Narcosis wrote:

I grew up listening to vinyl on my dad's Sansui G6700 and Sansui turntable. I've longed for the sound, well, for too long. I started buying records at various shops when I travel and snatched up a 1200MK5 in mint condition. Before the hate post start, yes I know it's not the most optimal turntable compared to today's option.

The room I have is a finished basement with nine foot ceilings and dimensions are 20x25. It's a slab floor with no carpeting. I listen to a lot of different things, jazz, blues (live and studio), current rock, classic rock, alternative, hip hop, electronic, funk, and sometimes Sponge Bob singalongs.

I was eyeing the Wharfedale 240 set. I've read this is a warm bass speaker and a tube preamp would be too warm. I was considering a Tavish pre until I learned about the compounding warm effect. I like a strong bass with tight snare, but I also need something to bring out the live voice of Luther Allison or intense vocals of Maynard from Tool. I have no other components so need everything except the spinner. I'm open to having a dedicated sub as well.

Budget is $5,000 which I know is relatively low end in this market, especially after I saw what some of the recommended speakers from the editors go for, $210k!!!!

Thanks in advance for your expertise.

The Wharfedale 240 speakers should be a good choice, and they are not especially "warm", in my opinion; pretty neutral.

Tube amps tend to be very expensive, compared to good solid-state amplifiers that have excellent sound. You really need to spend at least twice as much money to get more or less comparable sound quality.

I recommend that you get a Musical Fidelity M3si amplifier, which is very musical and has plenty of power. It goes for $1500, and includes a phono preamp and DAC. This is a nice price for an amplifier that out-performs most amps under $2000 in terms of nice sound quality.

Personally, I think you would get better sound from a Music Hall MMF-2.3 turntable, which you can get for only $500 or so, plus $300 or so for a good cartridge.

Narcosis wrote:

I grew up listening to vinyl on my dad's Sansui G6700 and Sansui turntable. I've longed for the sound, well, for too long. I started buying records at various shops when I travel and snatched up a 1200MK5 in mint condition. Before the hate post start, yes I know it's not the most optimal turntable compared to today's option.

Thanks in advance for your expertise.

I think you will get quite a bit of bass from the 240 speakers, especially with a hard floor like you describe.

I would not be in a big hurry to get a subwoofer; try them out and see.

I think those speakers would not be benefitted much by a subwoofer except for the very largest kettle drums and very low pipe organ notes, etc.

Hi. You live in the US, so you HAVE to give the Rogue Audio Sphinx v2 serious consideration. Pair it with Wharfedale Jade 3 (or Jade 5 / Golden Ear Triton Two if you want floorstanders and you think your room can handle them).

Imo you can make the Technics sound very good with all the modifications available (check Kabusa first, since you're in the US, but an Originlive tonearm should make it sound amazing - Onyx or Silver). Drop a Herbie's way excellent mat that's designed for Technics (also found in the US), upgrade the feet, drop it on a maple plinth (that also sits on some kind of isolation, like Vibrapods) and you're good to go. As for cartridge, Nagaoka MP200 for a warmer sound, Ortofon 2M Black for a more revieling type of sound.

For interconnects I highly recommend Atlas Cables, and for speaker wire Anticables, DNM Reson, Chord are some of my favourite.

I love the way Maggies sound and that Parasound Halo is a great integrated. SVS makes a superb sub and both VPI and Rega make great tables. Congratulations.