Have your say & ask the experts

roger06:

Actually - I have an old Marantz CD63 I'm about to put on eBay - if you can get to Chichester I'll donate it to you my friend for nout...

 I can't get to Chichester, as it's over 200 miles away from where I live and I can't drive. =\

d3moliti0n:

roger06:

Actually - I have an old Marantz CD63 I'm about to put on eBay - if you can get to Chichester I'll donate it to you my friend for nout...

 I can't get to Chichester, as it's over 200 miles away from where I live and I can't drive. =\

 

  I think the "can't drive" bit is somewhat irrelevant as it wouldn't be worth the petrol even if you could!

 

 

 

It's a shame you weren't here a week ago. Someone flogged a system on Ebay that went for £69. A pair of B&W DM110 big standmount speakers worth at least double that, and the rest of the gear wasn't shabby either (Marantz CD52 Mk2, Creek 4040 amp, Aiwa ADF850 tape deck - total bargain).

Re: the Sansui AU-217, if you can get that, then go for it, it's a fine amp for the money and will last you an upgrade or two. Doesn't emphasise one aspect over any other; it's not too bassy, or trebley and the overall sound is very cohesive. Everything just gels nicely with this amp. That said, I think it'll go for nearer £40-50.


Here's some more ideas for the £100 budget (not all of these will be practical if you are unable to collect from the sellers, but it's just to point you in the direction of what may be possible at your budget):-

Sansui AU-101 amplifier £35 - Gumtree: http://www.gumtree.com/london/13/47856113.html

Technics SU-V300Mk2 amplifier - £35 (Ebay - Collection only from Bury) 130340045175

National Panasonic (Technics) turntable £15 - Gumtree: http://www.gumtree.com/london/86/48041386.html

Trio turntable £30 - Gumtree: http://www.gumtree.com/london/40/47293340.html

Philips CD610 Mk2 CDP - £30 - Green Home Electronics http://www.greenhomeshop.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=1146

KEF Coda 7 standmount speakers - £35 - these were raved about on release - superb boxes for the money, Green Home electronics site again: http://www.greenhomeshop.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=1555


See also your local Gumtree pages - these were just lifted off the London site I looked at. Plus, check your local papers which often have audio gear going at cheap prices.

It's tight but it could be done - happy hunting!

here are a few quick suggestions (just looking at buy it nows) .... obviously the bargains are on auctions and not buy it nows, but these are ok

Technics SU-V3 amp ... ebay item 310179229750 ... buy it now of £39.95 (this is a 30 watt/8 ohm Class A amp and had very good reviews)

Mission 760i speakers with stands ... ebay item 220506602137 ... buy it now of £40

Pioneer PL-300X turntable ... ebay item 120488510968 ... buy it now of £49

or this Sansui P-L50 fully automatic direct drive linear tracking turntable complete with box and user's manual for £49.99 from greenhomeshop.co.uk

so, excluding shipping, total cost will be £128.95 and you will have a fairly decent system ... if you shop wisely and buy items that are in auction format and not buy it nows, you will get a similar system for approx £60-£70

and here is a Garrard 2025TC turntable with a buy it now of £16.19 and comes with a 30 day warranty ... ebay item 200402747735

so, with the Technics amp and Mission speakers, it will cost you £96.14

Would £100 buy you rubbish hifi. Only if you went out and bought rubbish with it.

That Ebay sale I mentioned earlier, the one with the whole system going for £70. Here it is, check this out:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330372271189&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182

So, the question really is, is spending £70 on this little lot, plus maybe £30 for fuel depending on where you live, worth it?

Well, were it my money, I'd have nipped in the car and picked this little lot up happily and I'm in Edinburgh. This is a steal for this little lot. No, it's far from cutting edge, but for the price? Someone walked away with a top deal here.

roger06:

For even £120 I simply wouldn't bother. It's going to sound as awful as it must through your TV...

Save up, sell stuff, sell body parts - you need to spend more to get anything even remotely decent (it's not my intention to patronise - but £120 wouldn't even buy my speaker cable...)

Go and listen to a proper hi fi and you'll know what life enhancing audio pleasure is...

 

 

 

See my earlier post Roger...seems like you can buy some decent kit. Added to that, you can go out and have a life as well afterwards, bit of a double bonus that.

Ok, thanks for all of the responses and advice.


I'm watching a few amps on ebay and was just wondering if anyone would recommend any of the following:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140356472916&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320443951770&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180427684130&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Do they all have the correct phono inputs needed to run a turntable? And are the amps themselves decent?


Thanks for your help.

Decent amp the Cambridge, my father in law uses one in his system and it's a nice little performer. Good all-round amp and a good starter. Yes, you can do better, but it's far from shabby; good build and doesn't seem to suffer from the 'brightness' you sometimes hear from the later Cambridge amps.

Yes, you can run a turntable, but am not sure if this was removed form their later models - check the Cambridge website to be sure but also with a seller if you go via the Ebay route. You have no recall in auction, but if you go for one described as having a phono stage and it turns out otherwise in a Buy It Now, you're covered by Sale of Goods and Distance Selling Regulations so you can get your money back (this may take time...).

Nice choice, but I would widen your net a little as well.


EDIT: Ending in 2 hrs from now, Marantz CD52 Mk II (excellent machine, had one myself years ago), good nick and sitting at 99p currently with 1 bid against it - collection only from Skelmersdale, so, if you know anyone near there in Lancashire...! Here's the number: 370284590342.

d3moliti0n:

Ok, thanks for all of the responses and advice.


I'm watching a few amps on ebay and was just wondering if anyone would recommend any of the following:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140356472916&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320443951770&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180427684130&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Do they all have the correct phono inputs needed to run a turntable? And are the amps themselves decent?


Thanks for your help.

I had a CA A500 and it was a decent enough starter amp. Bear in mind these amps were not shipped with a phono stage. The boards had to be purchased separately from Richer Sounds and fitted by them at a cost of £20.00 IIRC.

gpi - thanks; couldn't remember exactly, I know my father-in-law's plays his t/t but wasn't sure if this was as standard.

OP - Technics SU-V6 amp, superb build and well worth eyeballing this one. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TECHNICS-SU-V6-STEREO-INTEGRATED-DC-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ320444260537QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers?hash=item4a9bf760b9#ht_500wt_1182

...however, it's in Cheshire and collect only...sorry!

Hi

I still haven't bought anything yet but looking around ebay I have found two items that look pretty good. But I just want some feedback on whether they are decent items for the price. It is a turntable and an intergrated amp. Here are the links:

 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Quality-Marantz-TT185-Turntable-Record-Player-Deck_W0QQitemZ330375683613QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Turntables?hash=item4cebecde1d

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sharp-Integrated-Amplifier-SM-31-Hi-Fi-Amp_W0QQitemZ230395319967QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers?hash=item35a4a1969f

Are these good items for the price? Or should I be looking for something else?

Thanks for your help.

No idea to be honest, but they will do a job. Here's a slightly better proposition which I doubt will go for much - however, the design was based on an early 90s NAD model and this amp (Proton 520) enjoyed some good reviews at the time. If this goes above £30 I'll be surprised.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Proton-520-Stereo-Amplifiers_W0QQitemZ190347855886QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers?hash=item2c519dc80e#ht_500wt_1182