Vinyl system

Adam72

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Hello,

My current set up is Dali Zensor 5 speakers a Marantz mcr510 and a Teac TN400BT TT. My listening is vinyl and also radio.

I’m looks big to upgrade, the speakers are fine and I’ve no desire to change them, I’m looking at changing the amp to one with a good phono stage. My budget is approx £700 and I don’t mind buying used of the bay.

I’m aware the TT is entry level and I will be looking to change it in about a year with a budget of £500/600 for that so when buying an amp I need to get something that will do the new TT justice. Once a new amp is brought and TT I won’t be looking to do anymore upgrades.

Any suggestions on amps would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
You will have a very hard time getting more for your money than with the Yamaha R-N803 -

Yamaha R-N803 Network Receiver - £699 -

Yamaha R-N803D Black Stereo Hi-Fi Receiver w/ MusicCast - Yamaha - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

Yamaha R-N803D Silver Stereo Hi-Fi Receiver w/ MusicCast - Yamaha - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

R-N803D - Overview - HiFi Components - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha - UK and Ireland

100w/ch, FM/DAB/DAB+ Radio, Network Streaming of Audio, Bluetooth, DAC w/2xOptical/2xCoaxial/1xUSB (ESS SABRE 9006AS 192 kHz / 24-bit DAC), Phono In, Sub Out, etc...

Your Turntable is a bit above Entry Level, though it is certainly not high end.

Teac TN-400BT Walnut Analogue Turntable w/ Bluetooth - Teac - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

If you are still using the Cartridge that came with it, I would suggest an Cartridge upgrade before you start spending big money on a new Turntable. Perhaps something in roughly the £75 to £150 range.

The Turntable has a removable Headshell (the small assembly that is on the end of the tonearm that the Cartridge is actually attached to), so you could always buy a New Headshell and mount the new cartridge on that.

This is what the Headshell looks like on its own -

Ortofon SH-4 Black Universal Headshell Mount - Headshells - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

STeve/bluewizard
 
Hi and thanks for replying.

I was thinking maybe the Yamaha As801/701, Marantz pm8005, Rotel ra-12 or Rega Brio. The network receiver you mention seems to have a lot of extra functions that I’m not sure I need. I will certainly look into it though. What is your opinion on separate phono amps, at the moment I’m using the Teac’s in built phono stage as the Marantz doesn’t have one. Was thinking of buying the Rega Fono mk3 or Graham Slee communicator. Would this save me having to buy a new amp just for the phono stage.

Once the cartridge needs changing I will upgrade that. Do you think if I upgraded the cartridge on the Teac it would be a waste to then buy a new TT such as the Rega pl2 ?

Apologies for so many questions.
 
You may not need those extra feature today, but look into the future at how your system might be used then. If you still can't foresee then need for ...say... Network Streaming, then something like the Yamaha AS701 or AS801 would be very good amps, and Streaming can always be added later.

As to the Phono Stage, I would start with the one built into the Amp, then at a later date decide if that needs to be upgraded.

A new Cartridge on the TEAC would not be a waste of money, the generic cartridges that come with most turntables is nothing special. However, if you get the REGA Planar 2 with Performance Pack, that will come with a cartridge upgrade. A very good turntable and certainly better than the TEAC.

Rega Planar 2 Turntable including Performance Pack from HiFix

Steve/bluewizard
 

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