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Please recommend components for newbie with $1K

I currently have a late-90's Sony cd player, a pair of old Realistic speakers that are hand-me-downs from my father-in-law, and a Scott 418-A integrated from the mid-70's (I think) that I acquired at a pawn shop when I was an undergrad. Sounds pretty bad, so I want to upgrade. I can put in $1000 now, so I want to get speakers and an integrated amp or a receiver. I guess that gives me around $500 for each. I need the amp to have A/B speaker switching. A phono stage would be nice too, although I'm not opposed to getting a separate phono preamp in the future if necessary. This system will be a smallish room, about 14x10, 8' ceilings.

Unless I can find something used, I'm leaning toward the Marantz PM7200 integrated. Local shops have also suggested the Integra DTM 5.3 receiver. I would buy the NAD 720BEE today but it's $540 before tax.

Thanks for reading. Any amp and speaker recommendations will be greatly appreciated.
reanalyst
76doublebass's avatar
76doublebass
254 posts
 
Try to find Paradigm Atom Speakers used they only cost maybe $100.00 A pair.Great sound for a small bookshelf.
They put out a nice midbass and very nice mid band reproduction.If u wnat something with a phono stage built in try a Hafler Music Concepts 101 Preamp with built in phono stage and use it with an Adcom amp,plus an AR Turntable with a Shure Phono cartridge and you should be right back into audio land.
rkeman
66 posts
 
Magnepan MMG and NAD C352. Add a quality subwoofer to round out the system when more funds are available. This should be a very musical system for minimal outlay and will retain value well should you wish to upgrade. Good luck!
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
An MMG w/a sub sounds like a great combination. I personally would buy something other than the Marantz you mentioned. An Arcam Alpha 10 Int. amp is for sale here at around $500. If you're considering a bookshelf spk. check out the Ascend Acoustics CMB-170. (Just ordered a pr. for my downstairs basement music room. Same size room as yours. Have a little Energy S8.2 sub which will feel in the missing bass. If this combination doesn't float my boat, I believe I'll give the MMG a try.) There are some great deals on Tannoy MX1/2/3's spks. which sound very musical. Plateau makes some really nice affordable stands if you decide on a bookshelf spk. The RT series w/silver post is very attractive. Don't forget use decent spk. wires and Interconnects. (Straightwire makes some really good affordable products. Wireworld Oasis 3 Interconnects are wonderful sounding interconnects. Great value used) Good Luck!
reanalyst OP
3 posts
 
But hang on, do you want full range or monitor speakers? what music do you listen to most, do you like alot of bass?
Chadnliz,
I wish I knew the answer to the first question, but I don't know the difference between monitors and full range speakers. Could someone explain that?

I want to be able to hear bass, but I don't need big bass boom.

I listen to a lot of rock (Richard Thompson, Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Beatles, Stones, Taj Mahal) and a lot of bluegrass & folk (Richard Thompson, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gillian Welch, Del McCoury, Alison Krauss, Johnny Cash, etc).

Thanks for all the suggestions. Rkeman, the NAD C352 won't work for me because I need two sets of speaker outputs.
bignerd100
515 posts
 
NAD C720BEE + NHT SB3= 1,200 retail.
Most dealers can put this together for about 1K and throw in cheap wire (14/2 or the like).
This way you get a warranty (digital volume control on receiver-all things digital can poop out for no apparent reason).
NHT SB3 gives lotsa-bass for a bookshelf speaker, very durrable, and sounds like a $1,000 speaker.

Good luck!
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