Critique my setup


Guys - just looking to get into the vinyl space.  I've always been into audio (worked a hifi store when I was younger) and love to do everything with music.  With entering the vinyl space, I'm looking forward to the more involving experience and the more analog sound and enjoyment that comes from spinning records.  I'm also using this opportunity to try out tubes - I've always heard about them, always wanted to try them, never actually had the chance.  Where I live now, there are no hi-fi stores within a few hours, so I'm just biting the bullet and buying from online retailers with good return policies.  

I'm curious what you guys think of the following:
VPI Classic Signature (3D tonearm)
Ortofon Black Quintet MC Cartridge
VPI ADS
Manley Chinook Tube Phono 
Jolida 3502 Integrated (comes with EL34 - thinking about upgrading right away to KT150's)
Klipsch RF25 Towers 
Deftech Supercube I (will probably try with/without and see what I like)

I was thinking about the Sonus Faber Venere 3's for replacing my Klipsch towers, they seem to me the weak link here in the system.  

I listen to alt rock, indie, some oldies, rock, and not so much the classical or jazz - although if the right stuff finds it's way into my library, I'll probably listen to it.  

So questions:
What do you think of the setup?
Speakers - are they the weak link here?  Recommendations in the < 3500 space if I was going to replace them?  
Tips/Tricks that you might want to provide while I get started on this journey?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
mattyjman

Showing 1 response by analogluvr

 There is no such thing as too much tubes in your system. Good tube gear does not sound slow and bloated, that is bad gear or speakers that are in incompatible match with the tube gear.   If you have the proper speakers there is no need to compromise with a solid-state amp. A good tube amp will Soundstage better and do 3-D presence better. 
 Based on your list I would look at different speakers, kill the speed controller and potentially look at other amplifiers.   Most importantly when you're looking at speakers get ones with high-efficiency that have a nominal impedance of at least eight homes and a flat impedance curve.  If you get very appropriate speakers you can go with set or OTL both of which sounds better than regular pentode tube amps.