(Part 2) Best home audio products according to redditors
We found 26,202 Reddit comments discussing the best home audio products. We ranked the 3,285 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Thanks everyone. I'm glad to join the team and I think I've got a few ideas you will really enjoy. Currently mobile but I will update this post a bit later when I get home.
Time for a celebratory dram.
As requested, my build is below:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor | $269.99 @ Newegg
CPU Cooler | Corsair Hydro Series H50 Liquid CPU Cooler | $49.99 @ Newegg
Motherboard | ASRock P67 Extreme 4 (B3) ATX LGA1155 Motherboard | $180.81 @ NCIX US
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $56.99 @ Newegg
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $56.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $88.86 @ Outlet PC
Storage | Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk | $62.99 @ Microcenter
Storage | Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk | $62.99 @ Microcenter
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $149.98 @ NCIX US
Video Card | XFX Radeon HD 6950 2GB Video Card (CrossFire) |-
Video Card | Powercolor Radeon HD 6950 2GB Video Card (CrossFire) |-
Sound Card | Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card | $19.99 @ Microcenter
Case | Antec Nine Hundred Two V3 ATX Mid Tower Case | $123.84 @ Mac Connection
Power Supply | Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply | $114.99 @ Newegg
Optical Drive | Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer | $19.98 @ Outlet PC
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) | $130.20 @ Amazon
Mouse | Logitech G500 Wired Laser Mouse | $54.99 @ SuperBiiz
Keyboard | Ducky Shine Blue LED Cherry MX Blacks |-
Monitor| Viewsonic VX2439wm|-
Monitor| Yamakasi Catleap Q270 SE|-
External DAC| Behringer UCA202|-
Bling| LOGISYS Computer CLK12BL 12" Cold Cathode kit|-
Subwoofer| Dayton Sub-1000|-
Amp| AudioSource Amp-100|-
Speakers| Pioneer SP-BS21-LR 80 Watt RMS 2-Way Speakers|-
Headphones| ATH-M50S|-
| | Total
| Prices include shipping and discounts when available. | $1443.58
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-09 20:16 EDT-0400 |
Ducky on the old "desk"
more pics incoming... stay tuned while i find a real camera
Desk top and complete picture
For the same money as the sound bar plus the HDMI cable, you could go with this setup which would be miles ahead of that, and also easily upgradeable.
Start with this $150 Pioneer receiver. I have one, it's perfect for a basic receiver.
Then add these $90 Micca L/R front speakers.
Use this $150 Dayton subwoofer, or one of the other sizes depending on your room. I have the smaller SUB-800, it's an excellent small sub, i'd've gone bigger, but my wife put the kibosh on that.
Finally, if you decide to space the bookshelves out the way you should, instead of sitting on the edges of the TV stand, add this $70 Micca center channel speaker for a full 3.1 setup. Actually, even if you don't space them out, get the center. It really helps with dialog, especially if you sit off center.
Total: $460, not including shipping. Buy some inexpensive speaker wire similar to the HDMI cable you ordered, just be sure it's solid copper.
You'll have a full 3.1 setup that would handily beat all but the absolute highest end sound bars for audio quality, and is easily upgradeable. You can move the MB42x front speakers to the rear and upgrade the fronts and center, or simply add another pair for 5.1. You can also easily upgrade the subwoofer or receiver.
In addition, if you have any gaming consoles, plus a blu-ray player, a cable box, and possibly an HTPC, or might add one, the receiver has more HDMI inputs than most tvs, making it the logical choice for the command center of your system.
Edited for clarity, additional info.
So, I got rid of that low voltage regulator that was hard wired to that box, the cheap Amazon Amp I bought had a normal plug in 12v 3amp that I have plugged into the outlet. All the speaker around the house work. Here is the cheap amp I bought. http://amzn.com/B00ULRFQ1A
I havent upgraded all the other speakers yet. Just the base station and 1 room.
Sound waves have length based on their frequency, called wavelength. Higher pitched sounds have shorter wavelengths. Any sounds which reach a full wavelength within the distance from the driver to the edge of the baffle are reflected back to the listener and sound louder, and any which leave the baffle before hitting a full wavelength are not, and are quieter as a result. This is called "baffle step loss".
One way to minimize this effect is to spread it out - if the tweeter is the same distance from two sides (or even three sides, if it's close to the top), the baffle reinforces the same frequency range in every direction. If you offset the tweeter so it's a different distance from each edge, it reinforces a slightly different frequency range in each direction, giving it a smoother response across the frequency range. This sounds better on its own, and may also make it easier for the designer to incorporate a "baffle step compensation" into the crossover, toning down the reinforced frequencies.
Another reason it's done, in "MTM" or bigger speakers with multiple low-frequency woofers and a single tweeter, is to get the big drivers a bit closer together.
Now, tweeters aren't always offset on homemade speakers. There are plenty of designs with centered tweeters, and some sound very good. And sometimes they're offset on commercial speakers. It just happens that a few very common DIY designs, like the Overnight Sensations here, use offset tweeters. If I had to guess, I'd say that commercial speakers are either more concerned about symmetry for aesthetics, or are designed using more custom components that make the baffle step easy to deal with, while DIY speakers are more likely to worry about getting the best performance possible without tricks.
I replace the inner sleeve with MoFis for every purchase.
Here’s why:
It actually DOESN’T sound good. Normally, I’m the kind of guy who goes “if it sounds good to you, it sounds good to you”, but Victrola/Crosley/etc brand turntables have incredibly INCREDIBLY cheap components, cheap speakers (that are part of the unit, which I’ll explain why that’s bad in a second), and a bunch more stuff, crammed in an ugly form factor for like $60.
Let’s break all that down:
Cheap components - depending on the model, the Victrola is either $60, or $110, frequently on sale for much less. We must also keep in mind the laws of economics, these machines are cheaper to make then they sell for. Let’s give a conservative estimate of $70 for the 8-in-1, and $40 for the 3-in-1.
The Audio Technica AT95E NEEDLE, not even a whole turntable, not even the cartridge it goes onto, just the needle costs $35, and that’s a cheap entry level needle.
Now ask yourself: if buying a needle is nearly as much as the whole turntable costs to make... how good are those parts? Probably not that great. In fact, the needle on most cheap turntables use ceramics, rather than diamond tips. Ceramic needles not only are harsher on records, but have a poorer quality sound overall.
Then we look at the motor, we need an even speed for playing back records, and with quartz crystals or belts, that’s fairly easy, but those systems are $$$, so we have a cheapo motor that can’t handle a constant speed leading to “wow and flutter”, fluctuations in pitch and sound caused by speed differences. Now, unless you have a really really high end deck, some amounts of wow and flutter are to be expected, but the Victrola has a high amount.
Then, the tone arm. Generally speaking, the needle shouldn’t be pressing down on a record more than 3-4 grams or so, depending on the needle/cartridge you are using. Because these things are portable, they need a solution that doesn’t get goofed up when you move it, so weight from the tone arm varies BY UNIT to 10+ grams. That’s CRUSHING your record, and actively wearing out the grooves. Now, yes, records DO wear out over time, but that’s after hundreds if not thousands of plays.
And lastly, the speakers. These are contained IN THE UNIT, meaning if you are playing loud, they are shaking the whole unit, and thus the needle, and thus reducing the sound. As well as the fact that these speakers are usually quite small, and as stated before, quite cheap.
The rest of the buffalo- So that’s just the turntable! Then you’ve crammed a cassette deck, a CD player, a radio (am and fm with antenna), a aux in, and a Bluetooth receiver in there, and you have to assume the cost of those parts are as cheap as well, so you really have a $20 turntable, $10 CD player, $10 radio, $10 cassette deck, $5 aux input, $10 Bluetooth chip, and $5 for plastic assembly and now you’re realizing you’ve paid $110 for a $70 Machine that promises too much and can’t fulfill much of what it claims to do very well.
Ugly- And then this is down to personal taste: dude, that shits just ugly. Faux wood paneling, a “retro” design that never really existed, disks and buttons everywhere. I’m not saying the LP-120 looks good, but it’s leagues better in comparison.
So that’s why it’s dumped upon.
So why would you spend $110 on a $70 machine, when you could save up about $100 more, and get a DRAMATICALLY BETTER MACHINE. Yes, it's made in China like the rest of the Victrola/Crosley tables, and yes, it has a plastic body, BUT!
It has:
Or, how about only $60 more, and you could get a U-Turn Orbit. It's belt driven, so if you wanna run a record at 45 RPM you'd have to move the belt, but still, DRAMATICALLY better than the motor driving a Victrola, and again, DRAMATICALLY better parts for audio. Sure it's missing a Phono preamp, but that's only $13.
In short: why would you buy a $70 machine for $110 if you could save up a bit more and get something so so so much better
When your Obutto seat starts to fall apart after a few years you can just bolt a real SPARCO seat onto that frame instead of some lame gaming chair. My cockpit feels more bad ass than ever 8 years after I originally bought it. And if you havent yet bolt 2 of these (https://www.amazon.com/AuraSound-AST-2B-4-Shaker-Tactile-Transducer/dp/B0002ZPTBI) onto the seat frame. You just need a $50 amp to drive them and a mini audio jack splitter to splice the sigal out from your sound card. Drives the immersion up even more.
He isn't joking about those speakers. I have the same pair, got them from Amazon. (Of course) They sound incredible for $130 bucks.
I couldn't find an affordable buttkicker brand package but I did find a great amp and transducer on amazon for 2/3 the price of the Gamer 2 (cheapest buttkicker) at just about $100. It works fantastically! I'll post links to the products if you care to see them.
Edit:
AuraSound AST-2B-4 Pro Bass Shaker Tactile Transducer by Aura Sound
Lepai LP-168HA 2.1 2 x 40-Watt Amplifier and 1x68W Sub Output by Lepai
12v 6a Adapter Power Supply for LCD Monitor with Power Cord by LCD AC Power Adapter
Okay so it looks like you'll be putting a pair of speakers on either side of the TV, and another in that little cubby under it?
First things first, you should get a 5 channel receiver so you can add speakers as you please. This Denon would be good for that budget.
Next up, let's chat speakers. You said you can go up to $700, so I'm going to recommend some speakers that will take up that budget. The Wavecrest HVL-1 would be perfect for your situation. They're front ported, so putting one in that little cubby wouldn't be as bad as it would be if they were rear ported.
If you won't be doing that, a great option would be the Micca MB42XC. Usually you would get a pair of the MB42X for the L/R and one MB42XC for the center, but since you mentioned it is a bit of an open floor plan, you might want the extra woofers to help you fill the room.
In addition, you'll want a subwoofer. I've got that one and it is decent and should really fill the room with no problem.
I think either of these setups will be a fantastic little 3.1 setup for you, and will be expandable in the future as well.
Let me know if you have any questions about that stuff and I'll be happy to help out.
Granted this is a TINY bit over budget but I really think a subwoofer and a center channel are important to give you the home theater experience.
This would support modern codecs, Bluetooth/AirPlay etc be able to take hdmi in from your devices then send a single hdmi to your projector to feed it video.
Later on when you have the $, buy another pair of the MB42X and use them as surrounds.
buy one of these
so you can go to the bathroom in the plane and not miss a thing.
I second this, I keep a pack on hand at all times and any time I buy an album I clean it (new or used) and then slip it in. They are also used by the library of congress for preserving their records.
https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Record-Inner-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY/
It is a proprietary connector for one of the entry level all in one systems. They were designed to look like a component system but in reality you bought it all together in one box and it all only connected to itself.
I tried to find a pinout or an adapter that you could use but in the 10 minutes I spent i found nothing.
Ostensibly, the five pins would be the same as any other turntable. Right channel, left channel, and chasis ground. You would probably need a line level amp to hook up to it as well.
edit: After further searching, the wires are 12v DC, ground, right, left and signal ground. I can't find a pinout though.
This is a receiver + 5.1 system that adds up to $550 and has 4k passthrough (not sure on lossless audio like DTS-HD), but is $50 over your budget. Still better than any soundbar you'll find...
Get an Audio Technica AT-LP60 + an amplifier + speakers + speaker wire. That's what I have and it cost me less than $180. Here's the Amazon links for everything I have:
Record player
Speakers
Pre-amp
Speaker wire
STAY AWAY FROM CROSLEYS OR ANYTHING WITH BUILT IN SPEAKERS. DO NOT BUY A RECORD PLAYER UNDER $80. IT'S WORTH IT TO SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY AND GET A SETUP THAT WILL SOUND NICE AND WON'T DESTROY YOUR RECORDS. Can't stress that enough.
No.
You are going from one home theater in a box system to another. Generally, stay away from anything in a 5.1 package for under $500. Go with separates instead starting at $50 to $150 and build as you go. Only the front 3 speakers need to match.
If you want better sound then start with a pair of 5.25" or 6.5" bookshelf speakers and the matching center. Then add a better subwoofer. Then add surrounds.
Optional Receiver Upgrade:
Low Budget 5.1 under $300.
Better 3 front speakers:
Better subwoofers:
HT Guides: r/HTBuyingGuides FAQ, How to Set Up a Basic Home Theater System - Lifewire, How to Set Up Your Home Theater Receiver, Speaker Placement for Home Theater
Also see r/hometheater.
$250 AV Receiver Denon 720 (refurb w/ltd warranty, has HDCP 2.2 Dolby Atmos)
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs720w/denon-avr-s720w-7.2-ch-x-75-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html
$90 Micca MB42X Bookshelves PAIR for Front
$90 Micca MB42X Bookshelves PAIR for Surround
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2
$70 Micca MB42X-C Center Channel
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6
$42 Micca M8C In-ceiling speakers EACH (for x.x.2 atmos)
$42 Micca M8C In-ceiling speakers EACH (for x.x.2 atmos)
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-M-8C-Ceiling-Speaker-Pivoting/dp/B002YPS6T6
$200 BIC America F12 12" Sub
https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M
$550 Projector Optoma 142X (cnet.com "Best Picture for the Money" 2018)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HQCF6R6
$205 Elite Manual 120" Projector Screen
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OLO59EI
TOTAL: $1550
You will also want a universal remote (Logitech Harmony recommended), speaker wire / banana plugs, stands / mounts, HDMI + subwoofer cable. So with this stuff as well you're over budget, but you could grab everything except the sub and add that later, for example.
EDIT: found the projector recommendation here, with more research you might be able to find better (same for the screen):
https://www.cnet.com/topics/tvs/best-tvs/projectors/
Think of it like a subwoofer that shakes objects rather than the air. Its hard to hear in any room but the one your in, and you FEEL the ship. Its adds as much immersion as putting on the rift.
you need these things to make it:
3.5mm Stereo Male to 2RCA Male
Audio Amplifier
Bass Shaker Tactile Transducer
Optional Low pass filter
Can't beat these, really.
Well, if you can use headphones while the Switch is docked, then the solution is to buy a Bluetooth Transmitter that you can plug into the headphone port, and pair that up with your bluetooth speakers and headphones.
If I had a $1500 budget, I would recommend the following:
​
Epson Home Cinema 2150 - $699.00
​
Micca MB42X - $79.95
​
Micca MB42X Center - $69.95
​
Fluance AVBP2 - $119.99
​
Denon AVR S530BT - $229.00
​
Silver Ticket 120" Screen - $249.98
​
This would give you a decent entry level setup. You'll have about 50$ left over for speaker wire. I am be no means an expert but I lurk a lot and I think this would be decent.
​
​
​
You'd better invest in some record outer sleeves.
Since you don't seem to be using those, this is a good time to suggest that you also invest in antistatic inner sleeves.
So yeah, I'm sure my placement is trash and everything is overkill for my tiny apartment, but it sounds amazing and I couldn't be happier.
I have my my PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and Switch all hooked up off to the side running through the receiver.
My first ever turntable was an Audio-Technica automatic turntable. It looks like they're going for $100 on Amazon which is about what I paid when I got mine back in 2006. They're nice because it handles raising/dropping the needle automatically, and the sound is decent. It has a built-in amp, so there's no need to go buy a separate unit for that. All you have to do is plug it in to your stereo through RCA jacks and you're set.
They also make models with Bluetooth output, but it adds a significant amount to the price, and A2DP is not exactly a high quality audio protocol.
SCUMBAG AFFILIATE LINK WARNING
---------
Here are the Amazon links with no fuckery
https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B07B4Q5587
https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Center-Speaker-Black/dp/B07B4VCT99/
https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Floorstanding-Speaker-Black/dp/B07B4V37VV
https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-SUB3010-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B07B4WM5H1
-----------
Also, they are not on sale... they are on 'sale'. Normal discount.
Mods - Check the user's post history... all links to affiliate sites.
Atmos won't really have the proper affect without also running surround channels. You want to hear the difference in height, not just the overhead.
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx1500h/denon-avr-x1500h-7.2-ch-x-80-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html - $290 refurb receiver.
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2 - Get two pairs for $160.
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-C-Channel-Speaker-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6 - $70 centre.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_107RC80I/Polk-Audio-RC80i.html - $150 ceiling speakers.
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1200-12-120-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-629 - $150 sub.
https://www.dolby.com/us/en/guide/speaker-setup-guides/5.1.2-overhead-speaker-setup-guide.html
Follow that guide for placement.
That is the absolute cheapest I would recommend you go. Ideally you would spend 2-3x as much for good quality. If you can afford it, get a better L/C/R and receiver, followed by the sub.
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx3400h/denon-avr-x3400h-7.2-ch-x-105-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340c/cmt340c.html
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2mk5.html
I bet they're absolute trash.
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-COVO-S-Compact-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00N8265I8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498973961&sr=8-1&keywords=micca+covo-s
These will sound way better
And when you save up you can get a real subwoofer.
https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-800-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B0063NU30K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1498974072&sr=1-1&keywords=dayton+audio+sub+800
What setup: 5.1 , stereo, 2.1?
Assuming 5.1:
$180 Reciever
$110 Subwoofer (easily find $10 promo code online, or its $120)
$90 Fronts
$80 Center (matching)
$40 Rears
So that $500, but it doesn't include speaker wires (get 14 gauge oxygen free), stands/mount, cable (mono coax subwoofer cable), etc. Some of this equipment can be bought for slightly cheaper used on Amazon, so you can shave a few bucks that way.
I have had this Audio-Technica turntable for about 3 years and it’s worked just fine for me. Audio-Technica has some higher quality ones for more if you wanna spend a lil more, but this is a great one for beginners.
Lana’s entire discography transfers well to vinyl. Any Mitski or Bon Iver record, Stranger in the Alps, Melodrama, Golden Hour, Red, and Heard It In A Past Life are some of my favorite albums on vinyl
Edit: Link since I’m on mobile and it’s not working for me: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008872SIO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LGgXCb2VFK12S
You'll need an amp to power the speaker, so that's something you should keep in mind.
Either that, or try to find some powered monitors for $600.
For example, two KRK Rokit 8's will achieve pretty deep bass at 45 Hz, and are self powered. They also fall within your budget. http://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP8G2-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B001A6IGDG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376426453&sr=8-3&keywords=rokkit+krk
Or, you could buy the Audiosource AMP-100 50 wpc amp. $100 http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376426626&sr=8-3&keywords=amplifier
That would leave $500 for a pair of speakers. Since you're looking for party speakers with a lot of sound, you might just want to check out Cerwin Vega. They aren't really audiophile quality, but they should make lots of noise.
Two of these might do the trick for $400 total: http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-VE-8-2-Way-Audio-Speaker/dp/B000EHYHJY/ref=sr_1_5?s=aht&srs=2529137011&ie=UTF8&qid=1376426810&sr=1-5&keywords=cerwin+vega
A pair of these JBL speakers might also do the trick for $400 for the pair: http://www.amazon.com/JBL-ES80BK-3-Way-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B00166ZFXO/ref=sr_1_4?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1376426922&sr=1-4
On the first playing the needle cleaned the dust and debris out of the grooves. A record cleaning brush should be part of your collection.
MOBILE FIDELITY SOUND LAB INNER SLEEVES - MOFI MFSL (50 RECORD SLEEVES) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CXi1CbZY0WN72
I'm still rocking a 60 gig, gen 2 ipod from back in the day. It holds a charge for a solid 30 min. Just don't forgot to plug it before the battery dies, as it will get stuck in a boot loop on reboot. If that happens, no worries, it'll eventually turn on again for reasons unknown to me.
Here are some pics with a quarter for scale:
Back (60gb) -
Front -
Side
But now the true INSANITY of the setup. I rock that ancient artifact with these babies. Standard issue, free at seminar, google IEMs. The replaced my exclusive American Red Cross earbuds. This abominable marriage, accompanied with the most excellent 50gigs of 96kbps mp3s, is my running setup. Sometimes it gets weird.
But seriously now, I think these giveaways are cool. I have pretty decent mid level headphone setup for my nice, quiet, critical listening times. I've been looking to venture out of the headphones into stereo setups a little bit, so it's cool that those monitors are the giveaway for this contest!
As far as next months giveaway, I think an amp like this would be pretty cool. Also, I don't know how anyone else would feel about this, but have you thought about giving away software at all? Maybe a few copies of dBpoweramp would be cool. Shipping would obviously be easy, too.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say "no phono stage" Your amp doesn't have a Phono preamp, just line level. If you review the tiny bit of info that comes with that cart you'll see that the output is somewhere around .5mv Line level, What you get from CD players your TV etc is around 1v.
get yourself one of these:http://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=pd_sim_MI_2 (though sumiko/pro-ject makes a much nicer one for only a bit more moola. Happy spinning!
The larger PA speakers in the photo seem to be some generic, shitty, Pyle ones Amazon link. They won't have cost much new if I'm correct on the brand. Probably close to $300
I do know for sure that he is using a Logitech Z906 system which RRP is $400
The sub in the photo is some Cerwin Vega, the VE-28S, I believe. RRP $330
The amp/receiver for the speakers I can't really see but it look to be a generic home audio one, like this Onkyo one. ~$200. Can't be sure on that one though, low res pic makes this hard.
Still, the gear is pretty shit for what he paid, he could have done a lot better with that money.
Have a look over at /r/budgetaudiophile.
What I recently went with was a GHM, chrome cast audio, a set of KEF q100’s and an amp. Sound quality is amaaaaaazing, and it’d come in much cheaper.
Q100: $250
GHM: $50
GHA: $35
Yamaha amp: $150 (https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Natural-Stereo-Receiver-R-S201BL/dp/B00F0H88SY)
Does he have a stereo? You cant just buy a record player without an amplifier and speakers.
https://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT-LP60BK-Automatic-Belt-Drive-Turntable/dp/B008872SIO/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=turntable&qid=1557850824&s=gateway&sr=8-3
If he has an amp and speakers, this would be fine and its in your price range. Anything less will be crap crappy crap, or you'll be buying used which is hard if you dont know anything about record players. If he doesnt have an amp/speakers, you can get those for another $100-200 and make it a really rad anniversary.
They have proven to hurt your records!!! I recommend the Audio Technica LP60
Audio Technica AT-LP60BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008872SIO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DxG9AbK2R9HEH
You aren't going to get a decent subwoofer with that kind of budget. The absolute cheapest decent subwoofer will run about $130, that would leave only $120 for 4 satellites and a center channel. No quality at that price. You could leave the Bose garbage for the surrounds and just replace the L/C/R and subwoofer. Even at that trying to shoehorn 3 good speakers into a $120 budget is not likely. For what you want/need this is what I'd do:
Leave the Bose for the surrounds - they aren't that critical.
L/R speakers $90: https://smile.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1481331526&sr=1-1&keywords=micca
Center $80: https://smile.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-C-Channel-Speaker-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6/ref=sr_1_4?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1481331526&sr=1-4&keywords=micca
Subwoofer $130:https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1200-12-120-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-629
That's a bit over budget but this is a good set of speakers that should be affordable enough. If, after setting up the speakers the Blose are that bad as surrounds the Micca MB42 are $57 a pair.
Can't see you getting anything as good or better without spending a lot more.
I wouldn't recommend using noise cancelling headphones for monitoring as the active technology in them may affect the sound and make it more difficult to hear any issues on the day.
If you did want to use them though presuming they are bluetooth you'd need some kind of bluetooth audio transmitter. I'd recommend turning off the noise cancelling if at all possible.
Active speakers have separate audio and power inputs. They each have a power cable going to the wall in addition to a cable going to the media device. They do not require an external amplifier.
Passive speakers only have one combined audio/power input. Most speakers are passive and require an external amplifier.
For a home theater setup, I have been recommending a 3.0 + receiver setup for years to my friends. My friend finally purchased a center channel and wishes he would have done it years ago.
Home theater receivers like this one are 4k HDR HDMI switches and amplifiers built into one. You would plug your media devices into your receiver and switch between them using the receiver instead of the TV. I do not recommend using an analog stereo amplifier in a home theater setup - buy a good current generation 5.1 receiver and you won't have to replace it unless it breaks or until HDMI goes away.
After picking up a receiver, you would need some speaker wire and then some passive speakers to pair with it (like OP). Connecting the speakers to your receiver is as simple as connecting red to red and connecting black to black.
Post script: Most media now is produced primarily with 5.1 mixing, meaning that the dialogue is engineered with the assumption that a dedicated center channel speaker is present. Your sound will be way more clear if you were to buy a receiver and stereo speakers compared to built-in TV speakers, but there is a massive massive difference once you are able to listen to the proper 5.1 sound mix when using stereo + center channel setup. Ever felt like you needed to turn up the sound to hear the talking and then turn it down once a chase/shooting scene started? That ends when the characters can talk through a center channel speaker.
As others have suggested, /r/zeos is a fantastic audio resource. I've been extremely happy with all the gear I've purchased from his recommendations.
So you're looking for a 5.1 home theater to replace/upgrade your current setup. Since you like the Pioneers of your current setup here is what I came up with.
AVR - Denon X1200w refurb $400
Speakers
Sub - SVS PB1000 $500
Yes I know it's over budget but you could scale back to the B5 for the front to get it even closer but since you like stereo music I figured the larger B6 would be appreciated. You could if you wanted also also scale back the rears to something different I just went the matching tone throughout the setup.
I chose the ELAC's because you liked the Pioneers sound. The ELAC's are supposed to be close to the Pioneers but more refined in just about every way.
Purchase List:
Optoma HD27 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector - amazing image quality and extremely bright - can almost watch the screen with all the lights on: https://www.amazon.com/Optoma-HD27-1080p-Theater-Projector/dp/B01JR7G672
Homegear 100” HD Motorized 16:9 Projector Screen W/ Remote Control - works very well, packaged and arrived in great condition: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J22TNRI
Yamaha RX-V379BL 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver with Bluetooth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V5VJ3TM
2 ELAC B6 Debut Series 6.5" L & R Speakers by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQ06
1 ELAC C5 Debut Series 5.25" Center Speaker by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQWE
AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014I8TC4E
Monoprice Affinity Premium 14AWG Braided Speaker Wire: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015YN6G9G
VideoSecu 2 Heavy duty PA DJ Club Adjustable Height Satellite Speaker Stand Mount: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VRREPG
Projector Mount - VideoSecu LCD/DLP Projector Ceiling Mount Bracket: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IDC0K2
2x LED Lighting for Bar/Couch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V27VX7E
I advocate using component bookshelves speakers with a mini amp unless space is at a big premium. They are better engineered, have better bang for your buck, and have a much cleaner sound.
