Hi There, I Am New Here & Would Appreciate Some Advice...

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by enezdez, Jul 14, 2019.

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  1. enezdez

    enezdez Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    First thing, I have inherited a few boxes of vinyl almost a dozen or so...mostly stuff from the 50's, 60, & early 70s - ranging from Jazz, Christian, Classical, early Rock/Pop & Cuban music.

    So I went out & purchased the following but have not taken delivery yet...

    I was wondering if I had made any mistakes based on some of the comments I have been reading while lurking around, I started to second guess myself....

    Marantz SR 6013 (Got a discount on it)
    Marantz HDCD1
    Marantz tt-15 S1
    Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2
    SVS Subwoofer 10" 300W

    I primarily want to use this set up for music. Home theater/movies are secondary and not all that important.

    Any suggestions would be appreciated and thank you in advance.

    Cheers,

    Enezdez
     
  2. toddrhodes

    toddrhodes Forum Resident

    Location:
    South Bend, IN
    I don't have any direct familiarity with those items except for also owning an SVS sub (well, two of them) but if you're buying SVS, Marantz, and B&W? You're doing pretty well.

    Take care in setup of the speakers and sub - experiment with different placement using material you're very familiar with.

    Most of all, enjoy it!
     
    Tim S likes this.
  3. Dillydipper

    Dillydipper Space-Age luddite

    Location:
    Central PA
    This is the first steps into a long, long tale. Try not to expect to get to the end of it anytime soon!

    Don't blow the budget on expensive interconnects, until you see what your new system can do with common speaker wire, and good, inexpensive cabling. Visit monoprice.com and bluejeanscable.com and just get what you need.

    I admit I'm pretty ol'-skool, so don't know what you get in a belt drive and not a direct drive turntable for fifteen-hundred dollars. Doesn't leave you much room in the budget for a cartridge, if you feel it's not sufficient. This is not my area of expertise. But I do know you can find far more options for far less money.

    This place is lousy with good advice, and rather than steer you to some, let me just say, you have a lot of reading up to do here.
     
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  4. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    The only weakness I can see is the Marantz SR 6013. Fine for TV and movies, but you can do much better for a dedicated music system. You may want try a specialty amp and pre-amp set up. If your primary need is Vinyl you're doing fine in the turntable dept., but for CD playback you may want to step up your game if it's of importance to you. As Dillydipper mentions with your system do not waste money on higher grade cabling until you decide to invest a bit more on the details I've mentioned because the investment return will most like be a let down.
     
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  5. rebellovw

    rebellovw Forum Resident

    Location:
    hell
    Looks like you are completely set except for a phono cartridge. Unless the table you bought comes with one.

    Definitely nice gear.
     
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  6. gd0

    gd0 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies

    Location:
    Golden Gate
    I agree with @Dave, but...
    How big a discount?

    If getting a discount is important, try this reputable refurb retailer. Stick with Marantz, you're doing fine!

    Integrated Amps | Accessories4less

    Unless you're in an actual NYC apartment, I'd suggest moving up to a 12-inch sub. SVS is great!
     
    The Pinhead likes this.
  7. CraigVC

    CraigVC Senior Member

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I agree with Dave that the 9.2 receiver stands out as the weakness in the system you've assembled. I would've gone with 2-channel stereo, like an integrated amp. The Marantz will probably sound "okay," but likely there are a lot of sonic compromises inherent in that model to get all those home theater features included for under the $1,000 price point.

    I can vouch for the turntable being outstanding, because I have one of that very same model. :) And the speakers/sub seem to be a good pick so they shouldn't be your bottleneck whenever you are able to upgrade your amplifier.
     
    KT88 likes this.
  8. CraigVC

    CraigVC Senior Member

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    The Marantz TT 15-s1 turntable includes a ClearAudio Virtuoso Ebony Wood cartridge.
     
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  9. CraigVC

    CraigVC Senior Member

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    The CD player should be fine for redbook-only digital discs, especially if you ever want to explore outboard DACs in the future to upgrade the sound by making the HDCD1 a transport-only, using either the coaxial or optical output. (The narrower width of the HDCD1 might be perfect for squeezing in a DAC next to it?)
     
  10. rebellovw

    rebellovw Forum Resident

    Location:
    hell
    If that is the case then the OP is all set. That is some great gear and though the Marantz is more home theater- it should do very well for this purpose. Don’t buy anything else.
     
    sturgus likes this.
  11. Litejazz53

    Litejazz53 Perfect Sound Through Crystal Clear Digital

    My immediate reaction, since you say the system will be used for music and not so much home theater, is you invested in the wrong amplifier. Your ideal amplifier would be the Marantz PM-K1 Ruby, which is not their most expensive, but it is a very high quality amplifier, specifically for music reproduction, where the SR 6013 is absolutely a movie amplifier. In the event the PM-K1 Ruby is out of the budget, I would consider the PM 8006 which is a few dollars more than the amplifier you purchased. Finally, I would want to invest in a higher grade CD/SACD player by Marantz. Here are three choices, all of them made in Japan, and YOU WANT made in Japan, the quality is much higher, they are premium pieces, much better than the Vietnam and China offerings. The best SACD/CD player is the SA-10, next in line would be the SA-K1 Ruby, and finally the SA-8005, all are made in Japan, all are great pieces. If you can swap around with the pieces you initially ordered and swap them out, you will be much happier with your primary music system. Hope this helps you. You made a good turntable choice and subwoofer choice. You speakers are smaller bookshelf style, but you have a great subwoofer, I hope you can swap out the CD player for one of the ones I referenced, as well as the amplifier, you will benefit greatly from the trade. Marantz has some wonderful products, and having all matching products in your audio shelf or cabinet is always a plus. If you would like to speak with me, I can tell you why I am recommending the above, just Private Message me if you can.I just ordered the Marantz SA-10 myself, it is suppose to arrive here tomorrow. :righton:
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2019
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  12. Ezd

    Ezd Forum Resident

    Welcome to the forum...
     
