onehaqq01
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Building a New Turntable System
jackfish
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We gotta know...

onehaqq01
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I'm thinking $800-1000 total (including the $399 for the turntable) - so about $500-600 for the other stuff!

Thanks!

jackfish
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particularly that it comes with the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge.  $600 for a phono stage, integrated amp and speakers might be seen as rather limiting. However, this is the entry level so compromises will have to be made. The speakers I can whole heartedly recommend are the newly Andrew Jones redesigned SP-FS52 Floor Standing Speakers from Pioneer for $260 a pair. Watch for them discounted when they come into stock again; might find them for about $160/pair.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Speakers/Home+Theater+Speakers/SP-FS52

Here is a review of the predecessor Pioneer bookshelves: http://www.stereophile.com/content/pioneer-sp-bs41-lr-loudspeaker

You should get pretty good service from a Harman Kardon HK3490 stereo receiver, found online right now for $300. Has a passable phono section and is competently designed.

http://hometheaterreview.com/harman-kardon-hk-3490-stereo-receiver/

http://stereos.about.com/od/stereoreceiverreviews/fr/HK3490.htm

onehaqq01
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Thanks Jackfish for your prompt reply!  Extremely helpful (esp for someone like me who is ignorant of all this stuff-ha).

 Some follow-up if you don’t mind:

  1. I’ve seen in other posts you recommend the Music Hall MMF-2.2 – is this a better TT than the Pro-ject Carbon Debut?  I’m not wedded to the Pro-Ject so could get the Music Hall if it is a better unit.
  2. Does the Harman Kardon HK3490 stereo receiver replace the need for a pre-amp, and amp that I see posts about?
  3. I could increase my price point to $1300-1500 if need be, are there better speaks, pre-amp, and amp at that point?  Will I need anything else?

Thanks again Jackfish – you posts are extremely helpful!

onehaqq01
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my understanding for doing some research is that the Harman Kardon HK3490 stereo receiver cannot be connected for TV/video audio HDMI (in addition to the turntable) - if that is correct, does Harman Kardon make something like that HK3490 stereo receiver that would allow me to connect the TV/video audio also?

thanks again for answering all my questions! much appreciated! 

jackfish
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level turntables in my estimation. Good cartridge, decent motor and plinth, and a good tonearm with adjustable VTA. You will have to decide if that is worth the extra $50. The difference in the sound between the two might be largely attributable to the cartridge. I prefer the sound of the Tracker, you might like the 2M Red better. If you absolutely need to save the $50 to spend elsewhere then get the Carbon.

The HK3490 has a passable built in phono preamp, so no additional phono preamp is required.

$1,500 certainly increases the possibilities. Again, there are going to be tradeoffs, but you could put together a really good sounding system with $1,500.

Music Hall MMF-2.2 turntable $450 or Pro-Ject Debut Carbon $400

Music Hall A15.2 integrated amplifier w/ built-in phono preamp $500

Magnepan MMG loudspeakers $600

How are you wanting to connect a TV to a music system? If it is for two channel audio only, most TVs have a stereo analog output which can be connected to a line level input of your amplifier.

onehaqq01
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Thanks you kind sir- appreciate it!  Will def get the Music Hall TT based on your rec!

Some follow-up:

(1) Connecting to TV: Right now I have a Sony soundbar with subwoofer connected to my flatscreen- this: http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/50-14110&scode=GS401&CAWELAID=823323914?cagpspn=pla&gclid=CIyB9tqi27ECFcyA7QodZl0AQQ

I would like to connect the turntalbe/speaker system I buy to the TV (instead of the soundbar) - not sure with what - I'm assuming the same way as I connect to the Sony soundbar?  Does that make sense.

(2) Are there major differences b/n the HK3490 and the Music Hall A15.2 integrated amplifier w/ built-in phono preamp (besides price).  When you say "passable" built-in phono preamp for the HK3490- what does that mean.  Will I be able to use these to connect to my flatscreen.

(3) What about connectivity to my Ipod- that seems simple audio in audio out- correct? 

