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I'm glad I found this thread as it has some good advice. I noticed something that isn't in the OP but really should be. For audiophile components on the cheap, you all should check out Emotiva. I just preordered the USP-1 preamplifier and am pretty excited. Below are a few links you might be interested in, and I'd say you must check them out before you buy your next component. http://emotiva.com/ http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XflLmNQEtU4
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Jul 10, 2009 02:12
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bacon! posted:I'm having a hard time on google finding reasonable phono pre-amp reviews. There are tons of these things, and its either this guy : http://www.phonopreamps.com/ (TCC TC-750) or crazy audiophile $5000 bullshit reviews from Stereophile. Do most people just have these built in to their receivers? Where do I find sensible information about this? Is it wrong just googling for 'phono preamp review'? I just ordered this from Emotiva: http://emotiva.com/usp1.shtm I'm getting one from the first shipment next week, and check out their forums and they can answer some of your questions.
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Jul 19, 2009 02:51
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Not an Anthem posted:Do you work for them or something? Its not cheap and its definitely audiophile nonsense, plus this is the more vintage thread than "magic beans in a jar" thread. No. In fact I just found out about them a few months ago and they're known for putting out really high end sound for A LOT less money than audiophile manufacturers. By the way, it's a 2-channel preamp (see thread title) and bacon! asked a question about where to find a reasonably priced preamp. Don't be a oval office. bacon! posted:That one looks nice and isn't too expensive, but it probably has too many features than what I need (i just need a phono stage). Also, I don't trust THEIR forums to tell me about it I'm primarily getting mine as a phono stage, but it doesn't hurt to have the ability to hook up a cassette deck and CD player, as well. If you don't get one by next week I can let you know how it is. Also, if you check out their reviews section of the forum there are plenty of user reviews for their last preamp, the RSP-2, of which the USP-1 is built on the same platform but is stripped down with fewer features. http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=rsp2 I know it's THEIR FORUMS, but it seems to be a pretty down to earth company and the guys that make the stuff will answer questions there, too. I know I sound like a rep or something, but I guess I'm just excited to get my preamp next week.
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Jul 19, 2009 20:23
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bacon! posted:Has anyone used any of these vinyl record cleaning devices such as the Nitty Gritty: http://www.nittygrittyinc.com/ or are these just audiophile snake oil? I've used something similar at my local record shop. There's definitely nothing "snake oil" about it. Clean records very noticeably play better and devices such as these are the most thorough methods of cleaning. I am not at the point where I'm able to invest in one right now, but it's definitely on my short list.
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Aug 16, 2009 06:20
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bacon! posted:I just bought a GEM record cleaner and some fancy sleeves from sleevetown, along with nitty gritty FIRST pre-cleaner. The sleeves were backordered, unfortunately, but once they come I'll post some pics and a trip report of the cleaning process. Its reviewed pretty well (but only amongst stupid audiophile websites, so who knows) and is significantly cheaper than a vacuum cleaner. That looks very interesting. Let me know how you like it because that is a far less expensive route. I just went to the Sleevetown website and see the sleeves I have are backordered. If these are, in fact, the ones you got, you'll love them. I keep all my records in those sleeves behind the album jacket, but both inside the outer sleeve. That makes for easier access to the vinyl and prevents ring wear. Ghumbs fucked around with this message at 22:10 on Sep 23, 2009 |
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Sep 23, 2009 22:06
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Nimrod posted:
I've heard pretty good things about this: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-XDRF1HD-HD-Radio-Tuner/dp/B00168Q248/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1254007583&sr=8-1 Note: HD /= High Defininition
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Sep 27, 2009 00:27
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metaxus posted:Any other Pro-ject owners in here? Very cool. I've got an RM5 SE and love it. As for the record you're listening to, I'll just throw out Talking Heads.
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Sep 29, 2009 09:47
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metaxus posted:It's Madonna. I'm sad. For now I'm using the Sumiko Blue Point #2 that came with it. I'm sure I'll use it for a while but I don't know what I'll upgrade to next.
