L.A.kevin

Another vote here for the spin clean. I don't like the included cloths. Instead, I use amazon's microfiber cloths. I also let air dry after using a plastic dish drying rack and then they go straight into anti stat inner sleeves. Mobile Fidelity or Invest in Vinyl brand are good. Just make sure you get the paper backed with plastic lining. The spin clean does take a while for each record, but the results are way better than the pad and spray types. I can't comment on the vpi type or ultrasonic, but I think my choice is working fine for me and the capital outlay is comparatively low. Oh, and even new records can up with a lot of stuff in the distilled water/cleaning fluid mix.

I just got a set of forte II's this past month and did the crites updates- recapped the crossovers and replaced the tweeter diaphragms. I'm running a restored Mcintosh MA5100 and a technics SL1400 and a shure m95 cartridge. This is a great combination, and I have friends with much more expensive systems that are rethinking their choices! 😃

Well, thanks for everyone's input. I went ahead and pulled the trigger on this Integra: https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/intdtr402/integra-dtr-40.2-7.2-ch-x-110-watts-thx-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications The footprint was right and the online reviews were better than the equivalent Denon. It's got Audessy or however you spell it. It's got decent power, and a phono input. For $300 it seems like a steal. I also picked up the monoprice glass stands (on sale) and some stuff to make some new speaker wires. Thanks everyone. Oh... and I had to work today and on the way home picked up the Roxy Music 8 LP boxed set in perfect condition for $40 at a used record store. Kevin

Thanks for the welcome, Billybob. Yep... I'm evolving my search as I go. Currently, I'm looking for something modern that I can get my tv hooked up for watching movies as well as accepting an additional phono input. Footprint is important. I'll add a turntable to it soon. At some later date, I will look towards integrating decent amp/pre/phono stage into my existing two (possibly plus sub) system. Oh, and just for clarification, I need to start with a home theater system as a way to exploit my wife's interest in getting better movie audio. (Shhhh! don't tell)

Wow... the Integra brand is intriguing. I've read some great stuff online. Anyone have an opinion. I submit for your discussion: https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/intdtr402/integra-dtr-40.2-7.2-ch-x-110-watts-thx-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications

Here's a Yamaha for $379 with the depth that just makes it https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv685bl/yamaha-rx-v685-7.2-ch-x-90-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications I see a lot of reviews on this forum that tout the adventege system from Yamaha. I don't know if this one, without Adventage (or however you spell it) is worth it. Doesn't seem like any Yamaha with a phono input that has adventage meets my depth requirement. Hmmm....

I really, really appreciate all you folks' input here. I'm zeroing down into my decision here. It turns out another WAF that I have to pass is that whatever unit I choose must fit into a cabinet with a 15 1/4" depth. That limits things a bit. So, the key things are phono input, headphone jack, max 15.250" depth. Marantz Refurb $699. Don't know about this safe and sound place, anyone have any dealings with them? http://www.safeandsoundhq.com/Marantz-SR5013-7-Channel-4K-Ultra-HD-AV-Receiver-with-HEOS-Factory-Refurbished Denon $449 https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx2500h/denon-avr-x2500h-7.2-ch-x-95-watts-networking-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html?gclid=E11AIaIQobChMIt4PAjNCH4AIVgo-zCh2U2gbnEAQYASABEg Denon $299 smoking deal it seems, or why so cheap? https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs940h/denon-avr-s940h-7.2-ch-x-90-watts-networking-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html#!specifications I can't seem to find a Yamaha with the needed depth. Kevin

Thanks very much, Dave and Fish. I appreciate your input. I guess I've decided on a home theater system with phono in and headphone out. I've been looking at suggestions from other threads and it seems that accessories for less has some great stuff on deep discounts right now. Does anyone have some opinions on these? Seems like a lot of reviewers like Yamaha https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxa1080bl/yamaha-rx-a1080-7.2-ch-x-110-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxa850bl/yamaha-rx-a850-7.2-ch-x-100-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications This Marantz seems like a safe choice but the price is higher than others. Is it worth more than the others? https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/marsr7011/marantz-sr7011-9.2-ch-x-125-watts-networking-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html#!specifications very cheap price Onkyo https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/onktxnr676/onkyo-tx-nr676-7.2-ch-x-100-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html Don't know anything about Integra but this looks pretty good: https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/intdtr404/integra-dtr-40.4-7.2-ch-x-110-watts-thx-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications So, any opinions? Any other ideas Thanks very much for your time, folks! Kevin

