First time system for Son

[Terryff]

Ok, in april my son has his birthday, he loves my hi fi and hi fi generally and i wish to encourage that. So, i am building him a system of his own. At the moment i have a kenwood 3020se amp, some old mission 720i speakers that will need new stands and he can have my CA CD5 cd player (or i might buy him another one). Probably give him a turntable as well.  Maybe my pioneer if i upgrade or maybe a new one like a project. 

Question is, if it were you and money not limitless, would you change anything? I have good interconnects but would need to buy him new speaker wires, but the rest seems a good starting system?

Any views would be welcomed. 

 

[the record spot]

Yes, it's a good starter, a very good one in fact. Good for him he enjoys his dad's hobby as well!

 

[matthewpiano]

A very good system. My Dad did this for me when I saw about 8/9 years old and it was from then that my passion for listening to music on good hi-fi grew at a terrific rate. Its always been one of the most important things in my life and I have my Dad to thank for that, as I'm sure your son will later in life. 22 years on I still remember that system very fondly even though what I have now far surpasses it, and I actually still have the Sansui amp in my study.

 

[the record spot]

Which Sansui was it MP?

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Nope - that is a great system - maybe add a Cambridge iPod dock if he has a 'pod...

Keep him going on the Pioneer side of vinyl - I really don't think you can do better for the cash.

I would get hold of a decent PL-12d II, and see which you prefer, then give him the "starter" one

 

[Anonymous]

A very nice first set up 🙂

My mom and dad bought me my first set up for my bithday 'a while ago'...

Sansui SR222 Turntable
Trio KA5700 Amp
Trio KT5500 Tuner
Celestion Ditton 33 Speakers

I still have all that kit (and the boxes!) and it is all in fine working order.

A first Hi Fi is like a first girlfriend I guess - you never forget it!

How long is 'a while ago'? - 30 years!

 

[matthewpiano]

the record spot:Which Sansui was it MP?

AU2200. Fairly entry level but its such a musical little amp. 10 watts per channel but sounds more like 30. Currently driving a pair of original KEF Codas and sounding as good as ever. I always fancied one of the big Sansuis like the AU999 but I can't bear to part with the 2200 and I've gone off having vintage kit in my main system.

 

[chebby]

Hmmm Sansui nostalgia here too. My very first TT was an SR222 MkII that I bought in 1979. (Before that I had an old Connoisseur BD-1 handed down from my older brother but that does not count as it was hardly hifi! Sounded dreadful.)

Has your son shown an interest in this sort of system or are you trying to convert him away from the evils of MP3 downloads? It may be an idea to get him a Russ Andrews GQ-24 lead (the two phono plug version) to plug his iPod into the hifi if he has one...

http://whathifi.com/Review/Russ-Andrews-GQ-24/

They now cost £37 for the 0.5m phono-plug version (not as much as quoted in the link)

 

[Terryff]

No ipod, though he does have a nokia n95 he uses as one. No it is his stated interest rather than my transferring my hobby onto him, he loves music anyhow and is fairly musical.

I just feel that, had my parents have had the money or inclination to have done the same for me i would still be looking back fondly on it as a best ever present.

ÿ

 

[Terryff]

Though i do remember i was gifted a system by a family friend when i was about 16 or so of a receiver, cannot quite remember what it was now, was nice and chunky with a big green panel at the front for the dial and a pair of realistic speakers which i thought at the time was fantastic. I have a funny feeling it might have been a pioneer receiver. Will have a look for it on t'interweb.

 

[Terryff]

Ha Ha here it is, if i am not mistaken:

http://www.oaktreeent.com/web_photos/Stereo_Receivers/Pioneer_SX-434_Stereo_Receiver_web.jpgÿ

ÿ

 

[Terryff]

With these:

http://www.angelfire.com/vt/audio/minimus77.jpgÿ

 

[Terryff]

actually the tuner was this:

ÿ

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/TM-1000ad.jpg

ÿ

think the other might have been wishful thinkingÿ

 

[up the music]

How about a pair of decent headphones. Unless you've brought him up well, he won't share your taste in music. He's also bound to want to play loudly while you're in bed.

 

[up the music]

Sorry, just saw the comment that his tastes are 'fairly musical'. Buy the headphones anyway. His tastes might change.