What's in your Hi-Fi?

[black taj]

As to the Bryston question, My dad's buddy is a audio nut and just bought a Bryston CD player. I have not heard it, but my father says it sounds really incredible. He didn't spend the money, so his opinion is less colored in my view. Whatever that's worth.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one cobbling together a mediocre system. I love the way my system sounds, and it didn't cost a metric ton of cash.

Nakamichi TA 3A reciever
Yahama tape deck that never gets used
Denon CD player from the late 80's
Custom speakers built by the aforementioned audio nut.
I've got a total of $250 in the system and I love it.

[madlee]

So the other night my bandmate came over and brought some stereo stuff.

He had just picked up an Adcom GFP-555 preamp, and he also brought over his pair of powered Mackie HR824 studio monitors.

We ran my Project Debut III through that setup, and it sounded much, much better than my current set up. We played the newest Bottomless Pit and Coliseum records, and they both sounded much more clearer and more articulate through that rig than what I have currently.

So, of course, now I want to upgrade my stereo.

Currently, I've got the Project Debut III going through a Technics SA-EX110 receiver to a pair of Sony SS-U350 speakers I got at Goodwill a couple of years ago. Should I focus on updating the pre/power amp before the speakers?

I can probably only budget between $200-$300 right now on a stereo upgrade. I've been looking online at some of the NAD PE series receivers and those are definitely in my price range.

Thank you dudes!

you may be well served by getting one of these:
http://www.needledoctor.com/Needle-Doct ... gory=16282

and:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=300-383

That would leave you with about $150. maybe save a few more bucks and get the infiniti p162 speakers.

[enframed]

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=300-383

Are these any good? I was considering one for my shop system.

[Brinkman]

So, of course, now I want to upgrade my stereo.

I can probably only budget between $200-$300 right now on a stereo upgrade.

you may be well served by getting one of these:
http://www.needledoctor.com/Needle-Doct ... gory=16282

and:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=300-383

That would leave you with about $150. maybe save a few more bucks and get the infiniti p162 speakers.

+1

The Hagerman Bugle is widely regarded as an excellent budget phono preamp, but would run you more than what Madlee just recommended.

I've been curious about the Tripath amps myself. Certainly a more sure thing than a used receiver that may or may not need servicing.

[mark maloof]

I know Jim Hagerman. I built his tube phonostage kit (Cornet), and while my Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 Signature MK III tube preamp beat it, it was a true audiophile product. Jim is a good designer, I would say the Bugle, while more money, would surely beat the $49 phono pre. The drummer from my band bought one at my recommendation, and is very happy with it, much more so than the phono stage in his receiver.

[squarewave]

I've been curious about the Tripath amps myself. Certainly a more sure thing than a used receiver that may or may not need servicing.

I don't agree with your logic.

A great receiver is a great receiver.

Dayton is a house brand for Parts Express, and that's likely little more than a craptastic parts kit from China with lowest common denominator parts.

Hardly a product to put up against a great Japanese or European amp from the 70s or 80s that are a dime a dozen at any pawn shop or flea market.

Chris, I am selling my NAD PE7225 receiver in excellent working order for next to nothing.
It was purchased new my by friend's BIL, and traded in at my audio store a few years later toward a surround setup. I have used it on and off since then.

[mark maloof]

Some audiophiles have been surprised by the T amps, though those with best results had high efficiency speakers (not a lot of power from those T-amps.) Not the last word in amps by any means, but some people were floored at how good they sounded in respect to cost.

Getting a heavy duty higher power receiver from the 70s or 80s could be cool, just be careful what ya get. Keep in mind that these amps are older, and for best sound/performance and life, it would be wise to have the electrolytic caps replaced, as with any old amp. Not all, but some of these receivers like a certain Marantz model, are somewhat collectable. Those you would pay more for, unless someone does not know what they have (I've had that fortune once or twice.) You could just buy one of the cheaper monster receivers from the 70s or 80s and burn on it for a couple years until you could upgrade to better stuff. The NAD mentioned would probably not be a bad idea, though, certainly for entry level hifi.

[squarewave]

Some audiophiles have been surprised by the T amps, though those with best results had high efficiency speakers (not a lot of power from those T-amps.) Not the last word in amps by any means, but some people were floored at how good they sounded in respect to cost.

I was not scoffing at the technology in general, just that implementation.
I wouldn't buy or recommend a Dayton anything.

It would be like if we were talking decent live boards like Midas or Allen & Heath, and somebody recommended a fucking Behringer.