Thanks for the suggestions, Emile. I am a huuuUUUUuggGGe fan of the Heresy series but I don't think I can pass the WAF (I think you audiophiles use that term- Wife Acceptance Factor). I need to boil this frog slowly. A speaker the size of a Heresy would be a no-go for a starter. A set of RP600's seems perfect. They are very sensitive on paper so I really like that for upgradability and tube compatibility. Other thing is though I love vintage stuff (for example when I met my wife I had a Curtis Mathes TV that i had rebuilt from two TV's) she likes new stuff. I like the suggestions about accessories for less and partsexpress. I also really appreciate the point about a separate amp for sub. I'm thinking of no sub for starters and that's another plus for the RF600. It's bass though not ideal is pretty good for the size. I would like to perhaps upgrade later to a sub. Budget wise, I can swing a few bucks. My footprint has to be small though. I was thinking of a Marantz HT or go the route of a Parasound or Mac integrated. I'm still trying to understand pass though and would like if someone can point me to a good tutorial, it would be appreciated. so like I was saying... Option 1: get a HT integrated, use two channel, add a turntable, upgrade later. * if so, do you have a suggestion? * how easy are they to integrate with a 2 channel? * can you use just 2 speakers to start with? * is adding a subwoofer a big hassle- are they easy to tune out the bass overlap hump? * does any HT integrated have an especially decent phono stage? Option 2: get a good used solid state integrated (Mcintosh?, Parasound? ) and use that as a HT system? * does a smart TV integrate well with 2 channel? Thanks very much again and looking forward to any and all advice. Kevin

Yeah. I'm familiar with those. I'm more interested in separates. I want the ability to upgrade for example to a tube phono stage and preamp like a Mac C20 or build a PASX3 Dynaco. But thanks for the suggestion.

Hey All, newbie here. Been a lurker for a while. I've settled on getting a pair of RP600's for the living room with an ulterior motive to getting a turntable setup in the living room. Let me explain... I have a modest (600 or so) LP collection that I've been building since the 80's and a wife who has been only listening to streaming for about 10 years. Also have about another 500 or so CD's. My current crappy turntable setup is in my garage and I spend a lot of time there listening while working on various other hobbies. We had a crappy magnavox home theater set up that finally bit the dust about 5 years ago and have been only using the tv speakers. The magnavox is on it's last legs and I have it in the garage paired with a set of garage sale Fisher 3 ways and a AT LP120 turntable. We have a pretty decent Visio smart TV that's about a year old. I'd like to get a turntable in the living room and want to use the home theater set up as a foot in the door to do so.. Our house is pretty small. My TV area is about 9 x 12 feet. So here's my predicament: Should I get a Home Theater receiver or a 2 channel and run the RP600's through that? My idea is to get a pair of speakers and integrated and that will be a huge step up from listening to the TV speakers. I could go 2 channel or just use the 2 channels from a home theater receiver. I'm not a big fan of surround, but would a regular 2 channel will be sufficient for home theater? Most of the decent home theater systems seem to have a phono input. Are the phono inputs in HT integrateds that bad? My idea is to get the foot in the door with the home theater system and introduce a turntable. Small footprint is a must. The RP600's seem to fit the bill for sound quality and bass response. I like how they sound. I'm a huge tinkerer and likely will upgrade- perhaps to a project (meaning one I'll restore or build) tube system at some point. So, what do you think the best strategy is? Option 1: get a HT integrated, use two channel, add a turntable, upgrade later. * if so, do you have a suggestion? * how easy are they to integrate with a 2 channel? * can you use just 2 speakers to start with? * is adding a subwoofer a big hassle- are they easy to tune out the bass overlap hump? * does any HT integrated have an especially decent phono stage? Option 2: get a good used solid state integrated (Mcintosh?, Parasound? ) and use that as a HT system? * does a smart TV integrate well with 2 channel? I'm still learning a lot about all this, and trying to understand home theater pass through. I'd like to be able to use whatever system with the best front 2 channel speakers I can afford for both music and HT. I may change my mind about surround sound and it seems that manufacturers are finally getting their s#!t together about wireless satellite speakers. I don't relish the idea of running wire through the ceiling. Maybe I could find a wireless upgrade in the next couple of years. So, thanks and I appreciate your time. Kevin