System for a 16yr old, could I do better than this?

[Multicore]

I prefer a DJ TT over a British-style low mass thing. Apart from that I think it looks great.

Take a look at Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB.

Or I like an automatic too for when I'm lounging on the couch and don't want to get up when the needle is in the run-out groove. Denon DP-300F

 

[Multicore]

On another forum (uk based) someone mentioned buying a Bluetooth turntable such as the Project T1 BT and Q Acoustics M20 wireless/bluetooth speakers (well reviewed) he could Bluetooth Spotify directly from his phone and connect the turntable by Bluetooth. Nice simple setup with minimum wires that he could easily take to uni in a couple of years.

If “I were buying for myself” then the Wiim ultra/project debut s setup would be perfect and what I’d want, but I’m buying for a 16yr old and have to take that into consideration, being a 16yr old he has iPhone permanently glued to his hand so this would be a vast improvement over his current £150 all in one turntable/speaker setup

And it’s £300 cheaper, so I would have the £ saved to buy him a few vinyl albums to go with it.

It's worth a thought. Young people often move around a lot so how easy it all is to tear down, transport, and set up makes a difference. With TT, amp and speakers there's a lot of cabling and the speakers have to be more-or-less installed somewhere. I have a House of Marley Bag o Riddim BT speaker that's really quite pleasing to listen to. Play from your phone or from a Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB-Wireless (same as the one I mentioned above but with BT). It won't sound as good as the Kali boxes but they aren't also battery powered for portable parties. Easier use means it might get used more.

 

[Somafunk]

Gotta agree, it's a carefully thought out and sensible system.

What I would also do is give him a spare headshell with say an ATVM95C mounted to use for vinyl he picks up 2nd hand. Teach him how to correctly balance the arm and he'll be able to change from the Sumiko to the AT whenever. Otherwise, he's one accident away from the TT needing an expensive stylus. A 16yo will back-cue at some stage, even if he's told not to, pretending to be a DJ and that will snap off or damage the Sumiko. Then he'll feel like a goose.

Or even grab a few of the medium VTF tracking AT-3600 carts/styli/headshell for when his mates come over and mess with his TT.

I can’t really leave the house (apart to get into my car parked at door) due to my spms so it’s going to be entirely on him to set it up out the box, he’s had his cheap £150 all in one unit for a year and is really careful/protective with his 50 odd album collection, he doesn’t let his friends or his “current” GF touch them.

 

[Somafunk]

It's worth a thought. Young people often move around a lot so how easy it all is to tear down, transport, and set up makes a difference.

That’s what I was considering, for when he eventually goes off to Uni then the Q Acoustics M20 would be all he needs to take for music as he’ll be in halls of residence for the first year or two, once he’s settled, if he feels the need take his turntable and if it’s Bluetooth then all the easier - convenience in use trumps ultimate sound quality in this scenario.

He’s got an entire lifetime to upgrade as he feels the need, this is to get him started.

 

[antcollinet]

yet he’s been so mature and been a rock for his mum (my best mate) as well as doing loads of stuff for myself (I have spms),

Sounds like he deserves it. I've nothing to add to the suggestions above, just glad he has someone like you in his life.

 

[kemmler3D]

Great idea, very cool of you, and I think the original setup seems good. The WiiM Ultra has bluetooth input so I don't think the convenience factor is really diminished with the Kali speakers. My guess is he will want the TT at university, vinyl is cool again after all.

This might blow up the budget a bit, but this is probably also your chance to get him to listen to some records of your choosing, whatever you consider "the classics" will probably get played at least once...

 

[Roland68]

It’s for a mates kid as a Xmas present, he’s into vinyl and currently uses a very cheap all in one unit with inbuilt speakers but on visits to drop shopping & stuff at mine/listen to my system, he has been casually asking me about better turntables so I’ve cleared it with his mum that I can buy him something better for Xmas, but that means turntable + amp + speakers so due to space constraints in his tiny room I’ve thought of the following setup,

Project Debut S turntable - £349

Wiim Ultra Streamer - £350

Kali LP-UNF monitors - £300

It’s a lot of money but he’s been through hell over the past few years with his dad (close mate) dying with oesophageal cancer (horrible) and yet he’s been so mature and been a rock for his mum (my best mate) as well as doing loads of stuff for myself (I have spms), he did well at his standard grades, teachers love him, wants to study international relations so I feel he needs a wee treat for Xmas.

All the above get excellent reviews and the Wiim Ultra seems to tick two boxes with having the phono input, and also being an excellent streamer (he also has a Spotify subscription). As I mentioned his room is small (10ft x 6ft ish) so the speakers would have to fit on his ikea desk and the turntable on a wall shelf (something else I’ll need).

The only thing I’m not 100% convinced on is the turntable?, I have zero knowledge regarding spinny black discs so is it worth the money?, or should I be looking elsewhere?

Ta very much,

I would suggest including the second-hand market.
You can often get a good used Project record player for £100-150, a used and good Cambridge amplifier from the old A series with phono or similar for around £50-150. For used speakers under £300, you can look for Dali, Triangle, Mission, B&W, Wharfedale, Elac, etc.
The record player and amplifier are the same size and can be easily stacked.
For a streaming option, a Wiim Mini is perfectly adequate, although for a 16-year-old, a DIY project based on a Rapberry could also be interesting.
There are also BT adapters for a few pounds to stream from your mobile phone or PC.

 

[Chrispy]

Why does the kid like vinyl is my first question and personally wouldn't feed that habit unless he has some vast collection to play....and not much playing with poor care of the vinyl let alone whether it used a cheap portable player's tonearm with a coupla coins strapped to it.....

