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

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 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

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
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 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.


Hmmm.....

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 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.

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.

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

Rob

* FWIW, xover at 39hz, volume 47%, room 16'x11' suspended timber floor
thick carpet, main speakers Dynaudio Contour 1.1s

"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

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 in message
. ..
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



You're definitely thinking along the right lines - valves are the magic
ingredient when it comes to getting the *life* and sparkle out of vinyl.

The Denon is likely to have a fairly good onboard phono stage (I have one
myself and can vouch for the recent models, if nothing else) but it is not a
patch on the valve phono I use (unfortunately) - the ss phono is flat by
comparison and will render the music 'blameless' (and bland) much like CD.
(Which, of course, suits some people just fine! ;-)

But, I'm not sure I would bother with the EAR - I had one and it was my
introduction to valve phonos and a quantum leap forward at the time, but
it's gone now and I don't miss it! The sound is pleasant enough but
'bloated' in comparison with the WAD phono stage I built:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/wadphono/wadphono.htm

I believe the new company that is rising from WAD's ashes - World Design -
is on the verge of bringing out a new version (??) and I would recommend you
go for one of those. It should cost less than the EAR and they are a doddle
to build! (If I can do it, *anybody* can!! :-)

(I hardly dare mention that a valve amp won't do any harm either - but I'm
not so sure that I'm recommending the Chinese Cheepies any more, the Chinks
have got a long way to go with their Animal and Human Rights issues before I
would be comfortable spending any more on *avoidable* Chinese kit or
advising others to do the same...??)

Keith G wrote:
"Easynews" wrote in message
. ..

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




You're definitely thinking along the right lines - valves are the magic
ingredient when it comes to getting the *life* and sparkle out of vinyl.

The Denon is likely to have a fairly good onboard phono stage (I have one
myself and can vouch for the recent models, if nothing else) but it is not a
patch on the valve phono I use (unfortunately) - the ss phono is flat by
comparison and will render the music 'blameless' (and bland) much like CD.
(Which, of course, suits some people just fine! ;-)

But, I'm not sure I would bother with the EAR - I had one and it was my
introduction to valve phonos and a quantum leap forward at the time, but
it's gone now and I don't miss it! The sound is pleasant enough but
'bloated' in comparison with the WAD phono stage I built:


Glad you posted that Keith, it saved me from having to post that the EAR
is pants, and not to bother with it.

Oh, I posted it anyway, never mind :-)

--
Nick

Nick Gorham wrote:
Keith G wrote:
"Easynews" wrote in message
. ..

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




You're definitely thinking along the right lines - valves are the
magic ingredient when it comes to getting the *life* and sparkle out
of vinyl.

The Denon is likely to have a fairly good onboard phono stage (I have
one myself and can vouch for the recent models, if nothing else) but
it is not a patch on the valve phono I use (unfortunately) - the ss
phono is flat by comparison and will render the music 'blameless' (and
bland) much like CD. (Which, of course, suits some people just fine! ;-)

But, I'm not sure I would bother with the EAR - I had one and it was
my introduction to valve phonos and a quantum leap forward at the
time, but it's gone now and I don't miss it! The sound is pleasant
enough but 'bloated' in comparison with the WAD phono stage I built:


Glad you posted that Keith, it saved me from having to post that the EAR
is pants, and not to bother with it.

Oh, I posted it anyway, never mind :-)


Well, I have to say that I've got the 834P (with the MC step-up) and I
rate it very highly - plenty of sparkle and life. New, though, they're
very expensive.

Rob