Some of the best sounding amps I have heard lately have been digital.
The ICE Power amps (pioneered by B&O) is rock solid and sounds great and the stuff from Lyngdorf is beyond amazing.

[motorbike guy]

my audio store

so tell me about your store. What lines do you carry?

[enframed]

Some of the best sounding amps I have heard lately have been digital. The ICE Power amps (pioneered by B&O) is rock solid and sounds great and the stuff from Lyngdorf is beyond amazing.

I have stuff with ICE power amps and they do sound fantastic. I was curious about those Dayton amps for a small garage/shop system, not for "serious" listening.

[madlee]

those infinity p162 are real inexpensive here:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P162BG/ ... tml?tp=186

[squarewave]

my audio store

so tell me about your store. What lines do you carry?

Long since gone. I left in '99, it closed in '00.

But we had Denon, Marantz, Paradigm, Polk, DefTech, Rotel, B&W, California Audio Labs, Audio Research, Magnepan, VonSchweikert Research, Linn (until mid 90s), Thorens, Velodyne, Lexicon, Runco, Ampro, Faroudja, Niles, Stewart, Draper.

Pretty much the 'A' lines.

I am still in the biz in another capacity, but that's a discussion more for PM if you wish.

[madlee]

Some of the best sounding amps I have heard lately have been digital. The ICE Power amps (pioneered by B&O) is rock solid and sounds great and the stuff from Lyngdorf is beyond amazing.

I have stuff with ICE power amps and they do sound fantastic. I was curious about those Dayton amps for a small garage/shop system, not for "serious" listening.

Are these available in a kit? I googled and didn't see anything. It all looks like clones or just through a big brand.

[squarewave]

Are these available in a kit? I googled and didn't see anything. It all looks like clones or just through a big brand.

What's wrong with a big brand? I mean besides warranty coverage and tech support?

[Brinkman]

I've been curious about the Tripath amps myself. Certainly a more sure thing than a used receiver that may or may not need servicing.

I don't agree with your logic.

A great receiver is a great receiver.

Perhaps I worded that poorly.

What I was trying to say was that buying second-hand receivers from the 70s and 80s can be a crap shoot for someone who's not sure what they're looking at and/or is unable to perform cap replacement.

By comparison, any of those lauded, bang-for-buck digital amps are worth considering at the under-a-$100 level.

[tallchris]

FWIW, I don't think those little guys are exactly what I want. Probably sound fine, especially if they're an improvement over the Technics receiver I've got currently, but I'm definitely looking to get more in the nice receiver or pre/power amp territory. Speakers aren't quite a big thing for me now, I'm fine with upgrading those once I've got some more scratch. As far as having to recap things, my bandmate that just got the Adcom is an EE by trade and an audio nerd, so I can always enlist him to help me fix something.

Squarewave, totally down for that NAD receiver you've got. PM me and we can work out the details.

[squarewave]

Squarewave, totally down for that NAD receiver you've got. PM me and we can work out the details.

Facebook works on my celly, so look for a message there.
Prob tonight.

[tallchris]

Squarewave, totally down for that NAD receiver you've got. PM me and we can work out the details.

Facebook works on my celly, so look for a message there.
Prob tonight.

Just came across this on my local Craig's list:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/2220602916.html

ADCOM GFA-545 II power amp, + pre-amp tuner + disc player
Power Amp: GFA-545 II $175
Pre-amp Tuner: GTP-500 II $100
Disc player: GCD-575 $75
with remote control and headphones if you want'm

whole shebang for $300 or individual components at above prices.

From the Ebay prices I've come across this seems like a pretty good deal if everything is in working order. Hell, I could actually use a new cd player.

[shloonk]

technics sl-1400 w/ slightly fucked up shure v15 type IV cartridge
onkyo ta-rw344 tape deck
mx model 1580 reciever (I used to use an akai, but recently it started only playing into the right audio channel, so I had to switch it out for this)
2 unknown studio monitors (dad says they were likely built from a kit of some sort)
2 synergistics s-61 towers

[tallchris]

Just came across this on my local Craig's list:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/2220602916.html

ADCOM GFA-545 II power amp, + pre-amp tuner + disc player
Power Amp: GFA-545 II $175
Pre-amp Tuner: GTP-500 II $100
Disc player: GCD-575 $75
with remote control and headphones if you want'm

whole shebang for $300 or individual components at above prices.

Just picked this up and it sounds much, much better than my old set up. Everything is in great shape and the dude had had the power amp recently checked out. When I got it all set up and put on Italian Platinum my wife even noticed the improvement.