Complete set for new kid on the block

[Technik]

I think I follow so far. Thanks for the clarifications.

So does anyone know how would this Technics amp compare to the NAD or Rotel?

[satanfriendly]

I agree with what said earlier, Technics may look the dogs danglies, but performance wise they are smooth, but miss out on what makes the whole set up musical. Very plain sounding. The Rotel and NAD have balls when needed and they can do nice and sweet when required.

I think you have most of your answers with reference to speaker cable, bi-wiring etc. Bi-wiring is a 'you like or don't case', but best keep it simple.

Don't put the record deck on top of the amp. Give the amp space to put some 'air' around it. Hot amps and vinyl records don't really go hand-in-hand and you want a sound solid foundation for the deck to sit on.

In passing bought a 'Carver Holographic pre-amp' in CC Liverpool for £50 some years back. Nice, but not great, but a shed load of amp for the money.

Look forward to seeing what you ended up with Technik and what your thoughts are.

[Rob998]

Don't know that Technics, but I notice that the speaker connectors are the spring loaded clip type. These work, but can break, leaving you with a loose speaker cable. For the best connection you really want binding posts/banana plug sockets (they're often a combination of both post & socket).

Like SF, I'd look for a NAD or Rotel.

[mickb69]

The technics might be ok, but not in the same league as nad, rotel, or arcam.
A general rule of thumb: buy British, or at least European.

I'd say shop local where you can pick stuff up and it doesn't have to be delivered.
Cash converter type places can be treasure troves if you know what you're after,
And you get some degree of warranty, just don't let them blag you into being pressured, if you are'nt sure, go back and do more research, it should still be there, and you can look again with a clear head. It took me ages of waiting and missing out on bids to get my set up, but I took my time and it paid off and I got good bargains on my amp and speakers (although on my turntable I fought tooth and nail and bid all I had left of my budget and possibly spent more than I should have, but I simply wouldn't have won it and I wanted it that bad,I'm also scared to ask for opinions on how much I paid due to potential abject humiliation that may or may not ensue...)

[Technik]

Thanks for the comments guys.
I think I have everything set to buy:
- NAD 3020i amp, around £60 with delivery
- Pioneer PL112D deck (although I would prefer a direct drive but this was recommended so I will go with this one) around £55 with delivery
- Mordaunt short speakers - don't know how much yet cos it's on fleebay

I just simply can't wait to get started. I went to my local vinyl shop and bought some really nice albums and even found a cherry - brand new Pearl Jam "Ten" album... that made my day

[Rob998]

Happy days mate. Enjoy your music & let us know how you get on.

[mickb69]

Thanks for the comments guys.
I think I have everything set to buy:
- NAD 3020i amp, around £60 with delivery
- Pioneer PL112D deck (although I would prefer a direct drive but this was recommended so I will go with this one) around £55 with delivery
- Mordaunt short speakers - don't know how much yet cos it's on fleebay

I just simply can't wait to get started. I went to my local vinyl shop and bought some really nice albums and even found a cherry - brand new Pearl Jam "Ten" album... that made my day

good choice, seriously, that will sound the badgers nadgers!

not sure about the mordaunt shorts, they're reputable but i have heard mixed reviews.
what might be worth a look, richer sounds are doing brand new old stock wharfdale diamond 9.0s for 40 quid, unbelievable bargain.

there's no doubt that the table and amp you have selected are excellent, but,
if you can take the torture of waiting, it might be worth getting your speakers last, as they can all be so different, you have the option of second hand cheapies, or brand new, and if that's the case, you can take your amp and turntable into a hi fi shop, they'll demo speakers of your choice so you can see what sounds best with YOUR set up.

also, getting back to the cash converters thing for a sec, when i was in there getting a demo of the missions i ended up buying, being already aware of the greatness of the wharfdale "diamond" legend, when i noticed, on the shelf were a pair of wharfdale delta, so just out of curiosity i had the guy demo those aswell, and they were absolutely terrible, horrid sound. just because a brand makes one or two good sets of speakers, it does'nt mean that everything they make is as good, so try stuff out, and compare

i can't recommend mission speakers enough

[satanfriendly]

good choice, seriously, that will sound the badgers nadgers!

