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Hi all, quick question for everyone. My current phono set up is a Ortofon 2m Blue/Pro Ject Debut III/U turn Pluto pre amp/yamaha RX v 465/some cheap sony speakers/ or the u turn pluto to a schitt magni 2 uber/Sennheiser HD 650's for a headphone set up. When I have my Schiit hooked up with my CD player (Marantz CC-65) the quality is great and I feel like the headphones are adequately powered while this is not the case for my phono configuration im thinking this is due to an under powered phono stage.
What I am considering is an upgrade of my Yamaha receiver and cheap sony floor standing speakers to a Marantz PM6005 or 6006 and a set of Dali Zensor 3's. At that point I would ditch my U turn Pluto and headphone amp while using my TT and use the Integrated Amp's built in's. Does this make sense? Or may I still be running into an under powered set up? Also what would you guys recommend as an upgrade first, speakers or the amp? It would be about a month gap in between. Thanks!
Follow Ups:
I think your original plan was quite sound. I'm partial to the Marantz sound these days, including the phono sections, if my friend's new SR7008 is indicative. The Dali speakers seem quite plausible as well, though I've no experience with them.
If you are not after head-banging volume, but do appreciate full, rich sound, without excess tizz, I think you would be pleased with the Marantz.
The JBL305 or 308 are about the same price as the Dali. And you are not buying an amplifier! I'd go LSR305, and an add one or two subwoofer(s). This way you don't have to worry about amplifier-loudspeaker synergy. A simple Line level preamplifier. or a nice little network preamp like this Yamaha would interface nicely with you phono inputs....
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
NO NO NO.
You are going at this "bass ackwards".
You like the sound of your system through headphones?
Speakers differ radically in their sound. Spend your money on a pair of speakers of appropriate sensitivity for your amp and live with them for a while.
Best and biggest bank for your buck
Since you want to upgrade amp AND speakers, but 'a month apart', I'd recommend shopping for them as a set. And since you are only going about a month between? Doesnt' matter which you get first.
Do you have a Budget yet?
Too much is never enough
Another question while im thinking about it, lets say I do get a receiver/integrated amp with a built in phono stage. can i still use an external phono stage in the phono input? im assuming not as it would be a line signal at that point correct? i would hate to get an intgrated amp just to find the same lacking performance with my headphones. thanks!
As long as whatever you get has a line input, you can skip an in-built phono stage and use whatever one you already own.
Bring your headphones with you for any listening tests prior to purchase.
I'd be careful about ebay, since you can't test first. Or make sure the speakers and amp are happy with one another.
Too much is never enough
Definitely thinking of shopping for them as a set but due to budget the month or so gap is a necessity. Budget wise I am looking at a max of $1200 combined or about $600 on each. Not afraid to shop used as i've had good luck with ebay in the past.in my searches online in the last couple days I have been checking out some of the tube phono stages. The project tube box S seemed to get some pretty good reviews. As far as being handy i've cut my teeth in the world of soldering working on car electronics but nothing ever to do with audio.
As far as volume and my turntable vs my CD player even with my headphone amp turned up I dont feel the power like I do with the CD player coming out of my turntable ever. I like the thought of just upgrading my phono pre as I am not dying for a new receiver but I know my 8 ohm yamaha could potentially take a hit from pushing 6 ohm speakers such as the Dali Zensor III's.
Thanks for all the advice thus far for sure!
Edits: 02/10/17
If you''re handy and want some REALLY good speakers check these out. I've been using them for about three years and I don't plan on buying any more speakers.
This will also free up some more money for an amp or integrated amp.
Ok so it sounds to me like speakers are definitely the way to go and take it from there. Just to get at what I was after was more or less killing two birds with one stone. An integrated amp with a good phono stage to boost the power output to my headphones also powering better speakers and a better set of loudspeakers.
Impedance is just ONE measure of load to an amp. One thing not disclosed is phase data which is how a speaker 'looks' to an amplifier. Be that mainly capacitor or mainly inductor. Or more frequently, a combination of both at difference frequencies.
Amps which measure the same into a resistor (easiest load) will almost never measure the same into reactive loads which ALL real speakers are to one degree or another.
At least Electrically, 'better' amps are better in this regard.
Your Dali Zensor III is 88db sensitive which is somewhere in the middle or low middle as such measures go. No phase data is, as usual, disclosed.
IMO, reviews should be evaluated with a knowledge of the Reviewer. Likes and dislikes as well as what they value both musically and in the reproduction OF music.
Take 'em ALL with lots of salt.
Too much is never enough
What about the Parasound Halo Integrated? It outputs 160wpc into 8 ohms and 240wpc into 4 ohms, has a great phono stage (mm or mc) and a excellent dac based on the ESS 9018 dac. It has balanced as well as single ended inputs and outputs. I replaced a Rogue Cronus Magnum Integrated with the Halo and couldn't be happier.
"everything under the sun is in tune but the sun is eclipsed by the moon."
R. Waters
I have to say the Marantz does have a nice phono stage. But the sound signature of the Marantz vs the Yamaha is going to be very different. The Marantz has a full more robust sound. More "class" if you will. But it does have a more polite top end. I personally need to crank up the midrange control and treble control to suit my taste. But again, it seems to have a touch of class but a laid back treble.As far as upgrading I've always found that amp, speakers, preamp, what ever? Once you find that good one you'll know it - in ANY order. And sometimes that comes down to luck!!!!
addendum. If you're into vinyl why don't you look into tubes. GREAT match. Are you up for a kit? One of these with a phono board would be rocking with almost any amp.
What is your budget? And how handy are you?
Edits: 02/10/17
CD players normally output more than a phono stage. If you can achieve the volume you want while playing records, you're fine. Don't worry about where you have to put the volume control.
Dark energy? Ridiculous!
We live in an electric universe.
If you like the Yamaha sound, you might look at the new integrated amps in the Yamaha line.
Removed my previous advice, but overall, choose you loudspeaker carefully as they all sound different and you may like one more than another.You will probably also notice the amplifier upgrade and the Marantz is probably a fine unit.
I don't think it matters which you upgrade first. Without a good amplifier, you cannot even tell if you are going to like your new loudspeakers.
Edits: 02/09/17
You will probably want to mount those speakers on stands of some kind.
The change to the Dali speakers will make a much greater change in the sound than changing amplification.
For a phono stage, you might like to try a Parasound ZPhono. Highly rated, not very expensive and very good sound.
The Yammi is not bed. Go for the speakers first and live with them for a while.
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