 

Thanks again in advance!

 

jackfish
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(1) What make and model of flatscreen TV do you have? Most have stereo analog output that would patch to the amplifier with an RCA cable or 1/8" cable. HDMI would not be used.

(2) Yes, there are major differences between the HK3490 and the Music Hall A15.2. You can expect better sound quality with the Music Hall A15.2. The phono preamp in the HK3490 is not great but adequate. I would expect the phono preamp in the Music Hall A15.2 to be better. Again, you would use the stereo analog output from your TV with an RCA or 1/8" cable to connect to a line level input of the amplifier.

(3) You would use the headphone jack from the iPod to connect to the 1/8" jack on the front panel of the Music Hall A15.2 with a stereo 1/8" cable. With the HK3490 you can use the Bridge II iPod dock (sold separately) which uses the digital output of the iPod and the HK3490's internal DAC for better sound quality. With the Music Hall A15.2, the iPod DAC is used and the amplifier receives an analog signal through the headphone jack. If you are playing MP3s it probably doesn't make much difference. But if you are playing Apple Lossless the iPod will probably sound better through the HK3490.

onehaqq01
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really appreciate the feedback!  

my TV is a Samsung LED HD Flatscreen TV- I bought in 2009.  It has a number of HDMI slots as well as many audio/video componout output slots- does that make sense?  how would I connect it to the amp?

thanks!

jackfish
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On the back panel there should be a L/R pair of RCA jacks labelled AUDIO OUT. You would connect to an amp with a stereo RCA cable between the TV AUDIO OUT and a line level input of the amp. Line level inputs are usually labelled AUX, Input 1 through 5 on the Music Hall A15.2 or in the case of the HK3490 VID 1 through 3 in the AUDIO input section. While watching TV you could control the volume with the TV remote after setting the amp volume at an appropriate level.

onehaqq01
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Just a quick follow-up - just received the TT and the A15.2.  Still awaiting my speakers.  But my question is, on the back of the A15.2 integrated amp, there are two slots for speakers (Speaker OUT) and (Line OUT) - which do I put my speakers into (speaker out)?  What is Line Out for...in the manual is has a picture of what looks like another integrated amp (and speakers and an amplifier).  Do I have to put anything into the line out?

 

thanks in advance! 

jackfish
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amplifier or subwoofer. The SPEAKER OUT has right and left speaker binding posts which accept bare wire, spades or bananas for the connection to loudspeakers.

Drtrey3
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Jackfish. Patient and informative answers like yours are a credit and a boon to our hobby. Outstanding!

Hey, I went to Emofest and had a ball! You should come some year!

 

Trey

onehaqq01
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appreciate your promptness as usual!

onehaqq01
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i love my new system - I got the Music Hall MMF -2.2 TT, and Music Hall A15.2 integrated amp and the pioneer speakers.  beautiful sound.

I bought two of the pioneer speakers you recommended- love them - but for some reason the left speaker players louder than the right?  is this normal, or did i not connect it correctly with the speaker wire?

thanks again in advance!

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Hi,

 

I have a Pro-ject Debut III Phono USB (which includes a phono preamp), connected to a Peachtree Nova. At first, the volume was too low, so I connected it to a line level booster (JEC 780 LC), which raised the volume satisfactorily.

However, I wasn’t fully satisfied with the quality of the sound the was coming out, so I decided to try a different cartridge (an Audio-Technica 120E). I noticed a great improve in the quality, but the side-effect was a lower volume. I mean, it’s really low, especially when I compare with the sound coming from other sources, like a Ipod or CD.

By now, you probably noticed that I’m far from being an expert on hi-fi. I wonder what can I do to raise the volume (without causing any distortion) and maybe even improve the quality of the music coming form the turntable…

Should I get a better preamp (bearing in mind that the Debut phono already has a built-in preamp) ? The turntable Manual says that, due to the built-in pre-amp, connecting the Debut to a phono input is not suitable.  

Should I get a  better line level booster?

jackfish
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I would take it to an authorized dealer for inspection.

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