Hi, Snafu714 (are you from the O.C.? The 714 area code...) Please don't feel bad about asking anything around here. All of us were at your position one time or another, and without help of others, who knows where we'd be. We might even still be listening to Bose.

TT-wise, I haven't heard the units in your price range, but the consensus is the entry-level units from either Pro-Ject or Rega are the safe bets. Cartridge-wise, if you go with either TTs, I believe there's a packaged cart. A value cartridge I'd love to try out, though, is the Ortofon 2M Red. Under $100, and I'm sure you can enjoy your records no problem, until you save up for something else... plus, MM carts are easier to begin with. But another option, definitely, is Denon 103 cartridge. Cheap. Low-output Moving Coil. But I know so many vinyl aficionados who swear by this cart, even when they can afford something more exotic or hi-fi.

As for speakers, I've been seeing Devore Gibbon 8s pop up on Audiogon for $1000-$1200, used. That is an insanely great price for what they sound like. The first proper 'hi-fi' speakers I heard were Devore 8s, and I still remember how they sound. They're fantastic & they should last you for a long time, without you feeling the urge to upgrade.

With your budget, don't go separate power/pre amp. Get an integrated. I'm going to speak for jackfish here, who'd probably recommend a Jolida hybrid integrated amp. There's a model called 1501A, which uses two 12AX7 tubes for preamp stage, and MOSFETs for output. 100 wpc. I've seen these on Audiogon for $400. You need a phono stage, though, and if you're going with Pro-Ject, look into Pro-Ject Tubebox II, which can be had for ~$325 used on Audiogon. Or Bellari VP-129 tube phono stage, $250 new. I'm sure Ariel from this forum would be happy to tell you about the Bellari. (But if you have your heart set on a Denon 103 cart, you need a step-up transformer; check out a DIY kit from K&K.)

Or you can go with some integrated amps that offer phono stages, like the Onkyo A9555, which sell for under $500, new. But if I were you, I'd check out the used Jolida hybrid amp with Bellari tube phono stage first.

Hope this helps! And if you haven't already, read the budget gear reviews which are archived at this site. (Oh, what are the dimensions of your listening room? Crucial for speaker decisions.)

Hello Matt. Thanks for joining the forum. It's really awesome to see you here; I'm happy to hear that you're putting together your first system with vinyl as a heavy priority.

I was in your same position not too long ago. With your budget in mind, here is my advice:

Get a Rega P1. It comes equipped with an outstanding tonearm. It also comes equipped with a fine cartridge. You won't have to worry about setting anything up. The P1 comes ready to play. Much later, you can upgrade your cartridge to something like the $50 Audio Technica AT-95E. It'll offer a significant increase in sound quality. And it's cool-looking.

The speakers you've already mentioned are great. When reviewers say that speakers lack some bass heft, or whatever, they're saying this in comparison to full-range speakers that often cost much more money. For your first system, a modest (but excellent) standmounted speaker will offer sound that you'll love from top to bottom. In some ways, standmounted speakers have advantages over floorstanders. In addition to the two models you've already noted, I would also suggest looking into the PSB Alpha B1. They match up wonderfully with the Rega. You'll be too busy enjoying your music to realize there's any bass missing.

Yes, you need both a preamplifier and power amplifier to make music. But, as selfdivider noted, you can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, by buying an integrated amplifier. An integrated offers both preamplification and power amplification in one chassis. Simplicity! I would look into the entry-level models from NAD and Cambridge Audio. Again, both companies make great products.

Because the signal generated by your turntable's cartridge is so very small, you need to increase that signal to a level that your integrated amp can handle. This is where the phono preamp comes in. Excellent, affordable phono preamps are available. As selfdivider mentioned, the Bellari phono pre is beautiful and awesome. The modest NAD PP-2 or Parasound Zphono are also impressive and relatively inexpensive.

If you'd rather avoid the hassle of finding a separate, outboard phono preamp, you can consider an entry-level integrated amp from Tangent Audio. Their AMP-50 and AMP-100 integrateds both include phono sections. For the price, the sound is very good.

That's it. You'll need speaker stands and cables, too, of course. But it can be just as simple as that.

