Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

@gbj_tester thanks for this! Nearly just went for it

Is this a place to ask about soundbar for tv?

Maybe. Most here will tell you a stereo speaker setup is vastly superior, but as you don't already have that, I'd get a Sonos beam or Arc and be done with it - especially if you already have Sonos stuff?

Ok great
Beam it is then!

I'd buy it from somewhere with free returns just in case you're not into it anyway, but they're well reviewed and iirc @soul likes his.

Yeah, we have a beam and an arc (for different TVs). Beam is excellent for the money but the arc is incredible.

Not convinced, will wait for the reviews.
Apart from fancier screen doesn't offer anything more than £1k retail (£900 easy to find at local hifi shops) for the Marantz PM7000n, been super happy with mine, 4 months or so now. Only negative is the Marantz app for it is brand new, but feels like it was made in 2006. I use 'Bubble upnp' paid for version (£4 for life I think?) and super happy with it, does everything I want, makes sounds good, anyone can use it easily, comes with a real physical remote in the box. Class A/B type amplifer, makes some heat, but not a vacuum tube room heater by any stretch.
No fancy screen though, just a regular 'album/artist/title' bar, gives you enough info without being intrusive.
Has an internal separate chip phono stage + DAC (a few notchs above what you normally get in an all in one) plugged and played with a few mates £100-300 DAC and stages, couldn't detect a difference with my speakers, maybe if you had really fancy gear it might make a difference though.

Cambridge Audio I'm always on the fence with, some of their products are utterly bang on the money and with the times, and other ones you just feel 40% ripped off (I figured dealer margin on their products differs with the exact product, so some literally are better value for money), could be wrong .

The 5e and 3e have the same compliance: https://www.ortofon.com/om-series-p-550

However I think you're tonearm is medium mass so might accommodate a wider variety of styli? Sorry I only know what works for my TT.

Compliance relates to the stiffness of the stylus cantilever. High compliance means low stiffness. Basically it's better to match high compliance stylus with low mass tonearms and visa versa, but with a medium mass tonearm (as I understand the RPM genie is at 13.5g) you have more options.

The Ortofon OM series are all high compliance, and basically the only option for "ultra-low mass" tonearms, so generally people replace like with like, hence why Airhead said to check, but googling shows the RPM with various different styli from stock.

I use 'Bubble upnp' paid for

This is a great app to add functionality to so many products. Lets you stream stuff like Tidal and local files to a whole variety of devices.

Sure, give me a shout when you have decided what you're going for. I upgraded my amp to a Marantz PM6007 (it was in a bargain bundle with speakers) which has a built-in phono stage so it's now surplus to requirements.

@neu thanks again for the info. Think I will go for the 5e or 3e, £40 ish. Unless there is something obviously better for my money? don't really want to spend more than that

I really like the AT95E as a starter cart they do seem to be getting rarer though. The new version is good and comes in around £45. I've not heard Ortofon much, they have fans so I don't doubt they have some good qualities.

Anyone got any expereince with the Sony PS-v715 record player?
Just picked one up and bunged in the AC in cord to a two pronged IEC to UK (rated at 250 V) adaptor and into mains...
Tis not spinning?

Have little xp here so dunno if I am being stupid? Have the two RCA cables plugged into the amplifier etc.
The start/stop seems a bit odd - has no real way of 'pressing' one side.

Cheers for any help!

Have you lifted the platter to see if the belt hasn't disintegrated?
That's as far as my knowledge goes

Does it display anything that would reassure you it might want to be spinning. Fully automatic sounds like a problem waiting to happen. Start stop should just be a single press button.

Cheers guys!

+RussyJ20
The belt had come off in shipping, it was in good nick and I put it back on. Am pretty sure its on right...

+Airhead
I am not sure if there is meant to be any display, I cannot see any lights and I don't think the part in the attached photo [1] is meant to be a screen.
Yeh, it was a punt, I have had seen quite a few working old automatic ones though.
The button is a source of confusion. You can see the attached photos [2][3] , its at an angle (about the horiz axis) that seems to be fixed weirdly, but if you press on each end it rotates a bit (about the vert axis). But there is no click or any tactile feedback to register it...

I have a feeling is in the power supply, even when fully connected up to the amp there's no satisying crackling over the speakers.
Wonder whether you guys know what adaptor to use for perhaps some simillar sony turntables.
I've attached the b*st*rd [4]; appears to me to be a IEC two pronged number. Did connect it to [this] but alas, not working. (https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/power-cable-assemblies/9010756/).

4 Attachments

I guess you've downloaded the manual :-

https://www.manualscenter.com/manuals/sony/psv715-service-manual.html#.YHbUABNKgUE

I'd have it apart, change the cable and check the voltage setting. If you have it connected to speakers via a phono amp you should get some sound from it just rotating a record with the stylus on it. Unless it has an internal phono stage which would not necessarily be a good thing.

I suppose the other thing is it might not rotate until the am is over the deck as it's fully automatic it might not like you pulling the arm over the deck either.

Yes, manual didn't have much to it.
Hrmm, tricky. Thanks, will give them a go; try and force some responce out of it...
Need to see if an electrically minded friend can probe it or something.

Still think its just not going 'on' when I connect it to mains. Really ought to have a light or something.

You can just stroke the stylus lightly with a bit of paper to check if there's a signal, if you're afraid of yanking the tonearm onto a record.

Stylus whispering?

Ooh, good idea, will give it a shot.
Thanks!

New neighbours are annoying.

If I wanted to spend £1k on bookshelf speakers (inc amp if they're not active) to annoy my neighbours and fill my kitchen with high quality sound... what should I look at?

Kef LSX? (to avoid amp footprint in kitchen)

I have B&W 606s (£320) paired to a rega io (£350) which I'm happy with. not sure if the 606s are too big to be considered 'bookshelf' speakers though... they're maybe 'floor standers'?