I'm in the process of buying a new stereo consisting of Spendor 8e speakers ($3,200) and an NAD M3 integrated amp ($2,800). I've had the Rega PL1 or PL2 recommended by an audio store at $350 or $600. He thought I should get the PL2. Do I really need to spend that much? or could I settle for a cheaper PL1? I currently have a very old Techniques SL-Q350.
I like all Rega tables. You are dropping some large change on the amp and speakers. I'm a bit amazed at the low cost table the shop suggested. Did they just think you didn't want to spend any more than a few hundred on the table? Did they compare any tables for you? Did they discuss the role of the source in a well balanced system? Or are you someone who feels speakers make the largest "difference"? My suggestion would be to spend a few grand on a table and far less on speakers.
I will back Jan on 50% of the post. Yes, by all means, Mike, you should revisit the dealer and restate your TT desires. The dealer has missed the mark entirely. This type of outlay deserves, excuse me, demands a HQ vinyl cart. Jan missed on the speakers, those Splendors are lovely. Although the 3/5 would do, the 8e's look to carry the load quite well(on paper). Of course i have just spent another grand of Mike's money, yet to choose a pickup.
Alright, I got it. I'm getting stingy at the wrong time. I want to do this right. I think I'll go with the P2 but I think you may be telling me that's still short changing what I should be getting.
Ask the dealer to demonstrate what they have available. You need no more deck than you can appreciate at this time. If your listening habits are such that you hear tight bass, clear mids and clean highs as the most important values (a Stereo Review type of system), a less expensive table will do for now. If you regularly listen to live music and hold musical values rather than frequency response most important, you will find nuance and artistic expression more readily available from the higher priced deck. The dealer should be able to explain the hierarchy of a system. If not, then they have done you a disservice.
As long as you buy a deck such as a Rega you will be able to upgrade with little monetary loss as your musical values expand by listening through a good system. If you have the extra $1k, buy the larger speakers. But if you are buying larger speakers solely for the additional bass response, you might be giving up one thing in order to gain another. There is no right system that anyone can prescribe for you but listen with an open mind and open ears.
With that information I'm very surprised that AC let you even get out the door thinking a P2 would be sufficient. Tell me why you think Audio Concepts is difficult. Pricing? Attitude? Merchandise? Two channel high end is dying a slow death in DFW. What part of town do you live in?
I live in Arlington. AC was a bit snotty. I had to push them hard to let me compare a couple of different brands of speakers. Also they don't let you try the equipment at home unless your willing to get hit with a 20% RESTOCKING FEE. But at the end of the day I was satisfied with them to a point.
Sorry, Mike. I am a million miles away. Jan does not rec equipment very often, dealers perhaps even less. Should your thread continue, you might PM Jan for more.
The Rega P3 is a good entry point for a quality analog front end and would be a good fit with the rest of your system. In the long run, probably worth extra $$ over the P2.
Galen Carol Audio in San Antonio is an excellent, helpful dealer. I've dealt with them over the phone for mail order stuff. They have a good website. Worth at least a phone call. BTW I'm not affiliated with GC Audio. I have no issues with promoting high quality businesses.
an "outsider's" view if you are able to spend $6000 on speakers and amp then just "in general" i would imagine a kicking turntable should not be out of the question.unless you rarely listen to vinyl. without getting specific i would imagine upwards of a $1000 would go well with your system a rega or a pro-ject. PS i recently spoke with the audio concept folks via phone when considering a rega amp and they seemed OK. anyhow don't cheap out on the turntable. know what about your interconnects????
Have you looked in the Yellow Pages? Most of the dealers listed under "Stereo" sell either home theater or car systems but there were a few worth checking. Marvin's in FW is a long time high end dealer in the area, the only real McIntosh dealer left in North Texas though they are drifting into HT more and more. I don't know if they sell a table right now. John Fort has been at it for years and knows his stuff. Krystal Clear is still running an ad. There's a new dealer selling tube based gear who has an ad on this forum from time to time, "Blue Glow Audio" or something similar and a few names I don't know in the directory. Austin is worth the trip for some people. Use a search engine and you might find a few more.
What type of turntable do you think I could look at that has the preamp built in? I like the idea of only having one piece of equipment. Any suggestions? I been to many of the home theater stores but have been disapointed relative to basic audio gear. Who should I talk to at John Fort Audio Video? By the way everybody is right about my cheaping out at the end. I just didn't realize what I needed to spend for a CD player and a turntable but I'm not going to rush in and make a mistake.
Consumer level turntables don't have the phono pre amp built into the table. The pre amp or integrated amplifier will contain the phono section or you can buy an outboard phono pre amp if you like a line level pre amp without phono included.
If you go to John Fort's, you'll talk to John Fort.
Jan said what I was saying and what I was going to say both. The phono stage I was referencing would be built into the pre-amp itself, like my Rogue Audio Magnum 99 or the Creek 5350 SE Integrated I traded in for the Rogue (at John Fort Audio Video).