Looking for recommendations to finish my setup

[Peppy]

Hey guys and gals,


I've recently obtained some of my father's older (early 00s) stereo equipment and I'm looking for some suggestions to fill it out.


What I have

Speakers - Jean-Marie Reynaud Twin (might be the MKii, not sure)

Turntable - Pro-ject perspective with a Grado blue cartridge on it. Don't know if it matters but It's not the final edition perspective, it's an older one with just a 6 digit serial number. No 000993 and the two separate speed motors (33 and 45).

Besides those two things I have some (what I think are) good rca cables. Kimbler Kables PBJs

I believe the only things I am looking for would be a phono stage and an amplifier?


I can't spend a lot on them looking at around $300-$400. Any more and my wife might beat me in the bad way. Currently looking at getting a Schiit Mani 2 and an ampapa D1 to fill those rolls. They seem to get pretty good reviews on this site, but I just want to see if there are any other options out there around this price point that might be better.


Not sure if I'm going to extend the stereo past just a turntable. One reason I'm thinking about the Ampapa D1 is for the blue tooth function. Being able to stream music sounds nice. I have an old tape deck and CD deck (some mid 90s Kenwood stuff) I could hook up to the system, but currently not looking to add those.

Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DWPress]

I'd look at one of the WiiM amp offerings, I think one of them has a phono input. With WiiM you'd get streaming integration, room EQ, a phone app and expandable system.

 

[kemmler3D]

I have the Schiit Mani 2 and nothing bad to say about it.

A WiiM amp would be a good add because it does streaming, so you've got bluetooth and spotify/tidal etc right there.

One suggestion is to sell the Kimber cables, buy some regular cables (World's Best or cheaper) and put the money toward the amp / phono.

Contrary to what you might have heard elsewhere, cables don't make a difference to sound quality (plain copper already does everything an audio signal needs it to do) so "good" RCA cables aren't really needed. If the ones you have happen to fetch a good price on eBay, "downgrading" the cables is a good way to finance the upgrade.

WiiM also sells 'refurbs' and 'factory seconds' on eBay at a decent discount. I got a bunch of WiiM Minis that way and they were still sealed in original boxes.

BTW welcome to ASR!

 

[Marc v E]

Welcome to ASR.

One other phono preamp to consider is: 'Fosi Audio Box X5 Phono Preamp Review' https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../fosi-audio-box-x5-phono-preamp-review.59982/

For amp purposes, imo and experience, you can go very cheap without loss in quality. Imo the only things that are definately audible are eq and adding a sub. I've been very happy with wiim products.

 

[Peppy]

Thanks for the input and info. I ended up going with the ampapa a1 and d1 for the phono and amp. It's sounding really good to me.