You have the added bonus that the speakers are more flexible for other uses and, if you wanted to go from 2.0 to something else, it's a pretty easy upgrade, ala: you don't have to pitch the old system and get something new. I think you'd find a good 2.0 system to be much more impressive than a lot of the gamer sound systems out there.
Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers
Dayton Audio DTA-1 Digital Amplifier
Amazon Basics Speaker Cable
Another note: A system like this will sound way fuller without a boominess that you'd get from most gaming 2.1 sound systems. All of my friends that I have recommended go this route have loved it!
I use an AuraSound tactile transducer mounted to the back of my chair. I haven't tried a Buttkicker, but my setup seems to work well enough for significantly less money.
http://smile.amazon.com/AuraSound-AST-2B-4-Shaker-Tactile-Transducer/dp/B0002ZPTBI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422062773&sr=8-1&keywords=aura+bass+shaker&pebp=1422062755133&peasin=B0002ZPTBI
Nice collection, however I notice you have some picture disks in plastic sleeves. If I were you, I'd check and make sure they're not PVC (Polyvinylchloride) based plastic. If they are, they'll have a chemical reaction with the vinyl in the record end up either molding into the grooves, or creating a haze over them through a process called outgassing. Both of these ruin the record permanently.
This old post shows pictures of this and goes into more detail. I'd, at least, swap those out with paper or, optimally, something like Mofi Sleeves ASAP.
EDIT: Another post with more severe damage. Even if they aren't PVC based, something like Mofi sleeves are better for long term storage anyway. I wouldn't risk it if I were you.
Inner sleeves?
MOBILE FIDELITY SOUND LAB INNER SLEEVES - MOFI MFSL (50 RECORD SLEEVES)
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wxLSCbBDCD6C2
Receiver $1100
Front LR $1300
Center $1500
Rear LR $1600
Atmos Bounce $2100.
Upgrade moves: B6 instead of B5, Elac B4 or B5 for rears (Eh, I don't think you need it.)
If you're starting from scratch I'd look for a receiver that has a phono-in. This input basically tells you that there's a phono pre-amp built in to the receiver. The one problem is, many new low-end receivers don't have this. Check this one
After that, I'd go for a Project Debut Carbon. A little more expensive than the LP120, but VASTLY superior in just about every way.
After the receiver and the TT, the only other thing you'll need is speakers.
As far as speakers, the ELAC B5s are great because they're pretty cheap and they've got a nice low-end so you won't need a subwoofer for movies (right away.)
Future upgrades could include:
Denon X1400H - $300
ELAC B6.2 - 2 pairs for front and surround - $300
ELAC C6.2 - $140
SVS SB12-NSD - $399.99
Total = $1140
Decent 5.1 setup on sale.
Good: Polk T15's (on sale for $50 right now)
Better: ELAC Debut 2.0 (on sale for $150)
Ohhh, a newbie! This will be fun... 🙃
A standard record player/turntable (you can use them interchangeably) will output using stereo RCA. The signal needs to go through a Phono Preamp first. Some turntables have a preamp built-in, most do not (especially as you move up the quality scale).
Then you need an amplifier to power the speakers you get. Some speakers can be plugged directly into a “line-level” jack (think headphone port). Others need an amplifier. You can get a cheap one on Amazon like this, or a nicer one like this, or you could try your local thrift store; stereo amps don’t have to be particularly new, so it’s often easy to score one for cheap.
As for the actual record player, [Rega] and Pro-Ject are the two big brands, as well as U-Turn and the every level. What I would call the first fully “proper” turntable starts at around $400. A U-Turn Orbit can be had for around $200. You can get a black plastic Sony or AudioTechnica on Amazon for $100, but I would advise against it.
The tables you’ll want to look for are the Rega Planar 1 (or “P1”), the Pro-Ject Debut/Debut Carbon, or the U-Turn Orbit. Don’t buy from Amazon. Best Buy/Magnolia is a good source, as is your local Hi-Fi dealer (assuming you have one).
I’ve owned the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and the Regs P3, and liked them both. Please feel free to ask my anything, or PM me. I’m happy to help in any way that I can!
Buy a U-Turn Basic, Micca MB42 speakers, Lepai amp, Pyle pre amp and some cheap speaker wire
It's over your budget but this is about as cheap as you can get while still getting new high quality gear.
From the looks of that receiver, there's no "phono" input, which routes the signal through an additional preamp before hitting the power amp. Older A/V components have them, I doubt yours with 4 HDMI inputs does. You could try connecting it via USB, but I'd advise against that and instead point you to an inexpensive phono preamp like this:
http://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376256067&sr=8-1&keywords=phono+preamp
All right guys, I just had to take a picture of the two speakers together because, as you can see, compared to the diminutive MK402 the Elacs are simply HUGE. I kept the mouse in the pic to give you an idea (sorry, I checked, I had no bananas!).
Their size is something you should be aware of, especially if you are going to keep em -like me- as monitors on a desk.
A little background on my system: I use mainly Tidal hi-res streaming as source. The PC is hooked via USB to an external dac, an AUNE X1S, line out of the DAC goes into a Dayton DTA-120 (the real hero of this story, spoilers!!!) that powers the speakers.
Right out of the box, I position the Elacs on the desk (on foam absorbers for studio monitors, you might notice em under the elacs in the pic), hook em up, and Im shocked. They sound exactly like the MK402... wtf?
Well the first lesson is, guys, believe in break-in. I had the same thing happening with the MK402. They sounded a bit crappy and harsh at first, but sloooooooooooowly the sound mellowed and became fuller. Fact is it happened so progressively I always had the doubt it was my ear/brain adjusting to their sound more than break-in.
This time around, though, it happened in a matter of just an hour and possibly less. Something definitely "loosened up" inside the ELACS, and oh boy... the poor daytons were blown out of the water.
First thing you will notice is the obvious one. The Elacs will go lower... and DEEPER. Please be aware that the MK402 go crazy low for their size. You can easily be shocked at the bass they can "magically" let out... but it definitely lacks that punch and that fullness that the ELACS will provide with an easiness that is honestly disarming. One of their strong points is that they sound (and they will go LOUD!) like they dont even care. You crank the volume and they just shrug and give you volume and power, never losing their composture, whereas the MK402 will totally break down and will start showing signs of ...suffering?
Second thing you'll notice is... despite their BIG size, they are muuuuuuuch easier to position. The Mk402 are extremely, extremely fussy. Push them one inch too close to the rear wall, the bass goes so muddy you wanna kill yourself, pull em one inch too far and the bass becomes anemic and the "magic" disappears. I guess Mr Andrew Jones did the right thing putting the reflex on the baffle instead of the more typical rear exhaust. But it doesnt end there. the biggest difference is the dispersion. The MK402 CAN sound awesome and "flat" but you must almost lock your head in a very precise and narrow position. Move sideways or a little back and forth and some frequencies will overwhelm others. with the Elacs... well, I'm flabbergasted. You can almost move around the room and you'll hear the frequencies pretty much the same way in every position.
Obviously the Elacs -I suspect for the same reason: dispersion- will give a much better holographic presentation, but Im still working on the placement and my room is really fussy so maybe I'll update you guys later when I finally manage to make the speakers "disappear", which was something simply impossible to achieve with the Daytons (believe me... I tried).
Third thing you'll notice (as they keep breaking in, becoming more and more transparent) is how comparatively analitic they are. Listening to Steely Dan's "I got the news" the infamous scratching/clicking around 2:17 made me jump on the seat, I litterally thought something was faulty and breaking!
After a while, though, the biggest and most shocking realization is how nonchalantly the little class-D amplifier from Dayton is driving the Elacs. The speakers are quite efficient, yes, but I was ALMOST sure I would need a better amplifier (my eyes are on the NAD326BEE, always been a big fan of NAD sound), but Im not so sure anymore. Volume knob is at hour ten/eleven (it will go as far as hour five) and the room is filled with a smooth, relaxed, full sound. Maybe the NAD can wait!
Okay, I'll shut up for now. I'll leave here a few links with all the aforementioned gear for reference, especially price-wise.
Aune DAC
Dayton D-Class Amp
Dayton MK402
Elac B6.2
*edited endless times for clarity and cause I do thousands of typos.
You can get the matching center channel or better yet, just get 3 of those and have perfectly matching fronts.
I just noticed they are on sale and free shipping with prime. I might have to get me some now.
What about the Micca Covo-S?
Though you'd also need an amplifier with those. You could easily get by with a Lepai Amp though.
Something along the same lines would be the Micca Covo-S, but you need an amp for them (looks like the soundphonics have a built in amp in the larger speaker?). Amps can be had for cheap, but many cheap Chinese amps have a slight buzz in them whenever they're on. I don't spend any real time with super cheap speakers, so sadly I can't give any cheap amp recommendations. I had a Dayton DTA-1 on my Micca MB42X (bigger cousin to the Covo-S) and it was a weak amp, but loud enough, and no buzz. Lepai amps seem to be very hit or miss with their quality.
If you want something nicer, but a bit over $70, there's the Micca PB42X. I mentioned the MB42X, but those need an amp, whereas the PB42X has one built in. It's not a good or powerful amp, but being built in is handy if you don't plan on going for crazy quality. They aren't huge speakers -- about nine inches tall, or six inches if you lay them on their sides. IMO the best sound you can get for this price without scouting for crazy deals on hi-fi equipment.
But of course... if you happen to be outside of the US then I think that availability is pretty poor.
Bought this little doohickey Works awesome
Is an amp needed in that price?
Look into either of thede speakers:
Dayton Audio B652 6-1/2-Inch 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RMPHMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_B3ekzbXR3T0AD
Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers With 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter (Black, Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009IUIV4A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_E4ekzb11C5YZJ
With this amp:
Lepy LP-2024A+ Hi-Fi Audio Amplifier Stereo Power Amplifier Car Amplifier with Power Supply, 3A Power https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_u5ekzbPS4WWVE
That's about as good of a low budget system as possible, while still being a foray into hobby/enthusiast audio equipment. Unless you want to look into used stuff. Going use can get you a really good set up for price but take more work to find but is hard to recommend.
The Lepy amplifier - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=pd_aw_fbt_23_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=H5GJH4RDGYM655TC5FA6 - is small, sounds great (many audiophiles recommend it), and has a 3.5mm jack input so is perfect for a Chromecast Audio. You can just leave it on.
I have this amp, along with a set of Wharfedale Diamond bookshelf speakers.
I'd really recommend using a proper Chromecast Audio rather than an in-built solution: easy to swap out to something else when the time comes.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469833807&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=t+amp&dpPl=1&dpID=41phZQk-zFL&ref=plSrch
I think there is something in the sidebar about this....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00026BQJ6/ref=oh_details_o09_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For all the new collectors looking to frame their favorite records please take the actual vinyl out and invest in these products to keep your record from warping/causing ringwear to the cover. I see a lot of people buying expensive records and not taking proper care of them. Hope this helps! (Amazon links here and here )
From the advice from a few users here I do the following:
I take the records out of their original inner sleeves, then place them in these. I then place the album jacket in an outer sleeve, the orignal inner sleeves are stored inside the jacket and the records are stored outside the jacket.
Onkyo TX-NR676 - $339.00.
Polk T30 center channel - $89.99
Polk PSW10 10" subwoofer - $99.99
Polk T50 towers for the front speakers - $89.99 x2 = $179.98
Polk T15 Bookshelf speakers for the rear surrounds - $59.00 x2 = $118.00
Total: $824.98. Throw in ~$70 for sales tax and another $30-40 for audio cable and $5 for an HDMI cord. You can save $60 by switching the front towers for T15s.
The Onkyo can be expanded to 5.1.2 for Atmos, and supports DTS:X as well. 4K passthrough and it supports every audio format up through Atmos. It's a fantastic AVR, especially at that price.
EDIT: fixed link for T50 towers.
At this point, you're better off buying a modern receiver with HDMI and digital support, and either getting it with an analog phono input or buying a separate pre-amp.
All the solutions suggested below will give such poor performance you'll be disappointed.
$195 USD via Amazon.com for a Denon receiver.
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1498324157&sr=8-4&keywords=denon
This + This
You need a phono pre-amp to amplify the signal, or a different amp with a phono input built in. Here is a couple of very cheap pre-amps: pyle or Behringerfor example.
I don't have one, but it looks like an Audiosource Amp-100, although the power rating is a tad higher. There are reviews around.
Take a look at this Micca Covo-S speakers. They are brand new this month. I've been surprised at the stereo imaging that they deliver for small little speaker (they disappear and the music sounds like it sourced from various spots between them.)
They are coaxial 2-way speakers (a little bigger than a softball). Such small cabinets/drivers aren't going to give you much at the low end, but add a small sub later.
As you build out your collection, they'll make decent rears in a small surround system too.
[Add-on: There are larger inexpensive speakers that perform better, but your comment about size make me think these are precisely what you are looking for]
So, I have a roomate and I'm planning to play this game on midnight release alllll freaking night long. My roomate has work the next day so I already thought about this and looked what my options are so I'll tell you in most simplest terms:
Option 1: If you have a smart TV with bluetooth capabilities BAM problem solved you can pair your wireless headphones (In which case I have Sony Over Ear Extra Bass Wireless Headphones
Option 2: If you're like me and don't have a smart TV, but you want to use wireless bluetooth headphones you're going to have to get a wireless bluetooth adapter which is this one here. You plug it in to your TV headphone jack OR your RCA red and white cable and pair your wireless headphones like that. Great thing about this adapter is you can charge while using!
Option 3: Get good ol' wired headphones and plug it into your tv.... most gaming wired headphones have long enough wires for you to plug and play comfortably.... but nothing beats those extra bass wireless headphones :)
Cheers! 29 more days!
Yes, the amp powers...or more accurately, I would say, amplifies the sound going to the speakers. I'm pretty sure the one you listed does not include the power supply though. I would consider this one if your budget is that low. Adding a subwoofer is definitely not mandatory. I'm not familiar with the speakers you have, but that is probably going to be the first improvement you should consider later down the road.
You'll need a phono preamp.
Here's a very good one for under $50.
Not as good, but decent and will get the job done super cheap.
Nice grab on that Technics.
recent price drop. I don't own them
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSER6O/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1524491765&sr=1-1&keywords=elac+b5
There is simply nothing else that compares to the ELAC B5 or B6 bookshelf speakers designed by legendary speaker designer Andrew Jones. They are the best budget bookshelf speakers on the market by a pretty wide margin. Pair it with an inexpensive 2 channel amp and you've got a killer desktop system
http://www.amazon.com/Debut-Series-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew/dp/B014GSER6O
If you want to stay under your $200 budget Andrew Jones used to work for Pioneer too and his designs for budget speakers there will get you under budget including an AMP
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG/ref=pd_vtph_23_bs_t_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1CPPGTSD1YT7018PDPNJ
A setup you can't go wrong with:
For the subwoofer, I think you should stretch your budget a bit and get either an SVS PB-1000 ($499.99) or an HSU VTF-2 MK5 ($599.00 incl. shipping).
The above package with an outlet price PB-1000 has a sub-total of $1249.95.
The Denon receiver supports bluetooth, AirPlay, and Wi-Fi so you should be able to play music from your phone (or control a media server through your phone). As for wires, there's not really a cost-effective solution to avoiding them, other than hiding them behind your drywall or something.
I have a weakness and it's factory refurbished speakers from the names I grew up with, which are JBL, Harman Kardon, Polk, etc.
Nothing on all these new Chinese brands, but I'm a sucker for nostalgia.
Anyways, if you decide it's worth the slight effort, you can get a $200 Bluetooth speaker for less than $50 now, made by Harman Kardon this is their Microsoft Cortana enabled speaker that nobody bought because it's Microsoft Cortana enabled.
Fortunately, you can pair it with the Peloton and have really good speakers for a decent price. This was a long time ago but I think j needed to setup Cortana with a Microsoft all on my phone then after it was activated, I asked Cortana to pair Bluetooth and added the Peloton.
Such a big difference in sound, and it's not portable but a plug in, so it's gonna have a good home next to the bike.
If you've got the space, I would love to recommend these Edifer Bluetooth Speakers.
With a decent set of mounts and wire organization, these speaker will really make a huge difference over the tinny, built in speakers.
Anyone have good suggestions for an amp that matches the budget of these speakers? So far I've been looking at this: https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-AD18-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN
Not entirely done researching all this stuff (newbie audiophile) but it would be nice to hear from someone with IRL experience anyway.
I posted this on another thread recently, but it applies here as well:
Look no further...
​
These Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers are on sale for $159 as well and they are another great choice for speakers.
​
EDIT: Removed unnecessary info
I actually ordered this last night.
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F0H88SY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1462226856&sr=8-3&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=yamaha+receiver&dpPl=1&dpID=31LAAKCGZeL&ref=plSrch
That will get you going but I recommend you eventually take out the internal preamp and replace it with a decent external preamp such as http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000AJR482/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?qid=1462226963&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Phono+preamp&dpPl=1&dpID=41VPBILjagL&ref=plSrch
Alright, your TV has RCA outputs and the option of fixed or variable output through there. If you wanted you could just grab two JBL LSR305 and connect them with RCA to TRS cables. Probably $450 total but would sound much better than the miccas. Go into your TV audio settings and select variable audio out. This way you can change volume through your TV remote. Just set the amp on the back of the JBL speakers to 8 or so and never touch them again.
If you want to go the passive speaker route for upgradability then you can grab a stereo receiver like this Yamaha for $200. Just plug your TV in with RCA cables. This allows you to spend an extra $100 on speakers. You'll save even more money if you look through your local listings for a used receiver. If you like the Klipsch sound you can go for these. Otherwise look through your local listing for a good tower speaker that you can afford. I was going to recommend the Pioneer FS52 but a pair of those would go over your budget. You can try pairing them with a cheap SMSL amp, but I would be worried they would distort a tad early.
The best sounding setup out of the box would be the JBL LSR305, but it's also the least upgradeable setup.
If you aren't turned off by your bad experience with the Ai40s, I am using the Fluance signature series bookshelf speakers with an SMSL AD-18 amp. There is no noticeable hiss. I use it for my turntable, pc and tv all with good results. If you only want to use it for your turntable I have heard good things about the SMSL SA50 as a basic amp.
​
Fluance Signature Series
​
SMSL AD-18
​
SMSL AD50
>And I don’t understand speaker setups all that much.
That's your biggest hurdle right there. What are you wanting? I've ran a good stereo-only home theater, and a good 2.1 setup before. I'd rather have either of those than a poor quality 5.1.
Soundbars typically replace quality with quantity. They became popular when TVs started getting real thin and having crap sound. a $2-300 powered speaker setup will have better sound. And if you don't want wires around the room, that's a good place to start.
Get something like these Klipsch R-15PM. You can use them now as-is and add a sub later. That will be a pretty damn solid 2.1 setup.
Or get an AMP and separate SPEAKERS. (Just examples). You can have a good system pretty easily.
Your case sounds designed for the NAD D3020V2. It's a two channel integrated amp, musical and warm sounding (the "NAD" sound) . Has optical input so you can connect your tv, a phono section so you can connect your turntable and a subwoofer output for if you decide to go 2.1 later.
As for speakers,
Comfortably in budget floorstanders, the Pioneers you already posted. $260
Arguably better bookshelves the Elac B6.2's on sale for $238, well under budget.
Over budget but very very pretty and nice sounding. The Wharfedale Dentons for $499
​
That all said, the advice to spend most of your money on speakers makes plenty of sense if you're never going to upgrade anything. Personally, I've spent a bit more on nice amplification so that I know I have what I need and that it will be adequate for any speakers I end up picking up. Also that rule is more for people spending $1000 on an amp and $3000 on a set of speakers. It doesn't translate as well to budget systems since going from $50 to $300 is like...hot garbage to very very good.
LR: Elac Debut 2.0 6.2 bookshelfs
C: Elac Debut 2.0 6.2 center
Sub: Bic America F12 or Dayton Audio Sub-1200
AVR: Something here. Whatever fits your budget and has the features you need. Make sure that if you're going to be streaming music to get one that is at least wifi compatible or networking (ethernet jack). I personally can recommend the Yamaha RX-V483. If that Yamaha is too expensive then go with a Denon with comparable features.
Stands: (If you don't already have a surface to put your LR on) Monoprice monoliths (24inch or 28inch, depending on ear height at listening/watching position) or Monoprice glass
If the price comes out to be too much then go with the Dayton sub and a cheaper AVR.
You'll also need some speaker wire, a wire cutter, and possibly some silicone hemispheres
That is a 3.1 to start. I think you'll be very happy and impressed with it. Given some time and some saving you'll be ready to upgrade to some surrounds. Delayed gratification is always worth it in this game :)
Start with a nicer 2.1 system and build on later.
The Klipsch RP-150m are MUCH better quality:
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-RP-150M-Bookshelf-Speaker-Ebony/dp/B00RXHEIHE
Save $100 with this larger sub:
http://www.parts-express.com/bic-formula-f-12-12-475-watt-subwoofer--303-436?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla
Denon 5.2 receiver:
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG
Total $830
If you're willing to buy used speakers, you can get a much better deal. Don't buy a used receiver though.
TV Samsung UN55KS8000 - $1,799.99 Reason why I am going w/ the 55 is most manufcaturers don;t really make 60's anymore. if they do they aren't the best of their models.
As for the sound system
Receiver: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv579bl/yamaha-rx-v579-7.2-ch-x-80-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications
bookshelfs https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06
center https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Center-Speaker-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQWE/
surrounds https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS/
subwoofer http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html
should put you right at $1500
you can go from the elac B6's down to the B5's to save $100
This is basically as good as it gets for compact speakers. I guess these are also pretty compact.
If you're into DIY, the Overnight Sensations are pretty small.
If you have $500 to throw around, I'd suggest getting rid of the "compact" requirement, buy some $50 speaker stands to put on the floor next to your desk, and get good, meaty bookshelfs e.g. KEF Q100, Vanatoo Transparent One, ELAC B6.
Here's how I have my racing and desk space setup.
Sim Racing
Entire desk
I have my Rift sensor and my second monitor attached to two of these monitor mounts (https://amzn.com/B01AI2YGK4). Works very well for being able to adjust it both the sensor and monitor to swing from desk to racing mode. Just have to reset the view when you launch a game. The Rift cable runs under the desk from my computer to just above the trash can - so in desktop mode I bring the cable between the pedal brackets and the legs of the desk, and racing mode it runs along side the rig. I actually have two Rift cables, one by itself and another that is in a braided nylon sleeve with a USB extension for my Leapmotion. Switching is a little bit of a pain, but the nylon sleeve is way cleaner than the "weaved" solution that Leapmotion suggests.
On the left upright for the steering mount I have a button box mounted that controls a bunch of automated scripts for switching between the two setups - change audio devices, display modes, as well as a few Teamspeak functions. When racing I disable my larger 144hz monitor so I can isolate what I'm doing to a single monitor and don't have to worry about losing a program on the other monitor that I can't see from the 80/20 rig.
I just got the aluminum extrusion rig (Bosch Rexroth), which I got locally for about $100 less than what I would have paid for an equivalent 80/20 setup through ebay. I haven't really cleaned up the wiring of the extrusion rig yet as I am in the process of adding SimVibe to the mix, which the first round of hardware should be here today!
/u/ZeosPantera, any suggestions on a 'cheap-ish' amp setup to power 2 to 4 AuraSound Transducers, ideally all separate channels?
http://www.amazon.com/AuraSound-AST-2B-4-Shaker-Tactile-Transducer/dp/B0002ZPTBI
It's essential. You'll get one and never look back and never spin an album without a swipe down. 'Blowing off the dust' like one user posted can end up getting more crud on the album from your saliva, etc. Go ahead and order something like this for starters and then you can make your way on up to cleaning supplies.
in order to preserve your records, you should always clean your records before playing them. i use a carbon fiber brush, which looks something like this [http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006VMBHI/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/191-5475366-2593941].
an lp60 will be fine for now, however it is known to have tracking problems, so replacing parts won't really do any good. if you want to collect records in the long term, I suggest you should take a look at a new turntable, maybe the audio technica lp120. as I said before, the lp60 will suffice.
I'm on mobile so the formatting might be dodgy.
edit: you should check out u/adayinalife's response below about the lp60, he knows what he's talking about
Never heard of them, but it does look like every polylined sleeve that comes with some brand new records nowadays (if they use them, marry them).
​
I prefer MoFi sleeves, they're in the same price point as those sleeves ($20).
2.5mil outer sleeves (sleevecity via amazon) Work great. Enough space for gatefolds, even the stupid thick ones that seem to be the rage right now.
​
​
MOFI Original Master Sleeves These are by far the best inner sleeves I've come across.
​
​
I actually put my records back in the jacket and take them out when i want to play them. Something I like about the experience.
Yay. I replace paper sleeves with plastic ones (the MFSL are my favorite) to preserve the condition of the vinyl. Seriously it's such a small expense...I don't understand why everyone doesn't do it. I also put the records in plastic outer sleeves. Also another extremely small expense. It preserves the cover and makes it easier to get your records in and out of the shelf. I use these outer sleeves and they work great.
This is news to me. So are these considered PVC sleeves? Because this is what I am using for my records right now.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LQSFKY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Here's an HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 receiver that will work for your needs. I would choose these MB42X with the upgraded crossovers compared to the original MB42s as the upgrade provides a big improvement in sound for only $20 more. This is already over your budget but I'll keep going.
From there you can add the matching center and a subwoofer. All told this comes out to $557. The speaker preference means little to me as everyone has different opinions about speakers but I would not skimp on the subwoofer and the one that I chose is IMO the value leader when it comes to subs.
If you're like me and lean more towards BUDGET than Audiophile, here's one.
Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers, Pair, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_19T9Bb1F7NB97
If it were me and you really want to upgrade your sound now, but also want to have the ability for a full 5.1 sound later I'd check out craigslist. You can probably find an older 5.1 receiver for under $70. A quick look in my area brought up a few. A few months ago I sold a 12 year old Pioneer that still was great, but I wanted the ability to get music via my network/internet. I sold it for $60. Then I would look for 2 decent book shelf speakers that you would use for fronts now and later use them for rears. These are as low as they go according to camelizer https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510803743&sr=1-3&keywords=polk+bookshelf+speakers&dpID=31bhM1nV3tL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch Then I'd get a sub https://www.amazon.com/Polk-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-Single/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510803898&sr=1-3&keywords=polk+subwoofer&dpID=51JGYWW4N4L&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
That would get you started and would kick the shit out of any 2.1 soundbar. So you'd be looking at $140 for the 2 speakers and sub and then w/e you could find on craigslist for an a/v receiver. If you can stretch your budget to about $300 you could grab this which is certified refurbished https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs510bt/denon-avr-s510bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
None of this is going to be wireless. IF you can stretch out to $400 you could get this receiver which I really like for the price: https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx1300w/denon-avr-x1300w-7.2-ch-x-80-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html
Keep in mind you'll have to buy some speaker wire and a crimping/cutting tool. But yeah about $400 will get you a decent setup like Mtown said.
The best way to go about buying home theater equipment is to buy stuff that you'll use later. So if you have a soundbar now, I'd just use it and save up until you have enough for a decent refurbed 5.1 av receiver ~$250 and some bookshelf speakers ~50-100.
If you absolutely need a 2.1 soundbar. I bought a refurbed lg sh4 2.1 for about $130 on amazon. I believe they are more now. It's enough for a small room. I use it for my office and it's decent.
You can probably get better advice about starting up a ht system by searching r/hometheater.
