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Critique my setup

Guys - just looking to get into the vinyl space.  I've always been into audio (worked a hifi store when I was younger) and love to do everything with music.  With entering the vinyl space, I'm looking forward to the more involving experience and the more analog sound and enjoyment that comes from spinning records.  I'm also using this opportunity to try out tubes - I've always heard about them, always wanted to try them, never actually had the chance.  Where I live now, there are no hi-fi stores within a few hours, so I'm just biting the bullet and buying from online retailers with good return policies.  

I'm curious what you guys think of the following:
VPI Classic Signature (3D tonearm)
Ortofon Black Quintet MC Cartridge
VPI ADS
Manley Chinook Tube Phono 
Jolida 3502 Integrated (comes with EL34 - thinking about upgrading right away to KT150's)
Klipsch RF25 Towers 
Deftech Supercube I (will probably try with/without and see what I like)

I was thinking about the Sonus Faber Venere 3's for replacing my Klipsch towers, they seem to me the weak link here in the system.  

I listen to alt rock, indie, some oldies, rock, and not so much the classical or jazz - although if the right stuff finds it's way into my library, I'll probably listen to it.  

So questions:
What do you think of the setup?
Speakers - are they the weak link here?  Recommendations in the < 3500 space if I was going to replace them?  
Tips/Tricks that you might want to provide while I get started on this journey?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
mattyjman
helomech
1,712 posts
 
@mattyjman,

Here is the reply I received straight from VPI:

"Hey helomech, yes there was a time we had essentially a "mini power supply" in the table. It won’t work with the Phoenix or SDS. The ADS was made while keeping in mind we had models out there with the mini PS board in there so it works but honestly... save the money, don’buy any of it and put the money in the cartridge (great cart for the money IMHO) and you will have a much greater jump in your sound improvement. Overall hope you’re enjoying the table."

He was referencing the Sound Smith cart I was considering at the time, a cart that didn’t turn out to be so great.

I should add that the Phoenix Engineering guy (maker of the Falcon PSU) said that these tables with the "mini power supply" (the tables compatible with the ADS) won’t benefit from any speed controller whatsoever, because the built-in power supply regenerates any input signal and negates any possible improvement.
rbstehno
1,472 posts
 
IMO both your speakers and amp are your weakest links. You are a tube guy so IMO I would stay away from Sonus Faber, these speakers tend to be a little dark and tubes won’t help lighten them up. If you like tubes, try out the rogue Cronus magnum II with kt-120 tubes. I used to own 1 and they are underrated.
if you go tubes, try some ushers/Wilson’s/others that are not so dark.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

@mattyjman There are so many makers and models out there that it’s hard to know where to begin. You need to get out there and listen to several different, to get a sense of what you like and don’t like.

We all have our faves, which are likely not shared by most others posting in an individual thread.

Mine: ProAc, PMC, Spendor, Vienna Acoustics, Silverline, Dynaudio.

Others that are frequently extolled: Vandersteen, Revel, Devore, Focal, Harbeth, etc. etc.


P.S. the lower lines in the Sonus Faber range are very much engineered to a price point.  Once you get up to the Olympicas, things start to get different/improve, but then I don't think they're price competitive.

helomech
1,712 posts
 
+1 twoleftears.

Great systems require synergy between components and one's ears. In the end, only you can make that assessment. The benefit of ordering from a place like MD is you get to try the components in your home for a reasonable amount of time. I would still try to narrow down choices before hand, in an attempt to avoid abusing that benefit. One method is to note what most like to pair with a specific brand. For example, Klipsch owners seem to have an almost universal preference for tube amps.
Manufacturer specific forums might be helpful in this regard.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,862 posts
 
@slaw Follow up to the foam debacle here: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/how-to-mount-acoustic-foam/post?postid=1523173#1523173
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