Listening to my old LP records

[admin_exported]

I want some advise on selecting a domestic system that I can play my old records on. I will need Turntable, Speakers and an Amp, but there is just so much out there and I am completely untechnical, I really don't know what would be best. It would also be useful to have a system that could record on to my mac or ipod. Budget £250 ish.

 

 

 

 

[John Duncan]

OK, could be tricky with that budget but we'll see what we can do - let me have a think...

 

[Anonymous]

The only way I can think of doing it uses ebay, where you will find plenty of choice and you'll get a much higher quality set up with your budget.

 

[chebby]

Unless you scour e-bay for used bargains then £250 is too little for TT, amp & speakers in the traditional sense (you will also need a phono-stage).

I would suggest Audioengine A2 active speakers to plug straight into your Mac (about £110) eliminating the need for an amplifier....

http://whathifi.com/Review/Audioengine-A2/

and a Pro-Ject Genie turntable for £120 from Richer sounds....

http://www.froogle.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=PROJ-RPM1-GENIE

(Includes a cartridge)

This leaves you £20 towards a NAD PP3 USB phono stage (£75) or 'Project Phono Box USB' (£75)....

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/3488

These will enable you to rip your vinyl to your mac (both contain 16 bit 44.1khz ADCs) and the Audioengine A2's will sound great using either the Mac or the phono-stage as inputs. The A2's have both RCA phono and minijack inputs for you to plug in the mac and the turntable (via the phono stage)...

and the USB from either the NAD PP3 or the Project Phono Box USB plugs straight into the Mac for ripping.

Just an alternative idea. Only a little bit over your budget.

 

[John Duncan]

Right.

s/h rega planar 2 - about £70
s/h Creek CAS4040 or CAS4140 - about £80
new Tannoy Mercury F1 Custom - £100

There's £250 on a really good starter vinyl playing system.

You would be able to record the vinyl to start with by taking the tape out (or headphone out) into your PC and using software to record the tracks. Every aspect of this system can be improved thereafter, from getting a USB phono stage to improve the recording quality, getting a better amplifier, improving the deck or cartridge etc etc etc ad infinitum - the sky's the limit.

JD

 

[John Duncan]

Though chebby's Audioengine idea is an excellent one - though I'd still go for the s/h Planar 2 over the genie, leaving enough for the Project USB Phono Stage to go with it - there's 250 quid, and includes your 'record to Mac' functionality in the usb phono stage.

Funky too.

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Just a thought, why not the Cambridge 640P as phono stage for £55ish on ebay?

edit... missed the USB thing...

 

[John Duncan]

tbh, the USB is just a convenience thing, I'd say - you can still take phono out of a Cambridge into the audio in on the Mac.

Though I'd buy it new for 60 quid, obv.......