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Newbie with some turntable, cable, pre-amp, and speaker questions.

I am very new to "higher end" audio equipment and I have a few questions for the professionals. I thought I bought a decent used system until I saw a pair of $25k speaker for sale on one of the pages here. By no means did I think I purchased anything "amazing" but those speakers were certainly a reality check! lol :) Wood cones?....wow!

I’ve always wanted a nice sound system for my house, nothing crazy, but something I can play pretty loud and not distort the speakers.
I ended up buying a used H/K AVR 7300 and some Polk LSi 15s, Center, and a RSW 400. Paid $675 for the lot and I’m pretty happy with what I got.
I definitely need to complete the surround and would like to find at least a set of F/X’s and possibly 7’s to finish it off.

This system is probably substandard to most, but for a newbie with my 1st decent sound system...I am absolutely elated with the sound I am getting out of what I have. I’m not sure I want to even listen to a very high end system as I’d like to enjoy what I can actually afford!

I have a few questions about some items I received with the lot and some accessries I am looking for.
I would like to add a turntable to the system, and would like to get some opinions on H/K models that would be best to match up with what I have. I don’t need anything super high end, but don’t mind keeping my eye out for the best possible one to grab either. I’ve also been told I’ll need a pre-amp if I want to add a TT...not sure why, but if this is accurate, I’ll need some advice there as well.
Also, the system came with Monster cables but the ends are cracked and are now useless. Does anyone know if they honor their LT Warranty to 2nd owners?

Finally, if anyone has a pair of LSi F/X’s...I am looking to buy a pair immediately. I’m located in North Western NJ.
Thank you all in advance for any info you can pass along. It is much appreciated.
jomat77
willemj
1,036 posts
 
I was not joking about the Chromecast Audio (and I have a Linn Sondek/SME for comparison). See here for the CCA data at 16/44.1, using its own internal DAC:
freq response: +0.06/-0.5 from 20-20K Hz
noise dBA: -97.1
THD: 0.0033%
IMD+noise: 0.0050%
Stereo crosstalk: -89.1
This is already far better than any TT can achieve, and it sounds the part if you know what live acoustic music sounds like.
The internal DAC will struggle a bit at higher resolutions, so for those the digital output and an external DAC is recommended. However, I am not convinced that significantly higher resolutions produce any sonic improvement.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,382 posts
 
willemj says, “I am not convinced that significantly higher resolutions produce any sonic improvement“

I guess that’s pretty much sums the very reason why you so aggressively advocate Chromecast on almost every thread. May be someday you will step out of your 16bit/44.1khz ‘box’ and dare yourself to experience the higher resolution.

As good as 16bit/44.1khz files sounds through Tidal, the 24bit/192khz files are on another level. Granted, not all recordings benefits from higher resolution but the one’s that are, the differences in dynamics are far from subtle and well worth the price of admission.

If you have listened to higher resolution files and came away unimpressed then please include complete list of components in the setup in your reply.

PS: Kindly spare us from the test measurements and Archimago’s ramblings 😉
willemj
1,036 posts
 
No I will not spare you Archimago’s measurements as an antidote to your ramblings. My own equipment: Quad 606-2 amplification, Quad 2805 electrostatic speakers, plus B&W PV1d subwoofer tamed by Antimode 8033. All of this in a large listening room.
I have listened to enough hi res recordings, as that is what many Bluray discs are as well (or 24/48 on many DVD’s). And yes they often sound very good. However, there is ample research that questions the benefits of such hi res formats, as long as these are from the same masters, even though 16/44.1 is indeed at the very margin of where there may be benefits, or not (hence 24/48 may have been a better idea, but was impossible at the time of the CD format development). The snag with listening tests is that Hi Res recordings are often from different masters with greater dynamic range, and that is where the difference comes in, and not from the format itself. That may still be a reason to go for them, of course.
But in any case, the Chromecast Audio will also do 24/96, even of that is better done with an external DAC.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,382 posts
 
@willemj,

I see very little or no point debating with folks who choose to live in their own bubble. I rest my case, take it easy!
willemj
1,036 posts
 
Enjoy your bubble.
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