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Sep 30, 2009 16:05
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Thuel posted:I'm in the process of putting together my first real music system. I'll mostly be using it for playing music off my laptop/ipod/turntable and mostly listen to indie rock and hip hop. I'd spend upwards of $1500, but I'm just really looking to get the best value. I've never been a fan of big ugly hi-fi equipment, so design is also important to me. When it comes to power and technical aspects, I'm just learning as I go along. So far I've found some things I like and some deals in my area, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Look into Emotiva. I bought a USP-1 Preamp, UPA-2 Amp, and 2 ERM-1 Speakers. They are very well regarded as the best bang for the buck, plus they have a great 5 year warranty on all of their equipment. Additionally, I have an Energy ESW-8 sub and a Pro-Ject RM-5.1 SE turntable. With your budget, I'd consider: http://emotiva.com/erm62.shtm (currently on sale) http://emotiva.com/usp1.shtm http://emotiva.com/upa2.shtm A sub...I don't have much expertise in this area. If the space isn't too big, I got mine at Costco for $100, and it works quite well for a smaller room. If you're looking for one to power a living room, though, you might want to get a larger one. My setup sounds amazing. You can also find very good reviews on all of those components I recommended. Call Emotiva and see if they have any of those in b-stock. You can save even more money that way. Let me know if you have any questions. Edit: And I forgot to mention they have a 30 day trial period, though you'd have to pay return shipping. Nevertheless, it gives you some peace of mind. Ghumbs fucked around with this message at 15:19 on Oct 26, 2009 |
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Oct 26, 2009 07:34
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I can only advise based upon my experience but if I were you I'd get: Pro-Ject Debut III or Rega P1 (both same price point, both come with a stylus) ~350 Emotiva USP-1 Preamp (has both headphone and phono) ~400 Grado SR-125 ~150 I'd say the turntable and preamp are about as cheap as you'd want to go, especially if you ever want to buy an amp/speakers. The Grado SR-60 or SR-80 are fine choices, as well, so buy the headphones last with whatever you have left. I just sold a Debut III for 250, so look for a used one of those in nice shape and that would save you a bit. The USP-1 is still fairly new, but you might as well call Emotiva and see if they have one in b-stock, which could save you around 50-100. Look for used Grados and save a good amount. The number one site I recommend for used is Audiogon. Their grading scale is strict and the users seem pretty honest and knowledgeable, so it's a great place to keep your eyes open. There are a couple used Pro-Ject tables up right now. Let me know if you need anymore help. Also, what's your budget?
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Oct 27, 2009 04:09
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How about some TCA WAF-1s or AV123 ELT525s?
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Oct 27, 2009 22:05
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To those looking for a really awesome preamp with both a headphone amp and phono stage, I just came across this on Audiogon: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1262043482&/Emotiva-USP-1-Preamp Same unit as I have and it's great. Plus, the 5 year warranty is transferable, so you should get about 4.5+ years.
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Oct 30, 2009 02:54
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McCracAttack posted:This might not be exactly the right thread for this question but I imagine all the right know-how is here. What's the path of least resistance from vinyl to headphones? I have a set of Grado SR80s and I'm always impressed by their clarity. I'm thinking I'd like to get a taste of this analog magic everyone's on about. So, I'd like to set up some sort of vinyl listening station that can sit next to an armchair. I'd probably like to keep this project under a couple of hundred dollars in case it ends up underwhelming and I want to hawk it on cragslist. I'm sure I come across like a broken record (heh) with this recommendation, but here's what I use and I promise you it will be the best for the money by far, though maybe more expensive than you can do: http://emotiva.com/usp1.shtm Plus it's on sale right now. Great headphones, by the way. I have a pair of SR225s and I love them, although I bought an amp and speakers so they haven't been getting a ton of use lately.
