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Complete newbie needing guidance/purchase advice

Hi folks-

First of all, let me apologize in advance for a lengthy post. I'm a brand new forum member after recently being introduced to this site by an acquaintance who heard I was looking for sound advice... As my thread title states, I'm completely ignorant when it comes to the audiophile world, but I really want to start building a system and learn something in the process. A little background on me: I've been making a living as a recording artist and studio musician for almost 20 years, but my career choice as a music-maker has somehow ironically detached me from the simple pleasure of just sitting and _listening_ to music for the sheer enjoyment of it. My wife and I are currently in the process of remodeling our bonus room into a media room, and one of my objectives is to at the very least turn it into a space where I can do some critical listening.

I currently don't have anything decent... Just some old Bose bookshelf speakers and a Yamaha surround receiver. The closest thing to 'something decent' that I own are a pair of Etymotic ER-4S headphones coupled with a Headroom headphone amplifier.

The big limiting factor is my budget. Given that fact, maybe I have no business posting here... I will probably need to build this piece-by-piece over time, so I'm content with having to stretch the process out. I'm not concerned with having to have the 'best' of anything; I would just really like to make listening to music an engaging and emotional experience for me like it was for me many years ago.

Would a speaker purchase be a good place to start? I was perusing the Audiogon classifieds today and saw that there is actually a pair of DK Designs LSA-2's for sale local to me. The asking price is at the top of my speaker budget, a little over a grand, which I realize is probably 'chump change' in the audiophile world. However, I've read some reviews and they seem mostly positive. Would be super-convenient to be able to find something nice that was used and local, but as I said before, I'm completely new to this. Another related question: Is it better to go with floor-standing speakers, or can decent sound also be accomplished with bookshelf speakers combined with a subwoofer?

Also, what are the other 'basic' components that would need to be purchased? The only other thing I know I'd love to have would be a decent turntable; I'd love to be able to go and purchase some of my favorite classic albums to listen to once again. Do I need a separate preamp and power amp combination? Are there any 'receivers' that do a decent job of covering both tasks?

Any other feedback or direction you experts could throw my way would be greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance!
renaissanceman9
minorl
1,015 posts
 
Welcome. You are in the best place and position. You are new to the hobby and aren't biased or prejudiced by other's viewpoints. Since you apparently are redesigning your room for media and critical listening. Both, so, lets not forget that point, take the time to make sure your room is electrically wired adequately now so that when you improve or upgrade equipment (which you will be doing), you don't have to run new cables or electric outlets.

When the walls are down, it is better and easier to run cables before finished work is accomplished. Since you aren't yet the king of the audiophile world with separate amps, pre-amps, etc. I recommend running three separate sets (1 set equal two outlets) of outlets back to the circuit breaker panel. The first set of outlets (two) will be dedicated for your home theater system. The equipment would be all connected to a power source/conditioner, such as a monster unit. It allows you to plug all of your home theater equipment into the same unit, which runs back to the panel. The second and third set of outlets are dedicated solely to your music system. amps are plugged into one set of outlets and and remaining parts of your audio system are plugged into a power conditioner/outlet source. This will vitually eliminate any ground loop problems. This is the easiest thing to do before you complete your room. Again, it is better to do this before the walls are up. Also, run any needed cables for your theater system in the walls.

Next, before buying any audio or home theater equipment, please do yourself a favor and take the time to go to as many dealers/stores as you can and audition equipment and listen to your favorite music as you can. Go to friends homes and to audio/home theater shows to get a good idea whats out there, the complexity and the cost. Read decent audio and home theater magazines to learn criteria, system integration and costs. Don't be afraid to ask questions and most importantly, don't let anyone, dealers, sales people or friends/acquantences, etc. talk you into buying anything that you aren't familiar with. once the electical/cable wiring is done, set up your room with your existing equipment and enjoy it as-is for awhile. Then slowly, piece by piece replace or upgrade as needed, until you are where you want to be. it is easy for anyone to recommend equipment to you, but it is much better for you to go with your signifiant other or friends and audition/ask questions, view home theater systems in as many stores/dealerships or audio/home theater shows as you can. not only is this worthwile and extremely informative, it is also fun.

enjoy
renaissanceman9 OP
14 posts
 
A lot of great info here. I really appreciate the insight!

