Stereos and that

[James_B]

sorry guys, not using the search function is lazy as hell.
i'm blaming trying to navigate cardiff centre's needlessly confusing roads with a dire hangover all day for that one.

[James_B]

I didn't notice this thread before.

I'm after something similar, and although playing CDs would be good, a nice turntable is far more important to me at the moment, my mac would also be hooked up to it via optical through my soundcard for playing MP3s (though I know I'm shooting myself in the foot spending £500 and playing lossy audio through it, to some extent) and comparing mixes with my tannoy monitors and probably mixing songs with because these speakers are wank.

So basically, am I likely to make much of a saving by skipping the CD player?
And the recommendations here are good, but what about turntables? any brands I should look out for in particular?

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I like the look of this turntable- http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct ... RPM1-GENIE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
the simplicity of it is cool, and it has good reviews, but i don't really know.

[darvé]

hee hee, i tried to search for it, but couldn't remember what it was called. it was a process of elimination working out where it should be.

[Jangloid Mark]

My amp has blown, so, I'm looking to buy a new one.

I have a question. Can DCC in/out be used for minidisc?

[squirrelboutique]

I think this makes the third time someone has started a new thread for this.

Edit: merged!

[Sootyzilla]

My amp has blown, so, I'm looking to buy a new one.

I have a question. Can DCC in/out be used for minidisc?

DCC as in Digital Compact Cassette? If it's line level, why not? The amp doesn't know what you're plugging into it, it doesn't have any eyes.

[Uncle Ants]

My amp has blown, so, I'm looking to buy a new one.

I have a question. Can DCC in/out be used for minidisc?

DCC as in Digital Compact Cassette? If it's line level, why not? The amp doesn't know what you're plugging into it, it doesn't have any eyes.

Yup.

To those here looking for a good budget turntable second hand. Look out for a Pro-Ject Debut preferably a MkIII but a MkII would be okay, these are proper HiFi turntables and the sound quality is a lot better than those Numark or the £50 Argos specials. They can usually be had for about £70 or so second hand. I you buy one in Fleabay be careful that its all working fine and that the person who is selling knows how to pack it properly. If in doubt ask me and I'll PM you some instructions forthe person selling it to pack it properly. Its vert imporatnt if you don't want to wind up with a box of broken parts.

Or I have a few in the "returns" pile back at the shop I can have a look on Monday. Usually these aren't broken or anything. Just customers who returned them because they won't play MP3s or thought they had bought a fridge, or were pissed at 3am,on a Staurday morning when they pressed Buy - that sort of thing.

I'd avoid DJ type decks unless its a proper Technics SL1200/1210, but they aren't cheap even used and you have to be careful it hasn't been thrashed.

If you are getting second hand one, you may need to budget for a new stylus as you don't know where the old one has been and a knackered stylus will very likely knacker your records.

If you are getting an amp or an all in one jobby and want to use a turntable with it, Make sure it has a phono input or budget for a separate phono preamp. Most turntables will need one or the other and won't work into a line input.

Now can anyone here tell me how to stop iTunes cataloguing Bob Dylan under B for Bob?

[mimpkin]

Linus might know the answer to that one ;) . . . er . . . I'll get me coat . . .

[Martijn]

But if space precludes and it must be a midi type of thing then one of these:

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct ... O-DM37-BLK" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and a pair of these:

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct ... -CUSTOM-F1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We're thinking of buying those two (three) as well. Pete, are you still happy with them? Also, do I understand it correctly that you need to buy a special thingy to be able to play laptop sounds over the speakers. I know next to nothing about bluetooth and stuff like that, but it would make things a lot easier (and prettier), with no cables through the livingroom.

(Recommendations for something similar in the same price range are welcome too, of course.)

[humblebee]

But if space precludes and it must be a midi type of thing then one of these:

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct ... O-DM37-BLK" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and a pair of these:

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct ... -CUSTOM-F1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We're thinking of buying those two (three) as well. Pete, are you still happy with them? Also, do I understand it correctly that you need to buy a special thingy to be able to play laptop sounds over the speakers. I know next to nothing about bluetooth and stuff like that, but it would make things a lot easier (and prettier), with no cables through the livingroom.