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Nov 23, 2009 08:22
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1000 umbrellas posted:I've been holding off on buying speakers, but now I see that AV123 has a sale on their ELT525M monitors that someone had recommended a few pages ago: $169.00 for the pair, shipped. Haha, I had no idea you went the Emotiva route. Your preamp and amp are the same as I have. I've heard great things about those speakers you just bought. I was between getting them and the Emotiva ERM-1s and went with the Emos. I'm sure they're fairly similar, but one thing you should know about both of them is that you will want a subwoofer for the low end. Go to Costco if you have one nearby and they have an Energy ESW-8 for $100. If you're in a reasonably small room, it will work great. Enjoy the system you've put together. Mine sounds incredible and I know you'll feel the same about yours. Let us know how everything works out.
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Dec 20, 2009 00:55
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Raymn posted:I have a Pioneer sx-1100 that I got from my father. It sounds fine but when I adjust the volume I get the crackle that other people have mentioned as well as the volume can go slightly wonky unless I very slightly nudge it around. Is this something the DeoxIT can fix? Or is it more of a component problem due to the volume issue? I tried taking a look inside and had no way of readily accessing behind the faceplate. If the DeoxIT will work, can I just spray it from the top and let it soak down? I read the guide someone posted earlier but I couldn't really tell if hosing anything and everything was bad or not to hopefully get at the pieces that needed cleaning. You might be able to replace the potentiometer. DeoxIT could work but I've never used it so I couldn't help you with it. Good luck.
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Jan 7, 2010 08:25
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Wombot posted:Soooo, looking at getting a turntable. Looking on CL, I've got a couple SL-1200Mk2s for 200-250, and a "5-year old Pro-Ject" turntable for 100 (With a box of records). Assuming the Pro-Ject is actually in good shape, that's a steal no matter what model it is. The picture is blurry but it does look like a Debut III. If the albums are in good shape it's a no-brainer. The whole ad seems too good to be true, though.
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Jan 12, 2010 08:39
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Wombot posted:OK, good. Looking around, I read some blurb on it that mentioned the "attached" cartridge, like it was permanent or something. Worded weird. Yeah let us know and congrats if it all works out. Pro-Jects are great tables. I've owned a Debut III and currently have an RM-5 SE. You'll like it. What are you hooking it up to? Also, let us know what vinyl came with it. Good luck!
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Jan 13, 2010 09:23
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I remember a while back, 1000 Umbrellas was looking for a rack-mountable component system and ended up "settling" for some Emotiva gear. Well, good news for him and anyone else looking for both: http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=accessories&action=display&thread=10450&page=1 Just thought I'd follow up with that as I saw it posted today.
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Mar 24, 2010 18:40
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metaxus posted:Secondly, I built my own vacuum record cleaning machine. I, for one, am very interested in hearing more about this. I look forward to the pics!
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Mar 25, 2010 18:32
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Mr. Clark2 posted:I posted this earlier in the general questions thread, but later realized that it would probably be better in this one so I'm reposting: Hope this helps: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1281376475&/Dahlquist-DQ10- and an auction: http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?spkrfull&1277517462
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Jun 22, 2010 21:02
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CountOfNowhere posted:Are you near Portland? I have a couple nice tape decks that I don't want anymore. 3-head Onkyo Integra and a Yamaha dual deck thing. If he isn't close by, I'm in Seattle and have been wanting to get a cassette deck.
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Aug 28, 2010 20:06
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Sloppy posted:Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the only difference between an amp and a receiver is that a receiver has a tuner section. You're right if we're talking about an integrated amp where the preamp and amp are both present. My amp is separate from my preamp so it does nothing besides amplify the signal and send it to the speakers.
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Sep 21, 2010 20:48
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Face Of Bear posted:I finaly got around to buying a new TT that actually works. I found a used rega planar 2 for 290usd which is pretty cheap in Norway. Assuming it's in good shape that's a steal. Nice find!
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Sep 30, 2010 06:17
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Bill O'Riley is GENIUS posted:This is the kind of post I wasn't looking for. If you have something helpful and/or informative rather than disparaging and/or elitist I would like to hear it. Think for a moment about what he's telling you. You asked if it's a problem with the records or with the turntable. Hint: It's the turntable. It's not disparaging to call your turntable garbage when it most definitely is the problem. I don't know what kind of post you were looking for.
