Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
October 25, 2016 - 12:34pm
#1
Yet another n00b build request
Loudspeakers Amplification | Digital Sources Analog Sources Featured | Accessories Music |
Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources | Analog Sources Accessories Featured | Music Columns Retired Columns | Show Reports | Features Latest News Community | Resources Subscriptions |
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.
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.
Thanks for the replies to date. I went to a local shop and listened to some Magnepan 1.7's and wow, I couldn't believe a design like that could sound that good. It was hooked up to a pretty high end Primaluna amp, so that helped out, along with two powered subs. After reading a lot of really good reviews of the Parasound Halo Integrated, I was happy this shop also had one in a different demo setup with some conventional floorstanding speakers. It was pretty powerful and the shop owner said everyone that works there loves that amp. He also strongly encouraged me to consider getting a different turntable, belt drive, even if it wasn't from him (Rega and VPI dealer) and not spend more money on the SL1200MK5. I'm strongly considering a VPI Scout now and selling the Technics. I really liked those Magnepan 1.7's, but they definitely need a sub to go with them IMHO. It seems my first "low" budget audiophile system will by a Parasound HINT, Maggie 1.7's, and probably start with one SVS SB16-Ultra subwoofer. I'll have to live with the SL1200 until my wife cools down from the cost of the other components and then I'll get the VPI, or perhaps a cheaper Rega.
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.