(Recommendations for something similar in the same price range are welcome too, of course.)

The speakers are great. The stereo isn't as good though - the in and out mechanism on the CD tray is knackered so I can't use the CD player part any more, which is annoying cos that's what I bought it for. The station switchy thing on the tuner is horrendous as well. It sounds good though!

I wanted to do that laptop/bluetooth thing as well and I bought something to do it, but it turned out I needed something else as well and then I moved house so I lost track of the whole thing and the bit I bought is at the back of a drawer somewhere.

[Martijn]

Ah, thanks. Sorry to hear it broke already. We might have to look a bit harder for something else then.

And do you, or does anyone else, know what you really need to make a stereo play your laptop sounds through the speakers, without using calbes?

[humblebee]

Ah, thanks. Sorry to hear it broke already. We might have to look a bit harder for something else then.

And do you, or does anyone else, know what you really need to make a stereo play your laptop sounds through the speakers, without using calbes?

I dunno, sorry. But if you find out, let me know!

[moopind]

Anyone use a Creative Zen Vision M? My mp3 player went missing and I'm finding the commute much harder without music (I did take a CD with me today). I don't want to use iTunes. Zune seems overcomplicated and its features US-centric as it's not officially released here (UK). I don't want another Archos, as the interface was too rubbish. I plan to resolve this on the cheap, too. Plenty of Creative Zens on eBay.

Anyone?

[Uncle Ants]

The speakers are great. The stereo isn't as good though - the in and out mechanism on the CD tray is knackered so I can't use the CD player part any more, which is annoying cos that's what I bought it for. The station switchy thing on the tuner is horrendous as well. It sounds good though!

It was less than a year ago though wasn't it? Should be covered.

[humblebee]

The speakers are great. The stereo isn't as good though - the in and out mechanism on the CD tray is knackered so I can't use the CD player part any more, which is annoying cos that's what I bought it for. The station switchy thing on the tuner is horrendous as well. It sounds good though!

It was less than a year ago though wasn't it? Should be covered.

Yeah, it is - I just haven't been arsed to send it back yet cos it's such a hassley thing to pack up and stuff!

[Uncle Ants]

Yeah, it is - I just haven't been arsed to send it back yet cos it's such a hassley thing to pack up and stuff!

I feel bad recommending it now, oh well. Best get it back before the warranty does run out though.

[String Bean Jen]

Anyone use a Creative Zen Vision M? My mp3 player went missing and I'm finding the commute much harder without music (I did take a CD with me today). I don't want to use iTunes. Zune seems overcomplicated and its features US-centric as it's not officially released here (UK). I don't want another Archos, as the interface was too rubbish. I plan to resolve this on the cheap, too. Plenty of Creative Zens on eBay.

Anyone?

I have a Creative Zen! I didn't want to install itunes and like have to remap/retag/rewhatever all my burned music/MP3s. You can drag and drop files in Windows Explorer or in the software provided by Creative Zen.

We also did a comparison the other day. I was at my friend's house and plugged in to his stereo my Zen to play him some songs. It was much louder and clearer than when he plugged in his iPod and turned up the volume!

[tompony]

If you're looking at other ipod alternatives, I can recommend the Sansa Fuze - they're cheap, sound good and work well, and I'm absolutely 100% satisfied with mine, which is a rare thing indeed. They only go up to 16GB though if that's an issue - I find that to be ample space as I change my selection of mp3s round quite regularly anyway.

[moopind]

Thanks for these tips. I had filled up my now-missing 20gb one, so was aiming for 30 or more. I like the idea of drag-and-drop a lot.

[tompony]

I should have said, the Sansa Fuze is entirely drag and drop and doesn't need any software to be installed at all.

Not ideal if you want the bigger storage, but I love it so much, I feel the need to recommend it to everyone!