Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

Just a PSA that popped into my head over the weekend. So when mounting the Mastertracker to my PLX 1000 I had to use the additional tonearm weight. Digging around the many bags and paperwork I couldn't find the damn thing in the box. Low and behold, it's stuck in a very small spot in the styrofoam. So if you purchased a PLX and haven't had the need to use it and still have your original packaging, go grab the weight before you forget and accidentally toss it out ;)
 
Just a PSA that popped into my head over the weekend. So when mounting the Mastertracker to my PLX 1000 I had to use the additional tonearm weight. Digging around the many bags and paperwork I couldn't find the damn thing in the box. Low and behold, it's stuck in a very small spot in the styrofoam. So if you purchased a PLX and haven't had the need to use it and still have your original packaging, go grab the weight before you forget and accidentally toss it out ;)
I have the 1200 but I think the arrangement is pretty much the same. I keep the extra weight stored in the spindle hole of my 45 adapter.
 
Any thoughts on the best options for a £200 phono stage? Running between the Rega Phono MM and the Musical Fidelity. Don't know if I should be throwing the Schiit Mani into the mix. Will be running a Lenco GL75 with an unknown cart through it into an Onkyo A-9010.
 
Any thoughts on the best options for a £200 phono stage? Running between the Rega Phono MM and the Musical Fidelity. Don't know if I should be throwing the Schiit Mani into the mix. Will be running a Lenco GL75 with an unknown cart through it into an Onkyo A-9010.

I‘d go Musical Fidelity. They are owned by Pro-Ject now but seem to be keeping their own brand identity/philosophy.

The Schiit Mani is a good choice as long as you are sticking to MM/MI cartridges. Go MC and I’d say no. It’s noisy on MC and the preset setting for cartridge loading is stupid.
 
I‘d go Musical Fidelity. They are owned by Pro-Ject now but seem to be keeping their own brand identity/philosophy.

The Schiit Mani is a good choice as long as you are sticking to MM/MI cartridges. Go MC and I’d say no. It’s noisy on MC and the preset setting for cartridge loading is stupid.
Thanks! Think I'll be sticking with MM for now at least.
 
Any thoughts on the best options for a £200 phono stage? Running between the Rega Phono MM and the Musical Fidelity. Don't know if I should be throwing the Schiit Mani into the mix. Will be running a Lenco GL75 with an unknown cart through it into an Onkyo A-9010.
I got the Musical Fidelity LX-LPS per @HiFi Guy recommendation and I absolutely loveeeeEeEee it. Was really a noticeable step up from my speakers built in pre-amp, it has been less forgiving though so if you have dirty records or poor pressings you will definitely notice them more but your good pressings will sound phenomenal depending on the rest of your chain! I think it was $250 when I picked it up, definitely worth the extra $50 if you ask me.
 
I got the Musical Fidelity LX-LPS per @HiFi Guy recommendation and I absolutely loveeeeEeEee it. Was really a noticeable step up from my speakers built in pre-amp, it has been less forgiving though so if you have dirty records or poor pressings you will definitely notice them more but your good pressings will sound phenomenal depending on the rest of your chain! I think it was $250 when I picked it up, definitely worth the extra $50 if you ask me.
Cheers! Knew the MF had a lot of good reviews here. The shop that’s looking at my turntable is a Rega dealer, so I might be able to check it out first.
 
Just a PSA that popped into my head over the weekend. So when mounting the Mastertracker to my PLX 1000 I had to use the additional tonearm weight. Digging around the many bags and paperwork I couldn't find the damn thing in the box. Low and behold, it's stuck in a very small spot in the styrofoam. So if you purchased a PLX and haven't had the need to use it and still have your original packaging, go grab the weight before you forget and accidentally toss it out ;)

Have you had a chance to try the Opus3 on the PLX-1000 by any chance? Do they play well together?
 
Cheers! Knew the MF had a lot of good reviews here. The shop that’s looking at my turntable is a Rega dealer, so I might be able to check it out first.

One other possible contender is the Creek OBH-8. I tested it a while back and it was genuinely brilliant. It is built in the Creek tradition of using a 24v PSU which is split to +/- 12v (in practise about +/-10 after smoothing). The pre-amp can then be DC coupled, with no input or output coupling capacitors. This is pretty swish for an affordable phono stage and it sounds very good as a result.
 
