Hey this is my philosophy grad student/banquet waiter budget-y system, partially constructed of new, used, ebay, and love. I'm super happy with what it is for what I've spent. I'm particularly happy with my 1978 Marantz 104 tuner with walnut case. This marantz can pull in the FM like you read about. I found the two seperately and bought them both. Love the 320BEE but wish they had built the phono stage into it instead of having had to buy the $119 PP-2 phono preamp.
Sound is bright, and I just can't seem to find anything that sounds bad on it, considering my broad musical tastes that range from Echo and the Bunnymen to the Magnetic Fields, to Jimi Hendrix to Bud Powell to Bach.
Also, any budgeter that needs a good stand should seriously look at the IKEA Tunsta. This thing is just fab for 79 bucks. You can look/order it on their website, www.ikeausa.com.
My DUAL turntable with pickering catridge is nice, but the tonearm counterweight fell off and I put it back on with some hobby glue. works OK but I had really wanted a Marantz 6300 to go with my tuner cuz they have the same walnut wood cases.
Need advice on sub and CD player. I'm exploring a REGA planet, an NAD 541i and a Cambridge D500SE. Not sure yet...lotsa subs i'm checkin out but will prob. go with a B&W in virtue of the fact that I love the products so much. I live in an apartment right now and I don't want to get evicted from sending vibes up the pipes to the 10th floor. You tell me what to get next, and if you have a CD player that you think might fit in here in the 300-400 range, please let me know.
I LOVE this marantz 104 AM/FM tuner, can pull in FM like you wouldn't believe. Classy blue lights. Has original, very hard to find walnut case. Gyro tuning.
NAD PP-2 Phono Preamp
Great little phono preamp.
Dual 506
Workhorse dual 506 table. Belt drive.
Pickering XV-15 625e
Came with 40 dollar dual turntable from EBAY! HA! It's like $165 street!
NAD 320BEE
LOVE this conservatively rated 50x2. Was thinking about Rotel's integrated that costs twice as much, but this gets me 98% of the way there for HALF the price. Got it for $319 NEW from a hole-in-the-wall in Boston!
B&W DM-602 s3
So bright, so warm. Bass is great. Imaging very focused. Love the looks with the grilles off.
Monster M-Series MCX1s
Not bad at 50 bucks, terminated with bananas. 10ft pair.
Monster Stereo minijack to RCA
Connects audio card from PC to NAD 320 amp. Nifty little piece.
IKEA Tunsta
Anyone building a budget entry system who thinks around 500 dollars is STUPID to spend on a glorified TABLE should check out this piece from IKEA for just 79 bucks!!!! 5 shelves, casters, great design.
Beyer Dynamic DT 131
Nice set of 'phones for just 45 beans! 1/8th inch, using the adapter to hook em up to my NAD 320. I don;t use phones that often, but these have always wowed me for what they are.
Do you know the specs on the Pickering XV15/625E cartridge? Just won one on a Dual 721 and am wondering if its worth getting a stylus or if I should replace the cartridge? Thanks.
I used to own the Cambridge, and while I didn't get to a/b it against the Rega, I was able to compare it with the NAD. I found the Cambridge to be more lively, a bit darker, and more forward in its presentation. The NAD did a nice job w/ female voices, but other than that, I thought the Cambridge was hands down a better player. But perhaps you should be saving for a better tt or at the very least a better cartridge? I think you might get a bit more bang for your buck. Good luck and have fun.