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Nov 3, 2010 01:59
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Anal Volcano posted:I guess I want a player that'll last at least 3 or 4 years without needing much fixing, maybe in the $200-$300 price range? I like the Pro-Ject Debut III or Rega Planar 1. Others will recommend a used Technics 1200. Any of those will do everything you ever need them to.
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Nov 15, 2010 06:42
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Picked these up during the Black Friday sale, which ends tomorrow. I should be getting them in about a month. They have extremely polarized reviews, so I'm glad there's a 60 day auditioning period with free shipping both ways. I'll post my thoughts in here when I get them.
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Nov 28, 2010 08:42
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trdn89 posted:So with my Christmas bonus coming I'm thinking about upgrading my stereo setup and since this thread has yet to steer me wrong I thought I'd throw out a list of what I'm considering. For reference, my current setup is a Debut III w/ the stock Ortofon OM5, an Outlaw Audio RR2150, and a pair of Insignias (along w/ a Spin Clean). Anyone wanna go to bat/throw out the hazard lights for any of the following: Of the options you gave, you'll absolutely notice the biggest difference with a cart upgrade. You may want to do some research to see what options are available in your budget. Nothing wrong with Ortofon, of course, but there are lots of options out there. I don't think any of the other upgrades are bad, but the cart that comes with the Debut III is noticeably louder than my cart, which isn't the end all by any stretch (Sumiko blue point #2).
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Dec 5, 2010 18:19
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trdn89 posted:Another AV4babbies question: is it worth investing in a tube amp if I already have a quality stereo receiver? The Bellari VP130 has awesome reviews and is in my budget (and would also be another component I could keep using as I upgrade TTs), but if it won't offer any significant upgrades over my RR2150 I'll pass. That's a preamp with an integrated headphone amp. Your Outlaw probably does both of those jobs better than the VP130. From everything I've read, in order to get really good sound out of tubes, you'll be looking to spend quite a bit of money. I don't want to get into the solid state vs tubes debate because audio is really subjective, but I can say with confidence that you'll be happier spending that $250 elsewhere. Edit: Take all the money you're looking to spend on audio and invest it into a cart. I listened to them side by side and there is a world of difference between the noisy stock cart on the Debut III and the Blue Point #2 I have (which admittedly isn't all that wonderful, either). Ghumbs fucked around with this message at 22:31 on Dec 8, 2010 |
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Dec 8, 2010 22:27
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trdn89 posted:Don't worry, you've definitely convinced me to drop at least $200 on a cart upgrade I have the RM-5 SE, myself. I almost purchased the Debut III instead. If I remember, correctly, it was the difference between $350 and $900. The stock cart on the RM-5 was worth $300 and I didn't care much for the fact that you can't unplug the cables from the Debut III. For those reasons, a few others, and the fact that I'm a sucker for the aesthetic, I bought the RM-5. It's difficult, in this case, to say what you should do. I think a $500 cart on a Debut III will put out better sound than the Xpression with its stock cart. Does that mean you shouldn't get the Xpression? No. You have to decide whether or not the Debut III is the turntable you want to keep. Same goes for the Xpression or RM-5, for that matter, as I sometimes dream of getting a VPI Scout II or the like. However, I will say that buying a nice cart is safe in that it can generally be put on whatever turntable you get down the road. Platter/tonearm/mat upgrades are table specific, so I'd only buy those if you're committed to your current table for the long haul. If you are considering new tables, though, Rega just released a new entry level table, the RP1, that looks to be rather nice. I like the feel of their tonearms.
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Dec 8, 2010 23:47
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I'm currently leaning towards the 2M Blue since I've seen it recommended as a specific upgrade for the Debut, especially for newbies like me (I'm anticipating a harrowing installation experience since I've never installed a cartridge before, let alone one worth 2/3rds as much as my TT), although per your urging I'm looking into the Blue Point too. I'm just curious about what else I can do within the confines of this turntable.
