Looking For A Receiver

[chris301up]

Hi all. I am just starting to get back into hifi. My Wife has bought me a turntable for Christmas so now am looking for a decent receiver and speakers. I subscribed to What HiFi again, but found it's now more 'geared up' for TV's and mobile phones etc,. Not my idea of hifi! I just want a normal receiver with FM & DAB and don't need TV, Bluetooth and so on, but it's like looking for 'a snowflake in a blizzard'. I have been looking at a Pioneer SX20-DAB and wondered if anyone has one of these and can give any feedback to it's operation. Perhaps someone will point me in the right direction of an alternative? I don't have a huge budget so price is obviously a concern

 

[Ugg10]

Pioneer SX-20DAB-K Hi-Fi Stereo Receiver with DAB Tuner

Is this the pioneer you were looking at - if so budget is around £200 for the "receiver" but looks like this pioneer is an older model. Couple of questions to help narrow down some of your options -

1) What speakers do you have?
2) Are you open to second hand items ?
3) If you have wifi in the house (and an appropriate data limit/unlimited) have you considered internet radio, most that use it say it is better quality than DAB and most stations are now on it including lots of new ones you may find around the world ?
4) finally what turntable do you have - this will determine if you need a phono input or can use a line level one ?

 

[ShanePJ]

Pioneer are a good brand and having a look at the spec' I cannot see anything up with it for a basic setup. 100w on tap is quite a lot at that price point as most are around 50w to 70w, but even 50w is huge and its musical ability should matter to you more than what it has on tap (unless aesthetics have to come into it or its just poor on power).

Are you wanting a dedicated amp or a receiver with a DAB tuner as a dedicated amp will usually better a receiver musically and its even more important at the lower price points than any other

Also what turntable/speakers are you going to connect to the amp/receiver?

 

[chris301up]

Hi Guys.

I haven't purchased the speakers yet. I usually make them the last thing I buy and match them accordingly. The turntable, not one of my choice, is a Audio Tecnica but good enough to start me off. It has line out I believe?

I don't like anything that is internet or wireless based. I am 'old fashioned' and like direct connections. Second hand items would be absolutely fine

 

[Ugg10]

Assuming your turntable does have a line out and does not need a phono stage then this is a direct competitor to the Pioneer - Dab/FM, 100W but does not have a phono input (not needed anyway).

Yamaha RS202D (Black)

Here is an alternative second hand combo - Rotel RT-06 (£120) and RA-02 (£135)

Rotel RT-06 High Quality Hi Fi Separates DAB, AM & FM Radio Tuner + Mains Lead | eBay

Rotel RA-02 In Silver. Stereo Integrated Hifi Phono Stage Amplifier. | eBay
(review - spoiler alert - comes out top of the class - www.rotel.com/sites/default/files/RA-02%20What%20Hifi%20Sep02.pdf)

These were £850 when new as a pair. Match these with some B&W stand/bookshelf speakers (602s2/3 maybe or 685 if you are a bit more flush) and you will have a very clear system to listen to.

Edit - if you have a room (although they are fairly small probably smaller than a stand mount speaker) then these B&W P4's would work well with the Rotels IMO. (£150, £600 new) - Very well regarded in their day.

B&W p4 LOUDSPEAKERS | eBay

review - Review: B&W Model P4 speaker | gramophone.co.uk

 

[chris301up]

Thanks for that information. I've just been looking at the Yamaha Rs202D which is similar to the Pioneer SX20DAB as you said. I don't really need Bluetooth so that will be redundant as far as I'm concerned, but it certainly is a unit worth consideration. I'll check it out in a bit more detail a little later on. When I was into hifi many years ago most of my separates were Rotel, which gave me many years trouble free service, so may go for these. Thanks again. Chris

 

[Apollo83]

Another option here is to go with a second-hand tuner and an amp.

e.g.
This TEAC tuner for £28
Vintage Silver Teac T-H300 TH300 T H 300 RDS AM & FM Stereo Radio Tuner RETRO | eBay

And this NAD 302 amp (with phono stage) for £99
NAD 302 Stereo Integrated Amplifier With Phono Stage | eBay

But if you want them both together and really want old school then how about this Hitachi for £250:
Hitachi SR-802 Amplifier Tuner with Phono Stage 50 Watts p/ch FREE UK DELIVEERY | eBay

Love that last one - reminds me of my youth.

