Advice wanted please! Vinyl / CD new set-up

[Deitus]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could give me a few pointers / recommendations?

I was thinking of a new set up along these lines:

Rega RP1 Turntable, Denon DCD720AE CD Player (with USB Connectivity), Denon PMA520AE Amplifier, and some Q20201 Bookshelf Speakers with a decent stand.

Is there anything else I would need to purchase to be able to play vinyl / cd/ mp3?

Would anyone recommend exchanging the amplifier or cd player for a different brand?

I'd be extremely grateful for any advice at all!

Cheers,

Andy

Denon PMA520AE Integrated Amplifier

 

[davedotco]

All decent budget components, reasonable balance, no really obvious issues.

Of course that combination of equipment may interact and produce results that simply does not suit you and what you want a hi-fi system to do, or then again, maybe it will.....

This is why, if you are at all concerned about getting the best, most appropriate performance for your money, you have to listen to the full set up. No point hearing the speakers here, the amp there or whatever, you need to hear it all together in order to make a judgement call.

One point though, the RP1, particularly if fitted with the Rega cartridge, will have a very different sound balance to the cd player, best to make sure the difference is not to great in the areas that matter to you.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Agreed. If the turntable is an important source to you, do spend that little extra on the Performance Pack version, which is a fair step up in quality for such a small jump in price.

There aren't too many alternatives around at the Denon's price point, the main one being Marantz, which would cost about an extra £50 per box with the PM5005 and CD5005. You could look at the Dali Zensor 1s as an alternative speaker.

 

[Deitus]

Thanks for all the info, much appreciated!

I managed to hear the set up yesterday and have decided to purchase all the components online.

Just one more rookie question though: What cables do I need to buy in order for everything to work? WIll all the neccessary cables be included or do I need to buy specific cables to link it all together?

Cheers

Andy

 

[Deitus]

Thanks for all the info, much appreciated!

I managed to hear the set up yesterday and have decided to purchase all the components online.

Just one more rookie question though: What cables do I need to buy in order for everything to work? WIll all the neccessary cables be included or do I need to buy specific cables to link it all together?

Cheers

Andy

 

[drummerman]

Thanks for all the info, much appreciated!

I managed to hear the set up yesterday and have decided to purchase all the components online.

Just one more rookie question though: What cables do I need to buy in order for everything to work? WIll all the neccessary cables be included or do I need to buy specific cables to link it all together?

Cheers

Andy

I hope you buy online from the shop your heard the system in ... especially if they went through the trouble of setting it up for you ... ?

Just buy some decent interconnects/speaker cables for perhaps 10% of the value of the system.

You may find that the shop you heard the system in will include some decent cabling, making any price difference from online (if different) smaller ...

 

[Deitus]

Yeah I purchased from the shop I tried it out in, but online!

sorry, could you explain a bit more in depth what I need? A link or something would be wonderful!

Cheers,

Andy

 

[drummerman]

Yeah I purchased from the shop I tried it out in, but online!

sorry, could you explain a bit more in depth what I need? A link or something would be wonderful!

Cheers,

Andy

You need a couple of RCA interconnects and some speaker wire.

Assuming your whole system costs £800 or thereabouts, 10% or so is what I'd budget for cables.

You may need speaker stands too.

The review section of this site should give you some hints.

 

[TrevC]

Yeah I purchased from the shop I tried it out in, but online!

sorry, could you explain a bit more in depth what I need? A link or something would be wonderful!

Cheers,

Andy

You need a couple of RCA interconnects and some speaker wire.

Assuming your whole system costs £800 or thereabouts, 10% or so is what I'd budget for cables.

You may need speaker stands too.

The review section of this site should give you some hints.

£80 for cables? Nah. The review section on cables is utter tosh. Use freebie interconnects and the mains cable in the box, and nice thick stranded copper speaker wire.

 

[CarlDW]

If I had seen this post earlier I would have suggested the PMA720AE over the 520. Nevermind...

Cable wise some Fisual interconnects and Van Damme speaker cable from Amazon will do the trick and not cost the earth.