Page 1 of 1

Hi-fi system question

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:50 am
by tj
OK so I have about £400-450 to spend on a basic hi-fi system which will be used primarily for listening to dubstep & DNB. This needs to include an amp, a turntable and speakers and maybe a sub. The entire system doesn't need to be particularly loud but I'd obviously like to be able to hear deeper bass frequencies etc. I have NO knowledge of hi-fis whatsoever so could someone tell me if the following is a good deal, and/or if I could get anything better? (Preferrably from Richersounds or similar for convenience)

Richer sounds have quoted me £393.00 for the following:

Amp: Cambridge Audio A1MK3SE

Turntable: Project DEBUT III

Speakers: Cambridge Audio S30

Other:

Vivanco PA111 (MM phono pre amp)

+ various cables/leads.

Thanks in advance and apologies if this is in the wrong forum!

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:15 am
by joe muggs
Loads of people will have answers to this but the real way is to go to Richer and LISTEN to the components!

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:21 am
by joe muggs
OR if you're willing to go 2nd hand, you should be able to pick these babies up for a reasonable price
[img]
http://www.richardbrice.net/quad3303b.jpg[/img]

http://www.richardbrice.net/quad33&303.htm
http://www.hi-fi-insight.com/37/quad-30 ... lifier.htm

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:24 am
by tj
Thanks! Also....probably a stupid question...but if anyone could advise me as to how important a sub is going to be if I'm not going to be listening to anything at a particularly high volume? Like I said...I'm pretty much clueless.

Re: Hi-fi system question

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:40 am
by spencertron
TJ wrote:OK so I have about £400-450 to spend on a basic hi-fi system which will be used primarily for listening to dubstep & DNB. This needs to include an amp, a turntable and speakers and maybe a sub. The entire system doesn't need to be particularly loud but I'd obviously like to be able to hear deeper bass frequencies etc. I have NO knowledge of hi-fis whatsoever so could someone tell me if the following is a good deal, and/or if I could get anything better? (Preferrably from Richersounds or similar for convenience)

Richer sounds have quoted me £393.00 for the following:

Amp: Cambridge Audio A1MK3SE

Turntable: Project DEBUT III

Speakers: Cambridge Audio S30

Other:

Vivanco PA111 (MM phono pre amp)

+ various cables/leads.

Thanks in advance and apologies if this is in the wrong forum!
I have that Amp...it's lasted me a good 8 years. (which means i have an older model but the panel components haven't changed and doesn't look like much of an update)...its very good, loud and obviously reliable.

I'm unsure about CA speakers, Richer sounds do some good prices on Gale speakers, which is what i have hooked up to the Cambridge amp, also bought em 8 years ago...(i bough amp and speakers at the same time ;-)...they are f-ing loud if you want them to be...having listened to music sub based music on them for so long, i'd find it difficult to recommend anything else.

you wont need a sub on the above set-up.

i use to listened to my vinyl on some old Bush turntable my gran gave me and played it through above amp and speakers...not a great name in Hi-fi but it was fine for listening to vinyl on, plus didn't need a stupid pre-amp. but i have decks now.

....i would be weary of the Project Debut turntable...i think they're the ones where you have to take the platter off to move the rubber band in order to listen to a record which is either 33 or 45 rpm. i'm pretty sure it's those ones,...

Re: Hi-fi system question

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:56 am
by joe muggs
spencerTron wrote: ....i would be weary of the Project Debut turntable...i think they're the ones where you have to take the platter off to move the rubber band in order to listen to a record which is either 33 or 45 rpm. i'm pretty sure it's those ones,...
Na that's the Rega ones.

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:03 am
by spiro
TJ wrote:Thanks! Also....probably a stupid question...but if anyone could advise me as to how important a sub is going to be if I'm not going to be listening to anything at a particularly high volume? Like I said...I'm pretty much clueless.
getting a sub made all the difference for me.
it makes it possible to listen to dubstep/other bass driven music without turing the system up!
You can fine tune the level you want on the subbass and the mids/highs . . .
and you can get an idea of how it will sound on a proper system . . .
I would say your missing half the action without one . . .

even a cheap PC sub will help a lot!
but they sound shit though . . .

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:02 am
by tj
OK so looks like I'll go for the above set-up after all, although I'll definitely have a listen at RS first. I have an old PC sub kicking about so I might try and connect that up too. Thanks all.

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:56 am
by resolved
you DO need to lift up the platter on the project debut, unless they've added a speed box in as default on the newer models.

you don't need a sub but once you've got used to having a decent one, it's hard to go back -- mind you a decent one will set you back like £200 or something

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:57 am
by resolved
+ PC subs are pointless, obviously

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:26 pm
by tj
resolved wrote:you DO need to lift up the platter on the project debut, unless they've added a speed box in as default on the newer models.
Can someone explain what this entails in more detail?

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:00 pm
by spiro
resolved wrote:+ PC subs are pointless, obviously
why ?
might not be the cleanest sound, but it gives you something in the low end . . .

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:01 pm
by spiro
TJ wrote:
resolved wrote:you DO need to lift up the platter on the project debut, unless they've added a speed box in as default on the newer models.
Can someone explain what this entails in more detail?
think this is about having to lift out the turntable platter to change the speed 33/45 rpm . . .

cant say I know anything about this . . .
The standard replay speed for most common records (LPs) is 33⅓ r.p.m. for all Pro-Ject turntables. Singles (the record has only one song per side, hence the name) and some specially recorded LPs need to be played back at 45 r.p.m. To do this the drive belt has to be moved to a larger diameter step on the motor pulley. On some models this requires the platter to be removed first. Other models have two openings in the platter which provide access to the belt and pulley after removing the mat.
The models Debut III/Phono SB, 1 Xpression III Comfort, 2 Xperience Comfort, 2 Xperience SuperPack, RPM 5 SuperPack, RPM 6.1 SB and RPM 6.1 SB SuperPack play 45 r.p.m. at the touch of a button.The Perspective model comes with a special motor for 45 r.p.m. replay.

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:02 pm
by tj
Maybe this would be a better choice then?

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct ... NY-PSLX250

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:09 pm
by thomas
If only because it has:

"Auto/manual The type of drive system. Auto turntables stop the record, lift the arm and return it to rest "

Can't explain how annoying it is getting up to turn off my decks if i play somthing while laying in bed!