This would be much more rewarding than messing with those old ones. C-notes or classix II will sound better than those ever could.
C-notes
Classix II’s
Suitable amplifier
whatever you do, get rid of that player! NOW! I have the exact same one, and I have a bunch, i mean a bunch of old vintage records my cousin gave me, and some of my pre existing records were scratched cause of that thing. The tracking force recommended is 1-3-3.5 grams, that victrola is a 4-6.5 at the least, get rid of it, return it and buy am audio technica LP 60 and a pair of edifier speakers, this is the speaker (click here > speakers) and this is the turn table (click here >turntable ) have fun though
$159
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX8020-TX-8020-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W
$149
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-TSi100-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00192KF12
Sure they do
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-COVO-S-Compact-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00N8265I8
I have a set on the way. Including the "new" MB42's and the little Covo's which if good will make amazingly cheap rear channel speakers.
It'll be cheaper if you drop the .1 and just do a 2.0.
I am currently running the following desk space saving setup:
Micco Covo-S - $40
SMSL Mini5 - $60
I like the Mini5 because it also powers my headphones if want to use them.
It's better than the Logitech 2.1 system I used to use in college.
But you can get away with a cheaper amp to save some money. Also, if you want to upgrade to a surround sound setup the Covo-S will be good for rear channels.
I think you'll do better with some budget Micca speakers and a Denon S540BT. Please DON'T waste your money on that Yamaha sub. Don't get a sub for now and save up for a quality subwoofer that will likely outlive your speakers.
Here's my suggested list:
If you wanna go super budget, you could even just do 3 Micca OoO's for your front stage and it honestly wouldn't sound terrible.
http://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2024A-Amplifier-Stereo-Supply/dp/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463512037&sr=8-1&keywords=lepai+2020
the mb42x is like twice as good as the mb42 do not buy the mb42
I agree, get a pair of the Fluance SX6 with an amp like the SMSL SA50 or the Lepy if you don't want to go over budget. This combination will blow anything else for 200 dollars out the water. You could add a subwoofer somewhere down the line as well.
> Lepai (LP-2020A)
is this eqivalent since that one out of stock
A "vinyl player" is referred to as a turntable or record player. I can't tell you what table to buy because I'm not that familiar with newer quality tables but I can tell you to avoid Crosley and sub-$100 players with USB built in. For not much more $ you can get a better item used. Also be sure to get something with a replaceable cartridge because you will need to replace it eventually. Unless your planning to DJ you can probably save a bit of $ by going belt drive as opposed to direct drive. If you have a local record store take a look at their used equipment. Also whoever is working there should have good advice as long as you tell them a price range. Keep in mind you'll need something to send the audio signal to as well. That will vary in cost. I use this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1467417822&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=stereo+amplifier&dpPl=1&dpID=41phZQk-zFL&ref=plSrch. Some folks may think it's a bit of a joke but it satisfies my needs. It powers my speakers, fills my house with sound, and has an EQ.
This is probably the cheapest you could go new while avoiding the crappy Lepai amps and such. Depending what the used market is around you, you could potentially find something much better.
You'll need RCA cables (if the turntable didn't have them already) and speaker wire.
This thing looks promising. I'm a fan of Yamaha receivers.
This one also looks like an option. Onkyo is a pretty solid brand.
That's a tough one. Have you thought about having the TV on the wall where the stairs are located? I assume that lighting would be an issue with that placement.
As for bookshelves these are just over 300 but I would recommend looking at HTD Level Threes: https://www.htd.com/Level-THREE-Bookshelf-Speakers
or
Chane a1.4s: https://www.chanemusiccinema.com/A1.4
for a little less Elac 6.2s:
https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B07B4Q5587/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1536259836&sr=1-11&keywords=elac+speakers
You would need a receiver with any of these options such as: https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs530bt/denon-avr-s530bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
Link to that? Is it this? - https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B07B4Q5587/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
How would those compare to those MB42x speakers that are listed in the recommendation wiki/sticky? How about compared to Fluance Signature Series? I'm building a 5.1 setup this Black Friday, wondering if this is a deal I should jump up. Goal is to keep it under $500 though.
Set of powered speakers or a Soundbar at that Budget.
Like Edifier 1700
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1700BT-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B016PATXSI
Possibly a Used AV receiver and R/L and Center speaker for 3.0.
A Lil more Budget you can get a refurb AV receiver and 3 speakers - $325 ish
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs540bt/denon-avr-s540bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6
Where are you located .?
Ok, thats a big room but the lower volume will help. For 250$ I would go with something like....
https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-DV62si-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00006JPDI
Plus
https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-DV-62CLRS-Channel-Speaker/dp/B00009WBYL/ref=pd_sim_23_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00009WBYL&pd_rd_r=9TC6M390JE1PY38E3K10&pd_rd_w=vruoI&pd_rd_wg=VKzIs&psc=1&refRID=9TC6M390JE1PY38E3K10
Or
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NCD2LG
Plus
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-C22-Designed-Channel-Speaker/dp/B008NCD2EI/ref=pd_bxgy_23_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B008NCD2EI&pd_rd_r=YC00Y4XCPT9XBKZE5CSH&pd_rd_w=SQGBN&pd_rd_wg=jV6RF&psc=1&refRID=YC00Y4XCPT9XBKZE5CSH
Or
3 of these
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-C-Channel-Speaker-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1501010503&sr=1-1&keywords=mb42x-c
I would highly recommend the Micca bookshelf speakers
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009IUIV4A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483218684&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=bookshelf+speakers&dpPl=1&dpID=515pxM5mGPL&ref=plSrch
Or the Dayton Audio bookshelf speakers
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002RMPHMU/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1483218684&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=bookshelf+speakers&dpPl=1&dpID=41h2GNNeZmL&ref=plSrch
With a small amp
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1483218848&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=turntable+amplifier&dpPl=1&dpID=41phZQk-zFL&ref=plSrch
I have used all of them with my Chromecast Audio. They sound great.
If you're running more than 2 things at 4K 60 hertz, you'll need an AV (audio-visual) Receiver.
Check out THIS guide from a guy named Zeos.
A quick amazon search led me to THIS one which has 3 4K 60 Hz pass throughs.
Do a bit of research before buying. The setup for these is pretty simple, but you should know what you're getting into. Basically, all your input devices (cable box, Xbox, etc) go into this receiver, and the receiver outputs to your TV and speakers (if you have external ones).
However, you should really ask yourself if you need this. What are you planning on plugging into the TV?
You can get the newer version of that receiver for $230 on amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG
Hello Reddit,
I am looking to get started collecting vinyl and am saving up for a new turntable, amp & speakers. My total budget is $1,000. Below is currently what I have in mind, but I am open to suggestions:
Turntable:
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
Open to vintage alternatives, but am still looking for quality
Receiver/Amplifier:
Yamaha A-S301
Onkyo A-9050
What I am looking for in a receiver is also the flexibility to hook up my TV to the speakers I'm buying. Let me know if you have any better recommendations.
Speakers
ELAC B6
Audioengine P4
I am really new to this stuff, but based on the research I have done I believe the choices listed above would be solid. I am leaning towards the ELAC Speakers, but the other parts of my system are very much undecided. Also, would I need a preamp for this set-up?
Here is a link to my local craigslist
Thanks for the help.
Elac B5
7.87" x 8.75" x 12.75"
>Not only do the B5's do the job, they do more than is expected and play low enough cleanly that a subwoofer is truly optional.
$229.98
-----------------------------------
Swan D1010-IV
6.1'' x 8.5'' x 8.4''
>I cannot recommend the Swan D1010-IV speakers enough to cheap bastards looking for the best deal on the desktop, or audiophiles on a tight budget.
$69.00
Denon S640H - $200
Denon S540BT - $150
2.0
HSU HB-1 - $350 w/shipping
Elac Debut 2.0 6.2 - $280
Ascend CBM-170SE - $300
3.0
Infinity R152 - $140 & Infinity RC252 Center - $180
Wavecrest HVL-1 x3 - $240
A few different options. All of them will sound pretty different, but I think they all are at a good value. With the 2.0 setups you may consider what a matching center is going to cost.
There seems to be the consensus that this or anything that looks like it is manufactured from the same place. They're relatively cheap, and $15 is a small investment that will go a long way for the proper care of your records.
If you're only seeing large dust particles on the surface but not hearing much in terms of popping and crackling, then I'd go with just a basic carbon fiber brush like this AudioQuest one. If you're new to vinyl and don't already have one, it's a good thing to pick up anyway. It's good practice to brush each side before each spin. While these types of brushes won't clean a truly dirty record, they'll help your clean records stay clean.
If your records are noticeably loud and noisy then you'll probably have to go the route of wet cleaning. I see kits like this one a lot but I don't think they're really worth the money. You can do a better (and cheaper) job with:
You can lay one cloth flat to set the record on, spray it down and scrub around lightly with one of the cloths (it can help to dampen this with the distilled water). Personally I like to then dry the record with another cloth, spray it down with just distilled water to rinse it then dry again and repeat on the other side but you can find a method/system that works for you. If you're being super particular about it then remember to flip and replace the cloth the record is on so as not to contaminate the side you just cleaned. Also if you're worried about getting your labels wet, car applicator pads like these actually cover a label almost perfectly and they can also be used in place of a microfiber cloth to scrub the record, they work great.
If you plan on sticking with vinyl for awhile though it's worth it to save up for a SpinClean. I was a skeptic for a long time but I'm glad I finally got one, it really is worth the money. It does a good job, it's well built and it's stupidly easy to use. If $80 seems too steep for a yellow plastic trough (which it really is, unfortunately) there are cheaper models such as this. Doesn't have a lid and comes with different cleaning fluid but it doesn't seem like a half bad option.
Whichever option you go with always make sure you're putting your newly cleaned records into clean inner sleeves. If they were dirty in those sleeves it's very likely those sleeves are dirty too. Also remember to keep your turntable mat and stylus clean.
Everyone has already mentioned shelves, but besides that, I put outer sleeves on all my records and replace all inner sleeves with Mobile Fidelity sleeves. PVC inner sleeves are the biggest offenders at damaging records, so I always replace those ASAP whenever I get one with my record.
Inners: http://www.sleevecityusa.com/Diskeeper-2-0-Antistatic-Record-Sleeves-p/9235.htm
Outers: http://www.sleevecityusa.com/ultimate-outer-2-5-pack-of-50-p/9224.htm
Edit: Just saw you were UK based. Try these...
Inners: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobile-Fidelity-Original-Master-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501369820&sr=8-1&keywords=record+inner+sleeves
Outers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vinyl-Record-Polythene-Sleeves-Covers/dp/B00KS5F9OE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501369831&sr=8-2&keywords=record+outer+sleeves
Outter sleeves Resealable 3 mil Outer Record Sleeves (50 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1WFFTW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_PQo4pcbRfvAKQ
Inner sleeves Mobile Fidelity - Record Inner Sleeves (50Pk) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_IJFMpjvRKoHOR
Trust me these do wonders for the long haul . I've been collections roughly four years now and I have stuff from when I first started looking as if I just bought them . You can seal them at the place where there's the opening to get the records out and never have to actually mess with the jacket and such . It keeps everything looking so nice and the inner sleeves are the best on the market just clean your records prior to putting them and you won't worry s bit . Yeah they're a bit pricy but spending this little amount on both every few months is so worth it in the end .
Here's one stereo amp
A more expensive option
A really cheap option, won't get super loud due to only having 20wpc
I'm using this 50w transducer, hooked to a small amp and connected to the sub output on my soundcard. I'll have a write-up posted soon with steps and parts (as soon as it's done!).
Someone lit the TSR signal, and thus I am here :P
I bought the Aura bass shakers and a Lepai LP-168HA 2.1 2 x 40-Watt Amplifier. My Bass shaker is rated for 50W, where the Lepai amp only comes with a 3A PSU, so I picked up a 6A PSU on the recommendation of someone in this subreddit, and it's been working fine (hasn't burned up or anything). I'm currently attaching it to a ford cobra seat, but just from the limited test use I've done so far, it works great. Definitely shakes my entire apartment when I turn it up.
The entire kit came out to about $90 after shipping, which I figured was a great price. I've seen someone recommend getting 4 amps and 4 transducers and mounting them on the corners of my seat, then running SimVibe to simulate each wheel independently, but I haven't tried that personally. Nor have I tried the actual brandname buttkicker, so I can't say how this solution compares. But I will say it adds a huge amount of immersion to Assetto Corsa.
EDIT: Oops, forgot the parts list:
AuraSound AST-2B-4 Pro Bass Shaker Tactile Transducer by Aura Sound - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002ZPTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_VjzVtb1MV70BA
Lepai LP-168HA 2.1 2 x 40-Watt Amplifier and 1x68W Sub Output by Lepai - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070Z87YO/ref=asc_df_B0070Z87YO3169620?smid=A385A0XNQBW8HY&tag=pgmp-401-100-20&linkCode=df0&creative=395109&creativeASIN=B0070Z87YO
12v 6a Adapter Power Supply for LCD Monitor with Power Cord by LCD AC Power Adapter - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TUMDWG/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_tlzVtb1TKD73K?tag=viglink20241-20
This kind of tech/setup is pretty common and affordable. I don't know the buttkicker specs, but I imagine it's just overpriced due to the name and fancy-schmancy packaging:
http://www.amazon.com/AuraSound-AST-2B-4-Shaker-Tactile-Transducer/dp/B0002ZPTBI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408110674&sr=8-2&keywords=shaker+bass
http://www.amazon.com/FMOD-Crossover-Pair-Low-Pass/dp/B0006N41EM/ref=sr_1_151?ie=UTF8&qid=1408110849&sr=8-151&keywords=crossover
http://www.amazon.com/LP-2020A-Lepai-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B0049P6OTI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408110904&sr=8-1&keywords=lepai+2020a%2B
BAM! Done... All you need.
Suggestions:
Let's be reasonable. You probably aren't going to need 3 4K screens, so let's run with a
Before you shy away at the 60fps (which is just about the highest you'll hit on a 4k display right now) keep in mind that the only 60fps you remember is coming from a dirt cheap lcd screen. 60 fps on a 5000 color lumen laser projector is going to be epic. (sidenote, not sure about input latency. Check before you buy it!)
https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-DT-1770-PRO-Headphones/dp/B0142FEWD4)
Speakers will run another $3000 easily.
Annnnnnd this might seem cheap, but don't forget your $50 transducers
Get a few of these and sprinkle 'em about!) to really amp up the action!
Anyways no matter what price point, don't forget the sound & picture quality! They make games so much more fun. Gaming on a 120hz projector + 7.1 surround system is a blast.
I have 4 shakers set up on the 4 corners of my racing rig.
This is my DIY bass shaker setup:
Amp: http://www.parts-express.com/4x100w-at-4-ohm-tk2050-class-t-digital-audio-amplifier-board--320-335
Power Supply: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPERNIGHT-24V-DC-14-6A-350W-Regulated-Switching-Power-Supply-Transformer-/331060676334?hash=item4d14c106ee:g:hV0AAMXQjWtRKt4z
Bass Shakers: http://www.amazon.com/Reckhorn-Bs-200-Tactile-Transducer-Theater/dp/B00AMH17GC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1425568544&sr=8-5&keywords=bass+shaker
Second Sound card to drive amp: http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-Audigy-SB1550/dp/B00EO6X7PG/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1402934998&sr=8-8&keywords=sound+card
Bass Shakers: 4 x $40
Power Supply: 1 x $24
Amp: 1 x $50
Sound card: 1 x $30
DIY Total: $264
Examples:
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php/724042-My-DIY-SimVibe-racing-rig
http://www.overclock.net/t/1354257/project-log-my-diy-simvibe-racing-rig
EDIT:
Looks like the reckhorn shakers are currently unavailable on amazon. You may be able to find them elsewhere.
On amazon, These may be acceptable replacements:
https://www.amazon.com/Visaton-BS130-4-Tactile-Transducer-Shaker/dp/B0056BQMNM/ref=sr_1_19?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1544621334&sr=1-19&keywords=aurasound
OR
https://www.amazon.com/AuraSound-AST-2B-4-Shaker-Tactile-Transducer/dp/B0002ZPTBI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1544621334&sr=1-1&keywords=aurasound
Pro-Tip for Nick or anybody looking to further upgrade their home entertainment experience: get a bass amp for your audio and plug some buttkickers https://www.amazon.com/AuraSound-AST-2B-4-Shaker-Tactile-Transducer/dp/B0002ZPTBI
depending on how big the amp, you might only be able to power 1. I got one for the chair by my gaming pc and it is fucking sweet and really easy to install, I wanna get a bigger one soon. When somebody shoots an awp in cs go near me its like thunder.
I use two Aura bass shakers which I attached to a 2x4 on the beams on the inside of my couch. They are wired in series to one channel of a small two channel amp.
The amp is connected to the subwoofer output of my receiver. If you have a X.1 receiver (as I do), simply attach an RCA splitter to the subwoofer output so that one can go to your actual sub and one to the bass shakers.
I love having friends and family to my apartment for the first time. I'll put on some music and they will sit on the big leather couch and without fail mention that the sound must be so loud because they "can feel the bass!" I love my bass shakers especially for Battlefield 4, I have not yet bought BF1, and action movies. If I could make a recommendation: buy a proper subwoofer amp for the shakers. Usually these amps have a built-in EQ or a crossover so you can dial in exactly what frequencies you want the shakers to react to.
Totally worth doing this mod, it makes everything more immersive. 25watts is PLENTY for a computer chair, I know that sounds low but trust me its FINE. If anything I want to add more smaller ones for a stereo vibrating sound.
As someone who has done this multiple times (not building a transducer but installed them) I would recommend getting a higher quality amp, specificly a plate amp. I know they cost a little more but they add so much more quality.
Amp for transducer: $43
Cheap transducer 25 watts: $25 (take apart and use the transducer in the backpack)
Nicer Transducer 50watts: $52
DONT BUY THIS AMP - the sound is awful and is no where near the stated 68watts, also the low pass things dont work at all on this.
That equals out to about £1500. I know you said a clutch isn't required, but as far as I know you can't get a Fanatec pedal set without a clutch but with a load cell brake, and if you're spending this much you're going to want a load cell. And to be honest, having a clutch and a H-shifter is useful if you ever want to drive something that needs them (Group C cars, for example).
Here's the 100 dollar version I did myself. Really works and if you wanted an insane amount of vibration more than you can get from a boxed consumer kit just keep adding bass shakers and upgrade the amp.
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sa70-70w-subwoofer-plate-amplifier--300-784
http://www.amazon.com/AuraSound-AST-2B-4-Shaker-Tactile-Transducer/dp/B0002ZPTBI
Good luck, I lived in a old factory. Low frequency noise traveled well, and the neighbors loved their base. I mounted one of these with a amp. Set it to play MLK speeches. If you cant beat them join them.
http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-LP-record-clean-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI
Don't freak, man. Here are a few pointers to start with...
This has come in handy quite a bit for me. I use it on every play, although it's really for pulling loose dust off.
I haven't used anything like it, but this post seems relevant.
If it is really dirty, I use the wood glue method. I'll be buying a record washer soon though for more regular cleaning.
My regular cleaning is really just using an Audioquest brush to get any dust off right before I play the record.
As for the stylus, I use a Magic Eraser. I used to have that dust ball problem until I started using the brush. So stylus cleaning doesn't happen as often as it once did.
Here's some links:
Brush
Record washer
Magic Eraser
I was just getting into vinyl when I was your age, and I initially found it hard navigating the most basic technical information about how to decide how to purchase and set up a turntable. Here is the most relevant stuff you need to know:
It is embarassing how many people do not understand the need for a preamplification system so please take note of this: If you ever are playing music through a turntable and it is coming through really quiet, that means you do not have a correctly operating phono preamplifier. Phono preamplifiers can be external add-ons that are placed in between your turntable and receiver/amp, internal features of your reciever/amp, or internal features of your turntable. At some point in your set-up, a preamplifer must be present.
Now, to answer your actual questions:
As for my personal opinions on brands, I think Audio Technica's turntables are not amazing but they're acceptable, and at $80 you can't really complain. This would be a good "starter" table, if the bug catches you like it did me you can always upgrade later. If you are willing to go the $300-$500 route, look into turntables by Technics, Vestax, Music Hall, or Pro-Ject. Be cautious about the brands Stanton, Numark, Gemini, and Ion when it comes to $300+ turntables.
Dust is another issue. If you're buying used records, and you will be, fighting dust will be an uphill battle. Most record stores worth their salt will clean their records with record cleaning machines before selling them; flea markets won't. Do your part to minimize the role of dust by using a carbon fiber brush on a record before playing it ( http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-Anti-Static-record-cleaner-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI/ref=pd_sim_e_7 ). If you find a record store with a record cleaning machine, they usually charge about a dollar a record to wash your vinyl, or less if you're a good friend/customer. Other ways to lessen the impact of dust:
a) use outer sleeves and inner sleeves
b) clean your stylus regularly with a small brush that comes with it in a backwards to forwards motion
c) use brushes and record cleaning solutions (do note that it is possible to make record cleaning solutions yourself, google it): http://www.needledoctor.com/Stanton-VC-1-Vinyl-Cleaner?sc=2&category=108
Turntables are durable, but since they have more external moving parts than, say, CD players, they are more at risk to damage. The tonearm is your greatest concern. Don't let that thing get knocked around. Belts on belt-driven turntables wear out eventually, but replacing them is pretty easy.
this one
You will need speaker cable; don't get the super thin stuff. Something about the thickness of lamp cords (18 gauge). When you hook up your speakers, it's imperative that they're in phase - make sure the red terminal on the speaker connects to the red on your amp. Not doing so won't damage your speakers, but one will be pulling while the other is pushing, effectively cancelling each other out. Usually speaker wire has one side with a line or a ridge so you can tell them apart.
You amplifier and speakers can accept banana plugs. They're entirely optional, but they sure do look nice.
You'll want a basic cleaning kit - something to clean your records and discharge static electricity and something to clean your stylus. If you're a cheapskate, or just prefer DIY solutions (I'm both), then you can use a very small piece of a Magic Sponge to clean your stylus. You don't brush it; you just gently lower you stylus onto it a few times.
What exactly do you have? There might be some adjustments you could do, knowing what tt you're working with could help.
Edit: I saw it's a Crosley. Yeah, sorry man, those things just aren't good. I'll say what the other guy said too, if an album's skipping, don't listen to it anymore, nothing will make that Crosley track it without grinding it like a millstone. It won't hurt your records that play fine that much, unless you use it for years. Check your local Craiglist for vintage turntables, if you post a link to your craigslist I bet some guys here would be glad to help you out with picking one. Check with old people you know, they might have some stuff they're willing to give away, I got the receiver and speakers I'm using right now from a man at church, and another guy gave me a Kenwood tt that would work fine with a new belt and stylus. I hope you can find a kickass setup, but in the meantime, just enjoy what you've got.
EDIT DOS: while I'm giving out advice, I suggest you pick up one of these . They're cheap, and they're great for getting dust off of your records, which can put pops and crackle in them. I always use it before I play mine, just a quick clean.
I'd say speakers would be first. Do you have anything to clean your records? I use something like this to keep dust off before playing --> http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-LP-record-clean-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI
Nice receiver! I love the look (and sound) of the old 1970's-era Marantz receivers. Now for some suggestions:
1.) Get rid of the Discwasher. It is completely ineffective and can actually grind dust deeper into the grooves. Consider replacing it with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT6012-Record-Care/dp/B0009IGAPW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343346910&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+technica+record+cleaning+kit
2.) Invest in a carbon fiber brush for cleaning light surface dust before each play. Use it dry, in between wet cleanings. I use one by Audioquest, and it does an admirable job. It is available here:
http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-LP-record-clean-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI/ref=pd_cp_e_0
These two items are the cheapest and most effective upgrade for any vinyl system.
3.) Consider upgrading your turntable. Something like a Pioneer PL-12D will vastly outperform your Sony deck, and it can be found on eBay sometimes for under $100.
4.) New speakers (but you know that already).
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. And good for you for taking the first plunge into vinyl :-)
Carbon fiber brushes are good for regular upkeep of already clean records. If you have to do a hardcore clean or if you like buying a bunch of used records, I'd recommend using this brush as a jumping off point. Once you run out of the fluid that's included with the brush, there's a few solid DIY record cleaning solutions posted on /r/vinyl.
Also, don't use a shirt. That'll do more harm to a record than good.
I love this one
I use [these] (http://www.amazon.de/Schallplatteninnenhüllen-Original-Master-Sleeves-Packungsinhalt/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1411900220&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=mfsl+anti) and they do fit inside the jacket, the paper sleeve with artwork and record in the anti static sleeve separate. I don't know if the one you linked will fit inside the paper sleeve though. I would recommend keeping them separate so you do not damage the artwork sleeve and jacket.
You're correct! There are both inner and outer sleeves. The outer sleeve protects the record jacket itself, and the inner sleeves protect the record from damage while it sits inside the jacket. Here are examples of each found on Amazon:
Inner Sleeves: https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Record-Inner-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY
Outer Sleeves: https://www.amazon.com/100-Record-Outer-Sleeves-Polyethylene/dp/B000RA7IZS/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1487517064&sr=1-2&keywords=outer+sleeves
There are plenty of threads on this sub with discussion about this if you need more information about protecting the records! I'm really sorry about your loss and I think it's great your trying to preserve his valuables.
MOBILE FIDELITY SOUND LAB INNER SLEEVES - MOFI MFSL (50 RECORD SLEEVES) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jZi1CbQBT8D4Y
http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Inner-Sleeves-50Pk/dp/B001LQSFKY
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1WRFV8
Just here to suggest MoFi sleeves: I use these
I'm no expert, but these sleeves were recommended to me and I've noticed they've reduced my static and little white paper particles considerably since swapping them out for all of my standard paper inner sleeves.
The Mobile Fidelity sleeves are available on Amazon. I have some and they are just like stupidsexyflanders described... high quality and won't scratch your records, just not as stiff as paper sleeves:
http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Inner-Sleeves-50Pk/dp/B001LQSFKY
Last night I ordered these Diskeeper 2.0 sleeves to try out, which are a little less expensive:
http://www.sleevecityusa.com/Diskeeper-2-0-Antistatic-Record-Sleeves-p/9235.htm
Very important. The paper protect just fine, but leave paper dust on the album, especially as they age. The poly are not stiff enough for my taste in that they wrinkle up when you are trying to slide the record in. The best is the poly lined paper. Best of both. The Mobile Fidelity are widely considered the best. The paper is actually sealed in between layers of poly preventing any paper dust at all.
my personal choice (use code 50savers to get 15% off whole site till 5/23/13)
these are the ones most people here will reccomend, a damn fantastic sleeve, i just like the ones i use lol
I use these. Very nice quality. Never have to worry about bits of paper flaking onto your records again.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001LQSFKY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518400452&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Mofi+sleeves&dpPl=1&dpID=41adnc94vVL&ref=plSrch
Just make you don't tear the packaging all the way off. They just come loose with a cover inside the plastic package.
Here - basically replacing the stock inner sleeve with one of these. Helps keep dust and static down. Less worrying about scratching from removing from the sleeve. - Give your record a good clean before putting it in and you'll be good. There are dozens of other generics that are basically the same thing, plastic and soft rice paper, but you can't go wrong with these..
I replace all my inner sleeves with them.
I got some of these.
