"Rob" wrote in message
...
Don Pearce wrote:
On Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:37:36 GMT, "Easynews" wrote:

Hi all,
I am upgrading my vinyl capabilities shortly and have about £1000 to
spend. I have a Rega P2 turntable, Quad 12L speakers, and a fairly old
Denon integrated amp / tuner with a reasonable phono stage. I was
intending to buy the EAR 834P phono stage, upgrade my fairly basic
cartridge, and buy an integrated amp- is this a good idea? Should I take
a different course, or if replacing the amp is the way, have you any
suggestions for ones I should try out?
Thanks for any advice, I'm a newbie when it comes to hi-fi.
Paul


I'd go with Keith G's suggestion of a valve phono pre. It really could be
the one thing you keep. As suggested elsewhere I rate the EAR, but it's
too expensive for what it is.



I reckon if there are going to be valves anywhere in the loop, the phono
stage is the most important place - the sound is opened up and the
*space/bigness* is created at this stage. SS phonos can deliver the
frequencies, but I find the sound usually lacks edge (where it is needed)
and is altogether more 'shut in' - muzzy or blurry would be fair
description, by comparison...

(The tone and placement/distance of the triangle in my version of VW's Larka
Sending is the quick test for me...)

FWIW, I think the WAD 2-piece combo beats the EAR handsomely (I have to, I
built one), but I don't hate the EAR - compared to what these things can
cost, they are still pretty cheap. They are relatively big and blowsy (GF
150) - first thing to do is dump the cheap 'T de P' valves (badged EI
Yugoslavian, I believe) and get summat with a bit of a 'freshness' to
them....??




I would go for a decent quality subwoofer to give you that extra
bottom octave. OK, it will be more useful with your non-vinyl sources,
but it will still help out the vinyl to a degree. The rest of the kit
is well up to standard for playing those LPs.

d


I bought a sub recently - a Rel Strata 5 - and I can't make up my mind
whether I like it. Two issues:

1. The sub has a different effect on different music and volumes. That
might sound obvious, but it means constant twiddling to get the balance
right.


This is my fear with a sub for music. Although, there's no doubt it would
suit some types of music and I am still considering one for 'organ music',
if nothing else...



2. At my preferred setting, when it can hardly be noticed but just adds a
bit of weight*, it seems to introduce a sort of airiness to the sound -
the music at all frequencies (vocals, cymbals) seems less distinct and
less focused. I really can't figure out why this happens and I'm not sure
if it's a good or bad thing. For now it's just different.


Tried shifting the phase 180 deg (presuming it has the function
available)...??



I think overall I'll keep it - it's a nice unobtrusive bit of furniture,
and certainly brings films to life :-)


:-)

The one to test a sub is Master and Commander - the 'cannon' sounds are
actually modern field artillery, I believe!! (105 mm Light Gun??) Wrong for
the relatively soft (slow) burn of blackpowder, but a decent *crack* as far
as the soundtrack goes!! :-)

Keith G wrote:


I reckon if there are going to be valves anywhere in the loop, the phono
stage is the most important place - the sound is opened up and the
*space/bigness* is created at this stage.

Aaaarrggghhh !

Stupidity and gullibility know no bounds.

Graham

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
In article , Easynews
writes

"tony sayer" wrote in message
news
In article ,
Easynews
writes
Hi all,
I am upgrading my vinyl capabilities shortly and have about £1000
to
spend.
I have a Rega P2 turntable, Quad 12L speakers, and a fairly old
Denon
integrated amp / tuner with a reasonable phono stage. I was
intending to
buy
the EAR 834P phono stage, upgrade my fairly basic cartridge, and
buy an
integrated amp- is this a good idea? Should I take a different
course, or
if
replacing the amp is the way, have you any suggestions for ones I
should
try
out?
Thanks for any advice, I'm a newbie when it comes to hi-fi.
Paul



Yep, seek out a second hand Audiolab 8000A amp they have an
excellent
phono input stage, moving coil and magnet, as well as being a
superb amp
otherwise.

Job done.. all in the one box
--
Tony Sayer

Hi Tony,
thanks for this. I see there are marks 1, 2 and 3 of the Audiolab
8000A and
at some point the manufacturing was switched to China- which should
I look
for?



The later made in Godmanchester or Huntingdon ones. Now doubt
someone
will know more but excellent amp all the same)


Have a look on e-bay you should be able to pick up a decent specimen
for
a couple of hundred quid.
--
Tony Sayer



Just beware, in case it hasn't been said already.

Of almost any amp on the market in the last decade or so the 8000
series will show up any inadequacies in your system with a
searchlight. You really do need the best to go with it.


--
Woody

harrogate3 at ntlworld dot com

In article ,
Eeyore wrote:
I reckon if there are going to be valves anywhere in the loop, the
phono stage is the most important place - the sound is opened up and
the *space/bigness* is created at this stage.

Aaaarrggghhh !

Stupidity and gullibility know no bounds.

Yup - they're even more unsuited to this job than near anything else in
audio.

--
*A fool and his money can throw one hell of a party.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Easynews wrote:

Hi all,
I am upgrading my vinyl capabilities shortly and have about £1000 to spend.
I have a Rega P2 turntable, Quad 12L speakers, and a fairly old Denon
integrated amp / tuner with a reasonable phono stage. I was intending to buy
the EAR 834P phono stage, upgrade my fairly basic cartridge, and buy an
integrated amp- is this a good idea? Should I take a different course, or if
replacing the amp is the way, have you any suggestions for ones I should try
out?
Thanks for any advice, I'm a newbie when it comes to hi-fi.
Paul

I've got a Linn LP12/Ittok/Troika with Lingo PSU for about ooh £1000
if your interested?

Doc