Agree. A seriously good start. I think for the price of the Pioneer you would not have got much in the world of DD of any note.

wharfdale diamond 9.0s for 40 quid, unbelievable bargain.

Agreed. It will tip your budget a bit though. My son uses a pair of (God knows what mark) Diamond floor standing speakers and for what they cost they are pretty well bang on target. I had the original Mk1's when they first came out and they blew my socks off considering their size.

Will be intersting to see how much the Mordant go for. In the main though I think you've got the front and the middle pretty damn fine.

[Technik]

Oh! Thanks for the info on those Diamonds. If the fleebay auction goes high then I'll pass and buy those Diamonds at RS and some cables at the same time too. Cheers!
In the mean time I bought some paper and pvc sleeves for the records and a carbon fibre brush and also learnt how to clean them without the actual cleaning machine. I went through the 20 or so that I've got at the moment and apart from dust they look fine but 2 are badly scratched due to some sand inside the sleeve ? But these aren't my favourite ones so no big loss.

[raphaelmabo]

If my memory serves me well that Technics got only three stars by What Hi-Fi, because they found it to be bland sounding and uninvolving. Tonally correct but not musical.

Good choice considering the NAD.

As for bi-wiring - if the speakers have bi-wiring terminals I say it's good to use them, because they are designed to be bi-wired. If speakers are single wired, then fine and use that. It's a choice made by the speaker designer. But to really really get the most out of bi-wiring you need double speaker connections in the amp or two power amplifiers. For an audiophile on a budget - simply don't bother with it.

As for speakers... I say something from Mission 7x0-range, like Mission 730. Nice and poppy sound and a great match to the NAD.

An alternative could be something like JPW AP2, they provided good value for money in the late 80's into the 90's. Something like Boston Acoustics A40 or A60 from the same era is also worth considering, has a dry neutral sound and will team up well with the NAD.

Note - when buying speakers 20 years old or more, the bass/mid drive units may need new rubber rings around them because those things gets old and the speakers loose their sound quality. It's quite inexpensive but it could break your budget. But when it's done, the speakers could go on for 20 more years!

[Technik]

The ebay auction on the Pioneer PL112D went through the roof so need to look for something else - could I ask for further recommendations please?
As for the speakers I think I will pop in to Richer Sounds and get the Walfedare ones.

[satanfriendly]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUAL-505-BELT ... 3a7596d51f

New belts easily come by and a nice competent and safe bet as a TT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-turntabl ... 2a1e641080

If you can get in quick enough this might be okay as a starting point

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pioneer-PL-51 ... 3a75a844bf

If you can talk them in to posting it may be a good buy if anything like the PL514

[raphaelmabo]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUAL-505-BELT-DRIVE-TURNTABLE-/251080922399?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Turntables&hash=item3a7596d51f

But where is the turntable? I only see a cardboard box.....


Jokes aside, the Dual is an excellent start and in it's latest incarnation still available new today!
A very good beginner / entry level design from the 80's. Also reliable.

[cats squirrel]

With regards to bi wiring, y'know how speakers have a bass and treble speaker, and one set of cable,
That cable goes in through the back of the speaker box and is wired through a crossover, which divides the signal and sends it to the speakers.
When you bi wire, you bypass the electrical gubbins and take one length of cable direct to the bass speaker, and one length of cable direct to the treble speaker.
In the audiophile type of thinking, any complicated or unnecessary electrical gadgets are obstructions in the signal path and create electrical interference or cause vibrations and all sorts, so less is more.

I do have my speakers bi wired, and to be honest, at this level of quality/price etc, there is hardly any, if at all difference,

At our level, there are not really any benefits from this, just a case of rubbish gear, or not rubbish gear.

I'm sorry, but this is not correct, and will only confuse the OP.