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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
rbstehno
1,432 posts
 
I have owned 4 Jolida pieces and still own 1 today. I have also heard their top of the line pieces/separates at shows and they sounded good, but never was on a wow list. For the $$$ Jolida is good sounding, but for the same $$$, you could do better, like a Rogue Cronus Magnum II with kt-120 tubes. I bought the rogue after comparing against the Jolida separates. When you look at the 3402 fusion amp with kt-120 tubes, it is rated at 80 watts, whereas the rogue Cronus magnum II with the same tubes is rated at 110 watts. So I’m not bashing Jolida, I just wouldn’t own their products if I was considering moving up
mdelrossi1
79 posts
 
Do you have any equipment now? Or is this a shopping list?

I agree on the Cronus magnum suggestion, I have the 1 not the 2 and it's only bettered by my Primaluna Dialogue Premium integrated.
I had a Jolida 502, it was good but the Cronus blew it away in soundstage and tone, its (cronus) also more affected to tube rolling.

As far as the turntable goes, I just moved from a 30 year old VPI HW-19 mk3 to a Prime with the 3D arm, amazing upgrade.

You might want to rethink the tube phono, especially if you are going with tubes. Could be too much tubbiness.

My system in a 12X16X 10' room
VPI Prime Ortofon 2M Bronze
Lehmann black cube se2
Primaluna Dialogue Premium integrated
Focal 1008be2

Everything was used/open box (except for the turntable, it was supposed to be but they upgraded me to a new table).
I probably saved my self around 5k going used.

It took me a while to get here but I'm happy for now with the way my system sounds.

good luck.


mattyjman OP
5 posts
 
@mdelrossi1 
the equipment is all on its way, sans the speakers.  I looked at the primaluna, but simply didn’t have enough to spend.  This is my first foray into tubes and from my perspective overspent on the phono stage and underspent on the amp so I could make sure money was going where it was going to make a difference.   I think whether or not I stay with the Jolida, the Manley phono is a fine piece from what I’ve heard, and will likely stay.  

As as for too much “tube-iness”, what exactly does that sound like?  I have a regular ht amp for surround sound duties... I can plug that in and see what the difference is (and I intend to), but from what I’ve read tube at the front end and back end is ideal.  Not that I would know... but I’m intrigued by the concept of second order harmonics and a warm lush sound.  
mdelrossi1
79 posts
 
@mattyjman,
I haven’t heard the Manley, I positive it’s wonderful.
Too much tube-iness, would be a more euphonic sound at the cost of detail, and attack (like on a cymbal or guitar), but like I’ve said I haven’t heard the Manley. I chose the Lehman, after using a Cambridge Audio 640, and then a Yaqin 23b (which I liked,but haven’t put it back in the system,) after listening to several tracks that Michael Fremer posted on analog planet. Low noise and great detail, and soundstage.

Its a a journey to find a system that works for you and your room.
But well worth it.
Remember it’s all about synergy.
Best of luck

mdr
rbstehno
1,432 posts
 
Imo tubes provide a great warm sound, usually associated with the midrange. Sometimes the highs feel as though there is a veil drawn over the speakers. When I had the rogue, I loved the miss and highs, but the low end was too flabby for me, the rogue just didn’t control the lows to my liking.
if you notice, there is a trend to use a tube preamp with a big solid state amp, which should give you the best of both worlds. To me and that’s why I switched from tube back to solid state, you can find a good solid state amp that sounds like a good tube amp but controls the low end.
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