Advice for a turntable set-up!

[Robert94]

Current system/situation.
I have speakers on my desk in my room and mainly just listen to music when I'm sat at my desk (a lot). Within the last 2 years I have gained an appreciation for good quality audio and a resentment for lossy audio, this turned me to Jriver Media Center so that I can could play FLAC files from my mac. Anyway I set up my first decent (but reasonably priced) HiFi system which consists of the Cambridge Audio azur 340A (bought 2nd hand for ~£70) and the Q Acoustic 2020i's (bought 2nd hand [good as new] for ~£140). Recently I've been reading about vinyl and fancy updating/changing my system a little bit, however my amp doesn't have a phono input. I know I could buy a pre-amp but I fancy a bit of a change so I was planning to get a new amp and a turntable.

Goal
I want the best possible quality for a reasonable price (who doesn't), so a good entry level turntable and a new amp that is better or the same as my current one with a phono input.

Current Plan
I was thinking of buying the Onkyo A-9010 integrated stereo amplifier which seems to have pretty good reviews for a budget amp, and I could buy it for £200. I was also looking at turntables and figured that there's no point getting really cheap one if I'm after quality, this lead me on to the PRO-JECT essential 2 which again i could buy new for £200. Most reviews seemed to think that a lot of effort went into producing quality over extra features which is what I want, all of the money going into good sound quality. The only other thought I have is maybe it would be worth getting a 2.1 channel amp so that I have the option to add a subwoofer at some point down the line without having to buy a new amp, but I've been content without one thus far so it's not an essential point.

So questions are;
Do you think this is a good set-up (what would you do differently)?
Is the Onkyo A9010 likely to be better than the Cambridge azur 340A?
(I know very little about turntables) Is the PRO-JECT Essential 2 good enough to provide the quality that I want from vinyl?
Which part of my suggested system would be limiting the quality when using vinyl, and FLAC?

All responses are welcome! If you use any particularly technical terms please could you very briefly describe what they are as I don't know masses of technical information when it comes to Hifi but am a keen learner.

Thanks!!

 

[Robert94]

And while I'm asking questions could somebody briefly explain the importance of ohms in amps and speakers, I know it's probably pretty critical but I am yet to get my head around what it means in the context of audio!

 

[markw]

Sounds like you've got a good plan, BUT, some good news.

You can easily connect a subwoofer to ANY stereo amplifier, but you must check the options on the back of the subwoofer.

You can drive a subwoofer from your speaker outputs with no degradation in sound. Just make sure that your subwoofer can accept speaker inputs.

or...

If your amp has preamp outputs, you can drive subwoofers that have right and left line level inputs.

Avoid subs that have only one LFE input.

 

[Robert94]

Sounds like you've got a good plan, BUT, some good news.

or...

If your amp has preamp outputs, you can drive subwoofers that have right and left line level inputs.

Avoid subs that have only one LFE input.

Thanks for the suggestion! On the back of the amp I had in mind there is a L and R 'line out' at the back, would this be able support a pre-amp?

 

[markw]

Thanks for the suggestion! On the back of the amp I had in mind there is a L and R 'line out' at the back, would this be able support a pre-amp?

No. There are differences between outputs and inputs. The outputs would feed line level inputs to a power amp or a subwoofer with two line inputs.

 

[Swerd]

You had mentioned that your speakers presently sit on a desk where you also sit while listening to music. Be aware that if you also put a turntable on the same desk, it will pick up vibrations from the speakers, and create an acoustic feedback loop, that will make all music sound muddy. This is especially true for bass frequencies.

So keep the turntable and speakers in separate locations.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

The Onkyo is a step down from your Cambridge Azur. I would seriously reconsider your desire for "change for change's sake". Nor is the built-in phono of the Onkyo likely to equal any standalone phono preamp selling for around $50+ (the ART USB + Line Level phono is $US75 and better, for example).

 

[Robert94]

The Onkyo is a step down from your Cambridge Azur. I would seriously reconsider your desire for "change for change's sake". Nor is the built-in phono of the Onkyo likely to equal any standalone phono preamp selling for around $50+ (the ART USB + Line Level phono is $US75 and better, for example).

