Building Separates HI-FI help?

[admin_exported]

Hi,

Recently purchased some Tangent Acoustic Monitor 7 bookshelf speakers for a budget separates system Im going to slowly build.

Question is whats the best budget amplifier to go for to compliment the speakers? I was thinking a second hand cambridge audio A1 or A5?

Can anyone recommend a good budget CD player to go with this too?

Do you think purchasing a DAC would be pointless for this system, how much is the best budget one of those?

Any advice at all on any aspect would be appreciated as this is the first time Ive built a separates and its very much a learning process for me.

thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Check out the Best Buys for your budget (you haven't stated what it is), well worth thinking about a shortlist from there, although you should test with a decent retailer if possible.

 

[the record spot]

Do you know what your budget is for this project? And what kind of sound do you like (as opposed to music)? Detailed, picking out the instruments, or less clinical, with more warmth?

Are you happy to buy used kit? You can do extremely well going via the dealer route (some of whom appear on Ebay) and many will offer a warranty even for secondhand gear.

I'd suggest staying away from buying used kit off Ebay from non-dealers, if only going by what you've said about inexperience at this game. Plenty of duff kit out there masquerading as great hifi. That said, a little homework can net you some excellent older kit and often for little outlay, but you may feel more comfortable with the security a dealer provides.

So, once you've worked out your budget, apart from sticking to it, let us know what kind of sound you like and the music you'll be playing. Once you've done that, you can look at the options open to you.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, thanks

Hmm I spose I would like to spend between 50-80 on an amp and maybe about the same on the CD player too? (really small budget) With that kind of budget I would probably have to buy second hand, which I dont mind doing at all.

I think I would like it fairly detailed, but with a bit of warmth too, is there such thing as in the middle/both? a sort of compromise?

 

[Anonymous]

Oh and I dont mind buying old looking retro equipment as the speakers do have an old look.

Oh and I guess Ill be playing anything from Kayo Dot (classical of sorts) to heavy stuff such as Converge/Botch/young widows etc

I'll be leaving all my electronic music to playing on my PC setup below as it suits it more..so I guess Im looking for something that will suit the above rather than say electronic music??

 

[Anonymous]

for more reference:

Id like it to play this sort of stuff in lush detail:

www.myspace.com/kayodot

..but also this stuff without it getting too muddy and still presenting detail:

www.myspace.com/converge

is this possible on my budget?

 

[a91gti]

I would suggest buying one of the Creek 4040 amps that are currently on ebay and maybe a Marantz CD52 also from ebay. A great budget combo that would certainly beat any newer stuff in your price bracket.

 

[the record spot]

I'd second the CD52 Mk 2, used to have one of these back in the 90s and it's an excellent source. As time and funds allow you can add a Musical Fidelity V-DAC and it'll transform it for the cost involved (£50 or so for the CDP, £150 for the V-DAC and it'll cane anything new at the price).

Amps - tons to choose from. There's a dealer on Ebay (the247enigma) who offers used kit at very reasonable prices and plenty of photos. Lots of amps and to name a few, the Rotel RA810A, Marantz PM66 (a good one to get). More often than not, they're on Buy It Now deals, he throws in a 30 day warranty and you also get legal protection as BIN's are covered by the law.

Lastly, if you do go down the BIN route, or anywhere really, pay by credit card and your card provider is jointly liable in the event you end up buying a turkey and the seller doesn't play ball.

As a personal recommendation, I can't suggest my current amp - which I bought off Ebay for £33 delivered - the Sansui AU-217 highly enough. It's a late 1970s model and they come up on Ebay often. Very musical amp, great detail but not at the expense of dissecting the overall picture. build is excellent and very solid. It's replaced my Marantz PM6010-KI (now on Ebay funnily enough!) and is a stop gap until I can afford a higher quality amp, which will now need to really perform if the last few weeks are anything to go by.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice its greatly appreciated.

I like the look and sound of the sansui, would especially like to get hold of one of those with the tuner too!

Ive just recieved my speakers today and they say they are 20 - 90 watt? I assume this means that If I had an amp at 90 watts Id get the full wattage out of them? What output is the sansui?

Oh and will I have any probelms with cabling considering the amp is from the 70s? My speakers look like banana plug connectors, what will the amp be?

Thanks!

 

[the record spot]

The Sansui speaker cable connections are very narrow, but I can squeeze bi-wire single core cable in. I use the banana plugs into the speaker and the bare wire into the amp. Just!

No problem driving my 752s either, it's a 30wpc amp, and the 752 can take anything from 25 to 150wpc, but it's effortless - plenty of power on tap and I think Sansui are doing a NAD and conservatively rating the power. If you find a Mark 2 model (which is identified as AU-217 II on the faceplate) then that's a 40 watter.

Obviously, if you land one of the higher powered n17 series amps in good nick and for good money, you'll be onto a bit of a find...!