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New member Username: Greg13Pasadena, Tx U.S.A. Post Number: 1 Registered: Aug-08 | I have a set of Klipsch T-30 speakers and a Dual 1009SK turntable and about $3-400 maybe. I would like to get a receiver and a pre-amp. Any Suggestions would be greatly appreciated, there's just too much muck for a beginner to search and decipher through on this vast internet-land. Thanks |
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Gold Member Username: DmitchellOttawa, Ontario Canada Post Number: 1415 Registered: Feb-07 | What do you want to do? Is it just for listening to music, or for HT as well? Have you tried looking on the used market? |
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Gold Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY United States Post Number: 2028 Registered: Oct-04 | If your looking for a new stereo amp, with a respectable phono section, consider the HK3485. http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=HK %203485-Z&status= http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZhk3485QQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue19/hk3480.htm http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_14_2/hk-3480-receiver-daves-5-2007-part-1. html |
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Silver Member Username: KevincorrFairbanks, Alaska Usa Post Number: 611 Registered: Jul-07 | It is amazing what you could get for $600, eg the Outlaw Audio RR2150: http://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/306outlaw/ It is also on Absolute Sound greatest hits list. When I am not able to move up to the next most tempting new piece, I go used. I found good deals on my Rotel and Rega amps on AudiogoN. |
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Gold Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY United States Post Number: 2029 Registered: Oct-04 | The RR2150 is certainly nice, but a B-Stock RR2150 is $625 https://www.outlawaudio.com/mofcart/bstock.html , which is more than 50% more then the OP wanted to spend, and if that extra $$$ was clearly going to result in superior sound, then it might be justified, but there are plenty of threads online comparing the two, and they both seem to have their supports. Also, keep in mind when reading reviews of the HK34xx series (and the slightly less powerful HK33xx series), the old "80" and new "90" models have the silly VMAx "surround" effect feature, the "85" does not, which is preferable, IMHO, as it's one less item in the way of the units signal path. The "90" does however have an RDS tuner, which is pretty neat, but not essential. I should mention, in full disclosure, that I own an HK3485 and really enjoy it, it is a real handsome machine, and a tremendous value (especially at it's current close-out prices). |
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Silver Member Username: KevincorrFairbanks, Alaska Usa Post Number: 612 Registered: Jul-07 | That is amazing too how inexpensive those HK's are. I bought an HK 6950R Int amp used. I cant find anything about it on the web. It is huge! Sounds very good. |
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Gold Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY United States Post Number: 2031 Registered: Oct-04 | HK is a mass marketed brand, they mass produce their gear in China, and mainly focus on HT, and you can buy it at Costco, but being one of the biggest manufacturers has its advantages, and the HK3485 is as good sounding as any stereo receiver out there, IMHO (anybody care to do a blind test against a McIntosh MA6600 w/TM2 tuner for good measure?...just joking...or am I?); you may prefer one or the other, for instance, I also like the NAD C720BEE, but no phono stage and over budget, so no recommendation this time. Honestly, even if you're not on a budget, this receiver is that good, if you're on a budget, or need a second system, it's a no-brainer, buy it and start enjoying, the music will be all the sweeter with that extra $$$ in your pocket. |
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Gold Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY United States Post Number: 2032 Registered: Oct-04 | The HK3490 (and 3390) has a Dolby surround feature, not a VMAx, and is also XM tuner ready, so that, along with the aforementioned RDS tuner, might make it a bit more appealing, but it will cost you about $100 more than the HK3485. I have not listened to the HK3490, but I presume it is a virtually identical listen (but specs don't always tell the whole story, and products have been know to take a turn for the worse, although there's no reason to believe this is the case). |