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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
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,327 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
1,841 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
10,184 posts
 
@slaw Follow up to the foam debacle here: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/how-to-mount-acoustic-foam/post?postid=1523173#1523173
mattyjman OP
5 posts
 
@rbstehno how is the Jolida a weak player?  I’ve heard great things about this amp.   What do I get by purchasing a more expensive amp.
rbstehno
1,552 posts
 
I have owned 4 Jolida pieces and still own 1 today. I have also heard their top of the line pieces/separates at shows and they sounded good, but never was on a wow list. For the $$$ Jolida is good sounding, but for the same $$$, you could do better, like a Rogue Cronus Magnum II with kt-120 tubes. I bought the rogue after comparing against the Jolida separates. When you look at the 3402 fusion amp with kt-120 tubes, it is rated at 80 watts, whereas the rogue Cronus magnum II with the same tubes is rated at 110 watts. So I’m not bashing Jolida, I just wouldn’t own their products if I was considering moving up
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