Hi-Fi Nerds?

[kiya]

kiya, you are kidding right? i suppose it's not difficult per se but just thinking about proper cartridge alignment and anti-skate adjustment gives me a headache.

I thinking i'm taking my comfort level with turntables for granted. I've been collecting and playing records for fifteen years now, since i was almost fifteen years old. Over the years i've had quite a few different turntables and had countless issues with them that i had to take in for repair or try and repair myself, you learn a lot when your hardware breaks or you're dealing with different tables.

[kiya]

Anybody have any leads on vinyl storage systems?

Something that looks nice that wouldn't look out of place in a living room.

Ideally it'd be something that holds LPs, CDs, and DVDs, but i can also settle for something that ONLY holds vinyl if it was large enough and held a decent number of them.

This is my new favorite thread on Sufu.

[corter]

as if i don't have enough to spend money on, yall are making hi-fi sound so fucking tempting.

[n9no]

kiya,

I just went through the whole process of trying to find a solution for vinyl storage. I have an audio guru down here in LA who turned me onto a guy who cusom builds cabinets to spec - only problem is (as expected) his prices tend to run high. In the interest of saving some dough, I went with a few 'expedits' from ikea (yeah...i know) Link is here:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50103086

I got it in the black/brown which is probably the best looking option of the 3. Also, as Ikea goes, it's a failry sturdy cabinet.

also, in regards to a record cleaning system, there's really only the 'nitty gritty'

http://www.nittygrittyinc.com/systems.htm

they also make a private label machine for 'audio advisor' which ends up being significantly cheaper - link here:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NGRD3

hope that helps

[gimmegimme]

Since someone already suggested something budget-minded...I'm going to suggest the opposite.

http://www.vitsoe.com/buying_livingroom.php

Dieter Ram 606 shelving system for Vitsoe. Sold in the US through Moss. They have different sized shelves for LP's, CD's, books, etc.

[DaBestSpoona]

I have the 4 shelf x 4 shelf expedit

it's heavy as hell, once you put it together dont expect move it often

[kiya]

n9no,

Thanks for the info..

That Expedit from Ikea, what is the exact size of each opening?

On their site it doesn't have measurements for each opening size.

[kiya]

Fuck.. I NEED that Mini-Pro cleaner.

I just called my Hi-Fi shop to get a quote on it..

[n9no]

Kiya,

just measured - the size of each opening is just a hair under 13 1/4 inches.

each space holds about 60 LPs (more or less)

the mini-pro is the fucking tits man...but a bit hairy on the pocketbook.

[kiya]

Whow!

You guys won't believe this link my audio consultant just sent me when i asked him about storage devices.

http://www.livingwithmusic.com/index.php/main/category/C14

I'm going to go for the MAX from Germany.. It's affordable, sorta.

[n9no]

Man..that system is really def.

I think I remember looking into it at one point - 9 layer birch...forget about it...fucking thing will outlast your great great grandchildren.

[choice_genes]

Yo - re vinyl storage, i just got a whole bunch of the Trabys from Ikea:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90105069

Very similar to the Expedit, but from memory a little more solid. You can buy it in a whole bunch of configurations, and stack them together etc. About 14 inches wide inside the hole, so fits about the same amount in each cube as the Expedit.

Enjoying this thread.

[kiya]

The main issue i'm having is that all these Ikea options are great and all, but they don't exactly look nice.

I'm sort of looking for something that's darker or made of wood/metal...

There's a few pretty nice options here:

http://www.livingwithmusic.com/index.php/main/category/C14

[choice_genes]

^ ^ ^ I can dig that. Unfortunately my budget doesn't extend beyond Ikea these days (and probably won't for a while, after the trip I just took!).

One thing you can do to make the Ikea stuff look nicer is buy the raw 'wood' (read chip-board) finish, and paint over it yourself. You can even add a layer of wax afterwards iof you want. Makes it look a little less crap

I kinda dug the Boltz ones though (from your link above Kiya). And not ridoinkulously expensive either.

http://boltz.com/showitems.asp?deptcode1=502

[n9no]

Just to further contribute to this dope thread - my setup is as follows:

AMP - JOLIDA

http://jolida.com/catalogue/models/jd1701.shtml

TABLE - REGA

http://www.rega.co.uk/index2.htm

CD - NAD

http://nadelectronics.com/products/cd-players/C525BEE-CD-Player

TUNER - LUXMAN

http://fmtunerinfo.com/LuxT-240.jpg

fuck an ipod

[gimmegimme]

^ Which of the Rega models do you have? How's the amp?

