Help me Build a Decent small system to play vinyl in my apartment for $2500

Vintage Turntables For Sale - AR Turntable Vinyl Nirvana Acoustic Research Merrill Thorens TD 160 For Sale »
Check it!

 

I didn't read most of this thread so apologies if my post is out of place.

If I spent $2500 on a rig. this is what I'd get. all used of course

PrimaLuna dialogue integrated amp $1k
Either KEF LS50 or KEF R300 $1k
Denon DP 51f $300 or so
Denon 103r about $250
You will need to stretch the budget to get a step up transformer.

But that rig right there. that's a giant killer. that's David with his slingshot.

There's a lot of good here. first off the PrimaLuna. tube integrated. point to point wiring. get one with the phono stage. absolute gem. serious value.

KEF speakers. LS50 got stereophile A rated. that's a big deal. I have the R300 and they're insanely good too.

Denon turntable. it's quartz locked which is what you want obviously. but the great thing about this is the tonearm. servo tracer. this is when turntables hit their peak in manufacturing. I doubt any boutique manufacturer could produce one now without an insane cost.

Denon 103r you need a MC cart. it's that simple. they rule. this one had been in production since the 60s it's broadcast quality and the costs have been eaten up over the decades. another giant killer.

And a step up transformer for it as it won't work with a MM phono stage.

 

Rega Brio-R ($500-600 used or new at $995
Rega Rega RP1 with performance kit ($499 now due to liquadation of old stock)
Wharfedale Anniversary Denton ($500-$599) 0r B&W 685
DIY if your into that type of thing. ($50-$200) or Blue Jean Cables at $300 for RCAs and Speaker Cables.
Solid stand for set up and speakers. Goodwill, DIY, IKEA and Pangea for Speakers to name a few. ($10-$300.)

Use the rest of any cash to buy premium quality pressing of vinyl. Some great stuff out there right now. If you don't know the difference between most of these reissue labels, or read about their homerun hits or strike outs, you need to. When even played on decent but far from mid-if decks or phono amps, LPs by Miles Davis Kind of Blue on MFSL or the new Joe Jackson releases by Intervention Records can make your system sound epic. Buy a bunch of quickly released crap (won't name labels) that Barnes and Noble's carry in 65% of their stock, you'll seriously think your system is lacking something. You need to spend some bucks on a well made reference record first. Just Google audiophile labels. Once you learn to know the labels-- your collection of LPs will always be an asset to sell if you secure albums recorded, mixed, or remastered well. Just go buy Beck's Sea Change reissue by MFSL and use it as your barometer.

 

Phono stage wise you'd be far better off with a iFi iPhono 2 than either one you mentioned.

 

Thorens TD 160 Turntable Modded »

 

Dave gets my highest recommendation.

 

That looks very familiar

 

Yeah, if someone in OH could just go ahead and grab this and mail it to me... That'd be great, mmmkay?

 

Try this. I had one and sold it to a friend who loves it. And you will find nobody better than Vinyl Nirvana. A great TT. Starter Package! Vintage Thorens TD-165 Turntable, w/used Stanton 681 cartridge, new stylus - AR Turntable Vinyl Nirvana Acoustic Research Merrill Thorens TD 160 For Sale »

 

I like this idea

 

Ooh he's got thorens up for under a grand? That's tempting