The Hi-Fi and Headphone Thread - Music - Forums : Best Ever Albums

Jimmy Dread

Old skool like Happy Shopper

Location: 555 Dub Street

Moderator

Hello.

Inspired by a recent vinyl-buying streak and with others falling for the (more often than not) black plastic stuff, I thought it might be a good idea for us stereo geeks/wannabe audiophiles/sound supremacists to share our set-ups and have a forum to offer advice for anyone looking to make their next equipment or headphone purchase, especially with the latter as it's a total minefield out there for those looking to upgrade from a pair of Apple earbuds.

A bit of background - I've only got back into 'hi-fi' listening over the last 12 months, mainly due to finally having the space to store it all and the wife getting me a new turntable for my birthday (if only she knew what monster she's unleashed as a result). My set-up's pretty basic but does the job well enough, although I fear that going forward the need to tweak/replace certain elements of what I've got is only going to eat a further hole in my wallet.

Anyway, let's get this show on the road:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

DECK - Audio Technica LP120-USB. Essentially a blatant rip-off of the much-loved Technics 1210, which was part of the appeal when I asked the wife to get it for me. Has USB port to allow you to rip vinyl to MP3 (which I've never used). Sounds OK but there's word going around that if you rip out the pre-amp the quality is much better. Yet to do this though...
AMP - Marantz PM6005. Bloody great, packs a punch, lots of ports and knobs and blue lights. Daren't turn the volume up over 1/2 way.
CD PLAYER - Marantz CD6005. Bought in a clearance sale (ex-demo). Don't use it a great deal but bearing in mind I had one of those Sony 3CD multi-changer things for years it's a class above.
STREAMER - Denon DNP-720AE. Great bit of kit, again bought on the cheap (think it's been discontinued). Allows you to stream Internet Radio streams and play stuff from your network drive or stream via Airplay, which is handy for Spotify et al.
SPEAKERS (not in picture) - Wharfedale Diamond 121s. Pretty basic but sound the nuts. Bi-amped.
HEADPHONES - Grado SR325e. I'm a recent convert to open-back headphones (have had closed back ones for years), but after road-testing the Grados I was blown away. Can't recommend them highly enough, although wouldn't suggest them for travelling as they leak sound so half the bloody train can hear what you're listening to (although some of you may think that's a good thing).

This thread is for anyone interested to share your set-up, let us know about/quiz others for their opinion on your next purchase, see if others can guide you with some sage-like advice (!!) if you're new to it all and want to upgrade your Fisher Price record deck, or for us old gits to recall the days when all you had was one of these and a pair of headphones with orange fuzzy pads on:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

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SuedeSwede

Ognoo

Gender: Female

Age: 27

Location: On a cloud

My headphones came with a handheld radio that my dad bought and they're great
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LittleM1971

Gender: Male

Age: 53

Location: Nottingham

Nice set up noWaxJim which isn't a million miles from mine which I'll post over the weekend.

I did note that you didn't mention a phono stage preamp so presume you're going directly through the phono stage on your Marantz amplifier? I also have a Marantz amplifier but use a Cambridge audio phono stage (£80 I think) which sounds so much better than the designated phono port on my Marantz PM-68 so would definitely recommend doing this.

Also well worth getting a headphone stage (I went cheap at £30 for a basic b-tec) but it sounds so much better than plugging in my headphones to either my amp of CD player port. Obviously you can go really pricey in hi-fi improvements with very little gain but these 2 additions made a noticeable difference to my setup so definitely worth looking into.

Applerill

Autistic Princess <3

Gender: Female

Age: 31

Location: Chicago

Lawl, I remember being really into that Steve Hoffman thing back in middle school, mostly because my brother wanted the optimal way to play his Symphony X and Rush albums. It definitely was fun at the time, but even with 30% of my listening being in the ultra-dynamic world of modern classical, I really can't give a rat's butt about hi-fi culture today. I feel no different listening to Brian Ferneyhough or Max Richter on my iPad speakers than I do listening to them on my $350 Sennheieser noise-cancelors on the bus. I also have a $400 pair of Klipsch headphones that I listen to (SA)CDs, vinyl and cassettes on, but it's mostly used by my brother playing power metal during the times I'm at home.

In any case, I'll post the exact models and specifications later.

samistake2ice

General Grievous Angel

Gender: Male

Age: 39

Location: Houston

I started to write a plea for help on this topic because it fit, but i didn't want to just run over the thread so i started a new one.

Will you please go comment on "help me build my system" and give me some ideas on how to expand.
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Jimmy Dread

Old skool like Happy Shopper

Location: 555 Dub Street

Moderator

LittleM1971 wrote:

Nice set up noWaxJim which isn't a million miles from mine which I'll post over the weekend.

I did note that you didn't mention a phono stage preamp so presume you're going directly through the phono stage on your Marantz amplifier? I also have a Marantz amplifier but use a Cambridge audio phono stage (£80 I think) which sounds so much better than the designated phono port on my Marantz PM-68 so would definitely recommend doing this.

Also well worth getting a headphone stage (I went cheap at £30 for a basic b-tec) but it sounds so much better than plugging in my headphones to either my amp of CD player port. Obviously you can go really pricey in hi-fi improvements with very little gain but these 2 additions made a noticeable difference to my setup so definitely worth looking into.

