Helping a kid out

I will match tomic601's donation--same caveat.

Mentoring youth is awesome :-)

Hey, good on you… kid’s lucky to have a mentor. Have you considered the Vincent PHO-8? Nice little unit with an outboard power supply. Hifishark turned up a few for sale in the $199-$250 range when I checked just now.

You only reinforce my point that there are literally a hundred options in that price range.  It’s difficult to discern which of them are just your average ‘me too’ products and which actually are quality sounding items.  I know the Schiit is the easy way out but for myself at least it’s a known quantity and fits the budget as well.  I was hoping for some hidden gems to consider that folks had some first hand experience with.  Thanks tomic601 for all the input and I may just take you up on your offer of duplicate vinyl…I was thinking about putting together a care package of music as a Christmas present.  I only mentioned the Bellari unit as I have heard it mentioned favorably a few times in reviews…plus it looks cool…which is of course also important.  I just unearthed a Rothwell Rialto for a teensy bit over budget that would be nice.

quick search…most probably available on Amazon

1. Cambridge Audio CP1 Phono Preamplifier- Black
2. Emotiva Audio XPS-1 Phono Preamp
3. Pro-Ject Audio – Phono Box DC – MM/MC Phono preamp with line output
4. YAQIN MS23B upgraded version of MS22B 12AX7B X2 Stereo Tube Phono Stage
5. Music Hall PA1.2 MM/MC Phono Pre Amp
6. Pro-Ject Phono Box USB V Phonograph Preamplifier, Black

i plan to write him off on my taxes….anyway

Roger that !

Contractor who installed our AC says his 16 Y/O daughter has 100 LP collection, earned them all. ! 

The Bellari is a hoot.

Get Tammy ( admin ) ok and i will send along some LP that i have duplicates of…. you can meter them out as he completes indentured servitude…… 

oldhvymec-

Agree that the Puffin would be a good fit but I want to keep the budget in the 200 or less range.  He does odd jobs around the neighborhood and is also saving up for a car so I know the competition for what his money gets spent on will be fierce.  I’m absolutely not above helping him out as he has proven to be both responsible and thankful.  I just want him to value the purchase and not get too carried away with gifts from the old guy down the street lol.  I’d prefer to be a mentor rather than a benefactor.

tomic601-

The Bottlehead is magnificent and a wonderful idea.  I’m just not sure either of us would have the time to assemble it.  He’d be learning soldering, woodworking, circuit design and craftsmanship.  Things that just aren’t taught anymore.  I will seriously consider the viability of this option.

mastering92-

His ears are good and despite having a knucklehead for an old man (a good friend of mine nonetheless) is a pretty thoughtful kid.  I taught him about sound-staging and to listen to textures and details.  I taught him to listen to the empty space between things and how different recordings have different effects on the sound.  When his parents come over for dinner I let him listen to my setup while the old folks hang out.  I gave him a Zeppelin IV album and his ‘friend’ who also happens to be a girl…but definitely isn’t a ‘girlfriend’ listened to the whole thing start to finish.  We haven’t done any classical yet, and definitely no jazz…but I did get him to admit he dug a Dave Brubeck album I played so there is hope.

With my career, busy life and countless excuses my wife and I never had any children of our own and I honestly was never a big fan of having any around.  The older I get however the more gratifying it gets to share some ‘old fashioned’ things with the younger ones who actually seem to give a damn.  An increasingly rare commodity nowadays.

Puffin used 3-400.00 worth EVERY penny.. Read a review or two.. Wonderful with top notch support from the manufacture and the public.. Nice well built.. Great onboard options too..

Parks Puffin.. Resale is close to what you paid. Same with used 3-400.00, it might not have all the latest options. Everything is upgradable for the most part with just firmware. There is a few hardware upgraded you can have done, if I remember correctly.

If you're gonna make your own recordings, RtR or Cassette. It sure helps.. Pop reduction, via software, pretty cool some of the options.

I paid 400.00 shipping and tax. 50 - 75 dollars for tax and shipping alone NOW.. LOL 200.00 in part, 300.00 in taxes. :-)

The AVA ( Audio by Van Alstine ) phono is excellent affordable SS. Who knows, maybe call Frank, he was a kid…wayyyyyyy back.

The Schitt is remarkable value

upend the kids life and build the Bottlehead tube phono kit. I will pitch in $50 IF you go that route….

Good on ya, don’t let anybody rain on the parade