 

[Head_Unit]

Wiim Ultra Streamer - £350

Kali LP-UNF monitors - £300

As the speakers make far more difference, I'd be getting a cheaper WiiM and more expensive Kalis. Those are very well engineered, per the expert at AudioXpress. Now as it seems the WiiM is dispensed with anyway, I'd still try to get up to an 8" woofer, no sub needed very much. Bigger woofers = better bass and really what kid doesn't like bass? As testimony may I present

 

[Somafunk]

This might blow up the budget a bit, but this is probably also your chance to get him to listen to some records of your choosing, whatever you consider "the classics" will probably get played at least once...

Last Xmas I bought him Hipgnosis - Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art : The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue of all the great album covers they’ve created and i wrote on the inside cover “Choose one album per month and I’ll buy it for you, but choose carefully”

I would suggest including the second-hand market.
You can often get a good used Project record player for £100-150, a used and good Cambridge amplifier from the old A series with phono or similar for around £50-150. For used speakers under £300, you can look for Dali, Triangle, Mission, B&W, Wharfedale, Elac, etc.
The record player and amplifier are the same size and can be easily stacked.
For a streaming option, a Wiim Mini is perfectly adequate, although for a 16-year-old, a DIY project based on a Rapberry could also be interesting.
There are also BT adapters for a few pounds to stream from your mobile phone or PC.

Nah, this is for a 16yr old, as i've said convenience trumps sound quality. I'm not buying for my needs, I'm buying for his.

Why does the kid like vinyl is my first question and personally wouldn't feed that habit unless he has some vast collection to play....and not much playing with poor care of the vinyl let alone whether it used a cheap portable player's tonearm with a coupla coins strapped to it.....

It's not my place to question his likes/dislikes, he's got an entire lifetime of folk attempting to tell him he's wrong or dissuade him from what he derives enjoyment from

As the speakers make far more difference, I'd be getting a cheaper WiiM and more expensive Kalis. Those are very well engineered, per the expert at AudioXpress. Now as it seems the WiiM is dispensed with anyway, I'd still try to get up to an 8" woofer, no sub needed very much. Bigger woofers = better bass and really what kid doesn't like bass? As testimony may I present

No room for big speakers, no need for Wii now as he can stream to the M20 from his phone.

Pretty sure I've got his system sorted with the Project T1 BT and Q Acoustics M20 speakers

 

[Timmy]

I’d consider buying him a manufacturer-provided set. There’s even one to be found at the Pro-Ject website. Several colour options, though another price range.

 

[Somafunk]

I’d consider buying him a manufacturer-provided set. There’s even one to be found at the Pro-Ject website. Several colour options, though another price range.

View attachment 390042

£1800

 

[Bob from Florida]

It’s for a mates kid as a Xmas present, he’s into vinyl and currently uses a very cheap all in one unit with inbuilt speakers but on visits to drop shopping & stuff at mine/listen to my system, he has been casually asking me about better turntables so I’ve cleared it with his mum that I can buy him something better for Xmas, but that means turntable + amp + speakers so due to space constraints in his tiny room I’ve thought of the following setup,

Project Debut S turntable - £349

Wiim Ultra Streamer - £350

Kali LP-UNF monitors - £300

It’s a lot of money but he’s been through hell over the past few years with his dad (close mate) dying with oesophageal cancer (horrible) and yet he’s been so mature and been a rock for his mum (my best mate) as well as doing loads of stuff for myself (I have spms), he did well at his standard grades, teachers love him, wants to study international relations so I feel he needs a wee treat for Xmas.

All the above get excellent reviews and the Wiim Ultra seems to tick two boxes with having the phono input, and also being an excellent streamer (he also has a Spotify subscription). As I mentioned his room is small (10ft x 6ft ish) so the speakers would have to fit on his ikea desk and the turntable on a wall shelf (something else I’ll need).

The only thing I’m not 100% convinced on is the turntable?, I have zero knowledge regarding spinny black discs so is it worth the money?, or should I be looking elsewhere?

Ta very much,

Sounds like he will enjoy whatever you come up with! Have you considered used market? Below is from Facebook Marketplace Scotland. If you replace the cartridge with a AT VM95SH, could be interesting. At the least quite an upgrade from current setup.

 

[JeremyFife]

That's a beautiful thought.
I'd second the comments here that your original choice is a fuss-free and very capable system - easy to set up and use.

Also agree that the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB is a good alternative, but make your turntable choice based on looks as those two options are different aesthetics.

Either way, it'll be a lovely gift

 

[Somafunk]

Sounds like he will enjoy whatever you come up with! Have you considered used market? Below is from Facebook Marketplace Scotland. If you replace the cartridge with a AT VM95SH, could be interesting. At the least quite an upgrade from current setup.

Dundee is quite a journey from S-W Scotland , if I buy new from a local dealer (60 miles away) who offers a 6 yr warranty then any issues and he calls them up to repair/replace.

I’m not considering used for that issue.

 

[Multicore]

Also agree that the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB is a good alternative, but make your turntable choice based on looks as those two options are different aesthetics.

I can't agree on that. There's a right and a wrong in TT aesthetics. If the boy is put on the wrong track by an xmas gift at a young age the effects could last a lifetime and could influence his peer group. You might forgive Somafunk for that but I don't know if I could. :P

When I was 16, the LP12 was ne plus ultra. A year later I moved from Glasgow (where I got that idea, of course) to Buckinghamshire to begin training. Another of the students, an aspiring Sloan Ranger (who showed up at the apprentice hostel in his own car!) one day came back from a weekend bragging about a night club he went to. He'd been in the DJ booth and a fight ensued between the Glaswegian and the Sloan over which was the best TT. That Japanese consumer brand better than Linn? Pifft!

Well, it was many years before I got my head straight on that one. Many years. I just hope Somefunk's young friend can be spared that.