Opinion and recommendation on HiFi-Setup

[GrumpyGranny]

Hi folks,

I've been reading up and looking around for advice on a (somewhat budget) HiFi-Setup. I do have some old wharfedale boxes and an ancient technics turntable from my grandfather (which got dropped on the floor atleast once - not by me though!), which got me into listening to vinyl some years ago. Since the pioneer amp I had back then has crossed the jordan a while ago I havent really gotten the time and peace of mind to get back into it. But since I got myself some nice-ish headphones a few days back I'd really love to get back into listening to some good music and thoght about spending around 5-6k € to get a solid separated setup (for room about 20 m2), instead of an integrated one. Thought behind this is that it might be easier to upgrade individual parts in the future without having to throw out everything at once. I also got the impression that I might get superior quality this way. And I think it is fun to tinker around a bit and learn how the individual parts work together. I even might be able to upgrade to a real home theatre with multiple boxes and everything

With these thoughts in mind I got a (in my eyes) quite thought out response from a kind redditor who recommended the setup below. I would love to hear your opinions on their take. It would be great if you could even leave your ideas on possible alternatives and upgrade options. Lastly (as I still am very much a newbie in all things HiFi) I would love any and all advice you might feel throwing in my direction (Do's and Don'ts, what to look out for, what to avoid, best practices and what nots)!

- Technics SL-100C with Audio-Technica vm540ml microline cartridge
- Michael Fidler Spartan 20 Phonostage
- Silkline Zuki I
- Hypex NCx500 ST NCOREx Stereo Amplifier
- Revel Concerta 2 F36
- WiiM Ultra

As a near-future upgrade I was recommended to add a subwoofer: Power Sound Audio S1512m or S18neo-M (don't know yet if they ship to germany though).

Thank you very much for your feedback!

 

[DVDdoug]

As always, the most important thing is speakers! You speakers are probably fine. the acoustics of the room make a difference too.

Electronics make very-little difference unless you need more amplifier power, or unless you consider EQ or other processing.

If you get a measurement mic (about $100 USD) you can use REW to measure the speakers/room and then EQ and/or possibly add some acoustic treatment. An AVR with room correction might be a good thing to spend your money on. And it could simplify your set-up... the opposite of what you're thinking about.

A subwoofer could help if you feel the bass is lacking but I'd guess you'd need a good one to match/beat your speakers.

If the turntable works, it's probably fine too if there are no obvious problems. The stylus (or cartridge) may need to be replaced if it's as old as the turntable. I don't consider records to be high-fidelity and it will never match digital so I wouldn't recommend going overboard to improve it. Except... there is the Waxwing which reduces clicks & pops.

I even might be able to upgrade to a real home theatre with multiple boxes and everything

If you get an AVR all you have to add is more speakers. There aren't a lot of surround audio recordings, but I have a shelf-full of concert DVDs that sound fantastic in 5.1. (5.1 is all I have). With stereo recordings I like to use a "hall" or "theater" setting to get some delayed reverb in the rear channels and the feel of a bigger room. But that's sort-of hi-fi heresy since I'm not listening accurately as-intended.

You need an AVR (or something with a surround decoder) and a subwoofer in order to get the "point one" LFE channel on movies. The stereo downmix doesn't include the LFE.

 

[Bland_username42069]

You don’t need the silklike. The Wiim should be able to serve as your preamp.

You don’t need the Fidler phono stage. The technics and the Wiim both have one built in.

Technics 1500c comes with an Ortofon cartridge. Just use that. If you want a different type of stylus or brand later then yes change as audio Technica seems best value recently but just use up the Ortofon first.

(Imo)

Personally for the cost of a WIIM and hypex you could probably just get this all in one solution. Phono stage, amp, streaming, Dac, hdmi all in one

https://www.technics.com/uk/products/grand-class/su-gx70.html

 

[GrumpyGranny]

Hey guys,

thank you very much for your feedback!

Looking at Silkline and Wiim it might be a good idea to just use the Wiim as preamp/dac. If I were to keep the Spartan and Hypex, would I just connect the Spartan directly to the Wiim and the Wiim to the Hypex, right?

Now the Wiim Ultra seems the have room correction capabilities build in but maybe no EQ, while the Wiim Amp Pro seems to have EQ-options, but now room correction? Could you guys point me in the right direction, which Wiim module fits better as substitute for the silkline and has the EQ / acoustic treatment / room correction capabilities?

Or should I rather go with something completely different? Are there good AVRs, which I could substitute the Wiim with? Regarding a possible future integration of a subwoofer, an AVR (instead of Wiim / Silkline, if possible), sounds even more promissing?

Now when I forgo the Silkline, I might have some bucks left to go for a better pair of speakers. Do you guys have any recommendations? Pricepoint would be something around 2-2,5k i guess, so i stay somewhat in budget.

ty!

 

[Bland_username42069]

You don’t need a separate phono stage. The technics has a good one built in as does the WIIM ultra. You would end up with three phono stages in your system otherwise.

You can use phono stage in the technics and plug it into line in on WIIM or you can bypass the technics phono stage and plug it into phono stage on WIIM.

You could just use technics phono stage and plug it straight into Wiim streaming amplifier and your done for £300.