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Audiophile beginner with a question...

Hello!

I have begun my venture into audio with my purchase last week of B&W DM601 S2s. Right now, I am using a Marantz 2215b, and a Fisher CD player. (Which by the way, I will be getting rid of since it is old, and I am doing things little by little on a college budget.)To get to the point of things, here is my question:
What would you guys recommend for me in terms of a good starter CD player, and amp and pre-amp. This receiver is not cutting it, and the static is bad! By the way, the music I listen to is pretty much classic rock, and jazz.
Thank you very much!!!
hi_watt

Showing 2 responses by fineberg

fineberg
151 posts
 
You might try a combined unit like the Linn Classik if you budget is really tight. If you can spend a little more, you could get something like the Musical Fidelity A3 or even A300 integrated amp and a good used CD-player (I've seen the Arcam Alpha 9 used very cheap or a Rega Planet or Planet 2000). However there are many options in this price range. The first thing you will need to figure out is budget.

Good Luck
fineberg
151 posts
 
Not to be disagreeable, but I think the formula that Celtic66 gave you will not produce verey good results in a budget system. While it is true that nothing the source does not prduce can be reproduced by the speakers, the speakers are the musical instrument that must move air. They should I believe represent the single biggest expense. My fomula (until you get very high end) would be:

Speakers 40%
source 20%
amplification 30%
cables 10%

of course with a unit like the Linn Classik you would still be spending more on the unit (source + amplification) than on speakers. One of the great advantages to this path is that you can upgrade to match your speakers more progressively and with less of a one time investment than buying better speakers which are big, heavy and expensive.
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