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Post by John on Apr 29, 2015 8:36:09 GMT
I know none of your equipment. Looking at it I suspect the source and amp will your weakest links For CDs two of the cheapest ways I know is a Blue ray player as Transport with a good DAC or the Raspberry Pi route. Let us know if either route appeals and we can advise from there Cheap amps you will need to decide between second hand or T amps to keep costs down
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Post by John on Apr 29, 2015 8:37:27 GMT
I think the real problem with upgrading in stages is that you might pick something (e.g. speakers) that works well with your other components, but then if you upgrade them, you may find it doesn't work so well with the new ones ! I'm a 'source first' believer so in your position I'd probably go for a decent CD player first (assuming CD's is what you want). As ChrisB says, your listed components don't seem right (Isn't the Pioneer 1060 a car stereo ) - maybe we can help more if you clarify them. Source first sounds like sound ( ouch ) advice. Which source though? Records, CD's Radio or tapes? You have asked for help so advice is fair enough
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Post by MartinT on Apr 29, 2015 8:52:56 GMT
Did you know the insert image doesn't work John? It works but you are only pasting tiny images, probably thumbnails from a search engine. Go into the full size image and try copying that link instead.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 10:54:48 GMT
Is it true that good speakers can sound terrible if the equipment in front of them isn't very good? This is something I have just read elsewhere.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 10:56:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 10:57:00 GMT
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Post by John on Apr 29, 2015 11:13:43 GMT
Is it true that good speakers can sound terrible if the equipment in front of them isn't very good? This is something I have just read elsewhere. To a degree its true but it can get into a circular debate. There is also a lot to be said about getting the best speakers for you room and matches your listening requirements then build around it
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Post by zippy on Apr 29, 2015 11:52:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 14:27:57 GMT
I'd be tempted to replace your main source, as well as amp and speakers, rather than chooising only one item. You can probably make dramatic improvements for very little.
You will have a big room to fill, so I'd probably go for a decent sized speaker. Something like Monitor Audio 352s really give a big sound for peanuts and usually come on nice wood finishes including the stands. If floorstanders are more your thing, perhaps look out for a pair of Ruark Talismans or Rega Elas. None of these should cost more than a hundred pounds. None are hard to drive either, which makes a suitable amp easier to choose.
NAD amps and receivers are pretty good for the money, although you could get a bit more from something like a Creek 4040 or 4140. You could spend under £50 on any of these. If a more conventional amp is your thing, Harman Kardon 6550s are very good and also pretty versatile. If you can spend a bit more, you could look out for something like an Exposure X, Onix OA21, Myst Tma3 etc. QED A240 amps often go cheap and are good too.
I don't think you'd be disappointed with a Rega Turntable, although again you can save a bit by buying some of the OEM versions they made for Akai, NAD or Goldring. Again £100 can often bag one of these.
CD player choice can vary according to taste, but if you like a more analogue sound, look out for an Arcam Alpha Plus which can be had for £50 these days. Spending £150 should bag you a nice Rega Planet. Alternately, Rotel's RCD 965BX is a cheap bit decent player, as is the NAD C521 BEE.
Lots of stuff to choose from for very little these days. These are examples of how I would spend my cash and others will inevitably have their faves. The thing is, these days you don't have to choose which bits to tackle first because there is a cornucopia of great kit for next to nothing,
Good luck whatever you choose.
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Post by pre65 on Apr 29, 2015 15:43:34 GMT
Funny you should mention the QED A240.
I have the A240cd which I purchased new, and when I got my first valve amps (Quad 11) I used the QED as a preamp for several years, so it's quite versatile.
These days it's the amp in my office/den/man cave.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 15:51:51 GMT
They are pretty good amps IMO and they are completely under the radar these days. Sometimes they go for next to nothing yet in their day they were somewhere between the budget Cyrus one and the mid range Audiolab/Mystc/Cyrus 2 etc in terms of price. Nicely built, decent Holden and Fisher transformer and a good phono stage too. That makes them a bargain today I feel.
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Post by pre65 on Apr 29, 2015 15:56:59 GMT
There were two versions of the A240, the CD and the SA.
The SA(super analogue) had (from memory) a better phono section.
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Post by Chris on Apr 29, 2015 16:13:15 GMT
I agree with singularity here - go for speakers first then an amp. Some good choices he has listed as well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 16:39:43 GMT
There were two versions of the A240, the CD and the SA.
The SA(super analogue) had (from memory) a better phono section. Yep that's right, the "SA" stood for "Super Analogue" IIRC.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 17:15:31 GMT
I'd be tempted to replace your main source, as well as amp and speakers, rather than chooising only one item. You can probably make dramatic improvements for very little. You will have a big room to fill, so I'd probably go for a decent sized speaker. Something like Monitor Audio 352s really give a big sound for peanuts and usually come on nice wood finishes including the stands. If floorstanders are more your thing, perhaps look out for a pair of Ruark Talismans or Rega Elas. None of these should cost more than a hundred pounds. None are hard to drive either, which makes a suitable amp easier to choose. NAD amps and receivers are pretty good for the money, although you could get a bit more from something like a Creek 4040 or 4140. You could spend under £50 on any of these. If a more conventional amp is your thing, Harman Kardon 6550s are very good and also pretty versatile. If you can spend a bit more, you could look out for something like an Exposure X, Onix OA21, Myst Tma3 etc. QED A240 amps often go cheap and are good too. I don't think you'd be disappointed with a Rega Turntable, although again you can save a bit by buying some of the OEM versions they made for Akai, NAD or Goldring. Again £100 can often bag one of these. CD player choice can vary according to taste, but if you like a more analogue sound, look out for an Arcam Alpha Plus which can be had for £50 these days. Spending £150 should bag you a nice Rega Planet. Alternately, Rotel's RCD 965BX is a cheap bit decent player, as is the NAD C521 BEE. Lots of stuff to choose from for very little these days. These are examples of how I would spend my cash and others will inevitably have their faves. The thing is, these days you don't have to choose which bits to tackle first because there is a cornucopia of great kit for next to nothing, Good luck whatever you choose. Do you mean second hand? I have thought of doing it that way, as there are some amazing bargains on the internet.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 17:19:58 GMT
I have also decided to go for 5.1, so I can really fill the room. I thought I would get an AV receiver as these are silly cheap when so many of them don't have DAB. My other goal is to spend as little as possible but get as much performance as possible. Not because I don't have any money, but because I want to save some for essentials like Radleys!!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 17:24:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 17:31:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 17:34:35 GMT
Hi, yes I did mean 2nd hand. You can save a fortune and if you decide to upgrade later, you will likely get all your money back if you sell on. I don't know a lot about 5.1 I'm afraid but some of the Eltax or JPW speakers used in their packages are decent. The Elax Liberty series aren't bad at all and very well built.
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Post by John on Apr 29, 2015 18:00:18 GMT
If you going for the receiver route do not expect the same sound quality you get from going the dedicated audio. But if you plan to watch a lot of movies then fair enough. I would think about a processor and amp myself; some are pretty good but will add more costs.
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