Hello

In reading your post it seems your current system is actually geared to home theater and you now want to focus on high-quality (but modest) 2-channel audio. Your current system meets all your current needs except for LP.

Let me know if I misunderstood anything.

The Denon does not have a phono stage, so in addition to a turntable (and tonearm/cartridge) you need to buy a phono stage OR a new amplifier.

I would start my LP journey with Rega and Music Hall. They both make great, value-priced turntables that come with matching tonearms and cartridges and they make matching phono stages. If you want to replace the Denon, both brands make great phono-ready integrated amps, too.

Other phono-ready integrateds to consider are NAD, Cambridge and Rogue Audio. Moving up the integrated food chain you have Creek and Naim, but they both require separate phono stages.

The options above would add really satisfying LP playback for somewhere between $1000 and $4500 depending on the choices, coming in well-under your wife's $30k limit. You might also find great deals opportunistically on eBay for turntables from VPI or Linn.

Just make sure that your phono stage matches your cartridge in terms of impedance and gain (an MC cartridge won't work with an MM-only phono stage).

If you want to replace the Arcam, it seems the Oppo BDP-105 can do no wrong and also plays video (I find the sound a bit soft, but still impressive).

As for the speakers, it's important they mate well with your amplifier, so I wouldn't make a recommendation until you've thought about the electronics.

Hope this all helps.

Scott

shp wrote:

Hello

In reading your post it seems your current system is actually geared to home theater and you now want to focus on high-quality (but modest) 2-channel audio. Your current system meets all your current needs except for LP.

Let me know if I misunderstood anything.

The Denon does not have a phono stage, so in addition to a turntable (and tonearm/cartridge) you need to buy a phono stage OR a new amplifier.

I would start my LP journey with Rega and Music Hall. They both make great, value-priced turntables that come with matching tonearms and cartridges and they make matching phono stages. If you want to replace the Denon, both brands make great phono-ready integrated amps, too.

Other phono-ready integrateds to consider are NAD, Cambridge and Rogue Audio. Moving up the integrated food chain you have Creek and Naim, but they both require separate phono stages.

The options above would add really satisfying LP playback for somewhere between $1000 and $4500 depending on the choices, coming in well-under your wife's $30k limit. You might also find great deals opportunistically on eBay for turntables from VPI or Linn.

Just make sure that your phono stage matches your cartridge in terms of impedance and gain (an MC cartridge won't work with an MM-only phono stage).

If you want to replace the Arcam, it seems the Oppo BDP-105 can do no wrong and also plays video (I find the sound a bit soft, but still impressive).

As for the speakers, it's important they mate well with your amplifier, so I wouldn't make a recommendation until you've thought about the electronics.

Hope this all helps.

Scott

i have never heard the OPPO 105 but am thinking of getting one in a few months. i have heard people talk about the sound in many positive ways before but have never heard anyone say that it sounded "soft". are you reffering to the treble response or just the overall sound?...didn't mean to hijack this thread...

You can move slowly and build a system through time or you can go all in and buy a full 2 channel or 2.1 channel system.

Is this going to be integrated into your existing system or space? If it is, you could add a turntable and phono stage. At entry level, about $500, Music Hall, Rega and ProJect compete. I like Rega, especially for Jazz. Others really like the Music Hall. I have never heard the Debut Carbon from Pro Ject though lots of people love it.

At price points above, I would strongly advocate for the REga RP3 at $1100 or RP6 at $2000. Rega is great at producing horns and strings. The RP1 lacks a bit of bass detail, the RP3 is more detailed but not perfect. The RP6 is amazing and is an A+ choice for jazz. The other table I would seriously consider at that higher price point is the Clearaudio Concept. It is a better table than the RP3 and it is personal preference vs the RP6. Music Hall and VPI also make tables in this price range that others are likely to strongly advocate for. I would pick a phono stage from the turntable manufacturer you choose as it will pair well with the cartridge.

For amp and speaker, if you want a pair of full range, floor standers, a lot of entry level integrates are going to fall way short of being able to power them. If you want bookshelf speakers, smaller integrates will work fine. Which you prefer would be very helpful to know as it will help the group out here offer better recommendations.

The Oppo BDP 105 is the gold standard. If it is in your budget, get it and move on.