Hello, listers,

I am looking for the second-hand turntable, amp and speakers to play
my LPs. Almost all my collections are classical music. I do have
something like LSC-1806 Reiner/Zarathustra, but my main interest is in
instrument / chamber music, and I need warm, vivid sound. I am more
concerned with stretching treble than with softy bass. I am soliciting
your recommendations for the used equipments producing warm vivid
sound. I am thinking of an entry level hi-fi turntable. Any
suggestions? For the amp, I do not know whether the tube one is within
my budget, but if I go with a solid state, which make do you think can
produces relatively warm sound? For speakers, I have listened to
Tannoy before in the store, and feel its sound enjoyably warm. Any
other recommendations? Thanks in advance for your reply.

SS

Straycart wrote:

"S. S." wrote in message
news:7T_Xa.74760$uu5.8138@sccrnsc04...
Hello, listers,

I am looking for the second-hand turntable, amp and speakers to play
my LPs. Almost all my collections are classical music. I do have
something like LSC-1806 Reiner/Zarathustra, but my main interest is in
instrument / chamber music, and I need warm, vivid sound. I am more
concerned with stretching treble than with softy bass. I am soliciting
your recommendations for the used equipments producing warm vivid
sound. I am thinking of an entry level hi-fi turntable. Any
suggestions? For the amp, I do not know whether the tube one is within
my budget, but if I go with a solid state, which make do you think can
produces relatively warm sound? For speakers, I have listened to
Tannoy before in the store, and feel its sound enjoyably warm. Any
other recommendations? Thanks in advance for your reply.

SS


I find it interesting that you found a "warm" sounding Tannoy speaker. I
suggest that you either purchase new equipment or solicit the help of a
reliable dealer or audiophile friend in your quest for used turntables and
amplifiers.

That said, if you buy used speakers from a reputable dealer (just one option)
with an ample opportunity to audition and compare them with others over a
reasonable period of time, you just might get more for your speaker dollar.
Among the "warmer" brands of speakers that I would suggest looking at would be
Vandersteens and Magnepans. A lot will depend of course, on your budget, which
you don't mention here, so it's hard to be much more specific than this. Be
advised however that both Vandersteen and Magnepan have speaker models
starting at under $ 1000/pair new (and even less, used, of course).


If you want to "stretch treble" this will tend to reduce warmth i think ..


Agreed. The 2 goals are mutually exclusive in most cases IMHO.

I would look for something that can reproduce all sounds rather than try to
buy a system that colors the sound in some way and then use tone controls,
speaker placement, and room treatment to make subtle changes to the balance.

It will be more imprtant to choose a system based on listening levels and
room size, which probably means choosing an amplifier with enough power to
drive the speakers, rather than worry about tube versus solid state.


Again, I would agree with this. But if you get a chance to compare a SS and
tubed amplifier of equivalent power ratings that will suitably drive the
speakers that you end up buying, you may be able to better answer the question
for yourself as to whether the tubed amplifier sounds significantly different
than the SS unit. Let your ears decide this.

I really have no idea what you mean by entry level hi-fi turntable, there
are not that many choices for new tables, and fewer choices than ever in
cartridges, although you can still get a shure V15 and perhaps a Linn for
starters...


I think you may be painting an overly bleak picture here. I would certainly
consider turntables from Music Hall, Project and Rega as entry level, given
price points starting at about $ 300. Between these 3 lines alone, there are a
number of models to pick from. As for cartridges, Grado makes a number of
models starting at about $ 40.00, and I believe Shure may make less expensive
models than the V15 as well (e.g. the M92E @ $ 40.00 MSRP)

Unless you have an audiophile friend that is quiee knowledgable re. both setup
and condition of turntables, I would suggest you buy your vinyl front end
(turntable/arm/cartridge) setup from a reputable dealer and let him set it up
for you.

Good luck









Bruce J. Richman

In article 7T_Xa.74760$uu5.8138@sccrnsc04, S. S.
says...
Hello, listers,

I am looking for the second-hand turntable, amp and speakers to play
my LPs. I am more
concerned with stretching treble than with softy bass. I am soliciting
your recommendations for the used equipments producing warm vivid
sound. I am thinking of an entry level hi-fi turntable.

Hard to suggest anything being you don't mention your budget but
here goes. The cheapest turntable that "works" IMHO is the Project Debut
II. It's around UK?110 and comes with a cheap ortofon MM. At least
buy the turntable new. If you can strech yourself a bit more,
any more expensive Project will do (2.9 classic or wood) or perhaps
a Rega Planar 2.

Any
suggestions? For the amp, I do not know whether the tube one is within
my budget, but if I go with a solid state, which make do you think can
produces relatively warm sound?

Try to find one of the older Musical Fidelity amps, models A1, A2, A100,
A220. I use the A2. It's a class A solid state amp with a tube-like
sounds. Other amps like Audio Analogue Puccini, Primare A10, Fase 3.5
sound very smooth too.

For speakers, I have listened to
Tannoy before in the store, and feel its sound enjoyably warm. Any
other recommendations?

Mixing up an amp and a turntable that's already rather warm, I'd suggest
not overdoing it by choosing speakers that are overly warm too. You
said you want vivid? Tannoy would give you a warm and very slow sound.

An alternative would be something from JMLab, whichever model can fit
into you budget. Just avoid old Opal and Tantal series; any Chorus and
Cobalt model would do, depending on how big your room is.

Go for standmounters up to 16 sq. meters, smaller floorstanding models
(like Chorus 710) for up to 20 sq.m, and 715 for 20+.

Feel free to drop me an email.

Dalibor, Croatia.

--
"We still have much to learn about the art of sound reproduction;
ultimately, our responsibility is to our ears,not to established
precepts." - Martin Colloms, January 1998

I vote for Magnepans and an Audio Research tube amp.

- The Aged Iconoclast