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Audiophile beginner with a question...

Hello!

I have begun my venture into audio with my purchase last week of B&W DM601 S2s. Right now, I am using a Marantz 2215b, and a Fisher CD player. (Which by the way, I will be getting rid of since it is old, and I am doing things little by little on a college budget.)To get to the point of things, here is my question:
What would you guys recommend for me in terms of a good starter CD player, and amp and pre-amp. This receiver is not cutting it, and the static is bad! By the way, the music I listen to is pretty much classic rock, and jazz.
Thank you very much!!!
hi_watt
fineberg
151 posts
 
You might try a combined unit like the Linn Classik if you budget is really tight. If you can spend a little more, you could get something like the Musical Fidelity A3 or even A300 integrated amp and a good used CD-player (I've seen the Arcam Alpha 9 used very cheap or a Rega Planet or Planet 2000). However there are many options in this price range. The first thing you will need to figure out is budget.

Good Luck
no_money
638 posts
 
What's your budget look like Hi watt? Check the used listings here for deals, click on options and you can enter your zip and look for stuff local too.
joe_b
421 posts
 
Suggest you skip a separate pre-amp and amp. Get an NAD receiver and use the rest of your budget for the best cd player you can afford. The Rega planet would be a good place to start auditioning. I am using an NAD receiver to drive B&W 602's in a 2nd system with a good cd front end and it sounds very good.
phild
603 posts
 
"No money" has a good point...what is your budget for these things? The above recommendations are good, but I know what my finances were like in college, and I barely had the cash for a pizza...let alone a used Rega Planet or Linn Classic.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I would also go with an integrated amp on your budget. Much more bang for your buck. Good ones are made by NAD (C320, C340, etc.), Cambridge Audio (A3i or A500), and Rotel(970 or 971, etc.). These companies also make decent CD players. The Cambridge D500 or D500SE would be my first choice; or the older CD4SE and CD6 used.


At the next higher price point, a great integrated is the Audio Refinement Complete made by YBA. CD players include some of the other ones mentioned above (Arcam or the Planet).

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