considering a turntable

[davids]

I have an NAD C328 in my third system. Its a nice unit and sounds fine streaming and playing CDs through the little speakers I mated it with. I haven't run a TT into it but I recommend the unit as reliable, seemingly well built, intuitive, and good value.

Listen to this guy. He makes my buying choices look reasonable!

[jimcav]

Jim, you can pic up decent new phono preamp for around $100. I'd definitely go for the used p3. I like regas; I have a 20 yr old planar 3 in my second system and I've never found a reason to replace it.

BTW, how are the pentax binoculars?

The pentax are great--i used them to just see the faintest rings of Saturn 2 days after max conjunction, but for the purpose of what I got them for, I really love seeing hummingbirds and hawks in such detail.

I'm replying to more than just your post, but I am definitely leaning to the rega and based on other replies if I got the NAD V2 with the phono pre-amp built in, I can skip the Mani (which was my plan--TT--Mani--NAD 316)

[darkmother]

It is a hugely slippery slope, be careful.

Attachment 117454

Cool. What's the story with those white horns? I've never seen anything like those.

(I built some fairly compact back loaded horn/transmission line hybrid single driver speakers many moons ago).

[AntLockyer]

BMS drivers, tractrix 200 horns. The bass drivers are 15" for a sense of scale.

[Mark Kelly]

It is a hugely slippery slope, be careful.

The slippery slope can be controlled: I used to run a Garrard 301 through this balanced input phono amp and all triode electronics. I now don't bother and sold the Garrard a while ago. I might resurrect an old Orpheus Silex I have in a box somewhere but at the moment I lack round tooits.

I am on a promise for a new $USD100k TT to be delivered to me this year. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. I can't really sell it as that would break the understanding under which it was given to me, but as above I probably won't use it.

[AntLockyer]

True enough, I've gone from more expensive commercial stuff to what I have now, this does sound much better though. I also hugely downsized from my ridiculous Japanese cartridge and step up transformer to a modest sub $200 cartridge.

[darkmother]

BMS drivers, tractrix 200 horns. The bass drivers are 15" for a sense of scale.

What do you use as a crossover?

[AntLockyer]

Digital active. Using 2 minidsp https://www.minidsp.com/products/min...ox/minidsp-2x4

The amp I'm currently using is a temporary 12 channel thing so that all the initial tweaking is done with channels the same. I've got a EL34 tube amp for the mids, and am part way through building another tube amp for the treble horns.

Mark I just checked out your balanced phono stage, very cool.

[twowheels]

The pentax are great--i used them to just see the faintest rings of Saturn 2 days after max conjunction, but for the purpose of what I got them for, I really love seeing hummingbirds and hawks in such detail.

I'm replying to more than just your post, but I am definitely leaning to the rega and based on other replies if I got the NAD V2 with the phono pre-amp built in, I can skip the Mani (which was my plan--TT--Mani--NAD 316)

Glad you like the pentax. I consider mine absolutely great and for what you paid you stole them.

I bet you and your wife will be very happy with Rega and NAD.

[j44ke]

The slippery slope can be controlled: I used to run a Garrard 301 through this balanced input phono amp and all triode electronics. I now don't bother and sold the Garrard a while ago. I might resurrect an old Orpheus Silex I have in a box somewhere but at the moment I lack round tooits.

I am on a promise for a new $USD100k TT to be delivered to me this year. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. I can't really sell it as that would break the understanding under which it was given to me, but as above I probably won't use it.

Mark, can you build a helicopter from scratch? Because given all else on this site from you, I figure you are the person most likely to be able to build a helicopter from scratch.

[darkmother]

I really wish I hadn't asked. That's a rabbit hole and then some! I am more than tempted. Interesting things happening there- the digital crossover is unknown territory for me.


That said I'm focusing my audio on what is most functional for me at the moment-headphones!

I've had good luck with Schiit D/A converter and headphone amp (thanks to a solid V-Salon recommendation,) so I ordered a phono preamp from them. I'm looking forward to listening to some of my records quietly...but loudly.