Ah okay, in that case I'll have a rethink and consider pre-amp options rather than an amp change. Just as a matter of interest, how much do you think a new amp that is better than the Cambridge Azur would set me back? And is there anything in particular about the Onkyo do you think makes it a step down (just out of interest)?

 

[Johnny2Bad]

Onkyo should be commended for offering a low cost entry-level option for those just getting into HiFi with separates. But Cambridge is not a manufacturer that relies on Big Box retailers and a huge advertising budget to find it's customers ... it actively seeks Audiophiles and sells on sound quality. If it fails on those points, it is out of business.

So although Onkyo's entry level product is good, Cambridge Audio has different priorities and delivers on them (otherwise they would be out of business) which is higher sound quality versus consumer familiarity and cramming the maximum number of features into a single box. Each feature costs money which has to come out of the kitty.

Keep your Azur and replace it with something better when the time comes (more expensive, higher power, greater realism, other sound quality factors, etc) but now that you're in the SQ camp you may as well stay there. Many of those buying those entry-level Onkyo's will be one day where you are now.

Save your money with regard to replacing your Integrated Amp. It's not the weak point in your system.

Maybe look at the Cambridge Audio Azur 551P or 651P Phono preamps. Both are probably within your budget and together with your current Integrated, will sound *much* better than the Onkyo.

I would suggest considering either a USB DAC to kick up the digital side a notch, or replace your speakers. I haven't heard the Q Acoustic 2020i's, and probably never will as they are not sold in North America, but maybe check out better speakers if you have a burning desire to change something.

The Q Acoustics sound OK from the reviews but every hundred pounds you can spend more equals better sound quality as long as you're listening to HiFi oriented manufacturers.

Were it me, I'd check out the new ELAC's from Germany and see what I thought.

 

[Swerd]

Although I disagree with Johnny2Bad's reasons, I do agree with his conclusion that the Onkyo A-9010 probably will not be an improvement over the Cambridge Azur 340A that you now have. Both amps are rated with similar power, and, as far as I can see, the only difference may be that the Onkyo provides a built-in phono pre-amp section that is absent in the Cambridge. Considering the inexpensive prices (at least in the USA) of outboard phono pre-amps, I think you would be better off taking that path.

I can personally recommend the Audio Technica PEQ3 phono pre-amp, if it is available in the UK, but there are many other good choices in the inexpensive price range of less than 100 US$.

Have you considered a turntable that has a built-in phono pre-amp?

To indirectly address your other questions… the largest contribution to sound quality in any system is by the loudspeakers themselves. If you are pleased by your present speakers, keep them. If you are dissatisfied, look for new speakers, not the other electronic gear.

The primary job of any amplifier is to provide enough power to easily drive your speakers at your desired volume levels without audible noise or distortion. I haven't heard those speakers, so I leave that judgement up to you.

Don't be sucked in by the unwarranted hype surrounding vinyl records. It may be presently fashionable, but the sound quality cannot be better than an original CD or a loss-less digital copy such as FLAC. And it will definitely be more expensive.

 

[3db]

Don't be sucked in by the unwarranted hype surrounding vinyl records. It may be presently fashionable, but the sound quality cannot be better than an original CD or a loss-less digital copy such as FLAC. And it will definitely be more expensive.

I agree generally with your statement but I have examples where vinyl did sound better than the CD copy. Call it botched CD mastering and is not the general rule. I recently bought Dan Auerbach's (Black Keys guitarist) latest work, "Yours Dreamily" on vinyl which includes a download coupon of 320MPs mp3s. There is no difference in quality between these two formats in this example. And vinyl is definately more expensive. If I hadn't a vinyl collection from my youth, I would not have entered the vinyl realm.

 

[Swerd]

If I hadn't a vinyl collection from my youth, I would not have entered the vinyl realm.

I never left the vinyl realm as I still have most of my old records and old turntable. (They are indeed old, not vintage .)

I stopped buying records sometime in the late 1980s. The only thing new I purchased for playing records was the phono pre-amp – about 10 years ago. I replaced an older AVR that had a built-in phono section with another AVR that lacked it.