Please help me select

[Bland_username42069]

NO. The deck contains a USB ADC (device) intended to be connected to a computer (host). USB DACs are also the device end, and need to be connected to a host.

Ah ok - I just foolishly assumed it work the same way as my cd player where you can go from usb out into the DAC.

 

[LucS]

Still searching — but not here anymore


After spending quite a bit of time here reading in the background, posting, and waiting for genuinely helpful input, I’ve come to a clear conclusion: this just isn’t the place to find real help.

Take Fosi, for example. The brand gets recommended over and over again ,not just here, but all over forums and YouTube. I’ve read the threads, watched the videos, scrolled through the comments. But when you look past the hype, things don’t hold up. Reports of overheating (even devices going up in smoke) aren’t rare. Not just the mono-blocks, but also their other units. Side vents with poor airflow, questionable component choices, and the classic "clone of a clone" production pipeline from China. Honestly, how is that supposed to compete with a well-designed integrated amp? In my view, it just doesn’t.

Then there’s the matter of reviews. Amir's test of one of Fosi's phono preamps is being openly challenged in the DIY community ,and they actually documented where his methodology fails when it comes to MM input noise. If even ASR isn’t immune to flawed (or biased?) reporting, it raises bigger questions: how many people here are just echoing what they’ve heard without checking the facts? And how many of those voices are being incentivized to push the same narrative?

For anyone interested: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/fosi-audio-box-x5-phono-preamp-review.422514/

I also looked into Wiim, but that’s another dead end for me. No Apple Music support unless airplay but im on android. I already switched from Spotify because of the higher audio quality. Tidal might be an alternative, but I’m not interested in constantly switching services to fit someone else’s ecosystem. Bluetooth , when done right,can come surprisingly close to lossless anyway, despite what some claim.

Long story short: over 2,000 views on one of the largest audio forums, and the only things seriously recommended to me were Fosi and Wiim. That's telling. There’s still some value here, sure , but mostly in the links, not the replies. What gets repeated often isn’t necessarily true. It’s just louder.

Notifications are off, so feel free to talk into the void. I’ll be moving on.

 

[Mort]

buh-bye

 

[JustJones]

If the only recommended amps you're getting is Fosi or WiiM then the problem isn't in the recommendations but the requirements you're imposing. The most recommended amps I see on here are Hypex or Purifi unless you want a cheap, small desktop chip amp. So take your trolling BS on down the road.

Adios

 

[mike70]

I'll never understand how some people does the impossible to be loved

 

[Joe Smith]

Honestly, it's not that hard to get into vinyl these days. While I have a variety of vintage tables, my regular use one is an AT-120xUSB with the 95 microline stylus, and it sounds great. About $500 at most with that better stylus.

Then, the choice of an integrated amp or separate amp / phono preamp. With modern equipment, I like the flexibility of having separate amp / preamp units. There are PLENTY of good phono preamps under $200 these days - Fosi, Schiit, JDS Labs, U-Turn come to mind.

I use a variety of restored receivers and integrateds and appreciate the convenience of a good, included phono circuit, and the convenience of a full preamp, as I still use a wide range of sources. But unless working well and many components restored, this can be an expensive and frustrating route unless you have a good local service/repair option. And then there's the aesthetics issue. Vintage is different than the current stuff, it either is something you respond to, or not. My little Marantz 2216 and Kenwood KA-3500 restored units sound great and have plenty of power for my needs.

Speakers? Again, unless you get a great deal on vintage, plenty of great current options under $500 for bookshelves, maybe a bit more for towers.

As to praise for Fosi and WiiM - they are good. I use them, also Aiyima and SMSL. Zero problems. You can get duds, yes. But at these price points, it's not a big worry. If units were failing right and left, that'd be different, but apart from one Topping amp that seemed to have a lot of issues, and the initial issues with some of the Fosi V3 monoblocks, I think the product fail rate is within completely normal bounds. And I have had decent dealings with Aiyima and Fosi support, and they have been helpful.

As to the OP's leaving and the tone of members here - I agree that in general, ASR folks get a little bit too forceful about steering people away from vinyl. I generally agree that for someone starting from scratch, it's an expensive and kind of obsolete way to go. But it was clear here from the OP's first entry that it was something he really wanted to do and felt he would derive pleasure from it. And, vinyl is pleasurable. It may not be the best sound quality possible, but I continue to use it, and not just because I have 2,500+ records. It's one part of the way I enjoy music (and the associated gear). So maybe we should all get better at not appearing too belligerent when someone is clearly wanting to go down the vinyl path and does appear to have already thought about that choice a good deal...

And tempering that with the fact that really, no one here got super negative or chiding to the OP - hey, if you ask for advice on an internet board, you know you're going to get a range of thoughts back, some helpful to you, some not - so, just get some "thicker skin" and move on?

 

[GuidoK]

Then there’s the matter of reviews. Amir's test of one of Fosi's phono preamps is being openly challenged in the DIY community ,and they actually documented where his methodology fails when it comes to MM input noise. If even ASR isn’t immune to flawed (or biased?) reporting, it raises bigger questions: how many people here are just echoing what they’ve heard without checking the facts? And how many of those voices are being incentivized to push the same narrative?

