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Configuring my system.. component opinions.

Hey All-
I have been a silent reader & student of this forum for a while and value all of your insights and opinions greatly.
I am re-configuring my system and need some advice. I listen to vinyl 70% of the time, apple laptop/iPod 20% of the time, and Radio (..remember radio?) 10% of the time. I use two turntables- Technics SL-1200 and SL-1300. Mostly I listen to rock, jazz, country. I sold my old Mac C29 preamp, but aim to continue using my MC2500 power amp (500x2). I currently use a pair of Spendor A5's, and my listening room is pretty large (40ft x 40ft)- I live in an open warehouse loft in Brooklyn.
My questions:
What are my options as a "preamp" component to get the 2 turntable sources, the tuner source, and a DAC into my MC2500? I probably prefer tube, but simplicity in source selection, reliability, and overall quality are more important in decision making. Is a pair of phono preamp AND a preamp smarter? Price is always a consideration, but I am willing to splurge on a piece that will last me a while.
Could I do "better" with the style of music I prefer (Grateful Dead, WIlco, Coltrane), the powerful MC2500, and my large listening area with a different set of speakers - or are the Spendor A5's a pretty good match.
Thank you all so much for any insights you may have!
Cheers
tudor141
afranta
180 posts
 
Once you have a preamp, I'd recommend changing your speakers. Your room is big, and I'm guessing that your small floorstanders are getting lost in it. You have enough power to drive just about anything. I'd be tempted to try Shahinian Obelisks. I haven't heard them, but people rave about their room-filling sound. My room is small, though, and others certainly have more experience with speakers that would work well in a large room like yours and will have different recommendations.
ksl822
32 posts
 
What about the new Mac C 48 preamp? I just purchased mine from the Upgrade Company and am extremely happy with it. It might give you everything you need, especially the built-in DAC which I feel is better than the W4S DAC.

You can also custom tailor the sound for your room/speakers with the 5 band tone control.

Have fun!
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Marakanetz, I think you mean SL-1. JL-1s are mono amplifiers.
vicdamone
850 posts
 
The Musical Surroundings Super Nova would be my first suggestion for multi-phono inputs. After that multiple phono stages get pricey. At the same Musical Surroundings site the Aesthetix Rhea is worth a look at.

http://www.musicalsurroundings.com/mus_surr_pgs/mslsurr_hm.html

Tube phono can be noisy with the gain up and no signal. The degree at which that changes to quiet when the stylist contacts the groove can be the measure of design.
One of the most fabulous phono stages is in the MFA Luminescence preamplifier (all tube version). Incredibly noisy at idle and microphonic to the touch beyond belief. Once in play nothing I've heard (which isn't saying much) even comes close to the organic and stunning dynamics produced. That evolution continues here:

http://www.theaudioarchive.com/TAA_Products_Wavestream_Kinetics.htm

Square rooms may require more sound absorption as opposed to the preferred reflection control. In any event the distance between the speakers should be the same distance to your ears at the listening position as a starting point for square rooms. Refer to the speaker manufacture as to the amount of toe in as a starting point.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
40 X 40 open loft? I'd suggest hiring a contractor to build a sturdy wall to provide better dimensional room acoustics, shouldn't be too expensive.
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