There are many, many other options and many, many other ways to go about putting together a system. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about moving-magnets vs moving-coils, I wouldn't worry about step-up transformers, I wouldn't worry about tubes or MOSFETS. All of that stuff can come later -- if you want it to -- after you've enjoyed your system and spent all of your money on music.

Most important: have fun.

Thanks again.

EDIT:

Quote:
If I were you, I wouldn't worry about moving-magnets vs moving-coils, I wouldn't worry about step-up transformers, I wouldn't worry about tubes or MOSFETS.

Unless, of course, you want to worry about that stuff.

I would second the Rega P1. But I would buy it from LP Gear for the stylus upgrade. Like getting $155 more cartridge for nothing. The Rega P1 at LP Gear

Quote:
Hi, Snafu714 (are you from the O.C.? The 714 area code...) Please don't feel bad about asking anything around here. All of us were at your position one time or another, and without help of others, who knows where we'd be. We might even still be listening to Bose.

TT-wise, I haven't heard the units in your price range, but the consensus is the entry-level units from either Pro-Ject or Rega are the safe bets. Cartridge-wise, if you go with either TTs, I believe there's a packaged cart. A value cartridge I'd love to try out, though, is the Ortofon 2M Red. Under $100, and I'm sure you can enjoy your records no problem, until you save up for something else... plus, MM carts are easier to begin with. But another option, definitely, is Denon 103 cartridge. Cheap. Low-output Moving Coil. But I know so many vinyl aficionados who swear by this cart, even when they can afford something more exotic or hi-fi.

As for speakers, I've been seeing Devore Gibbon 8s pop up on Audiogon for $1000-$1200, used. That is an insanely great price for what they sound like. The first proper 'hi-fi' speakers I heard were Devore 8s, and I still remember how they sound. They're fantastic & they should last you for a long time, without you feeling the urge to upgrade.

With your budget, don't go separate power/pre amp. Get an integrated. I'm going to speak for jackfish here, who'd probably recommend a Jolida hybrid integrated amp. There's a model called 1501A, which uses two 12AX7 tubes for preamp stage, and MOSFETs for output. 100 wpc. I've seen these on Audiogon for $400. You need a phono stage, though, and if you're going with Pro-Ject, look into Pro-Ject Tubebox II, which can be had for ~$325 used on Audiogon. Or Bellari VP-129 tube phono stage, $250 new. I'm sure Ariel from this forum would be happy to tell you about the Bellari. (But if you have your heart set on a Denon 103 cart, you need a step-up transformer; check out a DIY kit from K&K.)

Or you can go with some integrated amps that offer phono stages, like the Onkyo A9555, which sell for under $500, new. But if I were you, I'd check out the used Jolida hybrid amp with Bellari tube phono stage first.

Hope this helps! And if you haven't already, read the budget gear reviews which are archived at this site. (Oh, what are the dimensions of your listening room? Crucial for speaker decisions.)

Selfdivider-

Damn, you've left almost nothing else for me to say. I agree that integrateds are a great way to put together a very musical system at an affordable price.

Snafu-

The Project Xpression2 would eat up nearly half your budget. The nice thing is it's a great 'table that is good enough to grow into by upgrading the cartridge later as funds allow. The Debut III because the arm isn't is good, the platter isn't as inert, and it has captive interconnects makes a lot less sense trying to put a great cartridge on it.

I've been thinking about what I would select for a first or only vinyl system for $2000 and this is one I came up with.

Rega P1 turntable improved by LP Gear - $395
http://www.stereophile.com/turntables/507rega/

Onkyo A-9555 digital integrated amplifier - $450
http://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/907onk/

Vandersteen 1C loudspeaker w/1C bases - $1100
http://www.sstage.com/revequip/vandersteen_1c.htm

Add an Oppo DV-980H for $170 for a pretty darn good CD, HDCD, SACD and DVD-A source.
http://www.stereophile.com/musicintheround/108mitr/index1.html

My two cents on an integrated amp with a phono stage: Marantz PM7001. This is listed for about $600. I found one for a little under $500. My Rega P2 seems to like it, and I don't feel the need to upgrade or get another phono preamp.

I've seen the Marantz PM7001 for $430-460 on some discount websites. Another good choice for a budget system.