For anyone interested: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/fosi-audio-box-x5-phono-preamp-review.422514/

The Fosi X5 phono preamp costs around $110. For that money it's a great phono preamp.
Are there better ones? for sure! are there better ones for that money (new, so mrsp)? just try to find one, post it here and we'll roast you.
I mean, in your silly link, there isn't a suggestion made what to get better for that money. NOT A SINGLE ONE!
If it were thàt simple, that topic should be full of suggestions what to get better as a phonopre.
Maybe the cheapest project phonobox is a good alternative. Not suggested in your link. But was suggested in this topic. So 1-0 it is.....
You have a tiny budget (1200 for the set). What do you expect?
If you raise your budget tenfold, you might get the quality you desire from your reading, but then this topic would be different too.

 

[Ken1951]

Dude has already left the building as we did not cater to him in the manner he wished. Won't be missed I expect.

 

[Robin L]

I appreciate the reality check on the costs and effort involved in vinyl collecting.

I’m aware that building a serious collection over time can be expensive and demanding, and that vinyl is not the most practical format purely for sound quality or convenience.

That said, for me, starting vinyl is as much a hobby and passion as it is about music playback. It’s about enjoying vintage technology, the ritual of playing records, and the nostalgia it brings.
I also accept that vinyl won’t be my primary or only source of music , streaming will still cover most listening, for now. But I want a setup that gives me that special experience when I do play records.

So yes, it’s a balancing act between cost, quality, and enjoyment. And I’m ready for that.

Note the reviews Amir has of phono preamps. While the AT 120 turntable series do have built-in phono stages, there are outboard phono stages that have better overload margins, noise floors and distortion. These phono preamps will have less audible clicks and pops than phono stages with more restricted overload margins.

This is a low-cost, high-quality phono preamp that fits that description:

Fosi Audio Box X5 Phono Preamp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Fosi Audio Box X5 stereo Phono stage. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $109.99. Company manages to bring a touch of class in a category that is universally utilitarian with those rounded corners and orange power button. Flexibility...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[mtcn77]

I think I come from a similar query. What I would advise the OP is to start from the source - speakers.
Having looked online, what I would advise is, not to buy speakers, nor studio monitors. You need a really big sound in order to fill that room. Polk R500 is the minimum, I selected Klipsch the Sevens. I also went between Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G beforehand.
What made me opt for Klipsch is they have the far field volume - studio monitors and bookshelf speakers cannot fill a 40m² room. Even the top of the line Genelec monitors don't have the bass cone to move the air for that size of a room. Speakers and studio monitors are suited for small rooms. Mine is a 38m² weird T shaped room that really narrows down the choices to a narrow projection driver unit. That leaves Klipsch at the top, Polk at the second option.
The turntable is really secondary to that first question you need to answer. You can go with any turntable, just make sure you get the speakers that will drive the bass at the size of the room you have. You can overcome the tinny 40's radio sound, however you need to really solve that first issue. Good luck!
PS: If you need any resource material, you can list speakers by their bass extension and flatness on spinorama. Flatness is also important in order to increase the sound volume without hearing any ringing.

 

[LucS]

Dude has already left the building as we did not cater to him in the manner he wished. Won't be missed I expect.

It’s unfortunate that instead of constructive advice, the thread mostly turned into gatekeeping and dismissive attitudes toward personal preference. I came here looking for practical, experience-based recommendations for a beginner’s vinyl setup within a clear budget and space constraints—not a lecture on why vinyl “isn’t worth it” or why only measurements matter.

The responses were largely unhelpful, often snobbish, and leaned heavily on audiophile dogma rather than addressing the actual questions posed. If the goal is to foster a welcoming environment where newcomers can get actionable advice without being second-guessed or insulted, then that clearly didn’t happen here.

For those who value measurements above all else, that’s fine. But for many of us, enjoyment and personal taste are just as valid. Dismissing that outright and pushing only “ASR-approved” setups doesn’t serve the community well.

I appreciate the time some took to respond, but frankly, this kind of attitude is why many people avoid forums like this altogether. If you want to help newcomers, maybe start by listening, not lecturing.

You, in general, as a forum... won’t be missed. I got some real nice helpful comments in PMs from people who recognize and despise the elitism here and prefer to help privately rather than on the board itself.

By the way, looking at the Fosi and how it scores here, I feel for you snobs. A clone from a clone from a clone, coming straight out of the China pipeline, that has MASSIVE complaints in any YouTube thread you open about it, is considered “exceptional here” , cause it measures good, lmFao — that says a lot about the measurements and independent reviews on this site.

Keep adding your speaker cables on blocks and arguing about gold-plated connectors — meanwhile, the rest of us will be enjoying our music instead of stroking egos.

 

[Mort]

Still searching — but not here anymore

Welcome back. You missed us.

 

[Svend P]

By the way, looking at the Fosi and how it scores here, I feel for you snobs. A clone from a clone from a clone, coming straight out of the China pipeline, that has MASSIVE complaints in any YouTube thread you open about it, is considered “exceptional here” , cause it measures good, lmFao — that says a lot about the measurements and independent reviews on this site.