[Mark Kelly]

Mark, can you build a helicopter from scratch? Because given all else on this site from you, I figure you are the person most likely to be able to build a helicopter from scratch.

I started out as a trainee aeronautical engineering officer in the Navy but I didn't finish that degree* so no, I can't build helicopters.



* I swapped over to biological sciences and ended up in wine.

[Mabouya]

Mark, can you build a helicopter from scratch? Because given all else on this site from you, I figure you are the person most likely to be able to build a helicopter from scratch.

Jorn, it's actually pretty easy:

(you don't really need the paper-clip, that just makes it spin and fall faster)

[spopepro]

It’s sort of the Godwin’s law corollary that any online discussion of analog sources will result in telling OP he needs to get a refurbished Garrard 301 and set it in a plinth of epoxy and kitty litter with some obnoxious 12” homemade tonearm. Come on folks... we are almost there.

tbh building a helicopter is nothing compared to being able to build a high gain tube amp that is silent in all the right ways.


Going further up—the reason I can’t recommend the technics DD decks from the 70s to someone who isn’t a serious hobbies is because of the electrolytic caps and the flimsy circuit board. The boards tend to be somewhat complex (with multi speed controllers, and the auto queuing and arm return). The caps will go at some point. They probably already have. Desoldering them and putting in replacements should be trivial, however you’re all but guaranteed to lift a trace in doing so with the way the boards were built. They are really wonderful decks for the right kind of person though.

[Mabouya]

Going further up—the reason I can’t recommend the technics DD decks from the 70s to someone who isn’t a serious hobbies is because of the electrolytic caps and the flimsy circuit board.

All this talk is reminding me of my early 80's Technics turntable with the linear tracking tone arm. I think I threw it out years ago, but of course I still have all my albums - mostly Led Zep, AC/DC, etc... Haven't played any of them in decades.

[jimcav]

All this talk is reminding me of my early 80's Technics turntable with the linear tracking tone arm. I think I threw it out years ago, but of course I still have all my albums - mostly Led Zep, AC/DC, etc... Haven't played any of them in decades.

I should soon be in the market for albums! Will trade for jerseys since I no longer ride the roads :) I think I last bought an album in 1984. Got my license in '85 and had an 8-track so my spare music $ went to that. Left albums at my parents and they disappeared over the years to siblings or their kids.

[Mark Kelly]

Garrard 301 ... with some obnoxious 12” homemade tonearm. Come on folks... we are almost there.

Challenge accepted.

If you have a look at the pic in the link I posted from Lynn Olsen's site you'll see a Garrard sporting a truly obnoxious homemade 300mm tonearm I cobbled together using the end off a broken ski pole. The funny thing was it actually sounded pretty good but talking of slippery slopes it led me down a long, long path designing a pivoting linear tracking arm.

FWIW the Garrard cost me $150 plus a case of my wine, for a late 50s grease bearing 301 in good nick that's not too bad. It was pretty good wine, we won some serious gongs with that one.

[Mabouya]

You guys got me digging a bit, and based on a Wirecutter recommendation I came across these guys:

https://uturnaudio.com/

Looks intriguing - affordable custom.

[rec head]

OP - I would recommend taking a breath and holding off for a minute. Your system is an all-in-one. If your wife is enjoying it then wait until you have a full plan to replace it all. Upgrading the TEAC is like buying a new bike with the intent of upgrading all the components. Sure you can but you'll usually spend more or realize that something is an odd proprietary component. Save up some money, buy what you want and sell the old one.

[sk_tle]

HiFi audio has a lot if similarities with road cycling. There are a lot of urban myths and dubious pseudo science theories spread by people, there is virtually no upper limit in price and past a specific decent budget the difference in performance, or in the case of audio sound quality, are much more minute if not at times totally placebo.

Sometimes, taking time to arrange your room and place your speaker in a more efficient position makes more difference than swapping components. Same as dialing your position on the bike.