£3000 vinyl set up - advice pls

[james_k100]

Hello again - I have received some excellent advice in a previous post regarding a new turntable - leaving me with a couple in mind - the Clearaudio Concept and Rega RP6 standing out - as well as the Analogue Works TT1 with a few upgrades thrown in....

Plan is off the back of this:

Clearaudio Concept

Arcam A19 Amp

KEF R300 Speakers

I have also looked at the Roksan Kandy K2 and am very impressed indeed...decisions decisions....

Advice really appreciated - and thanks again to everyone for your help in fine tuning the Turntable decision - I have looked at a Well Tempered and the Linn but they're pushing the financial boundaries a little...

Many thanks in advance! Jim

 

[Frank Harvey]

Do try and demo the Clearaudio and the Rega as they are quite different, and you may find that one or the other may complement your amplifier and speaker choice better than the other.

 

[james_k100]

How do they differ? Am talking to my local AudioT store and they are attempting to get the Concept in for me to have a listen to....

They are currently recommending the Rega RP6 with with Elex-R Inegrated Amp - but for whatever reason my current leaning is towards the Concept with either the Arcam A19 or the Naim Nait 5si. Speakers maybe Focal 714....

 

[stevebrock]

They are currently recommending the Rega RP6 with with Elex-R Inegrated Amp - but for whatever reason my current leaning is towards the Concept with either the Arcam A19 or the Naim Nait 5si. Speakers maybe Focal 714....

how do you know unless you have demoed all mentioned gear?

£3k is a lot of money - take your time!

When you say you 'looked' at the Roksan do you mean you have listened to it or just seen it?

You really do need to demo, demo, demo - personally I would go to specialist dealer local to you! Where are you based?

 

[james_k100]

Based in Reading, Berks - I have listened to all in store apart from the Concept - my leaning towards the Concept is borne of a friend of mine who has one that I've listened to briefly....very briefly sadly - he rants about it.

Rega I have listened to through the Rega Int Amp - I have listened to the Arcam but not the Naim....

 

[entrails]

My advice is that you may be on the path for a lot of upgraditis (been there, done it, got the t-shirt!).

The themes of the replies so far are spot on about demoing.

I would also suggest forget about your hypothetical system and suggest if you have a decent hifi dealer, stop reading reviews about individual products and speak to him just about the approximate budget, your tastes in music and see if he can put together a few packages from the products he knows well for you to listen to. If he can't do this move on to a dealer who can. Then take along some of your fave albums along with some that have always disappointed you (great recordings sound great on most systems) and spend loads of time in the showroom. With luck you may well come across a sound that is greater than the sum of the individual parts. If you don't, or are not sure, try another dealer. The you can buy it, love it and spend your future cash on cool records.

 

[daytona600]

for 3 grand just buy one of these & £1500 worth of LPs funk lsd

http://www.tonepublications.com/review/review-the-funk-firm-little-super-deck/