One other possible contender is the Creek OBH-8. I tested it a while back and it was genuinely brilliant. It is built in the Creek tradition of using a 24v PSU which is split to +/- 12v (in practise about +/-10 after smoothing). The pre-amp can then be DC coupled, with no input or output coupling capacitors. This is pretty swish for an affordable phono stage and it sounds very good as a result.
Don’t know what all that means, but it sounds good! Cheapest of the now 3 contenders, so that might be a factor. Many thanks!
 
Quick question: I've a friend that is looking at bookshelf speakers -- does anyone know enough about Zu Audio's bookshelf to feel comfortable recommending them. After all I read (from all of you) the company seems to be exceptional, but I can't find much on the bookshelf's themselves?

SUPER LATE but I have the bookshelf. They are amazing, but need a sub obviously.
 
There are available locally via offer up a McIntosh c-26 pre and mc-2105 power amp. The seller stated that he had capacitors and transistors replaced, I’ve inquired as to how long ago that was and when it was last used regularly. I have no experience with vintage gear. My inquiry is in regards to what is a worst case scenario for repair costs when it decides to stop working. I would presume this is a pretty broad question but I’m hoping to simply be able to make an educated offer in relation to possible repair expenditures so as I don’t end up with an attractive paper weight. As always any advice or guidance is very much appreciated.
 
There are available locally via offer up a McIntosh c-26 pre and mc-2105 power amp. The seller stated that he had capacitors and transistors replaced, I’ve inquired as to how long ago that was and when it was last used regularly. I have no experience with vintage gear. My inquiry is in regards to what is a worst case scenario for repair costs when it decides to stop working. I would presume this is a pretty broad question but I’m hoping to simply be able to make an educated offer in relation to possible repair expenditures so as I don’t end up with an attractive paper weight. As always any advice or guidance is very much appreciated.


McIntosh is the Harley Davidson of audio. By that I mean that it retains its value extremely well and parts and service are easily obtainable for vintage models, either from McIntosh themselves or specialists like Audio Classics.

If you buy it right, you can always resell without a loss should you decide to in the future.

Recapped and used since sounds good. Recapped and not used is bad- capacitors dry out over time if not used.

How much money does the seller want? Does this include the optional wood cabinets?
 
McIntosh is the Harley Davidson of audio. By that I mean that it retains its value extremely well and parts and service are easily obtainable for vintage models, either from McIntosh themselves or specialists like Audio Classics.

If you buy it right, you can always resell without a loss should you decide to in the future.

Recapped and used since sounds good. Recapped and not used is bad- capacitors dry out over time if not used.

How much money does the seller want? Does this include the optional wood cabinets?
@HiFi Guy thank you for your response. The seller is asking $1399 usd for the pair. The repairs were completed two years ago, I’ve asked multiple times if it’s been used since then but no direct response. My presumption based on what he has told me is that it probably was used very little to not at all since the repairs were made. If at that price it seems possible to re sell and get most or all of the money back then obviously that makes it an easier decision but ultimately I want to use it as my everyday gear. I wouldn’t be selling my current electronics so if it were to work for a while and then need repair it wouldn’t be the end of the world but I don’t want to spend all the budget on the gear and then not be able to afford repairs immediately I understand no one can make that decision for me however I’d like to know as much as possible before diving in.
 
@HiFi Guy thank you for your response. The seller is asking $1399 usd for the pair. The repairs were completed two years ago, I’ve asked multiple times if it’s been used since then but no direct response. My presumption based on what he has told me is that it probably was used very little to not at all since the repairs were made. If at that price it seems possible to re sell and get most or all of the money back then obviously that makes it an easier decision but ultimately I want to use it as my everyday gear. I wouldn’t be selling my current electronics so if it were to work for a while and then need repair it wouldn’t be the end of the world but I don’t want to spend all the budget on the gear and then not be able to afford repairs immediately I understand no one can make that decision for me however I’d like to know as much as possible before diving in.

At that price, assuming it works correctly, get on over there. If they’ve got the optional wood cases, drive extremely quickly.
 
It does not have the wood case, based on that suggestion it will be mine assuming it’s still available Monday when the bank is open.

We need pictures and impressions when you get it set up.


Edit: preamp or variable output on to the input on the power amp. Not tape out.

Power amp gets turned on last but turned off first.
 
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