I like them, they seem much safer than the paper ones. There's no resistance when I pull the LP's out, they just kinda glide, whereas just the paper sleeves seem to add some resistance which I'm guessing over time would scratch up the disk. The Mobile Fidelity brand inner sleeves seem to be the best, but the ones I got are cheaper and I don't think too that far off.
A few options in your price range:
http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html
this might be on sale or this might be a scam/pricing error because usually they go for a bit more: https://www.altex.com/Pioneer-Andrew-Jones-Designed-Compact-Loudspeakers-SP-BS22-LR-P157403.aspx?gclid=CjwKEAjw9MrIBRCr2LPek5-h8U0SJAD3jfhtyq_nnWPKvh-hJQ9EiVqC-G8RUemZI-__MVQAPyFtQhoC8Ijw_wcB
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSER6O
There are of course a million more good options but there are some to start with
Assuming you want to buy new, here is what I would do:
Turntable: Project Debut Carbon DC $399, obviously pick your colour preference. http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-Debut-Carbon-DC-White/dp/B00IIMXBHG
Receiver: Yamaha RS201 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0H88SY/ref=psdc_14269301_t3_B000MBUSD6 $149
Phono stage: ART DJ PRE $39 http://www.amazon.com/ART-II-Preamplifier-Output-Switchable/dp/B000AJR482
Speakers: ELAC B5 $229 http://www.amazon.com/Debut-Series-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew/dp/B014GSER6O
Forget about the sub, getting a musical sub on a budget is difficult, if you want more bass look for floor standing speakers down the line.
You can probably save some money by buying a vintage receiver.
If you have a receiver, I'd go with these since they're on sale and are being discontinued for a newer model. These speakers have good bass that sorta feels like a mini-subwoffer when it's turnt up. Here's a more in depth review
I'd probably skip the sub for now with that budget, but others may have a better suggestion.
EDIT: This would be my suggestion for living room listening, probably not great for desktop
The BT ones are also for sale $113.74
https://www.amazon.ca/Edifier-R1280DB-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0719C132V/
For the set you aren't planning to move, I'd recommend these: Edifier R1280DB
They look nice, are well regarded here, and are a pair of speakers so you get a proper stereo sound (unlike an all-in-one portable bluetooth speaker). They should sound better than most portable speakers because they're able to be a bit bigger and aren't packed with batteries (speakers need a bit of empty space inside them to sound good).
You can also hook up other audio inputs to them, so you can hook up a Spotify compatible device and use that to stream more easily. That way you don't have the issue of the bluetooth connection dying if you move your phone too far away. You could also hook them up to a TV, CD player or certain turntables.
​
For the speaker you're planning on moving around, maybe ask the question at /r/Bluetooth_Speakers? They'll probably give you better answers than you'll see here.
Edifier R1280DB Bookshelf Speakers. I’ll vouch for them, they’re pretty good.
Link:
Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Optical Input - Wireless Studio Monitors - 4 Inch Near Field Speaker - 42w RMS - Wood Grain (Wood) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0719C132V?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
How much MONEY and how SMALL do the speakers have to be?
Edifier makes some reasonably priced speakers that have Bluetooth, as well as normal inputs. You could drive these speakers with any Smart Phone.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CAD5D5AB-A15E-4DB4-B827-54648FB62253
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R2000DB-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B01CDU3IAI
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1700BT-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B016PATXSI
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1280DB-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0719C132V
I recently upgraded from an LP60 to a LP1240 (secondhand) and I've been seriously underwhelmed and am having problems.
The LP60 sounded crisper with cleaner sound which shouldn't be the case for a much more expensive table with a cartridge costing more than the previous table all together.
The 1240 wasn't nearly loud enough so I had to add a preamp, I know there is a built in one but after trying every possible Line/phono config it still was't giving me the volume the LP60 had.
Also I am getting a loud hum which I can't seam to figure out. I attracted a ground wire from the turntable to the preamp which reduced hum but is still prevalent. I'm almost positive this hum is stemming from the turntable itself as when I used the LP60 with the amp there was no hum whatsoever and the hum is still there when the preamp isn't connected.
Video of hum
Setup:
Turntable
Amp
Pre Amp
Headshell
Cartridge
Speakers
​
​
Have you bought a pre-amp. A lot of the old recievers had amps installed for turntables, but the new ones do not. If you can barley hear it, you should get one, it was the issue w/ mine, and now it works perfectly.
You can find them at Sam Ash, or Guitar Center. Looks like this: http://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419267386&sr=8-1&keywords=pre+amp+for+turntables, or this: http://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419267386&sr=8-1&keywords=pre+amp+for+turntables
edit: nevermind, saw that you have a standalone console...
It isn't the speakers. If they sound okay with your iPad, they should sound okay with the turntable. If the tt RCA cord is removable, try a different cord. Also, make sure the record you are using is in good shape, or try another one if you can. Another option is to plug some headphones into the amp, and see if that reproduces the crappy sound. Lastly, you can spray de-oxit electrical contact cleaner onto the phono contacts to clean them. Let it dry (a few minutes tops) and try again. If your phono input is dead, you can get one of those external phono inputs and run it through an aux or tape input.
Jim knows what you're looking for, OP.
I've found the parts you'll want to get as well. It's definitely a real budget set up, but it'll get you started.
Phono preamp
Patch cable (from phono to iHome)
Just plug the turntable into the phono input, then use the patch cable to go from the phono's output and into your iHome, and you're good to go.
Sure dude. Here's the links to the stuff you see. Nothing special honestly :p I have a TEAC tape player and a Pioneer Spinning 5 Disc Player but I left it all at home. And I only have 1 set of Dayton Audio speakers with me that are on my desk off to the right.
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S202BL-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B01EMQI2CU
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008872SIO/ref=psdc_3003611_t2_B00P9W6SUK?th=1
I was just recently gifted a set of Beatles records from the 80s. I am a huge fan and decided that I wanted to get a vinyl player so I could listen to them the way they were intended. I have a really small budget and after doing some research, I found the Audio Technica AT-LP60. My first question is if this is even an option that won't suck? If it is, then is it worth getting the Bluetooth connectivity for the extra $80? (Here's the link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008872SIO/ref=twister_B01BHMYA9Q?_encoding=UTF8&th=1) Preferably Amazon [New Jersey, USA]
$100 and you could live your dream. Just get a stand alone speaker set up and you're set.
It's not the most amazing piece of equipment in the audio world, but it gets the job done. If you're spending $50 on a CD, you could splurge $100 for a competent turntable. Treat yo'self.
Plan 9 is good, but if you want a decent selection...real talk go to Amazon. Especially if you already have one that's on its last legs, I wouldn't buy used, I feel like you'd just be buying your way into the same problem.
Here is a good option within your price range. You may be able to pick this model up at Plan 9, I feel like I've seen AT turntables in there before, but I've never looked hard enough to know which models.
Hey, so I could use some help getting started on buying a new record player. I just recently got into vinyl and got a record player for Christmas but I've just discovered it sucks ass and may be detrimental to my records. I went on /r/vinyl, I have a Lauson Woodsound record player.
I'm on a budget, though. Altogether, it'd probably have to be below 350 bucks. I've gotten a few recommendations here already that I've kept on hand (/u/TheInfinityGauntlet helped me a lot). If anyone could help me get started putting together a full set up that'd be great. I was going to get this Audio-Technica LP60 but on /r/vinyl they pretty much hate this thing.
To keep this hip hop related, what records do you have on vinyl? Right now the only rap record I have is Orpheus vs. the Sirens.
Yeah man it definitely is not the best player I would save for something different.
Audio Technica AT-LP60BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008872SIO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Ze9PBbN8PX02Q
This player is 100 bucks on amazon. I got it on holiday sale for 80 last year. It's far from high end but it will treat your records well and paired with some nice speakers it sounds just fine. It's a great beginning table. I used a player similar to yours for about a year because it was what i could afford before finally upgrading.
Just enjoy the hobby man! I know the struggle of wanting to buy more records instead of buying a better table lol
For how expensive each lp can be, I would invest in a better made turntable IMO. Those all-in-one briefcase style bluetooth turntables probably won't make your records last very long - and (at least in the Intempo's case) they don't list detailed specs of the turntable either so you don't really know what you're getting. I'd go for an Audio Technica turntable - they have some under $100 and they're made fairly well, and if something breaks they make good replacement parts. Audio-Technica Belt Drive Turntable
I've had this audio technica one in my cart for awhile but I haven't bit the bullet yet
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008872SIO/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Thanks for all of the responses, everyone. After reading a bunch of reviews and watching some stuff on youtube, I decided to buy her the Audio Technica AT-LP60. She's got a good sound system that can do phono, and she's not so much of an audiophile that I think this will do. She's more interested in just listening to a bunch of records our parents gifted her that they have collected since their childhood.
Sidebar links are a great starting point. You've got a good grasp of the beginning points.
I would recommend going with a setup that consists of a Receiver/Amplifier, Passive Speakers, and a Turntable. Yes I left out Phono Stage Amplifier, but I would personally pick a receiver that has it built in.
For a receiver if you want to go for new my two cheap but very well featured options would be the Onkyo TX-8020 and the Onkyo TX-8220. These do have built in phono inputs. Compare the features for yourself to see what seems good to you.
If you want to go used, check out eBay and do a search for "stereo receiver", You can go with anything you think is good as well as looking into the reputation of the brands/models, though it becomes hard to find reviews of old hifi equipment. Almost anything from mid-90s and before will have a phono input that will save you the phono stage purchase.
For passive speakers a very cost effective and something I use in my setup are the Dayton Audio B652 bookshelf speakers. These are decently loud and have great sound.
For a turntable going with new ones will be more expensive and you should look at the recommended ones from the sidebar as they explain it there best. If you're going used, look on eBay for "turntable" and find something that is claimed as working well and is also a recommended brand from the sidebar links. In general something decent is 100% going to have an adjustable tonearm weight, all these new bad turntables always lack this.
One last thing you didn't explicitly ask for, but you should be knowledgeable about is cartridges. You will most likely want to buy a new one for a used turntable. I would say the most cost effective cartridges are found in the range of $50 to $150, do thorough research on installing cartridges and setting them up correctly and you should be on your way to great sound.
Don't buy those speakers. They're absolutely terrible for the price.
If you'd like active monitors (which is a perfectly good alternative) I suggest getting a pair of Emotiva Airmotiv 6s if you're in the US.
Otherwise you'll need a receiver. In that case, if you're positive you'll be adding a subwoofer, you have two alternatives: either a multichannel amp (even if you're going to use it in stereo) that has bass management such as this or a stereo receiver like this to which you'll add an active crossover (or possibly a miniDSP) when you do get the sub.
In the first case scenario you'll have enough to for a pair of Emotiva B1s, Elac B6 or Wharfedale Diamond 220s. If you go for the Onkyo for now, you'll have a higher budget for the speakers allowing you to reach for a pair of KEF Q100s or DALI Zensor 3.
And don't buy a turntable if you don't already have a collection. Forcibly "getting LP records" is a silly hipster thing. It's an outdated medium with a multitude of inherent flaws.
I am going to be using this article plus my own personal experiences in the 7 years I have been collecting: https://www.techradar.com/news/best-turntables
Turntable: Audio-Technica ATLP120USB Direct Drive Professional USB Turntable Price $229.00 (On Sale at the time of this writing) it comes with a built in Pre-Amp so you are good to go. This is one I have been eyeballing myself.
Amplifier: Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver Price $149.95 (On sale at the time I am writing this). This is the one I personally use and I love it. It has multiple channels so you can allow for growth. For example I got a stereo cd player at the local thrift store I am trying to upgrade. I just need RCA Cables to hook it up which I do.
Speakers: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Price $49.98 (Sale at the time I am writing this)
Wire from speakers to Amp: AmazonBasics 100ft 16-Gauge Audio Stereo Speaker Wire Cable - 100 Feet Price $13.49
Headphone Adapter (Trust me you'll need this if you want to listen to music via headphones) Adapter Price: $7.99
Subtotal: $450.41 plus taxes. I think you have wiggle room on the speakers, but I searched for high rated ones. If you need help setting up your Turntable and Stereo please feel free to reach out and I can help! :D
Polk Audio T15, $59 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RJLHB8
Sony SSCS5, $73 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8YLMVA/
I'm considering getting a turntable setup. The turntable I'm thinking of has a phono pre-out so the receiver/amp wouldn't need a phono input. Check these out:
turntable
Mini Amp
speakers
IMHO KLH is/was near the bottom of the speaker food chain. Nowadays, almost any other brand will eat them alive. Having this said, they are affordable, sound descent and fill the needs for most people. If I were you, I would try to get them a bit cheaper (if possible) and use them while looking for an upgrade (KEF, Monitor Audio, B&W, Etc).
I think you can find a better deal with "museum" series of previous brand mentioned here for the same price (around 80 USD top). KEF Uni-q Q10 are a good example.
Good luck!
Edit: Take a look on this Polk Audio T15
Can you guys look this over and make sure I have something worth buying? I have about $1000 to spend on a 2.1 setup for a computer desktop setup.
KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers
SMSL AD18 HiFi Audio Stereo Amplifier
Then finally one of these three.
Klipsch R-100SW 10" Subwoofer
Klipsch R-120SW 10" Subwoofer
or
Klipsch Reference R-10SW 10" 300w Powered Subwoofer
Also would I need to buy the speaker wires to set these up or do they come with wire?
I bought the SMSL AD18 just this past weekend and I really like it. Powers 45W at 8 ohms, I also have those Polk s15’s and it works well with them. In addition, the unit comes with Bluetooth, a sub out, and a variety of different inputs with the built in DAC. Even with $25 shipping to Canada it comes in under budget for you:
SMSL AD18 HiFi Audio Stereo Amplifier with Bluetooth 4.2 Supports Apt-X,USB DSP Full Digital Power Amplifier 2.1 for Speaker,Small 80Wx2 Class D Amplifier with Subwoofer Output https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jsfaCb0RG097B
SMSL AD18 might be of service
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=psdc_537344_t1_B00UGYFWQC
These have been getting some good user reviews lately and a nice price too, and a pretty small cabinet for a 6.5 inch woofer, 79.99 / pair: 2 Pack 6.5" Bookshelf Home Theater Speakers 100W RMS TP160S-CH DCM by MTX Audio
As for amp's I have two of these (on two different computer systems), Dayton Audio APA 150. This is a serious Class A/B design topology, but no frills, just a well built, serious, "old school" heavy amp. No remote, no DAC, no Bluetooth, but WOW, a really nice, serious, amp! Lots of good user reviews and recommendations all over the net.
A often recommended smaller digital amp S.M.S.L AD18. This one DOES have it all, remote, DAC, bluetooth, relatively small, great reviews all over the net.
If you are really on a budget, try something similar to Lepai LP-2020TI Digital Hi-Fi Audio Mini Class D Stereo Amplifier. Do some searches for tweaking this amp, a very simple way to improve this amp, is to buy a more powerful power brick. There are many versions of this type of amp, amazon, ebay, parts-express, look around.
The other two, often recommended, "great value" speakers that work well with a computer (but you will need an amp), are the Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System (Pair). I have seen these on sale for well under 100/pair, from memory, in the 60's and 70's.
Another great value is the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers(7-1/8” x 12-9/16” x 8-7/16” & weighs 9 lbs 2 oz). Again, search around, these do go on sale for well under 100.00.
I have both the Pioneer and the Sony, and I currently am using the Sony SSCS5 with the Dayton Audio Amp. Was temped to buy the DCM, but I have to stop buying "great value" speakers. If I ever want to upgrade my computer speakers, I should save up and buy the Ascend Audio Luna Reference Ribbon Mini-Monitor.
Good luck, have fun, and Enjoy!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?psc=1
That should do it, and it will take the HDMI splitter out of your setup. You could get fancy and grab a NAD 3020 v2 as well.
Receiver with phono input for a good price: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX8020-TX-8020-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/
I just quickly looked through the reviews for the amplifier, and it seems that it quickly loses sound quality at higher volumes. At $50 for the pre-amp and another $20 for this apparently sub-par amplifier, you would probably be much better off buying a used receiver for $70 or spending a little more and going for any entry level receiver such as this one. Just make sure it features a "phono" in, which means that it already has a pre-amp built in.
I can't really comment on the other things since I don't have any experience with them.
How set are you on buying new equipment? I'm not saying that buying used is the right fit for everyone, as I realize that buying used may be intimidating to someone just starting out, and sometimes there's just nothing available locally. It does, however, usually allow you to get much more out of your limited budget, so it should always be at least considered.
here you go. Should serve your needs and meet your budget.
And here is a sub.
Mind you, neither of these is super high end, but $300 doesn't get you much in this hobby, unfortunately. They are however very quality pieces in your price range. As long as you arent trying to hit 120 DB in a 500 sq ft room, you should be fine.
You'll probably always find cheaper vintage/used stuff but here are a few quick amazon buys that would get you up and running. Nothing spectacular but nothing shitty either.
https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8020-channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1504977819&sr=1-3&keywords=stereo+receiver
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S202BL-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B01EMQI2CU/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1504977819&sr=1-4&keywords=stereo+receiver
If you want new electronics , the 50w Onkyo TX 8020 receiver is no slouch, and has a phono input.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EE18O7W/
Recommended reading: http://www.cnet.com/news/audio-specifications-which-ones-matter-which-ones-dont/
This receiver has what you specified: Onkyo TX-8020 Stereo Receiver
: https://amzn.com/B00EE18O7W
Strictly speaking, wattages and THD are a good guide for figuring out quality, but are certainly not a hard-and-fast rule. Knowing your brands and trusted opinions are better, listening to it yourself is best.
The link in the sidebar has some good ones.
I'm actually in exactly the same position as you at the moment, I'm considering this one as it's the cheapest (50w per channel, ~au$80 delivered), but apparently this one is much better even though it's only 30w per channel and is $20 more.
Or then again I could anticipate future upgrades and just go for this yammy amp which is 100w per channel for ~$190.
I really like that Denon one you've posted, though. Decisions, decisions.
I would love to!
 
For the amp I am using the SMSL Q5 Pro as linked by /u/Hercusleaze and I am very happy with it. I bought it especially for the optical input and remote control to use with my xbox alongside my PC. A very good feature is a dedicated sub out, really makes adding a sub simple.
 
If you dont need all the fancy DAC built in I would highly recommend the SMSL SA36A, SA50, or SA98 depending on the power you want (this depends on how loud you want to get and what your speakers need).
 
For speakers I am using a pair of Micca MB42X-C in 2.0, although I got them for half off. Most people recommend Micca MB42X, a very solid all rounder at a good entry price. I set my brother with the Fluance SX-6 speakers, and he is really happy with them although they are bass heavy.
 
These options are solid entry level gear, and for myself I havent needed/felt like upgrading further. If you are looking for something a bit higher end I would suggest checking out the /r/Zeos guide lists or make a dedicated thread!
> I've come to realize soundbars are the devil
That isn't the complete truth. You have to consider the audience here. Most people here are hard core (for the most part) and that is where the huge anti-soundbar sentiment comes from.
They can be decent, and work way better than built in speakers will. Hell I'm using a soundbar for my master bedroom setup mainly because I didn't want a full surround sound setup there.
​
> I'm looking to spend $300 as a target, but will consider up to $400 as a limit.
Main problem with this budget is you're not going to get very much. Good receivers (what I'd consider good that is) alone are in the $200+ range.
Like most will point you to Accessories4less and point you to the Denon AVR-S540BT but really it'd be the Denon 730H before the 540.
So $200 for the receiver doesn't leave you much left over for actual good/decent speakers.
But if you must the Micca MB42X's for $79 and the MB42X-C center for $70
That gets you a 3.0 setup with receiver for just under $400
you can get a cheap pre-amp. i reckon you'll find one for like $30-40. it'll be a piece of shit, but it'll allow you to get use out of a vintage TT considering your active monitors (which I presume have a line in?) for now.
EDIT - even cheaper: http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PP999-Phono-Turntable-Pre-Amp/dp/B00025742A - again, not vouching for the quality of this, but it'll be a better stepping stone than the LP60.
I dug out my dad's old Technics SLB30 over the weekend, and its currently being repaired. While I wait for that, I want to start assembling the rest of the set up.
So far, I've chosen the recommended beginner setup on a budget from the sidebar (Dayton speakers, Lepai Tripath, DJPRE). I noticed that the DJPRE II preamp is now nearly 50$ on amazon though. I did find this guy (Pyle PP999)on Amazon, and was wondering if anyone has any feedback on this preamp. The reviews seemed promising, and I figure I could upgrade at a later time if I want.
I love my vintage gear, but there is nothing wrong with his amp, and there are a ton of decent cheap phono amps out there.
​
It will be hit or miss finding decent vintage equipment for $200, unless you are lucky or know what you are doing, & his Yamaha should put out a clean 80 watts per channel. I'd suggest a cheap amp for $20. He could easily wind up with a downgrade in sound by blindly picking a $200 vintage unit.
​
I've got you covered for about $35, possibly cheaper depending on whether or not your turntable already has a pre-amp built in.
What you need:
Here's how it works:
Now all you have to do is press a button to change inputs. And like I said earlier, if your turntable already has a pre-amp built in, or you already own a pre-amp or receiver, then you can knock $15 off the price and have everything you need for under $20. Possibly right now if you head to a WalMart or something.
Edit: The bonus about this method is you keep the signal analog the whole way through. Also, as mentioned by /u/apapousek, a two channel system is the absolute best audio upgrade you can make at the moment.
Before doing that, make sure your turntable has a preamp built in. If it doesn't, you need something like this to make sure it doesn't break your shit.
Had the same turntable. The built in pre-amp isn't great. If you get a preamp (like this) the sound quality would be a lot better and you won't have to have your speakers on blast.
With a budget of 200-300, I'd probably go the used route. You live in the Bay Area, which will have tons of stuff to sort though on Craigslist. Be patient and google any speakers that look good.
I'd start with 2.0 and add a sub as your budget increases. With a budget like yours, most of the effort/money should go to speakers. It will definitely have the biggest impact there. Here's a speaker search string from another thread:
(b&w | "Bowers & Wilkins" | focal | kef | Revel | Martin | paradigm | "definitive technology" | Wharfedale | Klipsch | "boston acoustics" | energy | Meridian | canton | infinity | jbl | Sonus | Olufsen)
For amp, you can very easily find a capable receiver on craigslist for ~$50. Amplifiers are a little more rare, since most people seem to just buy (and subsequently sell) a receiver for their home audio. Good brands to look for: Pioneer, Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Adcom, McIntosh, NAD, Rotel.
If you get a good amplifier, then you'll be able to stick with it for a long time, allowing you to focus on the speakers and other aspects of your setup. If you have a hard time finding something good, you can look at a new Audiosource amp-100 on amazon.
I love buying stuff on craigslist. Don't be afraid to email anyone and everyone. Most prices are negotiable. Just don't be a dick and you'll have a good experience.
you need a stereo receiver and 4 speakers, thats it.
this will do:
http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6/
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-AW150WH-Indoor-Outdoor-Speakers/dp/B0001VHARE/ref=pd_cp_e_0
This is a solid system and should be pretty future-proofed with that receiver in the case that you want to upgrade the channels.
If you're will to put in a little work, I think you can build a better sounding set for that price.
Two pairs of the Micca 42MBX for the fronts and surrounds:
http://amzn.com/B00E7H8GG2
-- These speakers earned high praise and recommendation in the audiophile community (particularly AVSForums) for their fantastic sound quality, which got me to purchase them for my own system. Love them dearly!
The matching center channel:
http://amzn.com/B00HHFBEK6
That together is about $300.
You can then use the giftcard for a subwoofer:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/pioneer-subwoofer-black/5086873.p?id=1218610014537&skuId=5086873
A solid receiver:
http://amzn.com/B00ILCS182
Plus all your cables and banana plugs from Monoprice. You might even have some money left over to get an extra pair of the Micca speakers to make it a 7.1.
These Miccas & a Lepai amp.
That's up to you. A bluetooth speaker does not make home theater sound. A bare bones set up would be a two channel receiver (ideally a five or more channel option if you're building for the future) and a pair of miccas or something similar. You can use the micca's in the interim as your mains as a 2.0, and then move them to surround duty if you go that route in the future.
The Denon x1300w is recommended here for being relatively future proof, but it's out of your budget. If you're looking to expand down the line, it'll hold up for a while and it will give you flexibility for the future.
This is the cheapest receiver that you can use for 5.2 from a reputable brand.
This baby Dayton sub can provide your low end and should hold up for a while.
So standard pinball cabinet: Playfield space is 20.5 inches wide. Back box space is 28.5 inches wide.
This backbox TV:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-32-class-led-720p-hdtv/5747454.p?skuId=5747454
Mounted with this mount:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07RN77YL6?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
DMD screen is this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01NB17E0Z?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Playfield TV:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/vizio-40-class-led-d-series-1080p-smart-hdtv/6288347.p?skuId=6288347
Speakers:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00N8265I8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Amplifier:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ULRFQ1A?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
My computer only has optical out so I need this adapter:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01AWBA8U8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
If you don't require motion sensing nudging or a analog plunger you can get a simple keyboard controller like this:
https://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html
Buttons like this:
https://www.focusattack.com/il-psl-h-concave-short-stem-pushbutton-blue/
Couple of ground wire harnesses like this (you'll probably need two):
https://www.focusattack.com/30-connection-22-awg-187-ground-daisy-chain-wire/
And some .187 quick connect wiring:
https://www.focusattack.com/16pc-22-awg-wire-with-187-quick-disconnect/
1 1/8 inch spade bit to enlarge or add cabinet button holes:
https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-SPEEDBOR-Blue-Groove-Spade/dp/B00004YOAC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=1+1%2F8+spade+bit&qid=1569174093&sprefix=1+1%2F8+sp&sr=8-3
After that it's just assorted HDMI cables, USB Extension cords, a computer and a partridge in a pear tree. I keep my computer outside of the cabinet in case I want to use it for other things and keep the heat out so my cables are long. The TVs don't generate much heat. And currently I just turn the TVs and computer on manually.
I built my own speaker grills out of foam board and acousticly transparent cloth.
/u/psychojeremy is correct. Try to find the T/S parameters of the speakers and plug them into a calculator like WinISD. If they are OEM speakers though, it might be impossible to find.
If you don't turn up any info on them, you can mount them in truck enclosure for $30 and stuff it with poly-fill from an arts and craft store. If you're spending $30 on enclosures though, you might as well buy purpose built bookshelf speakers like either of these:
I'm like you, OP. I also am philosophically opposed to spending more on audio than on screen. That being said, good speakers do last for a very long time: if new formats ever come out, you can always upgrade the receiver and you can keep your speakers forever.
I did a lot of searching and I ended up with a good compromise that allowed me to have a LG OLED 65 together with a set of solid speakers.
​
Here's what you need to know:
​
- The latest OLED TVs are pretty much the same as last year's. LG B7, C7, B8 or C8 are all the same TV pretty much. Get the cheapest you can find. I bought mine on greentoe.com. I offered 1900$ for a 65' B7 this past April and my offer got accepted. You can even try to price match it with your credit card, I think (search in this sub). This may save you a few dollars more. Bottom line is: you should be able to snatch a 65 OLED for ~1500-1900.
- You can order a refurbished sub for a fraction of the price. I have the Denon X1400H that u/robotdinofight recommended, and I also bought it from accessories4less.
- Atmos speakers are mostly marketing BS. There isn't much sound that comes from above you in movies. That Denon is compatible anyway, so you can always add them later. Before you do that, just go watch a movie in Atmos at a theater.
