I would suggest a TT (brand new with an internal phono preamp) like something from Fluance or even Music Hall, Pro-Ject. Get the Aiyima Class D integrated (300wpc max, so expect 120WPC RMS) and then have her get the Fostex Speakers (single driver design) with flat packs from Japan. I’m thinking this will be at that budget, and scalable and definitely not budget looking.
Complete vinyl system, TT to speakers, for $1500?
We just returned from a 2-week visit to our son who lives in Tokyo. While there, we met a nice young woman who told me she would like to acquire an audio system with the express intent of playing LPs in her apartment. Her budget is $1500 or less, as noted. It's been years since I ever had to think in such budget terms, and when I did think about a $1500 system, it was back in the 70s when you could really buy something decent for that total amount. (You could also buy a car for only a little bit more.) So, I am here for advice; she needs TT, tonearm, cartridge, phono stage, amplifier, and speakers. Thanks.
- ...
- 60 posts total
REGA SYSTEM ONE The Rega System One (featuring an amp, turntable, and speakers) is unusual in that higher-end audio equipment is not usually marketed as an all-in-one box solution. Usually, most audiophiles will assemble a system from different manufacturers
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/rega-system-one https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/all-in-one-systems/rega-system-one-review/ “ …Affordably priced, the Rega System One delivers astounding, ear-opening sound…”
|
@lewm, you would have to stick with items produced in the Asian market. I would think Technics, maybe Yamaha, Parasound, NAD and so forth. Speakers will be the hardest as the Asians have never been that great at them. I would look for something that was a knock of on LS3 5As. I can't give you specifics because I do not know that market. Names and models vary with markets. Good Luck. |
Guys, thanks for all of the informative responses. Mijostyn, Luck has no role in this. She is a nice young person who is probably much less fussy than any of us. After all, she has no prior history with vinyl to use for comparison. We met her for the first time this visit, at an outdoor barbecue. (We've got about a dozen longstanding Japanese and ex-pat Chinese friends whom we've acquired over the years because they are Dan's friends.) akg-ca, I like the idea of the Rega System One very much. It harkens back to the 60s when KLH made a complete system that could be transported as a suitcase. The stereo speakers were derived from unsnapping the sides of the suitcase when the thing was in use. The central mass of the suitcase turned into a turntable, preamp, amplifier, and tuner that drove the speakers. KLH probably sold thousands of them. Of course, Henry Kloss was a genius. Anyway, the retail cost of the RSO here in the US is more than $2100, which surely will be inflated in Japan. So it is out of her budget. Budget is just about the only thing she stipulated. I will suggest it to her anyway. Rega and some other "Western" brands are definitely available in Tokyo. I saw a Rega P8 for sale in a high end store but did not note its cost. I mentioned earlier that a Reed 3G retails for the yen-equivalent of $8800, even at the current inflated dollar to yen exchange rate. But one cannot be sure that the mark-up or mark-down is the same for all foreign brands. I also saw Wharfedale, KEF, and Klipsch speakers. These Western brands are very popular. Also, any decent audio store over there sells an array of individual drivers, crossover networks, etc, for DIYers. I often saw men discussing the merits of this driver vs that driver. Both KEF and Klipsch make small, self-driven bookshelf speakers that would fit into her price range. Of course, a lot of this gear is in fact made in China, which is probably why you can find it in Japan. Let me re-state my question, because no one seems to have addressed it. When I look at the specs of one of these TTs with a built in phono section, it's hard to find a mention of the signal voltage output, and when I did find it for one TT, the output was listed as something like 300 to 400mV. So I wonder whether that output is enough to drive the built in amplifiers in the bookshelf speakers one might choose to go with the TT. Or do you need a linestage type device in between TT and speaker, to add gain? |
- 60 posts total