Keep adding your speaker cables on blocks and arguing about gold-plated connectors — meanwhile, the rest of us will be enjoying our music instead of stroking egos.

To me ASR is the exact opposite of what you write here. I think you got it all wrong, but probably this is not the place for you anyway.

 

[Bob from Florida]

It’s unfortunate that instead of constructive advice, the thread mostly turned into gatekeeping and dismissive attitudes toward personal preference. I came here looking for practical, experience-based recommendations for a beginner’s vinyl setup within a clear budget and space constraints—not a lecture on why vinyl “isn’t worth it” or why only measurements matter.

The responses were largely unhelpful, often snobbish, and leaned heavily on audiophile dogma rather than addressing the actual questions posed. If the goal is to foster a welcoming environment where newcomers can get actionable advice without being second-guessed or insulted, then that clearly didn’t happen here.

For those who value measurements above all else, that’s fine. But for many of us, enjoyment and personal taste are just as valid. Dismissing that outright and pushing only “ASR-approved” setups doesn’t serve the community well.

I appreciate the time some took to respond, but frankly, this kind of attitude is why many people avoid forums like this altogether. If you want to help newcomers, maybe start by listening, not lecturing.

You, in general, as a forum... won’t be missed. I got some real nice helpful comments in PMs from people who recognize and despise the elitism here and prefer to help privately rather than on the board itself.

By the way, looking at the Fosi and how it scores here, I feel for you snobs. A clone from a clone from a clone, coming straight out of the China pipeline, that has MASSIVE complaints in any YouTube thread you open about it, is considered “exceptional here” , cause it measures good, lmFao — that says a lot about the measurements and independent reviews on this site.

Keep adding your speaker cables on blocks and arguing about gold-plated connectors — meanwhile, the rest of us will be enjoying our music instead of stroking egos.

Just ran across this thread. Welcome to ASR! There is plenty of good info on the site. Unfortunately, there are also numerous individuals that consistently post to vinyl threads reminding everyone of the “inferior” nature of the format. Your question, as is often the case, was not about the nature of the format and some of the answers were not very helpful. Ignore those responses and use actual answers to your questions as data to assist with informed decisions.
Do you have a budget in mind?

 

[Nicoff]

After moving to a new house, I wasn’t able to set up my turntable for months. Last week, I finally got everything connected—and I was reminded why I love vinyl. There’s something deeply satisfying about listening to an entire album, start to finish, without skipping around. The nostalgia, the memories tied to certain records, and flipping through the liner notes—it’s all part of the experience.

Sure, the sound may not be perfect. But honestly, who cares?

 

[somebodyelse]

There’s something deeply satisfying about listening to an entire album, start to finish, without skipping around.

Well...half an album, then you have to turn it over Nothing stops you listening to whole albums on CD or streaming if you want to.

 

[mtcn77]

Well...half an album, then you have to turn it over Nothing stops you listening to whole albums on CD or streaming if you want to.

CD players don't work as quiet as record players. Also, I listened to the same song on vinyl and my phone. There is a huge missing mid section in the digital video played back on the phone. I couldn't demonstrate the same song experience on the phone to someone. Gotta love vinyl.

 

[somebodyelse]

CD players don't work as quiet as record players.

I've not found many that are noisy during playback - loading, initial scan and eject maybe, but not playing. Unless it's a drive in a PC and someone forgot to set the drive options to single speed, whole disc.

Also, I listened to the same song on vinyl and my phone. There is a huge missing mid section in the digital video played back on the phone. I couldn't demonstrate the same song experience on the phone to someone.

I've recorded a subset of my vinyl, and my phone can access the media server at home via a VPN, so that's not a problem for me. The flip side is that with the vinyl versions of some albums I miss the extra tracks that were only on the CD, and now on streaming platforms. Or different mastering on different releases on the same media. Sometimes streaming platforms carry more than one release, and sometimes which release(s) they have change over time. It's not a situation where one medium or platform is consistently better than another.

Gotta love vinyl.

I do, despite its many problems. They may be part of the charm.

 

[xanalog]

Keep adding your speaker cables on blocks and arguing about gold-plated connectors — meanwhile, the rest of us will be enjoying our music instead of stroking egos.

You may find it surprising that 'we' have monthly multi-tasking seminars at ASR and members are made to chew gum, walk AND enjoy our music, all at the same time!
Unfortunately, you may not qualify to participate.

 

[mtcn77]

Playing CDs is like playing Russian Roulette. You never know when you will scratch it, I'm clumsy that way.

Or different mastering on different releases on the same media.

I visit loudness-war just for this reason. You can pick and choose which albums to select for the highest dynamic range.

The flip side is that with the vinyl versions of some albums I miss the extra tracks that were only on the CD,

I can play both CD versions and vinyl versions on my active speakers. The issue is, vinyl merges the track into a very harmonious range. I never go, oh this is too loud, or the mix is not well when the volume is too high. On CD I feel the need to lower volume to bring some mids. I can't exactly pinpoint it. The vinyl always sounds more live.