Help Me Assemble My Stereo Setup

[allstar780]

So I just bought some B&W DM601 S3's for a bedroom stereo setup and I need a hand with the following things:

Amplifier/Stereo Receiver... was looking at this one (because it sounds nice and I can get it for $250) or a similar style... other recommendations are welcome

CD player (preferably from Onkyo or Sony as i can get good deals on them.. again other recommendations are welcome)

Speaker stands... almost bought the B&W ones at the store but didn't feel like they were worth the $85 each


So now the ever important question of budget... Basically I'm looking at no more than $500 for the amp, no more than $300 for the CD player, and no more than $120 for the stands.

[Big Daddy]

Jolida JD100S Reference Tube CD Player: $450
http://www.koobay.com/ms?rt=detail&pt=ele&pid=14541

Jolida Hybrid Integrated Amplifier Model JD 1501A: $650
http://www.koobay.com/ms?rt=detail&pt=ele&pid=14454

Jolida JD202S Stereo Integrated Tube Amplifier: $550
http://www.koobay.com/ms?rt=detail&pt=ele&pid=14536

I own a vintage Carver CD player with vaccum tubes inside that I purchased many years ago and I love its sound.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by allstar780

So I just bought some B&W DM601 S3's for a bedroom stereo setup and I need a hand with the following things:

Amplifier/Stereo Receiver... was looking at this one (because it sounds nice and I can get it for $250) or a similar style... other recommendations are welcome

CD player (preferably from Onkyo or Sony as i can get good deals on them.. again other recommendations are welcome)

Speaker stands... almost bought the B&W ones at the store but didn't feel like they were worth the $85 each


So now the ever important question of budget... Basically I'm looking at no more than $500 for the amp, no more than $300 for the CD player, and no more than $120 for the stands.

You're going to need a preamp if you are using a power amp. Remember give that tube amp room to breath - Amps runniing on class A power get very hot - not a malfunction - thats just the way they run. All of my amps with the exception of one run on Auto Class A or Class A power - I could heat my room if I turned the air off (hey no need for heat in the winter ) I'll get back with you today on some recommendations

[allstar780]

Originally Posted by prerich

You're going to need a preamp if you are using a power amp. Remember give that tube amp room to breath - Amps runniing on class A power get very hot - not a malfunction - thats just the way they run. All of my amps with the exception of one run on Auto Class A or Class A power - I could heat my room if I turned the air off (hey no need for heat in the winter ) I'll get back with you today on some recommendations

The media stand I'm getting from my work (retail is like $400 but I get it for like $75) has adjustable shelves and looks basically like a refrigerator size bookshelf with no sides (just aluminum columns in the corners and a thin back) and I was thinking of putting the amp on a higher shelf with about 8 inches above it to the top shelf (not gonna need that kind of breathing room but i wanna show off the tubes )

The VUUM amp is an integrated amp, no preamp needed... but the other stereo amps I have looked at need the pre.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by allstar780

The media stand I'm getting from my work (retail is like $400 but I get it for like $75) has adjustable shelves and looks basically like a refrigerator size bookshelf with no sides (just aluminum columns in the corners and a thin back) and I was thinking of putting the amp on a higher shelf with about 8 inches above it to the top shelf (not gonna need that kind of breathing room but i wanna show off the tubes )

The VUUM amp is an integrated amp, no preamp needed... but the other stereo amps I have looked at need the pre.

That's 10-4 !!! And yes - you MUST show off the tubes!!!!

[RUR]

OK, I'm gonna give you an off the wall suggestion...... Why not consider a vintage tube receiver like this one: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....st-serviced-by

Plenty of power and extremely musical - mellow, even. Analog only, but that shouldn't be an issue with a 2ch setup. If vintage is too scary, I'd go with the Jolida's, or with separates, used off A-gon.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by RUR

OK, I'm gonna give you an off the wall suggestion...... Why not consider a vintage tube receiver like this one: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....st-serviced-by

Plenty of power and extremely musical - mellow, even. Analog only, but that shouldn't be an issue with a 2ch setup. If vintage is too scary, I'd go with the Jolida's, or with separates, used off A-gon.

You're right about that receiver - I gave one to my son about 5 years ago (it's now resting in peace) but when it was alive - it was down right lovely (son had it in his room with his Paradigm atoms). OP, RUR is right - I concur with his choices. Don't be afraid of vintage gear !!!!

P.S. the display's blue glow is pretty too

[RUR]

Originally Posted by prerich

You're right about that receiver - I gave one to my son about 5 years ago (it's now resting in peace) but when it was alive - it was down right lovely (son had it in his room with his Paradigm atoms). OP, RUR is right - I concur with his choices. Don't be afraid of vintage gear !!!!

The key is to buy one which has been gone through to replace dried caps, clean the switchgear and replace the little wheat bulbs. The good news is that that's not hard to do since these old Marantz are recognized as really nice gear and are sufficiently sought after that there's a market for restored examples.

My dad had a 2270. Wish I had it now.

[allstar780]

So I'm home now and finally got a chance to hook these up to the onkyo just to see how they sound in a smaller room (the show room at the store was a huge, open space)

For music I like these over my Klipsch as they are not necessarily as precise, but sound much warmer... but for movies I will stick with the Klipsch

I like the recommendations... I like the look/idea of that tube CD player but I was wondering if anybody has any experience with the Onkyo DX-7555 CD player?

That marantz is a beast and although I would love a vintage tube amp, I think it would be a bit ridiculous for the speakers I have.... if I had B&W floorstanders I wouldn't hesitate though!

I'm going to go into work on the weekend (on a day off) and hook up my speakers to the VUUM amp and see if I can come close to replicating the feel of the similar style (though much more expensive) amp I had the salesman hook them up to... if not it's out of consideration

As for the Jolida components... The tube amp looks great and the specs are impressive... anybody have any experience with it? And the CD player is going in the maybe pile haha

[allstar780]

So here's what I've decided on for now... thanks again everyone for the recommendations!

Onkyo TX-8555 Stereo Amplifier


(will later be used as a pre-amp when I find a tube amp I want)

Onkyo DX-7555 Audiophile-Grade CD Player



Sanus UF30 Ultimate Speaker Stands


and a generic brand audio tower that I get for $60 at my work

[allstar780]

if anyone has any further recommendations, my mind is not 100% set, so feel free to offer any suggestions

[richteer]

Originally Posted by allstar780

if anyone has any further recommendations, my mind is not 100% set, so feel free to offer any suggestions

FWIW, Onkyo isn't a name that comes to audiophiles' minds when looking for an amp or CD player. Sorry...

Look in the current (or last?) issue of The Absoloute Sound for a couple of recommended budget systems.

[allstar780]

Originally Posted by richteer

FWIW, Onkyo isn't a name that comes to audiophiles' minds when looking for an amp or CD player. Sorry...

Look in the current (or last?) issue of The Absoloute Sound for a couple of recommended budget systems.

well I know that... I read a lot of reviews of the CD player that say it's great for the price and with the speakers I have i wont hear much difference if I went to one double the price anyways... I'm open to any suggestions for something around the same price point but I'm not really willing to spend much more

and as for the amp, its a temp. solution and will just be used as a pre-amp when I save up for a good tube amp

I'll have a look for the magazine (i'm assuming thats what it is haha) when I go shopping next