- Sorround speakers are not that important either. Your dialogue is coming from the center speaker, and music etc will be on the front channels, with just some in your sorrounds more for ambiance than anything else. You can go with *very cheap* speakers here. Source: Zeos's guide here. I ended up buying the cheapest speakers Zeos recommended: Micca Covo-s for 40$ the pair (a factor in my decision was also that I had the speaker stands I was using for the cheap Logitech 5.1 PC system I had. Speaker stands are expensive too so factor in that cost too). These speakers are honestly not great: I tried using a pair of ELAC B6 and yes, sorround was much better. But I like HDR and perfect blacks way more than better sorround, so I ended up returning the ELACs and kept the Miccas as my rear. Maybe I'll upgrade some other time.
- If you are like me and have neighbors and a wife who's not into loud explosion, you really don't need a crazy sub. I have the Elac S10 and that's *more* than enough for us, my wife wants me to keep it down. Get a cheap one! Mine was only about 100$. See Zeos's guide here: https://www.reddit.com/comments/5b1u99
- Invest in good fronts. I have the ELAC B6.2 and while I don't think they sound like the crazy expensive speakers that some friends have, they sound *much* better than a soundbar/integrated TV sound and are great for movies! Important: whatever you buy, you must buy a center channel that matches the left/right speakers. I have the ELAC Debut 2.0 C6.2 center, with the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers as my L/R channels.
- Buy cheap speaker wire and strip it yourself!! I'm so bad with practical stuff that I was a bit intimidated by it, but honestly it's ridiculously simple. The guide that I liked before has a section on wires, read it. The sub has its own cable, remember to buy it (I bought the Amazon one).
- Buy cheap HDMI cables from AmazonBasics.
- I have these stands for my fronts: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PYV7LQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
​
Compared to u/robotdinofight's guide, you lose some sound quality, but only where it matters least and you should save some 700$, enough money to go from the TCL to a LG OLED. Hope it helped!
Micca just came out with some pretty small speakers that aren't bad at all. If you want, you could check those out.
/u/zeospantera also just recommended these recently
Micca COVO-S Compact 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N8265I8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9YPlybKD5GBJJ
As per the /r/zeos guide.
I have been looking for a similar solution. I want a 2.0 setup for my bedroom where I can pair my fire tv and my echo dot. I was considering using this SMSL amp and the micca COVO-S speakers. I have the micca MB42X in my living room and they are solid, but I think bookshelf speakers are rather large for my bedroom. What I am looking for is something I can play music and tv through that is better than the tv and echo dot speakers. The drawbacks to this setup that I can think of without having tried it yet, is there is no remote for the volume and the fire tv may not play well with the amp's bluetooth. I am also not sure how switching through the bt and aux inputs will work. There are also no reviews for this particular amp on amazon or newegg or anywhere else for that matter that I can find.
You can pick up a bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the audio jack. I've got one, works okay. A little volume and audio loss, but listenable.
An adapter would work just fine. You can many adapters which are small in size and very portable. Here is one example from amazon usa : https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Connected-Transmission/dp/B00P24XKS8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494343119&sr=8-2&keywords=3.5mm+to+bluetooth
buy a Bluetooth transmitter like this
You will need an amplifier like this.
That cable is fine, but there are cheaper alternatives on amazon (amazon basics wire I recommend for starters).
You need to hook up your PC to the amplifier through RCA or 3.5mm jack. Then hook up the speaker wire to your speakers.
In the $20ish range, I have several of these. They're great for road trips, immensely improving the motel experience. I've also sacrificed a power cord so I can hook it up to a car battery, as it's 12 volt, so handy for car camping, too. Of course, you'll need speakers, but they aren't terribly expensive, either, and you can often find used ones at thrift stores. I keep a suitcase ready for travel with these and some rope lights, it's awesome.
Honestly build your own set.
I took this: https://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2024A-Amplifier-Stereo-Supply/dp/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478870107&sr=8-1&keywords=lepai+lp-2020a
And added in some older sony bookshelf speakers I had and it outperformed my old Creative/Logitech sets. I like the ability to adjust the bass/treble directly on the front, and I screwed the amp to the underside of my desk to be hidden, and I can still reach under and turn the audio up if need be. It also gives you the ability to connect whatever the hell speaker you want to it... Any two wire bookshelf/tower/desktop speaker you can find.
Things you'll need:
I should have done this years ago instead of going through as many speaker setups as I have and not being happy with them. I have a 5.1 polk system for my TV that I pieced together, and I listen to most headphone audio through my HD595s or Klipsch s4i earbuds. Audio is pretty important and this setup was ideal for cost/quality.
For 300 you might be better off buying LCR and a receiver then adding a sub and surrounds later.
You can probably do something like this:
That's $20 over your budget but Denon receivers are fantastic and honestly those Micca speakers are a great start.
When you're ready to upgrade you can buy cheap surrounds for around $50 (you don't need killer speakers for surrounds) and a cheap sub like a $99 10" Dayton Audio Sub-1000 or $149 for a 12" Dayton Audio Sub-1200.
We don't recommend sound bars because they are bad by design. I'd suggest getting 3.0 with a receiver. Here are the settings on the receiver you'll want to adjust: dynamic compression (makes everything closer to the same volume meaning loud explosions won't be as loud and quiet whispers won't be quiet), vocal booster, and if needed boost the center channel volume. Here's a good setup for cheap that should provide really clear dialog:
Edit: Then setup is match red on back of speaker to red on back of receiver, HDMI from tv to receiver then go through the quick setup. And if you want to keep it lower profile you could flip the speakers on their side but probably better to just buy some cheap wall mounts and mount them beside the tv since you're supposed to put them equal distance apart as they are from the listening position. Probably have it set up in 30-60 minutes.
Edit 2: encase you were wondering why sound bars are bad
Id run mb42x if you want small speakers that sound pretty good. Then you can get a real sub.
Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers With 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter (Black, Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1s4DzbW3Y284B
Micca MB42X-C Center Channel Speaker With Dual 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter (Black, Each) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HHFBEK6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Yt4Dzb3ERFS0N
No worries, this just means a 2.1 or 3.1 is perfect for now, and then you can add on later.
Option 1:
2x RSL CG3 Bookshelf @ $135 = $270
1x RSL Speedwoofer 10s (sold out until Oct) @ $400
1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500
Total: $1170
Less of a budget stretcher, giving up a bit of performance. That receiver is realistically future proof (supports 7.2, 4k) and wouldn't need to upgrade for quite some time. More clear upgrade path however. In this scenario, when you want to upgrade, you get 3x RSL CG23s to be your new front speakers and move the CG3 you already own to the sides as your surrounds.
Option 2:
2x ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers @ $300 (comes in a pair)
1x Bic Acoustech PL-200 II Subwoofer @ $300
1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500
Total: $1100
About the same as option 1, and would come down to preference to RSL vs Elac (if you can demo Elac at a store, please do, RSL is internet direct only but does have in home trail). Similarly easy upgrade path, you'd just fill it out with the rest of the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 lineup (ie center, they even have some on walls for surrounds).
Option 3:
2x RSL CG23 @ $200 = $400
1x RSL Speedwoofer 10s (sold out until Oct) @ $400
1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500
Total: $1300
This requires a budget stretch, but gets you great stereo performance with a clear upgrade path. For speaker upgrade, you add the 3rd RSL CG23 for your center (these can be used horizontally or vertically FYI), and then whatever you want for surrounds (either the RSL CG3 or an on wall, ect)
Based on these numbers you can see you have about $300 for the speakers, so any speakers you can get for $150 each would work here. Other options are Fluance Signature Series HiFi ($200 for pair), Jamo S 803 ($160 for pair), or Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf ($300 for pair). I haven't heard any of these, but they get good reviews (particularly the Q Acoustics).
You could always go less on the receiver, but then you might have to buy a new one later. Would be nearly impossible to go lower on the subwoofer, the BIC and the RSL Speedwoofer are about as good as it gets for that price.
Finally, since you are primarily music focused, you could always axe the subwoofer altogether (add it later) and spend ~$600 on 2 kickass (maybe tower) speakers as music doesn't need as much super low bass as movies do. Let me know if you want to see what that looks like.
Elac Debut
https://www.amazon.ca/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B07B4Q5587/
Well I would suggest the Denon AVR-S530BT for a receiver at $140 and then probably stick to a 2.1, 3.0 or 3.1 and build it up slowly. The ELAC b6.2 are on a great sale for $150 right now and the center for $170, they get recommended a lot and are a great value with the sale. That doesn't leave much for a sub though. Typically the cheapest sub that gets recommended are the daytons, the 10 inch one runs about $100. Whatever speakers you look at make sure they are front ported so you can wall mount them
These general consensus is these are going to be a better bang for your buck.
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-Designed-standing-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676180&sr=1-1&keywords=denon+receiver
As far as sub goes. These cheaper reccomended are:
https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1000-10-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B0063NU3AA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676249&sr=1-1&keywords=dayton+audio+sub-1000
https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676267&sr=1-1&keywords=bic+america+f12
or my personal favorite:
https://www.outlawaudio.com/products/m8.html
There are other brand like Chane and HSU that get great reviews as well for speaker/subs.
Here’s one I just found that does what you said on 3/5 HDMI ports
Denon AVR-S510BT 5.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YAO43YG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_tJNIAbA37WB5G
L/R: ELAC B6
Center: ELAC C5
Sub: BIC F12
Receiver: Denon S510BT
Speaker placement can be hard to figure out, but that all depends on the space. 3.1 is fairly easy even in small areas. I had a small living room and this worked out great for me.
When a better idea of the space you have, I could give you a build on what I'd do based on your budget.
I haven't really heard much about Sony receivers so I can't really comment on that aspect of it but generally Denon or other manufactures are recommended around here. Might be worth looking into something like the Denon x1300 on acessories4less. It's a little more expensive but you get audyssey room correction which can be really helpful.
I'd skip the center channel for now and maybe even the subwoofer and go with some higher end speakers. Something in the $300 range would probably do you much better than skimping on the speakers and getting the center channel right now. The Elac Debut B6's are highly recommended (haven't heard them myself but have heard a lot of praise):
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519671824&sr=8-3&keywords=elac+debut+b6&dpID=41zNEwhnFGL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
They're also about to announce the 2018 model lineup and they are front ported which is cool. Maybe some others can chime in on some good speakers in the $300 price range as well.
So the Denon receiver plus a pair of the Elac's would run you about $600, you could save the $100 and put it towards a nicer subwoofer. Something like an HSU, Rythmik, or SVS. I think you'd be MUCH happier going this route than skimping on the components now just to get started and then having to spend more money later on when you realize how much of a difference a quality setup will sound. I skimped out when starting my setup and I definitely have regretted it and spent more money than I otherwise would have had I just spent the money upfront.
Dont forget the B6 at $199...probably the best deal out of the bunch..https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_3?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1524243599&sr=1-3&keywords=elac+debut+b6
I recommend considering the Elac B6 Debut Bookshelf speakers.
6.5 inch mid/bass drivers, so a decent amount of bass. They are BIG for being called bookshelf speakers. Sound best on speaker stands.
Great reviews,
$280
http://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=s9_dcacsd_bhz_bw_c_x_1
I'm a big fan of the KRKs. I have the 5s and the 8s and the sound is great! At $300 that is a bit over your range / budget, though. Unless you meant $150 each.
Just as an option on something that sounds pretty good, in my barely informed opinion.
If you don't need powered versions:
https://www.amazon.com/KEF-Q100-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers-Black/dp/B0047K3X1M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523375811&sr=8-1&keywords=KEF+100&dpID=41stoqDRqGL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
or
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1523375820&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=ELAC+B6&psc=1
with a small amp would be a small stretch and seem fairly highly recommended online (and the price has come down quite recently on those)
50w x 2 channel with Bluetooth: https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-dta-21bt-100w-class-d-21-amplifier-with-bluetooth-and-power-supply--300-3830
I'm getting that Dayton amp with two Dali Zensor 3s in the next month, as an aside. Sorry for the ramble, may or may not help.
as for the sound card I would only get the soundblaster if you need a soundcard (something with mic input/etc) otherwise you will get better results out of a USB DAC like the Schiit Modi
for speakers, there's lots of options in the $300-$500 range, the JBL LSR305's in the OP are surely worth looking at, the ELAC B6 are another good choice, amps are included in the JBL's so you won't need one with those, but with the ELAC's an SMSL SA-60 should provide plenty of clean power.
haha wow. Well, it would depend on a lot. But lets say you have a few bucks but not a lot to spend. I imagine you're interesting in keeping a clean look so definitely 2.0 for now (no sub). If you don't mind having a receiver I'd suggest the Elac B6 or B5 speakers. Amazing value. Pair that with a modest hdmi receiver by yamaha or denon....
Alternatively if you have headphone out you could get powered monitors. I'm a big fan of Emotiva's line. The Emotiva Airmotv 4s would be a great start....I really enjoy them for my desktop speakers. Could I always go bigger for better low end. With something like the 4s you may not get huge bass but you'll get solid lows but everything will be insanely clear and accurate. You'll never go back.
You'll want stands. I suggest Sanus...make sure whatever you get the tweeter is about head level while sitting.
Enjoy!
http://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449450672&sr=8-1&keywords=elac+b6
these are supposed to be the best speakers in the budget category (hifi world is raving about them). can't wait to get a pair myself!
Upgrades include:
Not purchased yet: hopefully sometime this year
Just an amp of some sort... I use this for my two 4ohm speakers and it gets decently loud. You could spend more and get a much better amp but I was on a budget so it works about as well as a $30 amp should. You would also need some speaker wire
Edit; these are 8ohm so they would not be extremely loud but they would work at moderate volumes
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG
And https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSER6O
Or
https://www.chanemusiccinema.com/A1.4
High quality speakers like these will work great for music movies and karaoke.
Most receivers have a 1/4" headphone jack in the front.
I use a pair of wireless Sennheiser headphones with a dual-RCA to 1/4: headphone adapter.
When you plug the headphones into the receiver, it routes all audio to the headphones. Unplug and it goes to the speakers.
So, when I want to use the headphones, I plug them in and pull them off the charging stand.
Edit:
This and this would work, and the headphones already have the adapters needed (1/4" to 3.5mm and 3.5mm to dual-RCA). You can also step it up and get a better receiver or better headphones.
this is a great entry level receiver.
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG
You're at the crossroads that everyone eventually gets to: pay less now and replace a lot of it later, or pay more now and future upgrades will be fairly incremental. This is because a decent receiver is at the heart of every audio system but that initial investment, even with diligent shopping, will cost you at least a couple hundred. Here's a good entry-level option.
For speakers to start out, I would get these klipsch r14m's for $99.
You could also go to goodwill and look for a basic surround receiver. I would make a trip, write down all the model numbers that look reasonably modern, and then do some research at home. You could probably get something decent for $50 IF you're willing to put the time in to find the gem.
Don't buy off CL. Too many scams.
Lastly, you should get a wall mount for the TV. That will create space on your stand for the receiver and a future center speaker.
So my advice is you could get mediocre and future-limited system now with that $200 - 300, or you could save up another $100 - 200 and get something that will last you the next ten years with room for growth.
As noted the first one is a 2 wire stranded copper speaker wire. 1 End will attach to the + and - on the back of the speaker. The other end needs to tie into the back of a amp or receiver. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH130-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B006U1VH2S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1498849794&sr=8-3&keywords=2+channel+stereo+receiver
Each speaker would tie into a black (-) and red (+) set of terminals on the back of the receiver. You can then plug an audio source into the receiver and play sound over the speakers.
If you wanted to use these speakers with a tv/home theater set up you would want to look at an AVR. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498849947&sr=8-1&keywords=avr
Your wires would then hook into the Front L/R +/- terminals. You could then hook your tv/audio equipment the avr and use your speakers for sound.
The second picture is hard to tell what the wire was used for. Some type of 4 wire electrical device, impossible for us to say what it was hooked up to.
I would instead get this receiver, and these speakers, and this center channel. This would be $20 cheaper than the Denon DM40SBK D-M40 you linked, it would sound better, and it has better "upgradeability."
I can offer some suggestions. I personally recommend the Denon AVR-S510BT. It's really cheap and I like mine a lot.
What country are you in?Edit: Looked through your comment history, I see you're from Denmark. Not quite sure what's available over there but I highly recommend a Denon receiver as my parents have owned several and I've owned a few myself. Very reliable products.
I suppose I could. I might just get this [Yamaha](Yamaha RX-V381BL Receiver (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BY7YOAY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_S7jtybPRX2J5W) or this [Denon (not sure if this one has HDR) ](Denon AVR-S510BT 5.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YAO43YG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_B4jtybWHT3WFK) to got with my LG 55UH7700
-Not sure why first link is messed up
I just recently got the following and I listen to Jazz/Blues/Bluegrass quite a bit. I also wanted a A/V Receiver that would allow for future 4K@60FPS when/if I go down that road. Granted this will put you at 500 bucks, but just thought I would share.
ELAC Debut B6 For the type of music you are listening to, these definitely have enough low end range, plus they just sound really, really good to me at least.
Denon AVR-S510BT This is the A/V Receiver I use and I"m happy with it. The only thing I don't like are the spring clips, but I couldn't find anything else at the price point that had that many HDMI 2 ports plus optical in for my Chromecast Audio, plus this is able to power the ELAC's just fine. I wouldn't go over 16 gauge speaker wire for the spring clips. 14 might be doable, but it would be a pain.
What's your budget? The simplest solution is this:
Bluetooth Audio Device -> Amplifier -> Wall-mounted speaker inputs
To do this, you will need to buy the bluetooth device plus an amplifier which can drive all of the speakers (how many are there? do you know the impedance of a single driver or how they are wired?) The wires/cables shouldn't cost much, the big spend here is the amp.
If you want to add in the TV, you will need a mixer/auto-input selector and a cable long enough to go from your TV to the amp:
Bluetooth Audio + TV -> Stereo Mixer -> Amplifier -> Wall-mounted speaker inputs
With this solution, the TV will always play downstairs.
If you want the TV to only play upstairs, you will need two amps and a Y-splitter for the bluetooth audio:
Bluetooth Audio (Y-splitter out 1) and TV -> Stereo Mixer -> Upstairs Amplifier -> Upstairs wall-mounted speaker inputs
plus
Bluetooth Audio (Y-splitter out 2) -> Downstairs Amplifier -> Downstairs wall-mounted speaker inputs
If you are using cheap amplifiers such as the ones made by Topping/Pyle/SMSL then this doesn't have to break the bank.
The other option:
If it's not that far from the TV to the wall-mounted inputs, you could just put an AV receiver under your TV and run speaker cables to the wall around the corner. Some AV receivers even come with built-in bluetooth. That way, you could use the AV receivers remote control to choose between sources. You could also use the receiver's remote to choose between normal stereo output (connect the "front" speaker outputs on the receiver to the upstairs speakers) when watching the TV and "all channel stereo" mode (as before but the downstairs speakers will also be connected to the "rear" speaker outputs on the receiver).
Thinking about it, as long as you don't mind using a remote to switch sources, this is the better option. You can choose between having sound upstairs and downstairs (or both) and you can choose between multiple inputs. The AV receiver will also be better suited to driving the speakers because it will have multiple amplifier channels. Just make sure that it is one that has an "all channel stereo" option (sometimes called party mode).
EDIT: More info
For example, this Denon AVR-S510BT receiver will do what I have described above. See pages 55/56 of the owners manual where it talks about "Stereo" and "Multi Ch Stereo" playback.
If you're actually going to buy a receiver, I just recently purchased a Denon AVR-S510BT to replace my newly dead Denon that was about 15 years old. I was able to get it for $180 with tax from Amazon, but it looks like the cheapest new is now $230.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YAO43YG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Alternately, I purchased an OREI Digital to Analog Audio Converter for a friend to output sound to separate speakers since his Xbox TV's builtin audio was failing. This is a $20 box but it needs its own power.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008EPW7TA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks, that helps a lot actually. I'm going to shop around for a receiver. Would you say this receiver is one of the better entry level ones?
They've hit $200 a pair a few times already, but they might stay at $200 (until sold out?) given that the B6.2's are out.
Hello. Why bluetooth? Although the concept of "hi-fi bluetooth" is becoming more common, IMO it's at least as much hi-fi standards dropping, than bluetooth becoming better. For your budget, I'd recommend these speakers, this receiver, this turntable with this added, and this phono stage.
Wow. Very well written. Most helpful advice I've ever received on this thread.
Definitely sold on the 2.0 and future sub.
So these speakers
And this amp?
Do you have any aesthetic expectations?
I would use a laptop as a source, buy a Fiio DAC, get an audiosource amp, and buy a set of ELAC B6
That's in your price range, but it completely skips the idea of "stereo system" and relies on you owning a computer to dedicate to music.
I woudl have a completely different plan if it was dedicated installed stereo or something that you wanted portable.
As for turntables, keeping it around $100 for that or so, these all look promising:
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/msg/5345847687.html
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/ele/5326115698.html
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/eld/5367183235.html
You'd also need a receiver and speakers.
As far as receivers go, there isn't much that I'm seeing on your CL that's affordable, but:
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/ele/5362782530.html
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/ele/5347386328.html
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/ele/5327514783.html (a bit pricier than the above)
and if you're willing to travel a bit:
https://columbiamo.craigslist.org/ele/5303644484.html
https://lawrence.craigslist.org/ele/5317433502.html
Which brings me to speakers, the most important part of a setup:
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/ele/5344278907.html
Maybe? Your CL doesn't have much in the way of good deals that I'm seeing. The ELAC Debut B6 speakers are very nice. If I'm way off on your budget, let me know (actually, a budget would be helpful anyway :P)
The Elac B6 are great speakers
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=s9_simh_gw_g23_i2_r?_encoding=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=C6N5R8EAKSH8PTVRKW4H&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=a6aaf593-1ba4-4f4e-bdcc-0febe090b8ed&pf_rd_i=desktop
Well, that's the least you could spend. Honestly, you'll be much happier if you take the money you have now, add to it for 6 months or so, and by yourself something like this and these.
amp
speakers
Ehh, I wouldnt want to buy new $400 speakers, but I tend to buy used quality gear with everything in life as its just such a better deal.
I started my home audio journey with Pioneer Andrew Jones Towers and bookshelves. they go on sale for about $70 a pair for the BS and 150 for the towers. I got a used 5.1 for about $300 (even though they were new in box) and I enjoyed those for about 2 years before my kids wrecked on of the towers. I would say they are a bit warm (lacking highs) but they had a solid bang for the buck if you aren't paying retail.
I guess if you insisted on buying used because you aren't comfortable with finding good deals, I would consider the following speakers.
I bought these speakers back in Jan 2017 for $300CAD (which is about 250USD).
The Q100s are an older model and KEF has the Q150s out now. However, if this seller's speakers are in good condition, I guess there's nothing wrong with getting them or look around for a KEF dealer who might still have the 100s in stock.
Another option would be the ELac B6 - something that performs well in your price range. There's lots of reviews about them.
I am looking for some bookshelf speakers under $200 to hook up to this Denon S530. The speakers will be used for music from my phone or turntable. I am thinking about getting the Elac B6. What other speakers do you guys recommend?
$80 off regular price! These are great speakers at $280 and amazing speakers at $200! https://camelcamelcamel.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/product/B014GSEQ06?active=price_amazon&context=top_drops
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSER6O/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1483546981&sr=1-1&keywords=bookshelf+speakers&refinements=p_36%3A20000-25000%2Cp_89%3AElac
I'm new to the vinyl world. Still actually trying to build a 2.0 system as well.
I just read the guides (both the receivers and turntables under $500) and seeing that I need a pre-amp if there's none built in. I'm trying to have a bit of a budget with the entire set up (receiver, speakers, turntable). I was definitely considering the U-Turn because it's under $200 but I need a preamp.. so hopefully I could get some guidance on everything I need to get started.
Any thoughts on Pro-Ject speaker box or Music Hall Mariamba 2-way passive speaker?
I do see some turntable packages on TurnTableLab but are they going to suit my idea of converting my set up into a home theater system in the future?
Ideally I'd like my entire set up to be around $700 or less.
Anything maybe I should be changing or upgrading by spending a little more for some better features/quality?
Trying to decide between two bookshelf speakers:
ELAC B5 Debut ($370 CAD)
Polk RTI A1 ($320 CAD, currently $200 on sale)
I'm planning to set up a 2.0 system in a small living room (8 feet deep) mostly for music listening, but also movies occasionally. Eventually a woofer will be added. I'm new to the speaker scene, but I understand that they're both considered to be budget level. Beyond that, I don't know if they're comparable or not. The ELAC set is the newer entry to the market by about a decade, so I imagine the tech is improved over the Polk. One thing to note is that the B5 Debut is not yet widely available in Canada. Should I spend the extra cash to get the B5 Debut?
You have many many options! I would lurk around the sub for a while to get some ideas. The suggestions that come to mind:
For speakers, going from lowest to highest price, I'd check out the Micca MB42x's, the Fluance SX6's, and the ELAC B5's.
The SMSL SA50 is a nice budget amp but (if you have the space for it) a used receiver is the best bang for your buck and will likely be more powerful.
I have the MB42x's. They're quite capable and will do just fine for me for some time. Just remember that there are so many options out there. Do your best to find the right setup for you.
Just to get started, I'd check out Zoes' 2.0 Desktop Suggestions list from his suggestions sub. His influence as a youtuber is a bit of a controversial topic on this sub but I'd say he has some good suggestions. Good luck and have fun!
Edit: I should also mention that it's always useful to demo equipment if you can. Hit up a local audio shops and demo some gear if you have the time.
If you want to go as cheap as possible, the best solution would be one of the ubiquitous cheap phono pre-amps, and an inexpensive headphone amp (Fiio E6 or E11). Upgrade either of these parts as you see fit.
The only all-inone preamp and headphone amp that comes to mind is this Bellari.
Another option is to buy a vintage receiver or integrated amp that has a phono input and use the headphone output from that.
hmm it doenst look like my turntable has a pre-amp build in so it looks like i also need to buy that. Are there any well known pre-amp kits? I did some quick googling but I mainly found mic pre amps wich i asume is something completely different. maybe ill just order the pyle p999 and maybe ill later upgrade to a actual diy pre amp
thanks for your explanation about preamps
so you'll need 2 things: phono pre-amp and a transmitter
a quick Amazon search shows no phono pre-amps with an ADC built in, and the only ones I can find are $150+. something like this Pyle phono stage, paired with this Tao Bluetooth transmitter
the 1Mii transmitter may be a bit better quality wise. it also doesn't require batteries, if that matters
I'm sure there's a better (perhaps all in one) solution than what I've provided, but it should work fine and be easily obtainable via Amazon
I have been reading a lot of posts on here and I am a little confused on what I need for a full setup. I am looking at the uturn Orbit (no preamp), the Micca PB42X speakers, and this preamp. Is this the right stuff and would I need anything else?
Thanks in advance.
Yes they are all plugged into the same power strip.
I've tried moving around the preamp while it's connected to see if it changes anything but nope :/
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PP999-Phono-Turntable-Pre-Amp/dp/B00025742A this is the preamp I have. Would connecting a ground wire from the turntable into the preamp help?
I'll look into isolation transformers.
Thanks!