My tt & lp's are on this shelf:

http://www.unicahome.com/p4966/kartell/partner-series-by-meda-and-rizzatto-for-kartell.html

If you're into 70's chic, this might do the job:

http://www.unicahome.com/p31969/kartell/modular-bookshelf-for-kartell.html

[n9no]

gimme,

i have the rega P2 - great simple design, decent price.

the jolida amp kicks ass - it's a hybrid, meaning a tube pre-amp with a solid state power amp. I chose this one over the equivalent all tube model as it tends to give a little more punch to rock, hip hop and soul. Conversely, the all tube sounds just a hair better with classical and jazz.

Great looking shelf, by the way.

[poopie boy]

Not a fan of the Jolida sound but I every owner I've heard is absolutely happy with them.. What kind of cables are you guys running on your systems?

[denimdestroyedmylife]

CD - NAD

http://nadelectronics.com/products/cd-players/C525BEE-CD-Player

I've got the same CD player. All my components are NAD except my turntable (Technics SL-1200); looking for a belt-drive turntable, maybe just get NAD again...

Considering getting another NAD power amp to bi-amp my speakers, but I dunno.

[gimmegimme]

I've got the same CD player. All my components are NAD except my turntable (SP1200); looking for a belt-drive turntable, maybe just get NAD again...

Considering getting another NAD power amp to bi-amp my speakers, but I dunno.

The NAD turntable is a re-labelled Rega P2...make sure you do some price comparison's between the two before you buy.

I'm thinking of getting the NAD 325BEE amp. Decent reviews...and I just like the look of NAD components.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

I've got the C162 preamp; I love the tone-defeat button!

[gimmegimme]

I've got the C162 preamp; I love the tone-defeat button!

When would one use the tone defeat button? When your source has tone control?

[gimmegimme]

This thread needs more pics.

Usher Audio S520 - sex

[kiya]

Self Edge's sound system is run off a Rotel amp and four B&W speakers.

People come into the store all the time and ask "why do you guys have a pro audio system in here?"

Because i can't stand to listen to music on a shitty system regardless of where i am.. My other two stores are also outfitted with B&W and either Integra or Rotel amps..

Anybody else cringe when they hear a substandard system?

[denimdestroyedmylife]

When would one use the tone defeat button? When your source has tone control?

I see what you are saying, it is about the only extraneous function on the system, but it is reassuring to know that just by hitting that little button, any slight adjustment to the bass that you may have made is nullified.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

Anybody else cringe when they hear a substandard system?

I like to hear music on different systems. Brings out other dimensions in the music. Boombox, integrated shelf system, car speakers, it all makes the music sound different. And then you pop the same record on your hi-fi system at home and then

:eek:

[gimmegimme]

A friend of mine plays music through his home theatre receiver on the "surround" setting rather than 2-channel stereo...it makes me want to smash my head against the wall.

[kiya]

A friend of mine plays music through his home theatre receiver on the "surround" setting rather than 2-channel stereo...it makes me want to smash my head against the wall.

Oh my god.. How many times have you gone someplace and noticed that the music sounds like it's echoing and then realize the person has turned on the "LOUD" feature on their system?

Or like you said, running music through a "concert hall" feature on an amp.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

The Rega P1 turntable looks perfect.

[n9no]

POOPIE: i'm using blue angel interconnects which in all honesty make a HUGE difference. Unfortunately, don't think they're made anymore, but you can probably find them used - expect to pay about $100 per meter.

My speaker cables are flat copper and are also really great - prolly about 2-3 dollars per foot.

Also, forgot to list my speakers:

http://www.system-audio.com/_en-GB/products/compact%20speakers/SA505/introduction

these are great - real wood and totally assembled in denmark. No hate against B&Ws, but the 'wood' used for most of them is laminate and they're also now assembled in china.

IMO, the system audios are some of the best bookshelf speakers for the money, and (like many things danish) look fucking stunning . Very slept on brand.

DDML: nice on the NAD CD player - i recently tested it against the equivalent musichall machine and thought the NAD sounded warmer and richer. Also, look into 'goldring GR 1.2 turntable' - they're Functionally identical to to Rega 2 - i believe it's actually made by rega. check it: http://www.goldringturntable.info/

GIMME: agreed...the look of NAD componants is pretty fresh...just simple, classic and elegant.

KIYA: could't agree more about hearing music on shitty systems (and yes...this includes ipods). Thing is, once you go down the audio rabbit hole there really is no coming back.

Fucking love this thread!!