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Putting together first system... clueless.

Hello everyone, I've begun piecing together my first system, and I'm not really sure what to do in regards to the preamp. Vinyl is going to be the only source for the system.

The goals of the system are minimalism (as little as possible between the record and the speakers), and upgradeability. I figure, if I do it this way, can more easily learn about the differences in components and get a good feel for what I like and need, and upgrade accordingly.

It's a budget system and I should only spend about $3-4k for the entire system. The equipment I've bought so far is a Rega RP1 w/performance pack, and a Musical Fidelity VLPS-II. I think I'm gonna go with something from Magnepan for the speakers, so I've got maybe $1-2k left.

My question is this: Are there any recommendations for an extremely minimal preamp stage that is basically just 1 source in/out, with a volume control? If this equipment doesn't exist, is it much of a factor in this system if it's just a volume control? (As in, I could just make it myself with quality parts without introducing terrible sound?)
baliacta
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Next step is to choose speakers and an integrated that matches well. Integrated amps have come a long way and there are many excellent current models available.

Try the archives to see what others members are using.
I like the Rogue Audio Cronus tube integrated.
baliacta OP
3 posts
 
Thanks for your help everyone. I really appreciate the advice. The Lores look better on paper than the Omens, and the smaller pricetag is nice. With the low power requirements of these speakers, it looks like I could go with any of these Jolida amps. Is there a threshold where having more headroom begins to have diminishing returns in regards to helping out with the sound?
wolf_garcia
6,696 posts
 
I don't think too much headroom is an issue with moderately powered tube amps. Also, I rarely pass up an opportunity to question the picking of a "type of music" for hifi components...get the widest frequency range stuff you can afford as all music benefits from this.
dayglow
1,901 posts
 
Baliacta-The Magnepan SMG/MMG have been the budget reference standard for 25+ years. I have not heard any of the Tekton models or the Zu Omen but the MMG will hold it's own against any of the speakers you mentioned. If your room will accommodate the larger MG 12 that will give you the extra bass the other speakers "might" have when compared to the MMG. 3 intergrateds I would check out are the NAD M3 or the Wyred4sound STI-500/1000 these are easy to find in the used market for around $1500.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
If you are on a budget and you want tubes, its likely that you will not have a lot of power to spare. For this reason you want a speaker with greater efficiency, and for that reason I feel like a Magnaplanar would be a poor choice.

Zus are popular with smaller amplifiers as they are easy to drive; I would keep that in mind.

If you want any amplifier to perform and show off its 'amplifier investment dollar' its usually best if the speaker efficiency is high enough that the amp is rarely asked to make more than about 25% of full power.
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