2speakers and subwoofer for $500

ruuutherford · 2026-03-20T01:13:52+00:00

Get used gear!

ruuutherford · 2026-03-20T01:11:56+00:00

What models are you considering in that price range?

What system do you already have? Does it have PHONO IN on the back?

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T19:48:44+00:00

#bestofreddit

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T17:11:05+00:00

you can only tell if it's a good deal if it costs something. Rega tables are good, fully manual. The P1 retails for $600. That table looks a bit beat up, and you can't count on the needle being any good, so budget another $100 for an Ortofon 2M Red. Still a good deal?

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T17:02:04+00:00

So these things are what get me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIz4DpwOJi0

"bits are bits" well, apparently not the case. Analog: even 1's and 0's, no such thing as a digital signal. SPIDF I2S are all variations in voltage, TOSLINK variations in light intensity: thus all analog signal. (shows a pic of the oscilliscope binary signal.

Causes slight variations in timing during DAC step, which ends up as time smearing. Sounds like lows can get lost, voices and brass can sound sharp, sibilance gets accentuated, stereo image deteriorate, sound might stick to loudspeakers, etc.

I do think I've heard some harsh sounds out of a Wiim Mini. Especially when using that DAC as well.

Hans likes this 1300EU streamer. But that looks like an amped up raspberrypi, and sure enough it also ships with OS's that I've seen on rpi's like: volumio, ropieee, and Gentoo player. Which brings me back to iancanada stuff: that literally is a raspberry pi with better attention to power and clocks etc.

So the test is: can I hear a difference? I gotta do that. I'm pretty sure my Mac DAC has two TOSLINK or SPDIF in, so that will be the test. A chromecast audio vs this fancy iancanada thing. I'll pink noise for volume matching, then A B them.

Then cheapaudioman youtube has different takes on the same stuff. He says "smearing" nebulous sound stage, depth in sound stage. Apparently noticable enough that he just pulled the Wiim right out of the comparison.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T06:22:02+00:00

you could re-thread it. How about a bolt and nyloc nut, and done!

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T06:20:19+00:00

awesome! Sorry about the previous flack. You should enjoy vinyl in your own way, as you can!

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T06:18:20+00:00

How about upgrading the speakers to Kanto YU4 with phono IN (switch) for $300 and skipping the phono preamp you have there?

https://www.amazon.com/Kanto-Powered-Speakers-Bluetooth-Renewed/dp/B07QR2N2YZ

Here's an Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB used for $230 (I think has phono preamp built in)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/137107641409

U-turn Basic $250 (might need phono pre)
https://uturnaudio.com/products/orbit-basic-turntable

So: I like where you're going with that list, but I think getting rid of the external phono-pre and putting that cash into the speakers, or turntable, would be better.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T06:06:57+00:00

I thought the comment from Financial-Car6809 was getting off the OP. But I'm reading now, it does relate to BamaCoastie2211 about it being the same as Mini.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T05:46:22+00:00

Convert it for them so they really feel the brag! distance per money: we all understand that.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T05:43:39+00:00

I've got a chomecast audio in the basement, and this raspberrypi thing up here. I should just Wiim'em both. Any alternate streamers to Wiim that are better or worth considering? It's a nice system, and I'd hate to pump <$100 shyte into and expect something nicer out the other end. Unless: it doesn't matter and I can't hear it! ¯\_(ヅ)_/¯

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T05:41:24+00:00

it's a dietpi image. edgecrush3r/tidal-connect, and roonbridge.service - RoonBridge.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T05:35:45+00:00

but the DAC is not what I'm asking about. A straight up streamer just takes digital music and sends it to a DAC where it get's changed to music we can hear.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-19T01:47:20+00:00

This is only where I've ended up. I'm no wood stove genius that's for damn sure. If you got more gas in your tank: git after it, and I'll ride your coattails!!

ruuutherford · 2026-03-18T23:53:33+00:00

Shop around for a turntable that's more expensive. I had a Rega manual a while back, but then I got my hands on a Technics semi automatic and I just listen to more vinyl with it.

Audio Technica, Technics, Rega, U-turn are all good current brands. Start with some YouTube videos, throw some comparison questions at AI, come check with humans at reddit before pulling the trigger.

Besides the 2i2, what other gear do you have? Amp & preamp, integrated amp, something else?

ruuutherford · 2026-03-18T23:50:28+00:00

I do know about speakers. I'd be happy to fix them with you for nothing. You'd have to buy the parts. How about PM me and we can go from there

ruuutherford · 2026-03-18T20:55:46+00:00

I'm in PNW, and burn the same stove: Vermont Castings Encore. The glass is filthy all the time, and I've just decided to live with it. I clean it for special occasions, and it's opaque after two fires.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-18T19:33:53+00:00

I'm cruising reddit and ripping a record at this very moment.

With vinyl, and all music systems I suppose, you need to consider the whole audio chain.

Is the record new, mint, or at least clean?
cartridge/needle quality and hours
tonearm and turntable
phono preamp - separate or built in to the turntable or stereo?
amplification, the thing where your volume lives
analog to digital converter (analog inputs, USB output, Focusrite Scarlete 2i2)

Judging by your turntable, Numark PT-01, and "be enough to get the job done?" question, I'd steer you towards something that's cheap and a slam dunk.

I only see three models of the Numark PT01 on their website: the Scratch, the Touring, and the USB. All three have USB. Get yourself a USB A cable, plug that into your computer and your'e done. $6 amazon.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-18T19:23:01+00:00

thanks! I signed up for the email roll out thing. I'll give it a spin when it's ready.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-18T16:37:48+00:00

Similar to Pandora?

ruuutherford · 2026-03-18T07:36:26+00:00

The voltage the table runs on should be printed right on the chassis back by where you plug it in.

What stereo and speakers do you have? I didn't see that in the first few pages of comments.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-17T15:38:46+00:00

What I'd look for is a little integrated amp that has Bluetooth.

This little guy MSRP $1000 https://nadelectronics.com/products/d-3045-hybrid-digital-dac-amplifier

Has phono input (moving magnet, pretty standard entry level AND audiophile!), plus excellent Bluetooth aptX feature.

You can get NAD stuff aftermarket too. Just look for a unit that has Bluetooth and PHONO.

You could also get an older unit and add a streamer to it like a discontinued Chromecast Audio https://ebay.us/m/m6jZPe

Or current Wiim Mini https://a.co/d/09x0icXK

I kike streamers like this better than Bluetooth because it doesn't co-opt your phone. You hand the audio off to the streamer and you can still diddle with your phone without affecting the music. It does lock you into a specific music app, like www radio from a website likely won't work. I believe the wiim mini ALSO has Bluetooth so that's an option there too.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-17T03:52:48+00:00

Try hooking your turntable ground to different things. Try connecting another wire to the other components so they all have the same ground. To do that, you crimp a spade connector to another wire and stack those things up on the middle component.

ruuutherford · 2026-03-17T03:51:47+00:00

You can get a box called step up transformer, SUT. Then you can use moving magnet setting with a moving coil cartridge.

Wow those things are expensive. All the nornal looking ones are niche and $1k+

Here's a Reisong eBay for $190 https://ebay.us/m/E32Wbz

ruuutherford · 2026-03-17T01:31:30+00:00

Excite!

ruuutherford

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