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  13. Subagent

    Subagent down the rabbit hole, they argue over esoterica

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    It looks like you are set for successful playback. If you find yourself really enjoying the vinyl experience, you may want to look at some of amplifier upgrades mentioned.

    12 is lot of boxes of records! You may discover the need for some sort of cleaning regimen as you begin to explore. You can spend as much or as little as on that as you see fit. The entry level (with the "entry" part meaning more labor on your part) is something like the Spin Clean. There are all sorts of permutations moving up the line, from shop-vac attachments for quicker drying; to vacuum cleaning dedicated machines; on up to the many variations of ultrasonic cleaners.

    Anyhow, enjoy the journey!
     
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  14. plastic penguin

    plastic penguin Active Member

    Location:
    Surrey UK
    I like Marantz gear. They may not always get rave reviews but in the real world they are very good.

    The OP's got a nice set-up.
     
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  15. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    If you are just putting together a stereo system, then just buy a stereo amp. Exchange the receiver (before it ships if it had to be ordered) for a higher end stereo only amplifier.
    -Bill
     
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  16. Robert C

    Robert C Forum Resident

    Location:
    London, UK
  17. SandAndGlass

    SandAndGlass Twilight Forum Resident

    I am not a fan of receivers or AV receivers but modern Marantz AVR's are really nice sounding, I used one on a temporary basis a few years ago and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by its audio quality.

    Unless you are going to start really going high end, which means higher end components all of the way, the Marantz AVR will suit your needs fine.

    It will also serve you well with your HT.

    I enjoy both HT and stereo. I use the same amps and speakers for both. Nothing wrong with doing both with the same components.

    And, welcome to the forum! :)
     
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  18. plastic penguin

    plastic penguin Active Member

    Location:
    Surrey UK
    AV receivers are fine in isolation. Of course, if you are real audiophile then two-channel is the only solution for stereo playback. Otherwise...

    One of the best set-ups I've heard was the Arcam AVR 600 powering Mordaunt Short Performance 6 speakers with a sub. This is coming from a two-channel devotee.
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2019
  19. enezdez

    enezdez Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Hello All,

    I want to thank you all for taking time from your busy schedules to provide advice, I greatly appreciate it...I belong to other forums for other habits but you guys really surprised me with such an out pour of advice and suggestions...especially for my first post...thank you all again!

    I contacted someone in Delaware regarding maybe getting 2 channel integrated receiver like the Marantz PM 8006 and returning the SR 6013...

    If not I will just keep what I have coming...

    Cheers,

    Enezdez
     
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  20. plastic penguin

    plastic penguin Active Member

    Location:
    Surrey UK
    A dedicated 2-channel amp is ideal for stereo but don't get too hung up on the notion, as an AV receiver will still give pleasing stereo playback. The added bonus of a multi-channel receiver, however, is you can enjoy movies with a full surround sound.
     
  21. TarnishedEars

    TarnishedEars Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Seattle area
    Welcome to the forum and to the land of conflicting advice! There are several different schools of thought in audio, and none of them totally agree unfortunately. Hence all of the conflicting advice. :sigh:

    That said, I think that you are have done great for a first system. I agree that that amp is probably the weakest point in your system, but it still should be adequate for the time being.

    And I agree with others who are telling you not to waste your money at this stages of the game on expensive interconnects and speaker wire. Down the line if you want to pursue these, fine. But at this point in time money spent on a really good amp would go 10 times further sonically than that same money on fancy cables.
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2019
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  22. enezdez

    enezdez Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Agreed there is many school of thoughts just like in digital photography and thank you...

    The guy from Delaware never called me back...but I was able to pick up a Marantz PM 8006 locally from B&H Photo of all places! lol

    Can't wait for the weekend to fire it up....thanks again y'all!!! :goodie:

    Cheers,

    Enezdez
     
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  23. plastic penguin

    plastic penguin Active Member

    Location:
    Surrey UK
    The reason for conflicting advice is because there are so many variables, such as room size, shape, acoustics, system synergy... and personal preference. All any of us can do is try and point the OP in the right direction. One persons rump steak is another's offal.

    I've heard many Marantz integrated amps and AV receivers over the decades, and I've yet to hear a bad one. I still own a 1976 retro FM tuner (as in my avatar). It still stacks up to modern equivalents.

    The gap between dedicated integrated amps and AV receivers (similar price bracket) has closed over the years, so, yes, if comparing side by side there will be subtle differences... in isolation, though, a well-sorted AV amp should give years of pleasure.
     
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  24. Bingo Bongo

    Bingo Bongo Music gives me Eargasms

    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    If you like the sound, don't let anyone persuade you to buy better! It's a rabbit hole around here...
     
  25. Dhreview16

    Dhreview16 Forum Resident

    Location:
    London UK
    Marantz and B&W - you’re good to go.....enjoy it, don’t fret on it.
     
    The Pinhead likes this.
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