Cheers mate. I think when it comes to upgrading the TT that's definitely somewhere I'll go - got a Rega RP3 in my sights but they ain't cheap. The AT has a(n admittedly pretty naff) pre-amp built in anyway and as it was purely a stepping stone onto the Rega I wanted to spend money getting the basics in place (and the Grados!) before shelling out any more.

As for the headphone stage, oddly enough I've got a Fiio headphone amp which I never use. Can't remember the model and it's sitting in a drawer somewhere. I used to use it to drive an old pair of Sennheisers which never really had any punch, but the Grados are gorgeous, and probably (apart from possibly the amp) the one part of my set-up I'm not in a rush to change any time soon.
_________________
'Reggae' & t'ing
Folk 'n Stuff
SHAMELESS RECORD DEALER PLUG

meccalecca

Voice of Reason

Gender: Male

Location: The Land of Enchantment

noWaxJim wrote:

DECK - Audio Technica LP120-USB. Essentially a blatant rip-off of the much-loved Technics 1210, which was part of the appeal when I asked the wife to get it for me. Has USB port to allow you to rip vinyl to MP3 (which I've never used). Sounds OK but there's word going around that if you rip out the pre-amp the quality is much better. Yet to do this though...

I've got the same one. Nothing special for sure, but really not bad at all. I've also never ripped to MP3. Pretty sure I have all the stuff I own on mp3 anyway aside form maybe one of my Monk albums.

I've got a pair of old speakers I acquired in the 90s that still sound pretty good, but could use an upgrade.

Most of the day (while working) I listen through a pair of Sennheiser 280s. Not the highest level sennheisers, but they sound fantastic.
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Jimmy Dread

Old skool like Happy Shopper

Location: 555 Dub Street

Moderator

meccalecca wrote:

noWaxJim wrote:

DECK - Audio Technica LP120-USB. Essentially a blatant rip-off of the much-loved Technics 1210, which was part of the appeal when I asked the wife to get it for me. Has USB port to allow you to rip vinyl to MP3 (which I've never used). Sounds OK but there's word going around that if you rip out the pre-amp the quality is much better. Yet to do this though...

I've got the same one. Nothing special for sure, but really not bad at all. I've also never ripped to MP3. Pretty sure I have all the stuff I own on mp3 anyway aside form maybe one of my Monk albums.

It does look good though - lights up like a Christmas tree and is built like a tank, which bearing in mind it was my first turntable for over 10 years and with a mini-pogo machine now in the household had to be factored in. I'm sitting on the fence about ripping the pre-amp out (the general consensus is that there's a 'night and day' distinction without it in, but my aptitude for electronics is dire and it would remove the USB capability), and I truly think what amp you use with this deck makes a heck of a difference too. Either way since I got it I've got back into vinyl in a massive way, and have rediscovered my zest for crate digging and visiting second hand record shops. After a break of over a decade, that can't be bad (it also means no eternity wife for Mrs. noWax for the time being)...
_________________
'Reggae' & t'ing
Folk 'n Stuff
SHAMELESS RECORD DEALER PLUG

meccalecca

Voice of Reason

Gender: Male

Location: The Land of Enchantment

noWaxJim wrote:

rediscovered my zest for crate digging and visiting second hand record shops.

This has been one of my favorite hobbies for quite a while. Dangerous though, as it can be expensive.
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LittleM1971

Gender: Male

Age: 53

Location: Nottingham

noWaxJim wrote:

LittleM1971 wrote:

Nice set up noWaxJim which isn't a million miles from mine which I'll post over the weekend.

I did note that you didn't mention a phono stage preamp so presume you're going directly through the phono stage on your Marantz amplifier? I also have a Marantz amplifier but use a Cambridge audio phono stage (£80 I think) which sounds so much better than the designated phono port on my Marantz PM-68 so would definitely recommend doing this.

Also well worth getting a headphone stage (I went cheap at £30 for a basic b-tec) but it sounds so much better than plugging in my headphones to either my amp of CD player port. Obviously you can go really pricey in hi-fi improvements with very little gain but these 2 additions made a noticeable difference to my setup so definitely worth looking into.

Cheers mate. I think when it comes to upgrading the TT that's definitely somewhere I'll go - got a Rega RP3 in my sights but they ain't cheap. The AT has a(n admittedly pretty naff) pre-amp built in anyway and as it was purely a stepping stone onto the Rega I wanted to spend money getting the basics in place (and the Grados!) before shelling out any more.

As for the headphone stage, oddly enough I've got a Fiio headphone amp which I never use. Can't remember the model and it's sitting in a drawer somewhere. I used to use it to drive an old pair of Sennheisers which never really had any punch, but the Grados are gorgeous, and probably (apart from possibly the amp) the one part of my set-up I'm not in a rush to change any time soon.

The rega RP3...very nice but as you say it's going into that price range that makes you wince a bit. I'd like to find an old vintage turntable next I think perhaps an old Thorens or something. My next purchase has to be a decent pair of headphones though to replace an old pair of sony's my Brother gave me years ago. I'll give the Grados you have a good look I think...cheers for the tip.

How do you find that streaming thingy you have? How does it work...Bluetooth? i guess it really improves the quality of Spotify etc as it's going through your amp I presume? Are they expensive?