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...D#ht_485wt_1158 This is an early model of the new turntable TDK is putting out. I like the look of it but the onboard phono stage and USB port isn't really my cup of tea. But I'm happy to see a new kid on the block. Hope it's built well and not a plastic piece of plastic.
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Dec 22, 2010 09:58
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Ron Burgundy posted:Wow, it looks really nice. Hopefully something like this becomes the de facto standard masspro turntable those that don't know any better pick up. I can tell from just looking at that prototype that it is 8000% better than those cd recorder vintage type looking things. Exactly right. It will be interesting to see if the vinyl market begins to wane or becomes a long-term alternative to digital music. Seeing things like mainstream companies taking a turntable design seriously makes me think the latter may be the future. Or at least I hope.
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Dec 22, 2010 11:02
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I figure since I bought some kickin rad speakers and got my living room halfway setup, I may as well post a picture. Also, I should mention I'm seriously looking into building a Nelson Pass First Watt F5 amp. Don't know if there are any DIYers out there but I've heard great things about them and they can be built for under $500, I believe. Ghumbs fucked around with this message at 05:11 on Jan 9, 2011 |
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Jan 9, 2011 05:09
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Sub-$2k tables have bad specs? In which sense? No blinky EQ?
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Feb 16, 2011 08:10
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Owsla posted:Yup, no blinky eq A Pro-Ject RM5 with a Speed Box (my setup) would come close. But keep in mind wow/flutter and s/n are two big specs, but they aren't the entire picture. The PRo-Ject 9c tonearm and certainly Rega tonearms better the Technics. It's not entirely fair to compare it with the Debut III since it's hundreds less than the Technics.
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Feb 16, 2011 20:48
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Owsla posted:I saw this on eBay and couldn't help myself. I love this generation of Pioneer gear, I'm on the hunt for a nice SX-750 or SX-850 receiver now.
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Feb 24, 2011 00:37
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MichiganCubbie posted:I believe it's a newer mk2. He offered to let me try it for a week to see if I thought that it was too beat up. He's looking for around 200 for it, and it has a Shure cart on it. I'll check it out and see. Thanks a lot, guys
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Apr 13, 2011 05:03
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Illumination posted:Why the hell is the 1200 being sold new for a grand on Amazon? I saw a few posts in this thread saying that production for them really isn't being halted and that the price raise for them is b.s. Meanwhile, I'm seeing a grip of them on eBay being sold used for $300 and less. Production has been halted.
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Apr 22, 2011 07:02
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grahm posted:Also wondering about this. The amazon reviews seem to be down on it because of the USB functionality, which I could care less about. I'd like the built in preamp so I can save money short term... I'm sure I'll buy a better preamp eventually, but for now I'd be fine with built in. And it looks nice. And the price doesn't destroy the bank. The Amazon reviews are from Vine reviewers. Complete morons. You can see my critique on one of their "reviews" in the comment section. For the price, it doesn't seem to be an awful option, but I'd probably advise something else since I don't like all-in-one features like a built in preamp.
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May 10, 2011 07:07
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metaxus posted:Project RPM5 with an Ortofon 2M Black or Vivo Blue. I have the one before this with the mostly carbon fiber arm and it's been a great table. However, I am considering selling it and replacing it with an SL-1200.
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May 11, 2011 16:52
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Fritzler posted:I am getting ready to purchase a debut III and a Marantz PM5004 receiver. I figured that I may as well get new speakers too, any suggestions? My budget is a little under $1,000, and this will be mainly to listen to records, but down the line I may also hook it up to a TV/DVD player, but priority one is vinyl. Do you listen to music at low, medium or high volume? I'm going to go ahead and plug the handmade speakers a friend of mine makes. The Blumenstein Orcas sound incredible and have a very flat response. The only thing is you'd want to pair them with a sub. He has a 30-day return policy. So full disclosure: I saw an ad for handmade speakers here in Seattle and visited his workshop a number of times because his speakers are awesome and Clark rules. Seriously an awesome guy.
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Jul 21, 2011 17:40
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