? Not once but twice, so I think you mean it. As said rooms generally larger so amp and speakers first as how the sound is critical whatever source is used. Then turntable, cart and phono, good mm rather than the minefield of MC, CD player, something modest if the budget is dwindling and a reasonable Dac
    Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers

    Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house

    Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck


    System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.

  6. #16
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: cheltenham

    Posts: 746
    I'm matt.

    Default

    Watch from 7:14


  7. #17
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Seaton, Devon, UK

    Posts: 13,239
    I'm Adrian.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by paulf-2007 View Post
    Steaming?

    a slip of the keyboard, or maybe subconscious done.
    Listening is the act of aural discrimination and dissemination of sound, and accepting you get it wrong sometimes.

    Analog Inputs: Pro-Ject Signature 10 TT & arm, Benz Micro LP-S, Michel Cusis MC, Goldring 2500 and Ortofon Rondo Blue cartridges, Hitachi FT5500 mk2 Tuner

    Digital:- Marantz SA-KI Pearl CD player, RaspberryPi/HifiBerry Digi+ Pro, Buffalo NAS Drive

    Amplification:- AudioValve Sunilda phono stage, Krell KSP-7B pre-amp, Krell KSA-80 power amp

    Output: Wilson Benesch Vector speakers, KLH Ultimate One Headphones

    Cables: Tellurium Q Ultra Black II RCA & Chord Epic 2 RCA, various speaker leads, & links


    I think I am nearing audio nirvana, but don’t tell anyone.

  8. #18
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: cheltenham

    Posts: 746
    I'm matt.

    Default

    Old Klipsch are supposed to sound quite rough or bright compared to the latest versions.

  9. #19
    Join Date: Oct 2020

    Location: Winnipeg Canada

    Posts: 93
    I'm Steve.

    Default Wow.......thanks for all the input

    I'm blown away by the responses and obvious levels of knowledge here. Super impressed and appreciative. I definitely have my homework cut out.

    I honestly had not even considered used......it makes sense.

    There was one comment here that really is more my reality.

    "I expect Steve is probably looking for a straightforward system that he can just set up and enjoy with minimum fuss."

    As much as I would really love to jump in with both feet here and go all out....it just won't happen. I'm front line in healthcare and the current Covid environment has me buried in obligations.

    What I really want is a nice system that I can come home to......throw some music on that sounds good....and take a few breaths. (this will be my vinyl time) Ease of use in the long run will need to be a consideration.

    If I am in work mode at home, then I will more likely look to digital.....but I typically have something playing close to 24 hours a day.

    Anyway, I need to do some homework as some of your comments were like listening to a different language. LOL

    Bottom line is I am super happy to have found you folks and hope to be able to positively contribute in my own way.

    Steven

  10. #20
    Join Date: Mar 2017

    Location: Seaford UK

    Posts: 1,861
    I'm Dennis.

    Default

    I agree with the post which stated that you should choose speakers first, they are the most variable bit of a system, and they have varied characters, then choose a power amp which will work with them.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 12 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •