What's in your Hi-Fi?

[murderedman]

Turntable: cheap Technics turntable for less than or about $100. Any model suggestions?

The SL-1200 is a really good direct drive turntable. Your budget might allow you to pick up a 2nd hand table. If its been used by a working DJ its probably gonna be beat up. You won't need to touch the pitch control. The plinth weighs a ton and you shouldn't have alot of acoustic feedback issues to deal with.

I've never seen a 1200 for under $100. Usually they're 200-400. The Q2 on the other hand is cheap and pretty decent.

[holmes]

Plug in laptop speakers have really come a long way, some offer battery powered options, and (with advances in mp3 technology), your home computer can store music in far smaller data files than ever before, saving you computer memory for other tasks. As a result, I have sold all my silly old 'stack' units, and am having a nice time now.

[geiginni]

Plug in laptop speakers have really come a long way, some offer battery powered options, and (with advances in mp3 technology), your home computer can store music in far smaller data files than ever before, saving you computer memory for other tasks. As a result, I have sold all my silly old 'stack' units, and am having a nice time now.

These are the only "computer" speakers I genuinely crave:





Oooh mama!

[holmes]

Plug in laptop speakers have really come a long way, some offer battery powered options, and (with advances in mp3 technology), your home computer can store music in far smaller data files than ever before, saving you computer memory for other tasks. As a result, I have sold all my silly old 'stack' units, and am having a nice time now.

These are the only "computer" speakers I genuinely crave:





Oooh mama!

Oh dear. I obviously wasn't being sarcastic enough.

[eephour]

Funny I was going to ask if anyone had good sounding, affordable desktop computer speaker options? I'm thinking of getting a gift for some one.

[geiginni]

At $1300 for a 2.1 system, I'd hardly describe those Genelecs as "affordable".

I could swing a "sub-dealer" pricing on these and they're still too pricey for my tastes.

[timpickens]

So I'm looking for a new receiver to replace my shitty old Philips cd/tape/radio combo thing that looks like a basketball shoe. I'd like to spend not much over $100 and I don't need anything too fancy or powerful, as I'm in a small apartment with little sound isolation. Right now I'm considering either a Marantz 1030 or an Akai AA-1010. From the reviews I've read, both of these have good sound quality and are well made, and the price is right. Does anyone have any experience with either of these, or can recommend one over the other? Or something else in this price range?

[motorbike guy]

So I'm looking for a new receiver to replace my shitty old Philips cd/tape/radio combo thing that looks like a basketball shoe. I'd like to spend not much over $100 and I don't need anything too fancy or powerful, as I'm in a small apartment with little sound isolation. Right now I'm considering either a Marantz 1030 or an Akai AA-1010. From the reviews I've read, both of these have good sound quality and are well made, and the price is right. Does anyone have any experience with either of these, or can recommend one over the other? Or something else in this price

Between the two amps you mention I would choose the marantz over the akai easily. For a few more dollars you should consider an NAD integrated. There are a few on eBay right now for $100 to $150. They are going to sound better in every way.

[Ben Abraham]

So I just bought a new hifi system for my new place: Marantz 2216 Receiver, JBL 2600 Bookshelf Speakers and a Technics SL-5200 Turntable. Did I do good PRF?

[madmanmunt]

New additions to the setup:

[motorbike guy]

So I just bought a new hifi system for my new place: Marantz 2216 Receiver, JBL 2600 Bookshelf Speakers and a Technics SL-5200 Turntable. Did I do good PRF?

does it make you happy?

are you satisfied with the performance of the system, given what you spent?

If the components provide you with musical joy, then they are doing their job. there are always compromises, and the clear upgrade path here would be the turntable, then the electronics. But like a six pack of budweiser, it should get you where you want to be in a cost effective manner.

[Redline]

Marantz 2216 Receiver

Hell yeah.

One of the best looking receivers ever. When I play with Hot Wheels, it's always on.

[timpickens]

So I'm looking for a new receiver to replace my shitty old Philips cd/tape/radio combo thing that looks like a basketball shoe. I'd like to spend not much over $100 and I don't need anything too fancy or powerful, as I'm in a small apartment with little sound isolation. Right now I'm considering either a Marantz 1030 or an Akai AA-1010. From the reviews I've read, both of these have good sound quality and are well made, and the price is right. Does anyone have any experience with either of these, or can recommend one over the other? Or something else in this price

Between the two amps you mention I would choose the marantz over the akai easily. For a few more dollars you should consider an NAD integrated. There are a few on eBay right now for $100 to $150. They are going to sound better in every way.

Thanks! I'll keep an eye on the NAD's on Ebay/CL and meanwhile save up a little more cash.

[squarewave]

I finally bit the bullet and bought one of those Sonos devices. I got the preamp one and it's into my giant Denon integrated.

Best GUI ever for playing digital files.

[6079smith]

Eh, why not...
A ridiculously oversized Onkyo amp a friend gave me a few years ago that's got about 10 inputs. Weighs a tonne.
Sleek eighties Sony tuner - FM, MW, LW. All I need really. Weighs half a tonne.
One of those Moth turntables, the P2 copy.
A pair of Wharfedale bookshelf speakers that are so 70's they should have a droopy moustache and flares. I'm pretty sure they're called Denton, going by google pictures. 6 ohms? Really, Wharfedale? They sound just fine.
One of the last fancy walkmens Sony made for the once-a-year I want to put on one of the handful of cassettes I've got lying about.
Still got to pick up the discman a friend has promised for the handful of CD's I have. No CD in the computer...
Not exactly audiophile gear, but suits my purposes just fine.

Oh yes, I've a pair of these crazy things:

But they straddle the line of "hi-fi" and "furniture". They sound like ass (nothing bass-heavy/no loud volume) but are great for resting drinks upon, sitting upon, bongo drumming upon...

[Ben Abraham]

Whats a good gauge speaker wire to get from Radio Shack for a simple bookshelf system? Just got my new system and it looks really pretty, excited to hear it.

[Bill Flaig]

16 Gauge? I mean, as big as is practical is probably where I would go. You can't really have too much current, right? Not like it'll make a huge difference over the short distance for bookshelf speakers, but still.

[Ben Abraham]

At last my system, she is done. Sounds fantastic and crisp! With the Loudness on, it feels like I'm at a show.

[Ben Abraham]

Now that I have this I need some kind of shelving for this...something under 150 from Ikea or something. Suggestions?

[rappard]

Now that I have this I need some kind of shelving for this...something under 150 from Ikea or something. Suggestions?

A 2x4 Expedit if you've got the space:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50103086/