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Complete vinyl system, TT to speakers, for $1500?

We just returned from a 2-week visit to our son who lives in Tokyo.  While there, we met a nice young woman who told me she would like to acquire an audio system with the express intent of playing LPs in her apartment.  Her budget is $1500 or less, as noted.  It's been years since I ever had to think in such budget terms, and when I did think about a $1500 system, it was back in the 70s when you could really buy something decent for that total amount.  (You could also buy a car for only a little bit more.) So, I am here for advice; she needs TT, tonearm, cartridge, phono stage, amplifier, and speakers. Thanks.

lewm
mountz's avatar
mountz
132 posts
 

Sony offers a Bluetooth TT (PS-LX310BT Turntable with Bluetooth® connectivity $200) that is decent for a novice and pairs directly with a Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM ($400) and could be shipped new to Japan for under $1500.

lewm OP
13,036 posts
 

I am pretty sure she can buy Sony locally.  Sony cameras are all over the place at good prices. And I have no intention to buy anything for her and to ship.  She is quite capable of shopping locally. The audio marketplace in Tokyo is vast.  Thanks for the info on Sony bluetooth unit.

riie
219 posts
 

Hmmmm I am very sceptical you would get anything meaningful in terms of end to end TT sound for $1500. You can try and convince the nice young woman to go digital.

lewm OP
13,036 posts
 

She wants vinyl.  I don't think she would need my advice to assemble a digital system.  Nor would I have offered to give advice on a digital system. Seems vinyl is doable on her budget, based on the above posts.  The trick is to put oneself in her shoes; she's not an audiophile.  The resulting system does not have to make you and me ecstatic.

lewm OP
13,036 posts
 

Also, she has a small apartment.  A "small" apartment in Tokyo is very small by our standards in the US. Our son makes a good income there and in the past has lived in very small spaces.  (He just bought a 2-BR unit that is reasonably spacious, but again only by Tokyo standards.  We stayed at his place for the first time in over 12 years of annual visits.)  Therefore, for his female friend, a TT/tonearm/cartridge that comes with a built in phono/linestage seems a good idea, driving self-powered speakers. 

Strateahead, I looked up the Fluance product line. The TT80 and TT81 come with a built in phono stage.  Whereas the TT85 does not.  For that reason, maybe the TT81.  On the other hand, her budget might allow a TT85 plus Ifi Zen, which I did see on sale there.  Next question would be self-powered speakers.

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