Just a couple of minor clarifications- By 'classic' albums I actually just meant classic in terms of 'classic pieces of work.' Sorry I wasn't more clear. The music I like to listen to the most is Jazz, Jazz/Fusion, Funk, and Rock. I do enjoy classical but don't listen to it as regularly.

Minorl, unfortunately the room is already complete from a construction perspective. At this point we are just furnishing the room and in the process I am trying to plan for incorporating a system for audio and video. Any new wiring will have to be run through walls, etc. However, I will share your post with our handyman and see what he thinks we can do.

Reubent, you are correct. I am in the Nashville area. Thanks for the forum tip! I will definitely check out the Nashville Audio Society and see if I can get connected with some folks. It would be awesome if I could get to hear some different systems in town and gain some more knowledge.

Now I'm going to look up some of the brands and models that some of you have mentioned and see if anything is at a local dealer that I can hear...

In the meantime, anyone have any advice on what to look for when shopping for turntables? :D
manitunc
795 posts
 
If you have no vinyl at all, buy a used rega 3 and some decent albums and see if you like it. Then buy something better.

If you already have a bunch of albums and want to hear what they can really do, figure on about $2000.00 used for a VPI Scout, Sota Sapphire or a high end Rega or Project turntable and arm. SME 309 works well on the Sota, the others come with arms. Then get an Ortofon 2c Black or Dynavector 17d2 or Benz Glider, all used, low hour. The Black will run on MM input, the others require MC. Even a Sumiko Blue Point Special is available cheap and will run on MM.
Get a decent phono preamp in the $500 to $750 range used. GCPH, Simaudio, Jolida, Ear and others are available in that range and offer very good sound for the price.

Play, enjoy, and join the ride
tobias
1,534 posts
 
Tobias, do you think that a better initial purchase would be a piece of upstream gear? I suppose either way I'm starting from scratch... :)

Renaissanceman9, thank you for asking. If it were me I would spend some money, perhaps $400, on replacing your speakers now. At that price I would expect to find "monitors" and stands more easily than floorstanders. Monitors can be very satisfying indeed. They may have little or no output in the very low frequencies but they can have enough mid and upper bass to let you follow bass lines perfectly clearly. I would not even think about subwoofers at this point.

You will learn a lot as you follow up the Nashville club route and everything you learn will help you with your speaker choice. When you do get the new speakers, plus stands and some inexpensive cables, you will have loads of fun before you, as you experiment with speaker placement and acoustic treatment measures for your room.

In the meantime you can be looking for an integrated amplifier. By my count you have about $600 left, perhaps augmented a bit if you want to sell your Yamaha. Should you spend it all on the amp, or split it between amp and source?

If you decide to do the latter, you will not have enough to go for both CD and vinyl playback. If your digital playback is good enough now, you'll have to decide between amp or amp plus turntable. If your digital playback is lacking now, forget vinyl temporarily and upgrade the digital source as well as the amp.

One possible amplifier to look for in the $250 to $300 range is the NAD 320BEE. This amp also comes in newer (therefore slightly more expensive) versions, such as 325BEE and 326BEE. They are all fine. This amp or another similar one may be enough to satisfy you while you work on other parts of the system. If not, you should be able to resell it at little or no loss, and if you don't need your remaining money for source gear, you would then look for a better amp at a higher price.

I hope this is of some help. What is your digital source at present ?
xti16
1,525 posts
 
My experience is that I bought an integrated amp (Bryston B100sst) and thought it would be my last amp. Later I found MY speaker (Dyn C1) and the Bryston although very good wasn't great for the Dyn C1 monitor. I have since upgraded the integrated to an Octave V70se tube integrated. Short version of my story is get the best sounding speakers you can afford first then worry about everything else. Could have saved me some big bucks had I gone that route first. Don't get me wrong because the amp and source(s) DO make a considerable difference. But the speakers generally make the biggest difference in my opinion which is what I have experienced.
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