{I don't know how to make that symbol for British pounds.}
I suppose you could do worse than a Pro-Ject entry level 'table for 150.
http://www.whathifi.com/review/pro-ject-essential
for the phono preamp, any of the external boxes like Pyle, TCC, etc. between 20-40
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pyle-Pro-PP999-Phono-Pre-Amplifier/dp/B00025742A/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
that puts you near 200 and leaves 100. I suppose you could just use your computer speakers til you can get something more robust.
Can't really get something worthy of the Pro-Ject for 100 in the powered speaker market, I think, but computer speakers will get you by and most people have those already. Need at least another 250-300 for a decent receiver and bookshelf speakers... or a 150+ for a decent powered monitor [as I imagine the M-Audios would be] set , so the initial outlay of 200 is a foundation for whatever downstream components you decide on
Well, that wasn't exactly successful. I got a Pyle PP999 and while it's definitely louder, it's also so distorted as to be unlistenable. The signal is far too hot, I believe. At this point, I want to throw everything at the wall and call it an art installation.
I'm gonna guess that doesn't have a phono input. Peek behind it, but I'd wager you won't find much of anything input-wise other than something for the integrated parts.
You can get a phono preamp on Amazon for fifteen bucks that should be all you need to bridge the gap between table and speakers.
http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PP999-Phono-Turntable-Pre-Amp/dp/B00025742A
Okay:
This Monoprice amp/dac combo has a switch between the two (and bonus gain switch - may come in handy with different cans down the road) - the downside is it's not currently in stock but does have an ETA. The TC preamps seem to have some quality issues recently so I'd suggest going with an entry preamp like this.
Hook turntable to preamp, preamp to amp. Hook PC directly to amp. Flip between USB and AUX as needed - problem solved.
I just used a sony system I hadn't used in a while. Plugged my dad's old turntable into the TV/Video port using a Pyle Pro Pre-amp for $12
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00025742A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hey everyone!
I'm looking to spend about $300, but am open to spending up to $500. So between $200-500.
I currently have a AudioSource AMP-100, and am looking for a set of speakers to accompany it. I'll use this system for my computer, which I use to listen to music (typically electronic/indie), watch TV/movies, and game.
I would be willing to buy used, but am generally looking to get the best quality sound I can for the price!
If anyone has recommendations, they would be much appreciated. How would you get the most value out of this situation?
Gents, my brother is looking for some decent quality speakers for his turntable and asked for some help. He's got a $200-$300 budget in mind for the speakers. Also, he's got a Audiosource Amp-100 that he's is wondering if is worth upgrading. Thanks!
EDIT: I should mention that size is no issue for him, and that he's willing to spend a little more if the difference is really there.
This is a great company, I have a pair of their older speakers and they sound great.
Speakers: $344.50
http://www.amazon.com/SpeakerCraft-OE5-One-Outdoor-Speaker/dp/B0017LADVW/ref=sr_1_6?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1394418175&sr=1-6&keywords=speakercraft+outdoor
Amplifier: $100
http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394418458&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=ausiosource+amp-100
RCA Cable: $10
http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-3-5mm-Male-2-Male-Adapter/dp/B004YEBK66/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1394418952&sr=8-13&keywords=rca+cable
Speaker Cable: $10
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394419011&sr=8-1&keywords=speaker+cable
For Wireless music, Bluetooth receiver, $32
http://www.amazon.com/HomeSpot-NFC-enabled-Bluetooth-Receiver-System/dp/B009OBCAW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394419052&sr=8-1&keywords=bluetooth+music+receiver
Total Cost: $496.50
Here's what I would do to get a great sound system that will work for your ipod. This is much better than any ipod dock, but is not very portable.
The total is over $300 but will be much better than the bose system. You could find cheaper bookshelf speakers that will work too.
alight, I've got two suggestions for you. In both cases we're focused exclusilvely on watts per dollar here, so there's no bells or whistles on these things. You want to play the radio? use your computer. you want to EQ? also use your computer. Both of these systems can be enhanced with a sub and/or pre-amp down the road that will improve your experience. but these should work out of the gate.
Option 1: The amplifier is tried and true and speakers are very well reviewed. This system is upgradable later and should pack plenty of punch for a party.
Audiosource AMP100! $107.00
Polk Audio Monitor 50 $126 per speaker
Option 2: These are little outside of your price range, but I wanted to throw them out there as an option. You can think of these as the most kickass computer speakers ever. Completely self powered, just plug it into the wall and feed it an RCA or 1/4" input and you're ready to go. Since you're currently using a guitar amp I'm assuming that you're something of a musician, these would be great for a small home studio as well as in day to day computer use. They'll also definitely rock the house.
KRK RP8 $249 per speaker
Let me know what you settle on.
You likely need an amp of some sort. You probably don’t need a full stereo but the record player most likely has a line out that won’t power speakers directly.
If that’s the case, a simple 2 channel amp should do the job and would be cheaper than a full stereo setup.
I bought one of these cheap amps off Amazon a few years back to power some bookshelf speakers connected to my wife’s record player in her study. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00026BQJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6fNDAb9MNA0PR
Definitely search craigslist. I'm thinking more and more that what you really want is a good set of PA speakers. Carpet-lined, metal cornered, power-handling, indestructible PA speakers. In my old house (wasn't a frat, but very similar) we had Yamaha PA speakers run through a heavy-duty amplifier. The things were literally indestructible - I DJ'd on them for parties, and one (cheap old) amp blew before the speakers did.
Amazon will ship similar models to you pretty fast I think - maybe not to Canada, not sure - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=PA+speakers&x=0&y=0 - The Pyle Pro boxes look pretty good, and the 8" model probably isn't very large at all. 4 of those to cover both zones would be killer, I would think, and you could easily hang them from the ceiling if you had good mounting chains (yeah, make sure they don't fall on anyone).
After that, the amp is important. You could go several ways. My first suggestion is check Craigslist for a fairly high-powered Yamaha home theater receiver. I prefer Yamahas in general - they have great amps, very good quality for the price, and they're built to last. Other name brands will do as well, just look for decent features.
After that, you can probably just set them up as A and B speakers on the receiver, and use that to switch between them. I'm guessing you basically want the main room speakers for music, and the TV room for both music and TV, so that should work.
Do you need surround? There are some great stereo receivers that have multi-zone capability built in. Ex: http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-RX5502-Dual-Zone-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B000RGR50U . Otherwise a lot of 7.1 receivers have the option to run the extra channels as a 2nd stereo zone, that may work as well.
If you find yourself needing more power than a multi-zone receiver can handle, maybe a receiver plus an extra stereo amp for the main room, such as this guy: http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-2-Channel-Bridgeable-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6 or even this one if you want to go overkill: http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PTA1000-1000-Amplifier/dp/B0010K6TXQ . In order to hook up a solution like that, ideally you want a receiver with "pre-outs," as you'll hook the stereo front pre-out to the other amp. This also has the added benefit of being able to better control volume in each location.
Overall, just look for the heaviest duty gear you can find. Obviously you're not worried too much about quality, but you probably want it to sound decent - a lot of the DJ speakers will fulfill that requirement for everyone and will be able to bump it loud forever and not die, which is great. Amps can die if you drive them too loud, PA amps are more indestructible, but receivers will give you more control and will be easier to install and use. I'd basically go with PA speakers, a nice multi-zone receiver, and good mounting kits.
Also - Monoprice for all cables and wires, always: http://www.monoprice.com
If you already have this setup just stick with it. It's a fine starter setup. The Lepai amp is very good for the price. You can jump up to THIS or THIS, which I have and really like. For budget speakers check out THESE or the Miccas are a fine pick.
This setup you listed will play your albums. You can always upgrade down the road but you're on the right track for a budget setup. I would try to save up a little more but you've got all the necessary parts to play albums on a 2.0 setup. Oh you need speaker cables and RCAs but other than that you're good
Hi Reddit,
I am not yet an audiophile, but have been doing some research as I'm inheriting a hi-fi system comprised of the following:
-Luxman M-113 stereo amplifier
-Luxman M-120A stereo amplifier
-Counterpoint SA-5000 Preamplifier with power supply
-2 VPMS RM1 speakers (8 Ohms)
-Pro-Ject Audio Debut Carbon turntable
I live in an apartment, so it is completely unrealistic to keep all this gear. I have the option to keep/buy more/sell existing hardware however I see fit in order to achieve the following two goals:
After some research I have found these three products - will they, in combination, allow me to achieve my goals? Maybe I'm on the right track but chose terrible hardware?
Also if anyone has any idea how much those amps & preamps might be worth used please let me know. I would probably lean towards keeping them in storage though, so I can appreciate them when I have room to actually have them out. The turntable and speakers I can keep as is I probably?
If your turntable doesn't have a phono amp, you'll need one. While I won't go deep into detail, if you take the audio out of a turntable without a phono amp into a normal amp, it'll be quiet and weird.
Could be something as cheap as this:
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Phono-Turntable-Preamp-Preamplifier/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543260861&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=phono+preamp&dpPl=1&dpID=51SGsJ%2BNdGL&ref=plSrch
From there, you'd go into your powered monitors, preamp/amp/passive speakers combo, or AV receiver/passive speakers.
Edit: sometimes, preamps and receivers have their own incorporated phono amps, but if so, it'll be clearly stated on their specifications.
Yes you will need a preamp. They can be had for little money on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_N8yTBbXJ0D0MJ
You might be able to find something used on craigslist or a thrift store but nothing new that has a phono stage in an amplifier. You best bet is a super cheap phone pre-amp and a cheap amp. Such as the following two items:
https://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC
Yeah, it will literally say phono (sometimes specifying what type of cartridge, MM or MC). Or you can buy a specific phono preamp, which will then go into that input.
This is the cheapest I could find (and the only one less than $50): https://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ
It should sound OK but the reviews imply it has a tendency to break.
You'll have to check craigslist or something. You need a phono preamp, an amp, and speakers.
Alternatively, you'll need a phono preamp, and active monitors
or an amp with phono input, and speakers.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-RX-395-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver-Amp-Phono-Turntable-Input-AM-FM-Black-/282297973948?hash=item41ba453cbc:g:hzIAAOSwnHZYXqIl
something like this, and some junk goodwill speakers, and speaker wire are already over your budget.
the cheapest amazon stuff:
https://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2024A-Amplifier-Stereo-Supply/dp/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=pd_sim_23_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00ULRFQ1A&pd_rd_r=K7NZC8MT9NE3WJGEDS7R&pd_rd_w=oS56N&pd_rd_wg=UDEDg&psc=1&refRID=K7NZC8MT9NE3WJGEDS7R
https://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1482864764&sr=8-3&keywords=phono+preamp
https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-B452-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B00Q3MF9YQ/ref=sr_1_8?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1482865038&sr=1-8&refinements=p_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A2494592011
You'll also need rca cables and speaker wire. This will be above your budget and wont be very good. Pyle is a POS. If you double your budget you can have a much, much, much better sounding system.
The bs22s are 89.00$ right now and are a steal. That plus a goodwill amp with phono input will be far superior to the lepai pyle and dayton audio.
Local used is your best bet.
Thanks again for the advice.
I just bought the SL-D202 TT and two Boston Acoustics A40s speakers (8 ohms)
But i didn't take the receiver. Do you think the below one would work and work well with the preamp posted below it?
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH130-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B006U1VH2S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451673316&sr=8-1&keywords=receiver
http://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
Some preamps (such as this one) do have 1/4" outputs, so you could get a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter and plug your computer speakers into that.
According to one review of the Pioneer turntable, it does have a built-in preamp, so it appears that you don't need one. The phono EQ is explained in the section on RIAA equalization in the article that I linked. Since you're probably buying a turntable with a built-in preamp, that means that all you really need is a female RCA to female 1/8" adapter, such as this one.
I have just purchased my first turntable, a Technics SL-B2, from eBay, and it will be here in ten days. So now I have ten days to put together a preamp +amp +speaker set-up-thing that really freaks me out. Which leads me to my questions for y'all...
Option 1
Right now I have these things in my amazon cart. I'm really just trying to get my feet wet with this stuff (without breaking the bank), but I don't know if these things go together/would work as a whole. My main worry is the fact that I have no idea how to do a ground wire... I'm relatively confident that I could connect the TT to the preamp, and the preamp to the amp, but from there I'm lost (any advice would be welcome).
Option 2
This is a craigslist entry somewhat-local to me (about 1.5 hours away), that came up when I typed in "phono receiver". Is this a preamp, amp, and speaker all in one? Is it too good to be true? How would this then connect to the TT?
Background
Having already purchased the record player, I'm hoping to keep the rest of the set-up below $120, and preferably closer to $80. I understand these are very slim margins, but my hope is to start with the bargain-basics, and to then (hopefully) upgrade piece-by-piece with the coming-Christmases and Birthdays.
Also, given that I do plan to upgrade my set-up in pieces, I'm leaning towards Option 1 because it seems it would be easier to swap out parts over time...
Overall
I'm just hoping for general advice, well wishes, whatever y'all can give me. I've done a lot of research but without all the parts in my hands I just can't visualize putting it all together, and could use y'all's experience. Really, I'm just itching to finally play some records!
Please help! And thanks in advance:)
That's the platter. They normally have a rubber mat on them. Damp lint free cloth can clean it easily.
Yes, if you don't know how long it's been on it, replace it.
If you don't have the money, getting the Behringer or Pyle Phono preamp is sufficient. They're pretty cheap on amazon.
If you can swing get the art dj preII.
It's likely just an abbreviation to keep the various speed (33-1/3, 45, 78) labels consistent (i.e., no fractions). For example, this record player has speeds labelled 33 and 45, but in the description, it specifies that it actually plays at 33-1/3.
Whatever you do, do NOT get a Crosley suitcase record player!!
Turntable = Audio-Technica LP60 = $79
Speakers = Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers = $99
Would make for a perfect setup for a beginner!
Yeah, I feel. This is the one I'm using at the moment & I like it. Obviously not the most high end thing but it does the job well.
I got the Audio Technica AT-LP60BK off of Amazon. I know there's a similar model that has Bluetooth on it that's sold through Urban Outfitters that I personally would've rather bought.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008872SIO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Q5Q0AbP9JSSDH
I own an Audio-Technica LP60, which is really, really good value at $100. The next step up from them is the LP120 which is basically better in every way, but starts around $300.
> If later I decide to get a sub for the system could I hook an active sub up to the receiver?
Yes, all 5.1 AV Receivers have a subwoofer pre out that you use to hook up a powered subwoofer. I assume when you say active sub, you mean powered sub, right?
> what turntable should I look at when it is time to upgrade?
It really depends how much you are willing to spend. Expect the starting point to be around $90. You might find something cheaper on the used market. In that case, make sure you at least get a new needle cartridge for it. You can't go wrong with anything made by Audio-Technica, Pioneer, or Sony.
This is a good starter turntable: https://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT-LP60BK-Automatic-Belt-Drive-Turntable/dp/B008872SIO/
Although most enthusiasts prefer something with a direct drive mechanism instead of belt driven such as this: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP120BK-USB-Direct-Drive-Professional-USB/dp/B00GA9COMM/
Personally, I think they oversell the benefits of direct drive turntables. For most people, there's not going to be a huge benefit.
Is there any chance you or your gf can return the record player she bought? You can include that cash in the purchase of a better record player? I know it was a gift, but I can't help but feel that she wasted her money on it.
If you are looking for a decent entry level one, I would recommend... https://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT-LP60BK-Automatic-Belt-Drive-Turntable/dp/B008872SIO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1504129286&sr=8-2&keywords=atlp60
This is what I use and its pretty good
This is the one I have. It's a good starter player (it needs speakers though).
It may be tempting to go with a Crosley or something like that, but don't. They're notorious for ruining your records due to how unbalanced they are.
I would search craigslist or yard sales for speakers, maybe even goodwill.
/r/vinyl has a lot of great resources (though the sub can be really pretentious). I would check out their side bar for more info.
That’s the Audio Technica AT-LP60BK. Here ‘s a link to it on Amazon. Not enthusiast grade by any means but it gets the job done.
Audio Technica my friend told me it's pretty good for the price and the fact that it's my first one.
I'm open up to suggestions of a future upgrade.
Look at this
Audio-Technica AT-LP60BK Fully Automatic Belt Driven Turntable - Black https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B008872SIO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_i_gn3.AbYHWJ2HS
I have this amp
Lepy 2020
Set up to these speakers
Micca MB42
But the volume is super low even maxed out.
What did I do wrong? Do I need a larger amp to power the speakers?
EDIT: source is from Audio Technica LP60
Hey guys!
My girlfriend is a music lover and her birthday is coming up so I wanted to surprise her with a new turntable. Her old Crosley turntable crapped out recently after only one year of use.
I am a complete newbie when it comes to this kind of stuff, but after doing a bit of research these are the items I have decided on.
Audio Technica At-LP60BK Turntable
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008872SIO/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009IUIV4A/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_2?smid=AFKH6OU9WWNFS&psc=1
The main issue I am having is picking an amplifier. It seems that I would need one in order to properly connect the turntable and speakers. These are the two I am looking at now, but I'm not sure if they are compatible with my set up or will have enough power. Any recommendations on which one I should pick? My budget is pretty tight.
Seeduck Lepy Mini Amplifier
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HRR5AWQ/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_3?smid=A1MZW54YOZT6K2&psc=1
Pyle Home Mini Amplifier
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0071HZ5EQ/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
I would appreciate any help, thank you :)
I've looked through the beginners guide but this player isnt mentioned, and was wondering if its an okay entry level turntable.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008872SIO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002GYTPAE&linkCode=as2&tag=biip_012816_record-player-writeup-20&linkId=CTVAZLI4NUVL6UZD&th=1
So I’ve recently caught on to the hobby of Vinyl collecting, and I am looking for a proper, entry level Record Player
TurnTable: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B008872SIO/ref=pd_aw_sim_23_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WQG1236P19NN6JH6Z3FH&dpPl=1&dpID=41ZnUbd50%2BL
Speakers: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B016P9HJIA/ref=pd_aw_sim_23_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EFYZGW3HWBVH2TNG4BQJ&dpPl=1&dpID=71o5w0ZfptL
Was just wondering if these 2 pieces of equipment are compatible with eachother, and if any additional equipment is needed, and will work for a casual listener such as myself!
Used depends on your local market. For new there are a few options such as the Onkyo TX-8020 for $150 or Sherwood RX4508 for $128. There are probably a few more that you could find through searching as well. The probably with new receivers with phono inputs for that price is that the inputs aren't the best quality and you might do better with an external preamp. You could buy a new receiver for $120-150 and then drop $50-100 on an external preamp. Anyways, those are two I know of with phono inputs. I've seen the Onkyo recommended around here a few times.
This Onkyo
I am looking to get a decent budget vinyl setup, and am wondering is this a decent receiver https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX8020-TX-8020-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1469676089&sr=1-1&keywords=onkyo+tx-8020
Thanks
I bought this for my girlfriend to drive her Polk RTia1's. It's a decent little amp, has a phono input, and puts out 50wpc. It also goes on sale pretty frequently and you can find it used for under $200.
What's your budget? What's your amp? If you don't have an amp and are in a budget bind:
Amp: https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8020-channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510243920&sr=1-3&keywords=onkyo+receiver
Speakers: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510243966&sr=1-7&keywords=polk+audio
Rookie mistake and bought a receiver without an optical. Onkyo TX-8020 2 channel Stereo Receiver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_oL3bAbEMA9BA1
edit: spelling
In all honesty almost anything is going to sound better than a soundbar. I would start with a 2.0 system and work your way up from there, onkyo makes some OK receivers that are stereo only, and then I would get a set of Polk floorstanders. This combo will sound good, not mind blowing, but light years ahead of the sound bar you have. And from there you can grab a 12" subwoofer.
On your budget going 5.1 seems a bit out of reach, but you can get a good 2.0 or 2.1 (with a cheap sub) and you'll be in business.
Like a lot of the others have said that's a big room to fill with sound, so starting with just a stereo setup and getting a nice big rug in there will help wonders.
https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX8020-TX-8020-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Monitor-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B006QL0XXQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473647960&sr=8-2&keywords=polk+floorstanding+speakers
I realize those links are for the us, but in just wanted to link to what I was referring to. If those aren't available by you itnat least gives youna starting point. Good luck!
Huge array of selections dependent on your price range. All you need is to be sure the receiver has a 'Phono' input on the back. Here are a few examples:
Onkyo A-8020 - 170 USD
Yamaha R-S300BL - 275 USD
Harmon Kardon 3770 - 400 USD
Yes I just upgraded, I will give an update when my audio setup comes in. I'm going with Cerwin Vega VE-5M's, Audiosource Amp 100, Nuforce Headphone amp to go with my M50's and Bose AE2's, and I'll stay classy with a vintage Pioneer SG-505 from 1985. Don't worry, it's being upgraded ;)
I would allocate my resources differently. The speaker is going to have the most impact on your sound and should be where you are spending more money to get better results. Look at emotiva's flex amps to save some cash, or even audiosource. You can get a separate phono preamp with the art DJ Pre II if you need it.
So, that leaves you with $300-$800 for speakers. I would consider (in roughly ascending order of price):
Chane A1rx-c
Warfendale Diamond 10.1
Dali Zenzor 1
HTD Level Three Bookshelf speakers
Aperion Intimus 5B
SVS Prime book shelves
PSB Imagine XB
Bowers & Wilkins 685
Aperion Verus Grand Bookshelf
Golden Ear Aon 2
If you are open to adding a sub, you could consider a 2.1 package from Hsu: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/value2pkg.html
(or you could go with a cheaper option on this list above and add a SVS SB1000 sub to cover the low end)
Towers: Chane A3rx-c, HTD level Three Towers, or Klipsch RF-62 II (or slightly up or down the Reference II line; you could even consider Klipsch's reference II bookshelf speakers) if you don't mind the brightness (I don't care for Klipsch personally, but some folks love em).
Oh, I also have an AudioSource AMP-100 Stereo Power Amplifier that I bought new in January 2012. It's in pristine condition and pushes 60 watts per channel. I had it powering my Sony SS-B3000's. I recently upgraded to a home theater receiver, though, so I no longer need it. I'm hoping to get $65 obo. Photos
Two of these would be the "best".
This guy would be formidable.
This is all you need to make it hot.
This can run the things but be careful not to blow your speakers with clipping.
What you are looking for is an AVR or stereo receiver, not just an amp. An amp is simply a power source to drive speakers. If you want to play two sources at the same time, you'll want to find something that has Zone 2 capability.
Normally for a budget AVR, zone 2 will be an unpowered pre-amp out only that will require an analog input source. Then you need a regular 2 channel (or more) amp to actually drive the speakers. In my setup for music I use a chromecast with an HDMI audio extractor (to convert the signal to analog) and an Audiosource AMP 100.
No you do not need a pro amp. These speakers are extremely efficient. You could get away with a pretty cheap amp if you want. Nicer ones I might suggest are:
Behringer A500(a metric shitload of power)
Dayton APA150
Or the most reasonable: Audiosource Amp 100
Any of these amplifiers will do. And any of them can drive those speakers to impressive and damaging levels of sound.
Please be careful of your hearing and beyond that, be mindful of your neighbors. Then enjoy yourself, those speakers will be very capable of hosting parties.
I got this combo myself, attached it to a playseat evolution alcantara.
Aura Bass Transducer
Dayton Audio SA100 Subwoofer Amp
Here's the whole setup, waiting on the DK2:
http://imgur.com/IH8o68Y
Well a different solution for your problem is the subpac which I have seen people say favorable things about on this sub.
You could also turn the subwoofer down and add a tactile transducer which you can attach to your chair and it will provide bass feel.
NP, only saw this now. Here’s the kit I use:
Here is a really nice setup guide for SimHub.
I wanted to buy a bigger shaker like this AuraAudio originally but it went out of stock just as I was about to place my order, and I was impatient :-) In hindsight, the pedal shakers are just right but I could have used a bit more kick under my seat. YMMV! I figure I’ll add more channels and more powerful effects in the future, and I’ll move the smaller pucks to shifter / steering column duty.
You’ll probably also need 2x 3.5mm stereo jack to 2x RCA out cables to connect the amps to your computer, and some speaker wire to connect the speakers to the amps. 16awg copper wire will do fine, I had 12awg left from my HT setup.
You might want to get an extra sound card depending on whether you have enough available audio channels. I run my shakers off the onboard analog outputs and my sim audio via my Rift headset, so didn’t need to buy anything extra. I under up buying a usb audio adapter later so I can run speakers or headphones separately, but you don’t strictly need that.
Hope this helps! All in all this has added a whole new layer of immersion to my (otherwise fairly standard) setup and diy rig.
I've been looking into it, trying to put together an affordable plan. Looks like a way to go is to use a dedicated chair(I'm mostly interested in this for driving/space flight games)and attach a few "bass shakers" to it. I've been checking out a couple of brands; Aura and Dayton. Aura seems to be the better reviewed brand of the 2.
https://www.amazon.com/AuraSound-AST-2B-4-Shaker-Tactile-Transducer/dp/B0002ZPTBI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537476183&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=bass+shakers&dpPl=1&dpID=51AwH10wpSL&ref=plSrch
I'm really hoping to start putting together a steering wheel/hotas/haptics combo before the end of the year.
You can use a Buttkicker for $170 or this for $87 (you want the items listed in the "frequently bought together" section). The one person that I know of who tried the Subpac wasn't impressed.
A "transducer" is what all of these devices are, technically.
Buttkicker is a trademark name.
Bass shaker is an "unofficial" name for the same things, I believe. The reason that I'm not all that sure on this one is that I've discovered (not tested yet) that a practice is to hook up a large subwoofer to shake your floor and give more immersion to explosions and the like. Would be great even with a buttkicker!
In order to get these devices to work, you need to be able to split your audio. The simplest (to me) way to do this is to use a product called VoiceMeeter Bannana. Read/watch the tutorials to learn how to use it.
Good luck! And yes! It's worth it!
Not exactly what your looking for, but I used this :
AuraSound AST-2B-4 Pro Bass Shaker Tactile Transducer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002ZPTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_u4Lbvb01CMMBY
It's a pretty chunky size. But I mounted mine on the underside of my couch and every racing game I've played the engine rev would be deep enough to activate the woofer. It's strong and quiet. Hopefully this will help.
I picked up two Aurasound AST-2B-4. I have one installed under the seat but waiting on two more 8020 pieces to mount the 2nd under the pedals. Nice installation video and review btw.
Oh oh. I have an idea. Toss in a little amplifier and an Aura tactile transducer or even a more powerful model. These little things are kickass for putting under a reclining chair and watching movies, but it would basically turn the whole thing into a penetrative sybian. You might be able to find something that doesn't need an audio input and just works through an on/off, or even wire up a constant voltage source at the peak input voltage if you're handy enough (which it looks like you are). Either way, it looks great!
edit: I did a bit of digging/calculating. The aura transducer is rated for 50W RMS @ 4 ohm impedance. This works out to an RMS voltage/current supply of 14.2VAC and 3.5A. You could pick up this laptop charger, wire it up with a properly rated switch (before the power supply box) and an LED/resistor in parallel with the output and boom, you got yourself a sybian.
edit2: For redoing the vinyl, use a heat gun in those weird corners. Don't let the vinyl get so hot that it starts to bubble, but just enough to make it more pliable and easily stretched. Cutting some reliefs along the bottom when you are pulling the sides will help make it taut. I'm curious: what did you salvage the gear motor/piston assy from? I'd love to try my hand at building something like this in the future too, but I've never just had a gear motor/linkages laying around. It's not the kinematics that troubles me, it's the cost/unavailability of ready-made components.
