So I have decided to get some Wharfedale Diamond 9.1s, but know I need an amp and cables etc. I will use them to play music from my laptop aswell as my turntables. If anyone could please just give me the exact rundown of what I need to have a complete working set up that would be grand.
Complete Novice
- Thread starter DavidSearle
- Start date
A lot will depend on your budget!
Also do your turntables have phono level output or line level output (ie built in phono amps) If they do not have line level outputs you will need an amp with a phono stage input.
You can use mains cable for speaker cable if you can solder the plugs on the ends, I have limited experience of cables and interconnects but others will help with those!
As for the laptop, does it have an optical output or just a headphone one, if just a headphone one you can use a 3.5mm to RCA phono lead or better still get a usb DAC which may improve the sound of the laptop all depends on how much you want to spend......
Tommo
Also do your turntables have phono level output or line level output (ie built in phono amps) If they do not have line level outputs you will need an amp with a phono stage input.
You can use mains cable for speaker cable if you can solder the plugs on the ends, I have limited experience of cables and interconnects but others will help with those!
As for the laptop, does it have an optical output or just a headphone one, if just a headphone one you can use a 3.5mm to RCA phono lead or better still get a usb DAC which may improve the sound of the laptop all depends on how much you want to spend......
Tommo
If you could give a budget that would help...
For an amp I would recommend a second hand amp from ebay, £200 doesn't get you a lot new but second hand you can get something pretty damn awesome.
I don't know that many good amps but arcam alpha 8 (£100ish) (alpha 9, alpha 10) £200ish would be good. Also used nad's are a good bet, something like a c350/370/353/372. Rotel also but I can't give specifics to be honest because I don't know.
For the computer the cheapest way is just to run a 3.5mm cable to rca from your laptop to the amp, but it won't sound amazing. You can get a usb DAC to improve sound. Would need a budget to advise further.
As for speaker cable I would just get some thick copper stuff from qed or some other brand fairly cheap. Don't spend too much, it will make little difference.
Then to connect your tuntables/dac to the amp you need RCA to RCA cable, I wouldn't pay too much, less than £20 per cable. (the speakers are only £100 and they are the most important part, so it makes no sense to spend £80 on a cable).
Good luck, I will try to help further if you give more information and specifics like the type of sound you are after (bright/neutral/warm), but there are people here who can offer much better advice than I ever could.
For an amp I would recommend a second hand amp from ebay, £200 doesn't get you a lot new but second hand you can get something pretty damn awesome.
I don't know that many good amps but arcam alpha 8 (£100ish) (alpha 9, alpha 10) £200ish would be good. Also used nad's are a good bet, something like a c350/370/353/372. Rotel also but I can't give specifics to be honest because I don't know.
For the computer the cheapest way is just to run a 3.5mm cable to rca from your laptop to the amp, but it won't sound amazing. You can get a usb DAC to improve sound. Would need a budget to advise further.
As for speaker cable I would just get some thick copper stuff from qed or some other brand fairly cheap. Don't spend too much, it will make little difference.
Then to connect your tuntables/dac to the amp you need RCA to RCA cable, I wouldn't pay too much, less than £20 per cable. (the speakers are only £100 and they are the most important part, so it makes no sense to spend £80 on a cable).
Good luck, I will try to help further if you give more information and specifics like the type of sound you are after (bright/neutral/warm), but there are people here who can offer much better advice than I ever could.
I suppose if it is £100 for speakers then around anothrt hundredish for the rest possibly a little more
well look a bit down the list then for an amp...
this is an example, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAMBRIDGE-AUDIO-AZUR-340A-Integrated-Amplifier-Unit-HiFi-Stereo-Speaker-System-/310677357590?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item4855d04416
can probably find it cheaper if you look
no clue about a cheap dac though, check reviews on whathifi for dacs around £200 and under and try to find one on ebay
a decent amp is a bigger priority, try and wait and maybe save for a dac if what you want isn't easily available at the price you want
good luck, it will sound good
this is an example, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAMBRIDGE-AUDIO-AZUR-340A-Integrated-Amplifier-Unit-HiFi-Stereo-Speaker-System-/310677357590?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item4855d04416
can probably find it cheaper if you look
no clue about a cheap dac though, check reviews on whathifi for dacs around £200 and under and try to find one on ebay
a decent amp is a bigger priority, try and wait and maybe save for a dac if what you want isn't easily available at the price you want
good luck, it will sound good
DavidSearle said:
Do you use a mixing desk?
If so, I'd take a look at the new(ish) Yamaha HS50M or Behringer TRUTH B1031A monitors as alternatives to the Wharfedales and amplifier combination.
EDIT:
You may wish to add a DAC - Behringer UCA202 £23.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-UCA202-U-Control-low-latency-Interface...
Ok so I have not actually bought my turntables yet but will get som 1210's shortly and a mixer of some sort, the only other peice of equipment I do have is a focusrite safire 6
And when i eventually get my turntables and mixer, they can be plugged in without any problems aswell?
DavidSearle said:
Yes and the Saffire can be connected in between if you want to capture the audio from the TTs.
The laptop would plug into the Saffire 6 and then on to the amp.
TTs > mixer > Saffire 6? > amp > speakers
laptop > Saffire 6 > amp > speakers
If you want it reasonably loud/more bass you would probably be better off with 8inch active monitors.
Diamonds + amp would probably sounds better, but would also be easier to damage because they are not meant to be abused, they will still play loud.
Personally I would go with diamonds.
But if you're going to be playing them at max, doing parties, etc abusing them while mixing get monitors.
Diamonds + amp would probably sounds better, but would also be easier to damage because they are not meant to be abused, they will still play loud.
Personally I would go with diamonds.
But if you're going to be playing them at max, doing parties, etc abusing them while mixing get monitors.
DavidSearle said:
Yes, unless using active speakers and on the subject, the actives I mentioned would be likely to see off the amp/Diamond combination.
It's something you need to hear for yourself though, so perhaps pop into Richer Sounds or the like and a pro audio shop if one is nearby.
Just realised that amp does not have a phono output so will not be able to connect my turntable when I get them. What about this?http://www.richersounds.com/product/amplifiers-receivers/marantz/pm5004/mara-pm5004-blk
Ok, so again sorry for being stupid. I am sat here withh my wharfedales and my amp, got some wire, now there are four ports in the back of each speaker and 4 direct slots in the back of the amp that say direct and 4 that say remote, if I have 8 peices of wire coming out the back of the speakers do they just have to go in those slots, even though they are different?
DavidSearle said:
Slots? Terminals. According to the manual the amp has speaker connections that can be switched or direct, switched allows you to turn the speakers off if you're listening to headphones, up to you which you use. The speakers are bi-wirable, provided they're connected red to red and black to black on the back of each speaker (jumper cables or metal plates) you just need to connect one set of speaker cables to each speaker and then plug them into the appropriate plug on the amp (they'll be right and left + and -), just match them up.
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