How to split a £1200 budget?

[bullinachinashop]

Evening all!

I've read some threads about how peoples' spends have split across their different components and I'd like to ask your advice on my predicament:

Listening room 12 x 14ft ish
Components needed: turntable, amp (with phono stage and headphone out), speakers and closed back headphones

Priority on low to medium volumes, listening to pretty much everything but majority is jazz, electronic, hip hop and some indie

Still learning my sound preference but I think neutral to warm might cover it, and definitely keener on faithful reproduction rather than a dominant character from the components. Hope that makes sense?

Modest budget of £1200 all in. I'll buy everything Used.

Simple question: How to split the £1200 across the four components?

Complicated question: Any recommendations for a component combo that delivers on those requirements and budget?!

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks
Ross

 

[DUVET]

I would not tie yourself up in knots re percentages . Get speakers to work in the room first would be my advice

 

[Bazzer]

80s/90s Japanese amp , most will have a phono stage , T/T that is being sold with a cart , then get the best speakers suitable for your room .
Amp £50-£100 , T/T £200/£300 , rest on speakers .

 

[Andrei]

Evening all!

I've read some threads about how peoples' spends have split across their different components and I'd like to ask your advice on my predicament:

Listening room 12 x 14ft ish
Components needed: turntable, amp (with phono stage and headphone out), speakers and closed back headphones

Priority on low to medium volumes, listening to pretty much everything but majority is jazz, electronic, hip hop and some indie

Still learning my sound preference but I think neutral to warm might cover it, and definitely keener on faithful reproduction rather than a dominant character from the components. Hope that makes sense?

Modest budget of £1200 all in. I'll buy everything Used.

Simple question: How to split the £1200 across the four components?

Complicated question: Any recommendations for a component combo that delivers on those requirements and budget?!

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks
Ross

Agree with Duvet. Speakers make the most difference. A little off topic but are you fixed on a turntable? I do run two turntables and can advise that they are expensive to do well. CD players and DACs are just so good these days. $ for $ you will get better bang for the buck from a digital source, thereby leaving more resources for speakers.

 

[Amormusic]

Arcam A39 ~ £450 on eBay. A great amp, with excellent headphone stage and phono stage, apparently (although I never used this) which you could live with for a long time and not need to upgrade.

Speakers - world is your lobster. There's some nice PMC Gold's on here for £600 at the moment. Same comment, very nice speakers and no need to upgrade for a long time.

That amp and speaker combo would work excellently together too ...

TT. I'll leave this to others.

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

Amplification that's "warm" enough, cheaply fixable, cheaply buyable, and produces enough power for most of the speakers you might want to put in that room: Quad 33/303 but you'd probably have to factor in separate arrangements for headphones. The latter may be a prime requirement for you, but not for me.

 

[rdale]

Evening all!

I've read some threads about how peoples' spends have split across their different components and I'd like to ask your advice on my predicament:

Listening room 12 x 14ft ish
Components needed: turntable, amp (with phono stage and headphone out), speakers and closed back headphones

Priority on low to medium volumes, listening to pretty much everything but majority is jazz, electronic, hip hop and some indie

Still learning my sound preference but I think neutral to warm might cover it, and definitely keener on faithful reproduction rather than a dominant character from the components. Hope that makes sense?

Modest budget of £1200 all in. I'll buy everything Used.

Simple question: How to split the £1200 across the four components?

Complicated question: Any recommendations for a component combo that delivers on those requirements and budget?!

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks
Ross

I read a very positive review of the Rega System One the other day, and you could buy it new with your budget. For headphones, I’ve got a pair of Grado SR80x headphones which I rate and you could plug them into the headphone socket of the io amp.

 

[MartinC]

How important is headphone listening vs via loudspeakers? This could influence spending priorities...

 

[DUVET]

How important is headphone listening vs via loudspeakers? This could influence spending priorities...

That detective is the right question

 

[m7rso]

Man this is hard..i don't even want to think about it…..

 

[Lurch]

For speakers I would suggest you wrap your ears round a pair of Q Acoustics 3050 or the newer 3050i. The 3050i can be had for around £500 new (£400ish used) are reasonably efficient, and offer great performance for their price.

 

[bullinachinashop]

How important is headphone listening vs via loudspeakers? This could influence spending priorities...

Good question, thanks! 60/40 in favour of speakers I think

 

[m7rso]

Man this is hard..i don't even want to think about it…..

No seriously, I had to go to the loo to take the strain off my brain.

 

[Non-Smoking Man]

Why is it people can't answer the question?
Include your headphones with the speakers and that makes it a one pipe problem:

Three ways: source/amplification/speakers, so 1/3 each.

Jack NSM

 

[lazycat]

Three ways: source/amplification/speakers, so 1/3 each.

I'd agree with that. Plenty of decent speakers around for £300.

I wouldnt spend £500 on 'em and just a 200 on a source. But thats the old Linnie in me.

 

[Jezzer]

While I think speakers make the biggest difference I’m pretty much a believer in the ‘rule of thirds’ for a balanced system.

 

[Nopiano]

I think it’s almost impossible to recommend a system with used items, because it’s so dependent on availability and prices. And then if something doesn’t work as you’d hoped, you’re in a pickle.

I‘d be happy with this little set up. All current prices at a shop near you, fully warranted. You get speaker cables thrown in. The only thing I can’t recommend is closed back phones so I’ve suggested a popular pair I’m familiar with. Those you could buy used! £1186 all in. (You’d ideally need speakers stands too)

 

[rabski]

If you're buying used, and it's turntable, amp and speakers, I'd disagree with the 'one third' rule. The OP also says 'and headphones'.

Allowing room for future upgrades, I'd personally go £200 amp, £100 phones and split the rest between speakers and turntable.

You can buy a lot of used amps for £200 that will punch way over their weight. I honestly don't think you can say the same for speakers or turntable (including cartridge, don't forget).

 

[Lawrence001]

For speakers I would suggest you wrap your ears round a pair of Q Acoustics 3050 or the newer 3050i. The 3050i can be had for around £500 new (£400ish used) are reasonably efficient, and offer great performance for their price.

He's better off with these while they're in stock. I'd buy them myself if I was after a pair of new speakers in this price range. Free delivery too.

https://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/p-11693-q-acoustics-concept-40-floorstanding-speakers.aspx

 

[StingRay]

Speakers how about these: https://www.hifiwigwam.com/threads/spendor-classic-sp2-2-speakers.115116/

only £300.