I heard the subpac was good too, as was the buttkicker. But the subpac is expensive and the buttkicker was sold out lol so I bought the budget tactile feedback rig (Recommended by another /r/oculus member.) which included these three things. It also took a few wires and some tweaking but after mounting it to a chair, I love it
For seated stuff like Elite or the racing games, I mounted a pair of these little bass transducers to my chair:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ZPTBI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and power them with this little cheap-o amplifier:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5D5ONB/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They are incredible, and the whole setup was less than $150. Pretty awesome little devices.
I don't know about robust, but I'm using one of these under $15 board only amps right now, on a 12VDC power supply:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N0PXEN4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I'm feeding an Aurasound transducer with it, from the dedicated center channel output on my motherboard, so I didn't need a separate crossover: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ZPTBI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Turned up to about 6/10 it seems to give me pretty good feedback. I don't know about how "crisp" it is TBH. [That's highly dependent on how you have a transducer mounted to transfer impulses to some other structure, which might have some resonance or flex/absorption, depending.] The amp is rated 100W into 8ohms, but it would deliver better output into a 4ohm transducer if I had it on a higher voltage supply (input can be up to 24V and they recommend 19V e.g. laptop type chargers).
Anyway, it's an option at least. So far been functioning for about 6 months of irregular use.
Here is a link to the one I have
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ZPTBI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00
I chose this based on price. I wasn't sure how good they worked so I didn't want to spend a lot to try one out. I was very happy with this one and can only imagine how good one with a couple hundred watts works.
How often? Every time you wish to play it.
How hard? It depends! I inherited my grandfather's and my father's record collection when I started collecting. Some of the records were very dirty, so I bought a SpinClean to get rid of the dirt.
I've cleaned all my records with it at least once (even the new ones), and after that I just brush with a carbon fiber brush before I put it on the turntable (to remove static and light dirt, paper linen, etc).
Cleaning with the brush while the record is spinning is easier, but it does not get rid of static, and sometimes it generates more of it (i live in a very dry city), and the same goes for the dust (they cling on the record because of the static).
TL:DR: you should always deep clean your records once (the SpinClean is awesome for this). After that is just keeping them clean with a carbon fiber brush, and that is super easy!
I like the AR table. One thing you might want to do is have it set up by a pro. That can make a huge difference. Also the AudioQuest brush is a must (http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-Anti-Static-record-cleaner-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI). You have a great start here. I am not a fan of the Stanton cart but it works. If you decide you want to get a little more out of that table look at a Shure M97XE.
http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-LP-record-clean-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405602176&sr=8-1
I just got into the hobby too and this is one of the most handy accessories I've purchased. If your record is already clean but has some specks of dust on it, just spin your turntable and hold the brush steady on the record. After a few rotations, slowly drag the brush towards you and off of the record. Do this a few more times to eliminate any surface dust. Do this every time before you set the needle down and your records will stay clean as long as you don't smudge them up with fingerprints or sneeze on them.
On top of that, you can buy a brush for removing any dust or buildup on your needle. I haven't invested in one of these yet, but I plan to soon.
As for washing those dirty records you bring home from the thrift store... for an almost-no-budget approach, I've been doing this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umhr_UwjzSw
Since I'm not sure what's in my tap water, I've been rinsing them off with distilled to try to minimize minerals staying behind on them. (Really, I should probably be washing them in distilled water too.)
Until you plunk down for a Spin Clean ($80) or a VPI or Nitty Gritty ($300? or so), this will help keep things tidy:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT6012-Record-Care/dp/B0009IGAPW/
And eventually you'll want one of these to use on your already-cleaned records:
http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-Anti-Static-record-cleaner-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI/
Here's my system:
Deep Cleaning
spray this solution on your records and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth
Wet a different microfiber cloth with just distilled water and wipe the clean record down.
Less Deep Cleaning
I use an RCA Disc washer from the 1970s that looks similar to this.
Dust and static before playing
In the groove record cleaner for removing the odd hair or dust particle
AudioQuest brush for removing a little static before playing.
Stylus
My shure M97xe came with a little brush to clean the stylus, but I know mobile fidelity sells a stylus cleaning brush that looks good enough.
Edit:
1. Make sure you're not putting a clean record into a dirty sleeve. 2. Try not to spray your labels when deep cleaning, but a little bit of overspray has never damaged any of mine.
I think there are many great options right around 50-60, you buy a cartridge once and then pretty much never again, so buy something you are happy with for the long haul.
That Shure and the Grado Black (price fixed at $60) are generally toe to toe, and I don't think any is the clear winner, some claim that Grado is better for rock and roll (vocal and midrange) sounds and the Shure better all around, but I don't have one of each to actually verify that first hand.
Here is a technics owner asking for some comparison http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=32690
Both will work fine, when comparing cartridges we are getting into the audiophile realm where things are very subjective and wishy-washy but I would say 60ish is the entry level option for a table as good as the one you picked up, don't make the mistake of sticking a twenty dollar cartridge on it (as suggested, no offence person) the cartridge is really really important, more than your table honestly. We focus so much on tables here that we miss out that your speakers, cartridge, and grounding is likely doing more to the sound than your table will if it is working properly.
I can't find info on your specific model of receiver, but if there is a "Phono" (Or turntable or record or whatever it got called) input it will have an integrated pre-amp, if not you will need to buy one.
I checked amazon, it looks like Crosley makes a cheap one, knowing nothing about it I would avoid it because Crosley is a hateful company. :) I bought this one and have nothing but good luck with it http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-Anti-Static-record-cleaner-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334761206&sr=8-1
I know people reported problems with this one http://www.amazon.com/Carbon-Fiber-Record-Cleaner-Cleaning/dp/B003ZVG60O/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1334761206&sr=8-16 But they look exactly the same! So no clue, differing quality standards? Defects get one label real ones get audio quest label? The reviews of both products seem to confirm something is up.
It's fine. Get an anti-static brush like this
Follow the instructions on the box, you will be fine.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006VMBHI
(There are dozens of others, this was the first result I found)
I'm not sure, it was this one
I own this table and its a tank!
I have this carbon fiber slip mat that helps bring down static.
http://www.sleevecityusa.com/sleeve-city-carbon-fiber-turntable-mat-p/dm-232.htm
I have this headshell
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001GVJA1C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1419565880&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
This cartridge.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007ZC2EYQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1419565950&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
The shure m97xe is a decent beginner cart and it's very neutral sounding in my opinion. I listen to a wider variety of music and it does a decent job highlighting each sound. You can also upgrade the needle down the road to the Jico SAS which I hear is amazing.
I'm sure others can recommend some other carts for you but I only wanna talk about what I own.
Also you're gonna want a record cleaning brush. The audio quest is a great little brush that I've had for almost 2 years now and is great to use before you spin a record.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006VMBHI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1419566312&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
Any other questions be sure to ask. I know a bit of the technical stuff on this table and I'll do my best to help.
I use this AudioQuest Record Brush. It's the only one i've ever owned so I have nothing to compare it to, but it seems to work well.
Hey! Stoked on your purchase! Curious though, did you mean LP120?
But hope I can help answer your questions!
Hope my answers help!! Enjoy your new turntable!! Whatcha listening to??
https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Record-Inner-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY
Just buy some off of needle doctor or amazon, price isn't bad http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Original-Master-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311391913&sr=8-1
Process of any record I receive. Open it, air spray big dust particles off, use cleaner with a simple microfiber cloth (i damp the cloth) after that I put back all the internals into the record sleeve and then put the actual record in some good inner sleeves and put it behind the record sleeve and put all of that in some simple outer sleeves. I do this to every record and I do it because I value the money I put into my collection and would like to prevent wear and tear (I have a 13 month old daughter on the lose) especially for trading purposes in the future.
You're going to have to do a little investing. Here's what I use to keep my playback experience the best I can get.
I use this stylus cleaner once a week, or depending on how much listening you're doing. Careful not to over-clean, as you could cause damage to the stylus.
Purchase this brush, follow the directions on the back of the package and use it every time you put on a record.
Wanna keep dust off as much as possible? Consider investing in these inner sleeves or an equivalent. You have no idea how much dust accrues in paper sleeves, and these static-free sleeves help keep dust out.
Of course, it helps to start with a clean record. But that's a whole other topic. Clean vinyl is happy vinyl.
Amazon has MoFi ones $20 for 50
http://www.amazon.com/MOBILE-FIDELITY-MFSL-INNER-SLEEVES/dp/B001LQSFKY
I did it in 2017 when I hit 365 albums. I tried for one a day, just whatever I felt like listening to. Some days I did 2 or 3. Some days none if I didn't have the time.
Do you have them catalogued on Discogs? You can do an export as a CSV and open that in excel or google sheets to keep track. Using the random button on discogs helps a lot too if you can't decide.
It was neat. A couple of times some songs convinced me to reconnect with some old friends. A couple albums I decided I just wasn't into any more and turned off after a couple of songs.
If you're really into keeping them in good shape, this is also a great chance for you to change the inner sleeves to something better and to give each record a cleaning.
It's also a great way to decide if you want to sell any of them.
Have fun and enjoy it!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001LQSFKY/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all
DiscountVinyl Records sells them for 17.99 on amazon free shipping. Mine got here under a week. Best!
The Onzow ZeroDust is your friend. Simply one of the best tools I've purchased since getting into this godforsaken hobby. Also, you'll want to find a way to wet clean your records. There are countless ways to get this done (Spin Clean is a good entry point, as is the Squeaky Clean, though you'll need to supply your own vacuum for the Squeaky Clean). Get the ZeroDust and one of the cleaning solutions and you'll be much, much happier. If you can afford to buy some quality inner sleeves to replace the paper ones that often come with a new record, even better.
I get the no flap outer sleeves in both the single and double LP sizes from here. They fit perfectly and are super clear. I also bought their inner sleeves but a lot of people swear by these MoFi inner sleeves. They’re a bit pricey tho
If I were you I would invest in some inner sleeves since those paper sleeves can scratch your records if you are constantly taking them out and putting them back in.
I have these and they are great in my opinion.
So for outer sleeves I use the Sleeve City Ultimate Outer 5.0 on my best records and the thinner 2.5 on everything else. I like them because they are super protective but also absolutely clear and doesn't obscure artwork. For inner sleeves I use the MoFi Original Master Sleeves. There is another I am meaning to buy but I totally forgot what it is and I can't find it on Amazon haha.
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Outer-Record-Sleeves-Pack/dp/B00B1W2QAS
https://www.amazon.com/MOBILE-FIDELITY-SOUND-INNER-SLEEVES/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=asc_df_B001LQSFKY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198062682203&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2414069269462164658&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010320&hvtargid=pla-351013046155&psc=1
The Mofi ones are supposed to be the best inner sleeves. There are many outer jackets out there, I get the "Invest in vinyl" brand from Amazon, I think sleeve city is supposed to have the best. I've had no issues with what I get and I use them for my laserdiscs as well.
Edit: Inner https://www.amazon.com/MOBILE-FIDELITY-SOUND-INNER-SLEEVES/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=mobile+fidelity+sleeves&qid=1557331798&s=gateway&sr=8-4
Outer https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HHBA0PY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Anytime. Get second opinions of course; /r/vinyl and /r/audiophile are good places to start. Lots of old threads with valuable information.
Also shout out to MoFi inner sleeves.
I just use these.
They're cheaper on the US site for whatever reason. Probably doesn't help you.
I usually use Mobile fidelity's sleeves. The usual paper or wax? sleeves are supposedly not good for the records.
https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Record-Inner-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY
I purchased these master sleeves:
https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Record-Inner-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1503079918&sr=8-2&keywords=vinyl+master+sleeves
And I replaced every paper sleeve with one of these. Albums that came with printed sleeves that had artwork, etc, I left alone though. But yeah, these sleeves are amazing.
These are the only ones I will buy. They are the best damned inner sleeves on the market!
https://smile.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Record-Inner-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY
Mobile Fidelity - Inner Sleeves (50Pk) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_Gl2EwbF393E89
In that case I would highly suggest getting these and these . This will allow you to provide max protection in your investment! And might I ask, are there any good record stores around you? One of my favorite this is walking into a record store and buying a record I’ve been hunting for!
Here
[I use these] (https://www.amazon.com/MOBILE-FIDELITY-SOUND-INNER-SLEEVES/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=bmx_2/133-9909319-0063620?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001LQSFKY&pd_rd_r=4bb903b3-152d-45bc-98f9-ebf7f3c228e6&pd_rd_w=jB28u&pd_rd_wg=XEsFa&pf_rd_p=9cba9e23-7e0e-412e-8134-a7a7ffc7a16e&pf_rd_r=7CF2NQZ91B29SYA8E00D&psc=1&refRID=7CF2NQZ91B29SYA8E00D)
For inner sleeves I use Mobile Fidelity Master Sleeves Amazon
For outer sleeves I'm not terribly concerned so I use the cheap ones Amazon
This is what i use:
Outer Sleeve
Inner Sleeve
I use these for inner: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LQSFKY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Outer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001719IXG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For gatefolds or double LPs I use the same brand as above but they are 5 or 6 mil thick. Forgot where I found them.
I wouldn't recommend anything that you linked. That Klipsch system isn't worth the money and subwoofer won't dig very deep. Spending $240 on the rears is too much money at this price point. I would go with:
AVR: Denon AVR-X1200 $320
Bookshelf L/R: Elac Debut B5 $200
Center: Elac Debut C5 $180
In-ceiling rears: Micca M-8C x2 $82
Subwoofer: BIC Acoustec PL-200 $249
Total: $1031
You're welcome. There are probably hundreds to choose from. My preference is something like these.
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V383BL-5-1-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B06XXR6JK3/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1527804963&sr=1-3&keywords=yamaha+receiver
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSER6O/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1527805053&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=elac+spaker
http://thewirecutter.com/leaderboard/home-theater/
Your Sonos system is certainly good, but that is mainly in the ease of setup and streaming service support. If you are willing to to run wires to individual speakers and just do streaming from the Shield or any other device you can get a much better system with a typical AV receiver and some good speakers.
I am currently using a Shield and the Denon AVR-S720W with a Vizio TV and the HDMI-CEC functions work great. I can use the Shield remote to turn on the Shield and it will turn the whole system on and switch to the right input. You would not need HDMI-ARC as all your inputs would be on the receiver.
For $1130 you could get:
Speakers: Edifier R1280DB.
Go with 2.0 bookshelf speakers, not 2.1 computer speakers. These have Bluetooth, optical, and coax. Oh, and they sound amazing.
Headphones are tricker. Will you also be using them with a console or a phone at any point? Want to keep them on while running to get a cup of tea or take a leak? Do you play FPS's?
You have few different options:
Convenience be damned you want awesome audio quality above all else.
Wireless PC and PS4.
Gaming headphones.
The Edifiers are passive speakers, meaning you'll have to hook them up to a receiver or amp to get anything out of them.
These are decent Edifier speakers. They're active, they will sound good, and they have Bluetooth capabilities so you can switch from your PC to your phone if you want to listen to music while your PC is off. I have the R1850DBs ($199) and they sound very good.
You may like them. They're not bad!
Having something at arms reach would be preferable to trying to use them as a wider speaker setup in a room, because of each monitor has individual power and gain controls.
Will it sound good for you, sure. Will it thump? No, not really. Is there an easy way to add a sub, sure, throwing money at it with a pro sub that has an active crossover inside it.
Best thing to do is audition them. Monitors won't sound 'bad' at all, but it just may not be what you'd expect.
-----
I'd look into Edifiers (or Swan), for more ease of use and connectivity
Considering different options for speakers in college, and I'm not sure if I should get a soundbar or shelf speakers. Bluetooth is a must, which kind of leads me to soundbars. Any ideas on what I should get? These are two that I'm looking at:
https://www.amazon.com/Magnavox-Subwoofer-2-1-Channel-MSB3610-F7/dp/B07116BPHL/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1497398875&sr=1-2&keywords=magnavox+soundbar
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1280DB-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0719C132V/ref=sr_1_6?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1497397549&sr=1-6&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A172572%2Cp_72%3A1248879011&th=1
Trying to stay in the $80-$120 price range
Something like this should do nicely: Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Optical Input - Wireless Studio Monitors - 4 Inch Near Field Speaker - 42w RMS - Wood Grain (Wood) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0719C132V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_iwX.Bb5NBZT2C
You’ll also need an optical cable: AmazonBasics Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable - 6 Feet (1.8 Meters) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NH11H38/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RzX.BbE6Z89A7
Can't recommend Edifier Bookshelf speakers enough. Stereo image, tons of I/O support for things other than bluetooth. Incredible price, and they sound great.
​
I'm an audio guy and have lots of very pricey speakers and headphones throughout my house, honestly these ~100 dollar edifiers are what i listen to quite often.
Ok, new cyber Monday crush. These babies.
Pros: makes my DJing sound sicc as hecc, all around best things ever
Cons: I can not allow myself to become that douche bag that blasts music in the dorm hall and idk where else I could use them
Man it would be so sick but I think this ones staying a crush :( ECHO DOT WHERE YOU AT
Edifier R1280DB ?
​
https://www.amazon.com.mx/Bocinas-Estudio-Edifier-R1280DB-Color/dp/B0719C132V/
I would recommend these (Edifier R1280DB) as the sound quality is very good and they are pretty powerful for the price. Wireless (Bluetooth) and they look great!
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP60X-BK-Belt-Drive-Hi-Fidelity-Anti-Resonance/dp/B07N3XJ66N/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=audio+technica+lp60&qid=1573688683&sr=8-3
I'd get this one. I have had a great experience with mine. Anything cheaper is probably not worth it, all the Crosley stuff, and all the briefcase players really suck. For this Audio Technica one you will need an external speaker, but I assume you already have one, but if you don't I would recommend spending a bit, and getting these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0719C132V/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0719C132V&pd_rd_w=CFc7T&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=BOzcU&pf_rd_r=8V7212K0W7X5V21NZZAY&pd_rd_r=d87868f7-7f6d-4821-83b2-c9d9d8af5b25&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQ0FBRDZJMFE0M1BIJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDY5ODYzM09BVFBDMjZGMkhNSyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODk0MDAzTUhMNTk1T0k0M05LJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Alright, I've done enough fruitless googling so here's my embarrassing question. How do you best connect powered speakers? Using the R/L component audio to 3.5mm? Take it from the mobo's line out port? Just to idiotcheck, I've got my gpu plugged into my monitor through displayport so the monitor speakers are the normal default.
The Urturn you linked is a fine table, however it will not work with the speakers you linked to out of the box. The Uturn has the option of coming with a built-in phono preamp, this is not the same as an amplifier for speakers.
Basically, the audio chain for a turntable is:
Turntable --> Phono preamp --> amplifier --> speakers
These don't have to be four separate components- powered speakers have the amplifier built in to them, and some amplifiers and turntables have the phono preamp built in.
How you want to achieve this is up to you: separate components take up more space and add in complexity while also allowing you to upgrade pieces. If you want a simple setup that will sound decent, the best option might be the uturn with the built in preamp, and a set of powered speakers like these or these. The speakers you linked are passive and if you want to use them you will need an amplifier like this which also has a phono preamp built-in.
The Urturn comes with a cartridge- most entry to midlevel turntables do (only really high-end tables come without them) so you don't need to worry. As for cables, everything in the audio path I listed above is connected with RCA cables except amplifer to speakers, which use speaker wire like this
At that price range the quality differential is negligible if you ask me, as none of those are going to sound spectacular. We've had the Z625 hooked up to a Chromecast TV in our apartment and it works just fine, sounds decent in a pretty large room but performance dips once you go beyond the 60-70% volume mark. The bass is surprisingly sufficient as well, although, again, not the best at higher volumes. It's actually a pretty solid all-round performer for the price.
My suggestion would be to go with your gut, as they're all going to perform similarly. Pick something with the right form factor for your setup or just what you think looks best, honestly, especially after looking at a couple reviews. If you want better quality I'd recommend spending a bit more and picking up some nice monitors like these ones for a better experience. But that's entirely dependent on you, just thought I'd give you options.
What about something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/
or this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT8BFDC/
The TA 100 is actually s good option mentioned above. They currently have a factory refurbished sale and you can get it for $369
If you want to stay cheaper something like the smsl ad18 could work
SMSL AD18 HIFI Audio Stereo Amplifier with Bluetooth 4.2 Supports Apt-X,USB DSP Full Digital Power Amplifier 2.1 for Speaker,Small 80Wx2 Class D Amplifier with Subwoofer Output https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Pyp2Ab9F6RTC4
https://www.amazon.com/Jamo-Studio-805-WH-Floorstanding-Speakers/dp/B07JX4RJZP/ref=sr_1_22?keywords=floorstanding+pair&qid=1565389499&s=electronics&sr=1-22
https://www.amazon.com/S-M-S-L-AD18-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=AD18&qid=1565391351&s=electronics&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A2ZH34L3MNE8PA&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySDI4VE1FODhQRDRXJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzU1MDE1MU5FWjBFSTBTMVlQQSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDI5MTExM0xIRldaVU5HMUE1SSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
One option is to combine an [Onkyo DXC390 6 Disc CD Changer] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000EZ1KK/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_H0EnDbC5TQTJV) with an [Onkyo TX-8020 2-channel Stereo Receiver] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_u4EnDb5S2MBDQ). Currently the combination is just under $300.
Buy the used Pioneer towers for $100, Dayton sub for $60 and a simple 2-channel receiver like one of these for $130-200:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0H88SY/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EE18O7W/
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/onktx8050/onkyo-tx-8050-80watts-x-2ch-network-stereo-receiver/1.html
The 2 Onkyo's have better connectivity options, especially the 8050. You can easily add a bluetooth adapter to any of these for less than $20 if you want to stream music. Same for adding a USB network adapter if you want to connect wireless to your network.
Wow thanks for the detailed response! I'm just getting into home audio and my knowledge is limited so I appreciate your explanations.
So no remote for volume control is actually a deal breaker, thanks for pointing that out. In that case, what do you think about pairing [this Onkyo 8020] (https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX8020-TX-8020-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8) (I was finding some conflicting reviews on the Denon and this is the same price) with the MB42X's?
Thanks again!
I will admit your budget will be quite hard to work with. Never the less. You will want a Turntable that have a built in pre-amp unless you go vintage, but someone else will have to help you with that as I do not know anything about vintage TTs.
You will also want some active speaker/s, these speakers have a built in receiver so everything will work, you'll have volume control and so on.
Because your budget is in dollars I am guessing you are American, you could try and wait until the black friday deals kicks off, I know you can get some great stuff at heavily discounted prices.
Alternatively you could get the turntable and a receiver with a headphone input so you could listen through headphones. My receiver has a 6.5 mm input so it was just a matter of getting a 6.5mm adapter for a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Maybe a second hand receiver like this, https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8020-channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1541538031&sr=8-8&keywords=Turntable+receiver is worth looking at?
I think waiting until black friday is a good thing to do first. You may even be able to pick up a better turntable, maybe the Audio technica LP 120 for less, I think it was selling at $170 in some places last year looking back through the posts, and at that price you cant beat it, and it still has a built in pre-amp.
I'm sure they'll be other people on here who will help you too. Just reply if you want to ask anything.
First, for an amp/receiver, the more you can spend, the better you can get. If you can budget more for this component, do so. It will make a ton of difference.
Second, for something new, take a look at:
Third, for vintage, the search is a bit more personal. Check listings like these or find your local clearance dealer. For your needs and at your price range, a nice mate for those Pioneers might be a Marantz, Yamaha, or Kenwood. Lots of offerings and they'll have the sound and look you're going for.
Keep the following tips in mind for buying used:
okay, just ordered thi on. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EE18O7W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks again you have been really helpful
Don't buy PC speakers. Unless you spend a ton, they're junk.
This is a an absolute STEAL for these: Polk Bookshelf
The rest of your budget on this
Edit: Check thrift stores and second-hand shops as well. You can find some really good deals sometimes. I found a pair of Sony floor standing tower speakers that were in almost perfect condition and sound amazing, $20, at Goodwill (US only?)
So the best amp for ~$150? Probably the Yamaha R-S201.
Do you have any recommendations for receivers in that range? Are there any benefits to having a high end receiver such as sound quality? Woud something like this work? Thanks for the help
Yamaha S201 is prob your best bet for a budget receiver that you can keep using after you upgrade that TT.
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY
For the receiver, should look for something like this $120
If there is space for a large sub: monoprice sub $108
Or dayton sub-1000 for a slightly smaller one.
Speaker options if using sub: elac b5 $229, or polk monitor 40 or 45 ~$150
Otherwise look for tower speakers like pioneer fs52
Ideally your amp should have MORE wattage than the speakers. So i would go higher.
Also, i would consider spending a little more money and not to buy the ultra cheap stuff. It will last you longer and you will enjoy it more because it sounds better.
Yamaha makes very good sounding amps/receivers for not a lot of money. This receiver for example gives you 100W and you can connect your computer, speakers, subwoofer and more.
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY/ref=sr_1_3?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1457623254&sr=1-3&refinements=p_4%3AYamaha
Pretty tough pricepoint. I'd probably get the Yamaha r-s201BL https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY and SMSL sanskrit 6th gen https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Sanskrit-Optical-Coaxial-Decoder/dp/B00SY9RBOM . You could go cheaper on the amp but then you'd lose the remote.
If you are only going to have 4 speakers then get two analog amps with zwave outlets. You could also get ANY stereo receiver with digital A/B speaker select and use a harmony hub. This is what I do in my house (with multiple receivers though and I route IR around so I can turn on a specific room from Alexa).
Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0H88SY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1427796903&sr=8-1&keywords=yamaha+stereo+receiver&dpPl=1&dpID=31LAAKCGZeL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SX200_QL40
^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?
Can active speakers be used with a receiver? I know all you'd need for a basic turntable setup would be just the turntable and the powered speakers, but I wanted to connect a subwoofer, so for that I figured I'd need a receiver.
What I'm unsure about is whether having an already amplified signal running from this receiver to these active speakers would fry the speakers or anything for that matter.
And there's this route-
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00F0H88SY/ref=sr_1_4_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1468459018&sr=8-4&keywords=sony+stereo+receiver&condition=used
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00F0H88SY/ref=sr_1_4_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1468459018&sr=8-4&keywords=sony+stereo+receiver&condition=used
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00JZTQIJ4/ref=sr_1_4_olp?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1468459242&sr=1-4&keywords=dayton+audio+subwoofer&condition=new
I'd go with PA speakers up high on tripod stands with the iNuke amp to get the party volume level you'll want and then add a powered sub later when you get your next Pell grant check :)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F0H88SY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1421286891&sr=8-1&dpPl=1&dpID=31LAAKCGZeL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SX200_QL40
What you want is a 2ch stereo receiver. Those speakers do NOT use rca connections. They have standard speaker wire terminals and any receiver will support that. The amplifier power is listed as watts per channel so you dont need to double it, but at this point i wouldnt even worry about it. Lots of brands make enty level receivers but something like this would be fine...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F0H88SY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1452242679&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=Sony+STRDH130&dpPl=1&dpID=31LAAKCGZeL&ref=plSrch
Sorry no link, on mobile. If you wanted to play cds you would need a cd player and plug that in the back with an rca cable. Or just plug in an mp3 player with a "3.5mm jack to rca" cable
You could also snag a dayton sub for that price http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1200-12-120-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-629
There is also a Micca center channel to match the speakers you listed http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-C-Channel-Speaker-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6/
Same price on Amazon, too. https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8
For $200 you could go in a couple of different directions. Basically, either a decent entry level AVR with a pair of cheap bookshelf speakers, or a cheap stereo amp with a pair of decent entry level bookshelf speakers. If you could bump your budget up to $300 you could get a decent AVR and a decent pair of speakers. (Decent is relative, but I'm using it to mean a step up above "cheap".)
