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Trying to Help My Nephew With His First Venture Into High End Audio

Would appreciate some advice on how to proceed.

I am "gifting" my Nephew several components and a set of speakers, from my 2nd system. Most of this stuff is from 1995, but works well and still sounds very good. He listens to mostly Rock music on Vinyl.

Here is the base system we are starting with (digital only, no Vinyl):
Totem Model 1 Speakers (4Ohm and 98db)Meitner MTR-101 (MUSE-TEX) Mono Amps (100W into 8 Ohms, 200W into 4 Ohms)
Rotel Solid State Preamp, RC-970BX (No phono stage)
Marantz CD Player (CD-63SE)Opening price point interconnects and a set speaker cables
I would like to keep him focused on "separate components" versus an integrated option. I believe this will help him to learn about how each part of the system contributes to the sound, and if he chooses to change something, he can "perhaps" upgrade 1 component without changing the entire system.

Also, he is a bit hesitant about tubes. However, I would like to introduce tubes somewhere into the system (preamp or outboard phono perhaps) so he can learn about the benefits and shortcomings of tubes in Vinyl playback.
As you can see from the system I am gifting him, he will still need to buy:
A turntable/arm/cartridge.Either a tube preamp with phono section (if replacing the Rotel) or an outboard tube phono stage (if keeping the Rotel).
Also a SUT depending on what direction you suggest.

He has $5,000 to spend.

labpro
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Your nephew is young, why don’t you advice him something modern instead of a belt drive Sota turntable for pensioners? :)


Technics SL1200GR (or G) is much better choice for 33 y.o. guy. Almost any MM or MI carts are fine for Technics magnesium tonearm with VTA on the fly and detachable headshell. Audio-Technica, Grado, Soundsmith, Garrott … whatever if you want new. 
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
@noromance

I like Mikey, but as I have the Hagerman Trumpet, and now my new Soundsmith MIMC Lo cart, I can tell ya, Mikey had that set-up wrong. Not sure why he was so confused by the instructions, but changing the Trumpets settings would have helped his evaluation a lot. Left me scratching my head. Heck, it really isn’t rolled-off with my Soundsmith hi output Zephyr either, but there is only one setting for the Trumpet in MM mode.


@labpro

Im a big Soundsmith fan, but for $750 your only choice from them in that range is the Carmen. Not a bad choice, though. I would check-out the Hana SL; right at that price point.

And cannot go wrong with a SOTA.
labpro's avatar
labpro OP
94 posts
 
For those still following this thread, I must say how disappointed I was when I tried to find a sub $4,000 turntable available for demo at my local brick and mortar audio dealer.

Only very high end on display. Is the next generation of audiophiles expected to do everything online and demo using YouTube? 

Anyway, I looked at the Technics GL. I think my Nephew liked to trade in policy of SOTA, and he felt that Donna (SOTA owner) would provide good service. 

@bkeske, for classic rock......Soundsmith or Hana SL? Thanks.
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
@labpro

@bkeske, for classic rock......Soundsmith or Hana SL? Thanks.

I have everything from ‘classic rock’ to jazz, to folk, to classical (play a lot of classical these days), and think my Soundsmith carts sound good with any of them.

@tomic601 (Jim) has the Hana ML on one of his systems, also spins a variety of music, and although he seems to like it, he has recently said he thinks it may be a bit ‘soft’ overall after living with it a while. I know others here who have, or have owned the SL, and think it is a great bargain.

Another is Nagaoka. Their 300 comes in under $750 and has received good reviews.

I also have a Goldring 1042 as a back-up, and really like that cart for the money, but although similar in sound to my Soundsmith carts, doesn’t quite compare in overall performance and detail. But it’s also less than half the cost. Very picky about getting the set-up ‘right’ though.
labpro's avatar
labpro OP
94 posts
 
Thank you. Much appreciated! 
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