[Timophono]

Hi everybody,

My name's Timo, I live in Belgium and I'm only now getting into the Vinyl arena. So you could say I'm a very green newbie.
I while back I listened to some vinyl and I really loved the (quality of the) sound. So I decided to start with vinyl too.

• A few months ago I got a Bugle 2 on Kickstarter, so I already have a phone preamp, but I still need to acquire the rest of the necessary equipment.
• Turntable wise I'm probably getting a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=debutcarbon
• For the speakers I'm thinking about buying the Pioneer S-CN301-LR bookshelf speakers. http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/products/42/99/161/S-CN301-LR/page.html
• What I find the most difficult part, is choosing the receiver. I'd be happy with a simple but good receiver with just 1 or 2 inputs (no phono input, since I already have a discrete phono preamp) and 2 or 4 outputs. So far I only found one receiver that fits this description: the Pro-Ject Stereo Box S. http://www.box-designs.com/main.php?prod=stereoboxs&cat=amplifier&lang=en But - if I understand the description of the product (correct me if I'm wrong) - it's actually a phono preamp and receiver in one. And although I do like how compact it is, I don't think it's very cheap either. Could I get a better receiver for around the same price? Are there other similar receivers?
  Maybe I should just go for something like a Pioneer A-10-K? http://www.pioneer.eu/uk/products/22/98/405/A-10-K/page.html
  Another option would be to go old school. I found a Marantz 1050 (from 1979) online for €100 (about $130). It appears to be in good condition. It's much cheaper than the other two, but I read that the best receivers were made in the late '70s - early '80s, so as far as I know this Marantz could very well be as good if not better than the Pioneer and/or Pro-Ject Stereo Box.

If you have any advice for me, I'd love to hear it.

Greetings from a soon to be Vinyl listener!

[David Ellis]

Hmmm,

I might be able to help somewhat.

For a new guy, this is a tough gambit.  I still make poor gear decisions too.  I can convey what I have experienced (both good and bad).

I had a 1970s Marantz reciever that eventually died.  It had a nice tone while alive, but it was nothing special.

Tube gear seems really cool (and it is), but I suggest a tolerably good piece of SS gear first.  Tubes CAN be fussy - especially if there is no delay between the tube heater circuit and the primary voltage. Tubes don't last very long in these circumstances.  The more enduring tube amps will have a slow turn on circuit or a tube rectifier.  Two of my tube amps have a seperate switch for the primary voltage.  Also, my wife thinks tubes look cheap so... I use a solid state amp almost always.

The class D solid state amps are better than in years past, but I can only offer this via hear-say.  I heven't auditioned any of them. 

So... I have 3 possible solutions for you.

1.  60wpc Solid State is enough.  Audition a few new amps and chose the one that sounds the best.

2.  If you are bold, post "anybody Belgium" somewhere in this forum, and invite yourself to their home to listen to their system. Most hifi addicts to prefer to share their addiction.

3.  By far the very best solution is to plan a short trip and visit this gentlemen http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/ .  Yes, it will be a trip, but Tony Gee has been VERY well respected for many years.  If I lived closer (I don't) I would love to visit Tony at his home.  If you visit Tony, bring a notebook and some recordings.  You will need the notebook to remember what he conveys  .   You might even want to bring some cash.  I'd bet that Tony has some workshop quality speakers that he might be willing to sell.  Anything from Tony will be vastly better than a Pineer product in stores today.

My 2c.

[woodsyi]

From what I can gather, you need a whole audio system to go with a turntable.  Or do you already have a system that plays CDs or DVDs? 

[roscoeiii]

Hmm, if you are looking for under $300 or so for a reciever, I think I would go vintage.

Most recievers or integrated amps I know to recommend start at about $500.

Though two possibilities do come to mind. The company Class D Audio is now selling built amps (previously they just did easy to assemble kits). I have an amp from them that I use as a back-up that I quite like. They may also offer an integrated amp option.

Or look into what the inexpensive Andrew Jones designed Pioneer speakers were paired with at recent shows. I think that they were shown at Newport? And I remember that they were paired with quite inexpensive gear, and the system got great reviews.

Sorry I don't have the time to provide links right now. Let us know if you have trouble tracking down any of this info and I or someone else can lend a hand with that.