Examples:
Decent AVR and cheap bookshelf speakers.
Cheap stereo amp and decent bookshelf speakers.
My recommendation would be to see if you can stretch your budget to buy the Denon AVR and the better speakers. That would put you at $280 plus tax. If your budget really is limited then go for the AVR and the T-15. When you're ready to upgrade you will have the option to add a subwoofer, a center channel speaker, surround speakers, or better front speakers and move the T-15 speakers to the surround positions.
​
Nevermind, I can post several links obviously
Indoor Outdoor Projector Screen,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F1VLRZ6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
J-Tech Digital Ultra HD 4K HDMI to HDMI + Audio (Spdif + RCA Stereo) Audio Extractor Converter(Support Apple TV 4 Gen) Premium Quality https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YHS5E6Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_G8ZdIxDbFbxhh
VANKYO Leisure 510 Full HD Projector with 3600 Lux, Video Projector with 200" Projection Size, Support 1080P HDMI VGA AV USB with Free HDMI Cable and Carrying Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G2Y5LX9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MxYBCbDMFNHW7
Jeteven Polyester Hanging... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WWRRZV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
AUKEY Table Lamp, Touch Sensor... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AJ7F14I?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Mini Dj Disco Ball Party Stage... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074RKPSDK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Sennheiser HD 579 Open Back... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L1IIF1K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Flash Furniture High Back Black... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012JJ2EEY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
P3 P4330 Kill A Watt Ps 10 Surge... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OG94VW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
LG 29WK600-W 29" UltraWide 21:9... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078GL93KG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Onkyo TX-SR373 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver with Bluetooth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XVGCBZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kCYBCbJTN8QJ1
Polk Audio T15 100 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Premium Sound at a Great Value | Dolby and DTS Surround | Wall-Mountable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OCYBCbX2TX5XM
Polk Audio PSW10 10" Powered Subwoofer - Featuring High Current Amp and Low-Pass Filter | Up to 100 Watts | Big Bass at a Great Value | Easy integration Home Theater Systems https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mDYBCbWN7VD6T
TCL 43S425 43 Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart Roku LED TV (2018) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DK5PZFY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3DYBCbZ7TGJ9X
Plus an Asus rog laptop gtx 1060 16gb ram, two ps3s, Corsair hs60 headphones, vmoda Crossfade wireless, a Google chromecast
Here's an example of some passive speakers. https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1537369110&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=passive+speakers&dpPl=1&dpID=31bhM1nV3tL&ref=plSrch They don't have a power plug, just the 2 red and black posts that you can see on the back of the speakers in one of the images. They connect to the receiver via 2 speaker wires for each speaker, one for red (+) and one for black (-), and those wires provide all the electricity needed to vibrate the speaker cones and transmit sound into the air.
I can't speak to the quality of these speakers in particular...I just picked the first result with an image that showed the posts on the back. Some speakers will have clips instead of posts, but they're basically the same.
I actually bought a pair of these on black friday for the same price. I have a very tiny living area in my condo and these work just fine for me in my situation, as L/R mains. They sound well enough in a small space. I'd recommend them to someone trying to go low-budget and apartment-friendly. They do have decent reviews on Amazon.
5.1 surround sound with a HDR/4k Passthrough receiver. I'd say bare bones about $650 or so for the lowest end gear.
EDIT: Quick throw together here. Would work well though. A little over budget, but probably worth it
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Monitor-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B006QL0XXQ/ref=lp_3236453011_1_12?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1482959814&sr=1-12
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Center-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0018QROM2/ref=sr_1_2?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1482960146&sr=1-2
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1482959871&sr=1-1&refinements=p_89%3APolk+Audio
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KVQBA/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_bitM_c_x_1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-8&pf_rd_r=DAXEP2BDFVM1W8SMJQBM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=6fc71d99-5362-526e-b48e-9a05897aee91&pf_rd_i=172568
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv381/yamaha-rx-v381-5.1-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
It's compressed digital music. It's never going to sound "good," but you can do "okay" quite easily. The simplest method would be to buy a powered, stereo speaker (even a good Bluetooth portable would work) and simply connect it directly with a cable. The second easiest would be to connect that same cable to a small amplifier (try a $25 T-amp) and a pair of bookshelf speakers.
I have my Dot wired to a powered Bluetooth speaker on my nighstand. It actually sounded better than my full-sized Echo, for less than half the price.
For under $100?
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=sxin_3_osp48-e0ee21c7_cov?ascsubtag=e0ee21c7-7c6d-4572-84a0-f105bfd96edc&creativeASIN=B002RJLHB8&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osp.e0ee21c7-7c6d-4572-84a0-f105bfd96edc&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_wn=osp-search&keywords=Polk+speakers&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B002RJLHB8&pd_rd_r=0080b75e-794a-4003-9e85-58187e43ea5b&pd_rd_w=dqsMZ&pd_rd_wg=rbEhp&pf_rd_p=a23a388c-add5-49df-b293-a31ade89c6bf&pf_rd_r=GXAQKVCP5CHDTX38S4BD&qid=1574031515&tag=spyonsite-20
If you wanna spend a touch more for a bit more oomph,
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-14M-Reference-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00MGQAH2M/ref=sr_1_5?crid=9AXOZYE4XFEI&keywords=klipsch+bookshelf+speakers&qid=1574031679&s=electronics&sprefix=Klipsh+bookshelf+speakers%2Celectronics%2C169&sr=1-5
I went with Polk Audio setup. T15 bookshelf speakers, PSW10 sub (thing is a beast), throw in a Lepy LP-2020A-3A amplifier, and a AUX switch to go back and forth between the speakers and headphones and BAM that is the audio setup.
Hmm so RCA phono in and 3.5mm jack out.. The speakers are amped and have a volume control. So you need a phono stage cause all turntables need them to get your analog audio to line level. I assume you're trying to save money so we won't get serious. This Pyle should do the job
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Phono-Turntable-Preamp-Preamplifier/dp/B004HJ1TTQ
From the pyle you'll want an RCA Male to 3.5mm Female cable. This should do it.https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Premium-Stereo-Female-Plated/dp/B003L14XTOEDIT: OH looks like the Logitech speakers have an RCA input! So you don't need a converter. So this monoprice rca between the phono pre and the Logitech should work. Let me know if I'm wrong, cause if it doesn't have RCA input then you'll be going back to RCA to 3.5mm converter.
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-1-5ft-Premium-22AWG-Cable/dp/B003L1717K
If you need the RCA interconnect between the turntable and preamp.
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CRA-202DJ-Ground-Stereo-Interconnect/dp/B000PO1H80
Personally I'd get a good integrated like a yamaha, that's more in the direction of best way and hook it up to some nice floorstander towers or bookshelf speakers like Klipsch, Elac, and so on.
Thank you! That would make a lot more sense.
Would this be a good investment? http://www.amazon.com/LP-2020A-Lepai-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B0049P6OTI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398041844&sr=8-1&keywords=amp
This is what I own. http://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1398041891&sr=1-2&keywords=turntable+amp
This is as cheap as they get:
http://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PRO-PP444-Compact-Turntable-Preamp/dp/B004HJ1TTQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1371145585&sr=8-3&keywords=pre+amp
I personally use a mixer a built in pre amp:
http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PMX5U-Professional-3-Stereo-Channel/dp/B003G8V8LS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1371145712&sr=8-7&keywords=dj+mixer
Well you can pick one up fairly cheap, the SMSL Amp tends to gets lots of praise around here.
Exactly! The only benefit of a receiver is it's ability to take signal from hdmi. Something like this would be more than enough power at 80wpc, with built in bluetooth, aux in, and a few digital ins as well if your computer doesn't have a good aux/headphone out.
Or you could go with something a bit cheaper, like this. That one only has one aux(rca) in, so you'd need an aux to rca, female or male. For bluetooth with that amp, I'd get one of these as well as an aux splitter. That way you don't have to unplug anything to switch between bluetooth and aux.
https://www.amazon.com/S-M-S-L-AD18-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?keywords=amp+dac+stereo&qid=1569269603&s=gateway&sr=8-9
i mean this specifically
Some people think the THX logo is a tweeter. (The THX is not a tweeter)
Here's a review http://noaudiophile.com/Logitech_z623/
I don't like the z623 personally, the satellites sound thin and the subwoofer plays too much midrange.
If you think soundbars sound awesome then get a z623. $70 is cheap for audio with bass.
But if you're after better audio then we run into problems.
Some say the Edifier bookshelf speakers are good, The Edifier R1280T No bluetooth is currently on sale. I can't vouch for it for long term listening but I did hear one in person briefly in a store, sounded decent but unsure which model it was.
You can try a Voll 50 Passive speaker and hook it up with a SMSL Audio SA-36A or SMSL AD18 amp. You will need your own speaker wire if you go that route and it obviously all these audio components aren't cheap.
If you want to add a subwoofer in the future then the SMSL AD18 is the way to go, as it has sub-out.
TL;DR
Keep it simple with the Logitech and enjoy the bass or get serious and spend some more money.
Would I risk under driving these with this SMSL AD18 (80w /4ohm)? I often read that is worse that over driving. Would be for a desktop setup.
S.M.S.L AD18 HiFi Audio Stereo Amplifier with Bluetooth 4.2 Supports Apt-X,USB DSP Full Digital Power Amplifier 2.1 for Speaker,Small 80Wx2 Class D Amplifier with Subwoofer Output https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zz3FDbZDRT4Z6
At a minimum you need a DAC with toslink inputs and a 2.1 channel amp. The connections would be
TV digital optical (toslink) -> DAC
DAC -> amp
amp sub -> sub
amp speaker outputs -> speakers
SMSL makes a small DAC+amp that can do all of this, the AD18:
https://smile.amazon.com/SMSL-AD18-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN/
It's hard to go wrong with SMSL's amps. The AD-18 is on sale at Amazon for $130: https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-AD18-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542854712&sr=8-3&keywords=smsl+ad18 (I don't see this on Parts Express.) I've got one, and it's served me well.
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There's also the SMSL Q5. It doesn't have all the features the AD-18 does, like it doesn't have Bluetooth, and is 50w per channel compared to the AD-18's 80w. But it is $115 at PE: https://www.parts-express.com/smsl-q5-pro-stereo-amplifier-usb-optical-coaxial-dac-with-subwoofer-output-2x40w--230-210
KEF Q100s are on this weekend for $299. Pair that with a dac/amp (SMSL AD18 perhaps) and you’ll be rocking. It’s a bit over your budget but these speakers are usually $600. Also note these are often found in store for those prices if you don’t want to ship.
Here’s the SMSL AD18, another benefit is this does Bluetooth too...
SMSL AD18 HiFi Audio Stereo Amplifier with Bluetooth 4.2 Supports Apt-X,USB DSP Full Digital Power Amplifier 2.1 for Speaker,Small 80Wx2 Class D Amplifier with Subwoofer Output https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lLW9Bb8MA65VS
I'm with /u/polypeptide147 on this. The more features, the more possibilities for noise, etc.
The cheap amps I own are all much more heavily affected by power noise, crappy audio cables, etc. The Lepai 2020ti handles it better than most. It also benefits from a good power supply.
For example, this line of amps are decent for an outdoor / garage audio setup, but I would never use one on a computer (speaker hiss, very noisy when idle). You're going to be much more sensitive to speaker hiss and distortion, along with many of the "featureful" amps having auto-shutoffs with a slight delay coming back on (causing the start of notification sounds to get cut off).
Edit: if you want featureful, I would go with something like the SMSL AD18 (no personal experience with them) or the Klipsch Powergate (What I'm currently using. See my comment here for some issues I have with it.)
I use an SMSL AD18 and it’s a beast of a thing for the price and size. Recommend. Over budget a little (£122) but could get from China cheaper.
SMSL AD18 HIFI Audio Stereo Power Amplifier with Bluetooth Subwoofer Output https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VJ.5CbN7XFNJ9
In your situation a cheap DAC like this will do: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXJ83G4/
No amp required.
If you do want to spend money anyway, here's a decent one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/
This SMSL AD18 amp seems to be a popular choice in this subreddit. $145, features Bluetooth with Aptx, powers bookshelf speakers well, and a small form factor.
Pyle tends to be discouraged here
Topping or SMLS will be your best bet for mini amp brands
SMLS AD-18
SMLS AD-13
Topping MX3 also on sale here
Remote Ability Add On would allow you to add a universal remote to your current setup (from what I understand)
Or a PreAmp like this
Chromecast Audio would let you add wireless streaming to an amp without bluetooth
If you dont mind something larger, an AVR receiver like this or this will be your best option
Sidebar suggestions
This is what I currently use, and it's small enough to fit under my 27in monitor.
SMSL AD18 HiFi Audio Stereo Amplifier with Bluetooth 4.2 Supports Apt-X,USB DSP Full Digital Power Amplifier 2.1 for Speaker,Small 80Wx2 Class D Amplifier with Subwoofer Output https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_zKHUCbH9HTWX4
These will all do great for a multimedia speaker system.
Kanto Yu4 (4" speaker) -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kanto-Powered-Speakers-Bluetooth®-Preamp/dp/B01N7OMH3M
Kanto Yu6 (5.25" speaker, bigger but will have better output)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kanto-Powered-Speakers-Bluetooth®-Preamp/dp/B01N1YSXWE
or
Vanatoo Transparent Zero's
https://www.amazon.com/Vanatoo-Transparent-Powered-Speakers-Black/dp/B01N33WUJ9
As for subwoofers you really can get anything you like. From the budget Bic F12 to the matching Yu Sub8 to anything SVS makes. I know you listed your budget in Euro's, but I don't know a common site like Amazon to just get you basic pricing in Euro's so forgive the links to all over the world.
The other option is to go passive.
Amplifier: SMSL AD18 w/ subwoofer output
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AD18-Hi-Fi-Stereo-Amplifier-Bluetooth/dp/B071JN7GXN
Speakers/sub: Anything really. This more depends on regional pricing and availability. Here we can get the KEF Q100's for around $250-$300 US. But anything well reviewed that only needs around 40w of power will work well with that amplifier. There's a good number of well reviewed subs that will work for you with the €350 ish left after the DAC/amp and speakers.
Having more wattage available than you need is fine. The high wattage numbers only come into play when you crank the volume like mad.
So what are you looking for, just 2 channel stereo? That can be had quite cheap.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AD18-Stereo-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN/ - one of the go-to suggestions lately for a simple 2-channel DAC/amp.
Or, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tangent-Ampster-BT-HiFi-Amplifier/dp/B07K5H8FB3/ (there seems to be pics of the other components mixed in, but it should be this unit https://tangent-audio.com/products/9-electronics/162-tangent-ampster-bt-ii/ )
Or, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dayton-DTA-PRO-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Remote/dp/B07MQVWW43
Etc.
I might go with the Tangent, just because it looks great, doesn't have any flashing lights to annoy you, it has a sub output which may come in handy (though the others do too I believe) and you can get a tuner and CD player in the same look if you want to.
If you want to connect a lot of units to it, you may have issues. There are optical Toslink switches you could use to connect multiple items over optical to its one optical in, though. Or a high quality RCA switch.
Consider an external DAC/AMP. They'll drive a lot more power to your headphones/speakers than the mobo, and I find it easier to control my audio from an external hub. They get crazy expensive, but I've been using the SMSL AD18 for a year and a half, and I think it's neat.
Amp:
Micca OriGain Compact Stereo Integrated Amplifier and DAC, 50W x 2, 96kHz/24-Bit, USB and Optical S/PDIF (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXV4O6B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_na6qDb4YMVMAH
Or
Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMQI2CU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Nb6qDb2ZM2TRP
Speakers:
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers, Black (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B4Q5587/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Gd6qDbYGGK2GW
Or
Klipsch RB-61 II Reference Series Bookshelf Loudspeakers, Black (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040LRI96/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9e6qDbSSPBRJ6
Or
Polk Audio RTI A7 Floorstanding Speaker (Single, Cherry) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V2OQL6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.f6qDb5EGHRD8
What about these guys? https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B07B4Q5587/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ELAC+Debut+2.0+B6.2&qid=1562617876&s=electronics&sr=1-3
Same thing?
If you're ready for a receiver upgrade, there's nothing better at $150 than an avr-x1400h. If you're not ready he can pick up a Denon s540bt for $150 or a Denon s730h for $220. I'd pick the 540 for an under $1,000 setup.
Bic America F12 Subwoofer (if wife allows)
Now you have quite a few choices for LCR. I'd start with Elac Debut 2 B6.2 and Matching Center. For ~$570.
Leave the rest for cables and upgrading surrounds for later. I'm currently pretty happy with my Polk owm3 for $100 but I have rear space restrictions.
You can also go the Fluance Route Fluance L& R, Matching center, and Bipole Surrounds for ~$500
reciever
and
speakers
wire
$470ish and an amazing deal on the ELACs right now.
to be honest you could cheap out and not get a receiver, but this would allow you to add a sub and 7.1 surround down the line for less than $500
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 done. ELAC on Amazon
You'll want bookshelves, and used market is solid. Otherwise, I would say go with a left and right, and then get the center. HTD Level 3 are my go to suggestion at 320 for left and right, and another 320 for a center.
The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 are also good, and when on sale they are 250 for l/r, and 200 for center.
https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B07B4Q5587
You can buy stands for fifty bucks a pair, and towers are usually double the equivalent bookshelf price, so it won't make sense financially. If you like the look of towers much more, or need it to be loud, that is a different story.
IMO You'd be better if getting a small mini amp (ala the Dayton Audio Dta2.1bt) and a pair of ELAC B6.2 bookshelves on sale right now. You'd be out the door under $250.
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-dta-21bt-100w-class-d-21-amplifier-with-bluetooth-and-power-supply--300-3830
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers, Black (Pair) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07B4Q5587/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_YNn-BbV0R37MH
This Amp may be a little bit expensive but for a starter, it will last you a long time, and you wont find a much better price on anything comparable unless you go used.
These Headphones are slightly high end consumer grade, yet still low end in comparison to audiophile headphones as far as they go. If you have the money, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x’s have basically been the standard headphones for a long time.
These aren’t exactly the best as far as speakers go, but for the price, I have heard great things about them just because of the fact that they are so cheap. If you want to get something a little bit more expensive these are on a pretty damn good deal for the holiday season.
The AudioTechnica AT-LP120 is the #1 consumer grade Turntable Imo. But if you don’t want cheap greatness, get the Get the At-Lp60. You’ll notice that the turntable links that I send include the disc washer vinyl brush. Get it, you will need it If you buy used, and even some new need a dust brush.
if you want me to send you a CD player or Tape deck I can but those are harder to get more modern/ audiophile.
This is really hard to say without knowing the dimensions of the room and if you want active powered speakers or passive. If passive, do you already have an amp?
So I'll give you a few suggestions from speakers I own throughout my own home that are in your price range.
Here are some active/self powered:
Here is a passive / requires amp
What sort of budget are you working with? I just spent $300 on Elac Debut B6.2 + Denon AVR-S540BT and couldn't be happier.
This is the best "sub-woofer optional" setup at $300 because the pair of Elac's are too damn good! I got the Denon AVR refurbished and its as good as new. Provides great sound through my headphones as well and the bluetooth capability + optional sub-woofer out + Audyssey feature make it worth every penny.
If you can afford to spend more, there are other good options that don't require an external amp like these Elac's. But if you don't want to spend as much then there are some cheaper options like the JBL's and Polk's but there will be a compromise on sound quality.
Edit: Those Elac's will probably go on sale on one of these holidays, just keep an eye out if you're interested. They're still worth the money but if you can wait then you'll save a good amount.
You can get a 2.1 amp such as SMSL Q5 Pro. It comes with a remote and has a subwoofer output. A used-like-new is available at amazon for $85.
Pick up a Dayton sub 12 from parts express for $138.
Pick up Elec debut 6.2's for around $228 from amazon since you mentioned you like them.
All of this comes to around $450.
This of course means forfeiting any chances of future expansion and you won't be able to control volume through your TV remote.
However you can go with an s530BT avr from A4L for $140 and keep your chances of future expansion alive while still being close to your $500 budget.
I would start by looking at refurbished audio/video receivers or what some folks call AVR's around here. Accessories4less have tons of refurbished units that are pretty good in the 100-200$ range. For movies most people want a 5.1 speaker setup, for surround sound. That said with your budget I wouldn't try to get everything at once, else you will end up buying cheap components all around to stay under budget, instead I would focus on 2.0 or 2.1 to start with. You can always upgrade/add speakers as you go along.
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Check the sidebar for gear recommendations and the FAQ to figure out how to slice and dice your budget. Getting an AVR that support HDMI, 4k and 5.1 out of the gate would make sense. With your budget I would be really tempted to get an refurbished denon AVR and a pair of elac de4but 6.2 bookshelf speakers. That combo would come in around 300-400$ depending on which AVR you pick up.
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Subwoofers are nice but with the limited budget I would just skip it right now. Good subwoofer are expensive and cheaping out will only make you want to upgrade sooner. One thing to keep in mind when shopping is speakers are the biggest factor in your setup. You want most of your money to be spent on good speakers. Most amps if they are decent wont sound much different from each other, where as speakers of different classes make a much bigger difference.
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Those elac debut 6.2 go on sale all the time, often for around 200$ check camelcamelcamel for the price changes on amazon. Check the price chart and start watching other products on the side bar for changes in price. Then get ready to jump when the price drops.
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edit, added camel link... https://camelcamelcamel.com/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/product/B07B4Q5587
An old guy here with advice.
So smallish room.... means you can save $$ with some nice bookshelf speakers and a modest size receiver or amp. Try to snag speakers with 6 inch + drivers and you really will not need a woofer for music.
Digital music is excellent but older mp3 files might be crummy. Look for flac files or 320kbs mp3. Compact Discs are great...and good condition vinyl is too. Do not waste time on cassettes....
Personally I think the onkyo ought to be plan A as a decent tube amp will be pricey and great speakers are gonna affect sound quality the most. Does the onkyo have a phono preamp built in?
Some great bookshelf speaker choices
keg q100
or
elac
Also.... the tunes from back in the day will bring back some great memories.
Sure. I purchased,
Denon AVR-E300 There is a newer model out now I believe.
Micca MB42X bookshelf speakers
Micca MB42X-C Center speaker
BIC America F12 Subwoofer
Fluance AVBP2 Sattalite speakers
I live in a smallish apartment and the 12 inch subwoofer is close to overkill for me. It will put out some heavy punch when turned up. I am happy with the speakers that I have.
Without a lot of info, but assuming you want to keep it all pretty basic, this is my best shot. Before taxes you're at $687, but you could downgrade the sub to the Sub-1000, or skip the rear channels altogether for now. You'll need some speaker stands for the front, mounts for the rear, speaker wire, etc. So, not a perfect list, but here we go:
Replace the cubes with the covo-s? You already have a micca thing going on, and the newest version of the covo-s have a threaded mount.
Micca COVO-S Compact 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N8265I8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lvk3Cb80BTSP0
I bought them for a desktop setup at work, circumstances changed and now they're .2 in an Atmos setup, mounted at the ceiling.
I believe these are the best you can get under $50, but they need a speaker amp to run.
Micca Covo-S. $44, small, under budget. Sounds like just the ticket for you.
Micca Covo-s....they re impresive for thier size...They're coaxial so the tweeter is in the middle of the woofer, much like car speaker...At $40 you can't beat em..Your going to need a small amplifier...there is a good little one for $25 on Amazon...here are both links...http://www.amazon.com/Nobsound%C2%AE-Bluetooth-Receiver-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00W9G8LG8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451047633&sr=8-1&keywords=nobsound+bluetooth ...http://www.amazon.com/Micca-COVO-S-Compact-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00N8265I8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451047678&sr=8-1&keywords=covo+s
What on earth is wrong with the "massive speakers?" Some of the best speakers you can get for home theater are that size. If he gets a matching center channel (for timbre) and some of these for the back then he would be fine:
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-COVO-S-Compact-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00N8265I8
I just bought those and they are fantastic for surrounds in small areas. Due to your sectional you might have issues getting surrounds back there so you might have to mount them on the wall. Or, look into in wall/ceiling speakers.
The config file is at /boot/config.txt.
By adding:
> I'm currently torn between trying to shoe horn a set of usb speakers into the cab and working out some way of putting the controls outside, or mounting on the base somewhere?
Here's a small stereo amp that can be used to power the speakers and control the volume.
From there, you can install a storage tray somewhere to hold these ... then, when you're playing, just plop them on top of the table.
Now that PS4 supports usb headsets, there are actually "hacky" ways to get bluetooth headsets to work (but you are essentially pairing to a usb dongle, not the PS4 directly). And of course their is Sony's own wireless PS4 headset that uses its own USB dongle. In either case, the point still is NONE of these wireless headset possibilities are an option with the PSVR (if you want proper directional sound), since you need to get the audio output from the PSVR breakout box, which means you MUST plug a 3.5mm jack into the headset cable, period.
All that said, I guess you have hacky options for the PSVR too. You could get something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Connected-Transmission/dp/B00P24XKS8/ref=pd_lpo_107_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
and theoretically any bluetooth headset would work then, and you are getting audio via the 3.5mm jack... That said, having that hanging from your PSVR wire would defeat the purpose of wireless anyway, and since you are already wired to the PS4 due to the HMD, I don't really think a wired headphone makes anything that worse.
Something like this?
3.5mm Bluetooth Transmitter
Cost? Sheer lack of space inside the system? There is a bunch of reasons why they may have omitted it.
If you really want it you could use a Bluetooth audio transmitter.
I don't think there is any other way to get audio into the unit. The best option might be keeping a Bluetooth transmitter in the car. Something like this. There are a ton of Chinese rebrand variants on Amazon, but that one seems to be the most popular. You will need to arrange power to micro-USB port as well. Maybe mount it somewhere and use a 3.5mm extension cable.
Another option is to save your pennies and wait to see how the Alpine iLX-107 turns out.
I haven't recorded a memo or anything to see how the mic quality is, but noone I've called has commented either way. It seems to work well enough--"Hey Siri" works even with music going at a comfortable volume.
Since everybody else is being a butt, I did some looking. You've got to plug it into your controller still but it'll get the job done!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P24XKS8/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_M84kzbX0Y7G8V
You want one of these.
Haven't used one myself, but I have had good experiences with TaoTronics products and their support is great.
For my cortana, ok-google setup, I paired a Kangaroo pc with a usb microphone, works fine. Any audio going to the display is transmitted via bluetooth to more adequate speakers.
Oh but this thing gives static because you use a radio station. What I could suggest to you is buy aux to Bluetooth adapter. And you won't have any static :) I will try that or a longer aux cord or via USB. That's why was asking about it.
TaoTronics Wireless Portable Bluetooth Transmitter Connected to 3.5mm Audio Devices, Paired with Bluetooth Receiver, TV Ears, Bluetooth Dongle, A2DP Stereo Music Transmission https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P24XKS8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0y3oybZKAKBC9