 

[chris301up]

Thanks for that information

I do not want separate tuner and amplifier. Never liked that set up. Much prefer a receiver. My favourite was always the Rotel RX402 with a Rotel RP1500 turntable. Was going to go down that route but, has my Wife bought this modern turntable, thought I go with something more up to date.

Thanks again and will check out all these suggestions a bit later when I have more time.

 

[Ugg10]

Another one for the list.

Arcam Solo Mini. £180 here Arcam Solo Mini Hi-Fi System (CD Player, DAB/FM Tuner, Amplifier) | eBay

Review - Arcam Solo Mini review | What Hi-Fi?

Or the slightly larger Arcam Solo £165 (£1200 when new) here ARCAM SOLO MUSIC CD and dab FM AMPLIFIER RADIO , GOOD WORKING CONDITION . | eBay there are others available and worth waiting for a good one to come up (this one a bit scratched). This would be the one to go for if you can find a decent one.

Review - Arcam Solo review | What Hi-Fi? And Arcam Solo CD receiver

There is also the Arcam solo music, not sure of the differences though.

The review suggests MA BX2 or Quad 11L speakers

 

[chris301up]

Hi guys. I may have found a good pre-owned Yamaha RS202D but need a little more advice. As I said I've been away from Hi Fi for quite some time and notice this unit doesn't have phono inputs for the turntable. Will I need a pre-amplifier for this, and if so, anyone recommend please?

 

[Ugg10]

Your answer #4 said that the turntable had one built in. If this is correct just plug it into any of the inputs.

If you have a model number for the turntable then we can check it does have a built in phono stage.

Looking in the manual it suggests you only use 8ohm speakers and only 1 pair. Worth checking if any of your preferred speakers are less than this.

https://europe.yamaha.com/files/dow...eb_ZU46040_R-S202_R-S202D_om_CRBGL_EnFrEs.pdf

Not sure what your sh price us but they are £179 new at richer sounds Yamaha RS202D (Black)

 

[chris301up]

Right. I have just got the turntable out of the box and can confirm it is a Audio Technica LP120BK-USB. Don't know if this helps?

 

[chris301up]

I have just found this online and it looks as though it is built in as I first thought?

 

[Ugg10]

Website says “A selectable internal stereo phono pre-amplifier allows the turntable to plug directly to components with no dedicated turntable input.” so yes.

The turntable output is 120mV and the Yamaha input is 500mV so should be fine.

With this turntable you can also plug it into a laptop/pc and digitise them for use either streaming or on a portable player/memory stick.

 

[chris301up]

Thank you Ugg10. I am not into any of this modern stuff so have no idea what steaming or memory stick refers too? I like good old fashioned equipment. No plugging into laptops or PC's for me. Straight forward no-nonsense Hi Fi. Thanks for your advice

 

[Ugg10]

No problems. Just plug the turntable into input no.1 or cd on the Yamaha then plug speakers in and off you go (speakers red to red, black to black). The turntable may be already set up but worth checking the arm is level when on the record, the cartridge is as per the setup chart (should be one in the box) and the weight and anti skate are set right. The at95 cartridge is a good starter one as is the turntable.

Any thoughts on speakers yet? Size, floor/stand, room size and placement help along with type of music you normally listen to.

 

[chris301up]

My previous speakers were Kef Coda 3 so something very similar I would anticipate. That will be my next step once I get the receiver. I'm in no rush whatsoever. Thanks for the advice. I'm sure I'll be back on here in due course.

ADDENDUM
I think I may be looking at the Mission LX2 speakers?

 

[Ugg10]

Coda 3 was an 8” poly woofer with 1” fabric dome tweeter in a sealed box, f3 = 65hz. This configuration is not in favour at the moment but other may be able to suggest something that has similar characteristics.

Edit, saying that this is the arrangement of my Mackie active speakers (with an added passive radiator) and are more common in actives.

 

[chris301up]

The Kef Coda were my favoured choice many years ago and worked very well at the time. If I was reverting back to purchasing a Rotel RX402 and RP1500 turntable with an SME tonearm then I would've probably gone for something like them again?

As it is I will hopefully have a more up-to-date setup so will be looking for speakers of a similar size to the Coda. Will look more into this a little later when I have more funds available.

Thanks again

 

[chris301up]

Hi all. I have invested in a Yamaha RS202D. There were plenty available second hand on Ebay, but Richer Sounds were offering them as a clearance item, with full guarantee, so picked one up last week. Not a bad price also! Cannot give it a try yet as I will now need some decent shelf speakers. Possibly mission? Thank you all for your kind help and advice