A nice budget small scale audiophile stereo set up for those of you who want to jump in

B

BJ

BJ
For the receiver, pick up an Advent 300 off of ebay. It should run $100-150. Ridiculously good sound for the sound and price. Circuitry was designed by Tom Holman, who also designed the THX sound system heard in many good theatres. It is a budget little number, but good ones hit way above their level. Very listenable, which counts for a lot. Pure. Will crush low level Marantz's and Pioneer's, if you're trying to get perspective. The Chermette Traditionelle of receivers.

For the speakers, you couldn't do worse than Mission 760i's. Little bookshelf speakers, but clean, balanced, with a lot more bass than you'd expect. $60-80 off ebay. Make sure you get English, not Malaysian made ones. Ask.

Turntables...well, that's an open field. If you want to just keep it straightforward, get a 2nd hand Rega P1. Should be around $300. Try ebay or audiogon. If you want to be adventuresome (which I really recommend), find the local vintage stereo place and find a nicely sorted Thorens or Philips for around $200-300.

I would guess nearly everyone here would love such a system somewhere in the house. Even the Advent/Mission/cheap CD player somewhere in the kitchen or family room would get a lot of love, I guarantee it. Some of you would go deep, too.
 
the notion that b&w loudspeakers are spoof is news to me. aren't you thinking of jbl, etc? and citing an amp as better than pioneer or marantz is like saying than your favourite wine is more nuanced and more natural than columbia crest. crushing low level marantz and pioneers is not a difficult task.
 
originally posted by robert ames:
the notion that b&w loudspeakers are spoof is news to me. aren't you thinking of jbl, etc? and citing an amp as better than pioneer or marantz is like saying than your favourite wine is more nuanced and more natural than columbia crest. crushing low level marantz and pioneers is not a difficult task.
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So would you substitute something else for the Advent?
 
originally posted by robert ames:
the notion that b&w loudspeakers are spoof is news to me. aren't you thinking of jbl, etc? and citing an amp as better than pioneer or marantz is like saying than your favourite wine is more nuanced and more natural than columbia crest. crushing low level marantz and pioneers is not a difficult task.
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Well, I am probably being harsh on B&Ws. They are a lot better than many, but I have never found them that listenable, more metallic and bright than I prefer. I think digital output makes that even worse. But of course that's a generalization.

I think if you're trying for a really cheap system it is very hard to beat a 1970s era Marantz or Pioneer. I think a better analogue would be a nice Cotes du Rhone. Columbia Crest is way too harsh.
 
originally posted by Ned Hoey:
Cartridge! What cartridge?!

Don't forget AR TTs. Purist minimalist timeless.
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How could I forget those!

If people could stretch and buy a Denon DL110, it would be so worth it.
 
I just got myself an Onkyo A-911 to replace my Columbia Crest Marantz integrated amp. It is just right. Going to upgrade speakers next. Currently using some KEF Codas, which are good but not great.

And I almost bought a Thorens TD-150 with a new tone arm and Shure cartridge, but grabbed a cheap Dual instead.

I find myself missing the asylum days.
 
I shudder to think that my LWE (L W Erath) speakers ever bite the dust. They are magnificent, especially perhaps the bass when I'm in the mood to accent the bass.

These electronic speakers were a marvel during their early days (60s and 70s) and still maintain their super high standing among audio buffs who are familiar with them.

. . . . . . Pete
 
I just bought a new integrated amp, Music Hall A35.2. My Nikko NR1219 receiver finally bit the dust after 30 years of use.

A long-time friend still keeps up with the audiophile world. I gave him a price range (~$750). After much back and forth, this was our final choice. A volume knob and function knob. No pesky tone controls. I'm very happy with it.

We found a used Creek integrated amp on Audiogon, but it disappeared quickly.

When I sold my vinyl many moons ago, I exchanged my Thorens TD160 table for some wine with Rob Adler. That Thorens was my first piece of higher end equipment. Bought it in 1972 before departing for Freshman year at UC Santa Barbara.
 
originally posted by Yixin:
I just got myself an Onkyo A-911 to replace my Columbia Crest Marantz integrated amp. It is just right. Going to upgrade speakers next. Currently using some KEF Codas, which are good but not great.

And I almost bought a Thorens TD-150 with a new tone arm and Shure cartridge, but grabbed a cheap Dual instead.

I find myself missing the asylum days.
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KEF Codas were my college speakers which I had until I got back into stuff. They are actually pretty good. I gave mine to a friend who has an old H/K 330.

Why did you not buy the Thorens?
 
originally posted by Larry Stein:
I just bought a new integrated amp, Music Hall A35.2. My Nikko NR1219 receiver finally bit the dust after 30 years of use.

A long-time friend still keeps up with the audiophile world. I gave him a price range (~$750). After much back and forth, this was our final choice. A volume knob and function knob. No pesky tone controls. I'm very happy with it.

We found a used Creek integrated amp on Audiogon, but it disappeared quickly.

When I sold my vinyl many moons ago, I exchanged my Thorens TD160 table for some wine with Rob Adler. That Thorens was my first piece of higher end equipment. Bought it in 1972 before departing for Freshman year at UC Santa Barbara.
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Music Hall makes nice stuff. That seems good. I am also really attracted to the new Rega half box amp.

Creek stuff is great when it's working. You didn't want that. I've gone through three Creek tuners.
 
I didn't like the look of the tone arm - Grace 707. The cartridge needed to be changed as well. Plinth wasn't original - replaced with high varnish teak. And so on.

The guy who sold me the Onkyo thinks Rega is spoofy.

Any recommendations for bookshelf speakers? I saw (and heard) a really nice pair of Wharfedale Teesedale SP2s.
 
originally posted by Yixin:


The guy who sold me the Onkyo thinks Rega is spoofy.
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That is simply one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. It's akin calling CRB spoofy.

Re the Wharfedales, while I don't know that specific speaker, Wharfedales have a great reputation. What's your price range?
 
I've been very pleased with the fidelity of NAD components. The receiver/amplifiers are quiet, clean and flat. Their turntables have always looked almost as good as they sound. My cartridge/stylus is a Grado GF-1. Not a lot of dough, but very good performance for the price points.
 
originally posted by Ken Schramm:
I've been very pleased with the fidelity of NAD components. The receiver/amplifiers are quiet, clean and flat. Their turntables have always looked almost as good as they sound. My cartridge/stylus is a Grado GF-1. Not a lot of dough, but very good performance for the price points.
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Well, my system is antediluvian at this remove, but my NAD preamp is going strong at age 29, as is the David Hafler power amp it feeds into.

Mark Lipton
 
I think I posted on this way back when, but my system is:

Denon DL110>Thorens TD125.1>Naim 32.5>Naim 110>NACA>Rega RS3
Tuner Yamaha T-2
CD Naim CD5

It is a very dialed and wonderful system.
 
originally posted by BJ:
originally posted by Yixin:


The guy who sold me the Onkyo thinks Rega is spoofy.
Click to expand...

That is simply one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. It's akin calling CRB spoofy.

Re the Wharfedales, while I don't know that specific speaker, Wharfedales have a great reputation. What's your price range?
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To be honest I liked the Thorens TD150 more than the Rega, but I don't know how much was down to the cartridge.

Price isn't really an issue. It's just that I don't see the point of paying more if I can't hear the difference, and I haven't had a chance to audition the speakers at home. The KEF Coda speakers are fine, to be honest.

And this is a temporary set-up. I'll be moving it to the office once that's ready, and will have to start the entire process from scratch, probably with floor speakers.
 
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