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August 8, 2016 8:04 AM Subscribe
We were given this Audio Technica AT-LP60 turntable and these JBL Loft 40 speakers. We understand we need a receiver to use them together, but that is about all we understand.
We want to, in descending order of priority:
-Play records.
-Connect digital music-playing devices. We currently have ancient iPhones with a Spotify account, and many mp3s that for now live on a Mac desktop hard drive. However, this setup is all subject to change pending failure of elderly hardware. Bluetooth or WiFi streaming is OK but some kind of wired connection is preferable.
-Potentially add a couple more speakers and/or connect to a TV in the future.
What should we buy to do some or all of these things reasonably well? We're not audiophiles and would love to pay under $200 but have some wiggle room and recognize that you get what you pay for. The Wirecutter's receiver recommendations all seem like overkill, though their budget pick is in the price range.
We want to, in descending order of priority:
-Play records.
-Connect digital music-playing devices. We currently have ancient iPhones with a Spotify account, and many mp3s that for now live on a Mac desktop hard drive. However, this setup is all subject to change pending failure of elderly hardware. Bluetooth or WiFi streaming is OK but some kind of wired connection is preferable.
-Potentially add a couple more speakers and/or connect to a TV in the future.
What should we buy to do some or all of these things reasonably well? We're not audiophiles and would love to pay under $200 but have some wiggle room and recognize that you get what you pay for. The Wirecutter's receiver recommendations all seem like overkill, though their budget pick is in the price range.
the phono input is important as LPs are manufactured after applying what's called the RIAA curve that de-emphasizes certain frequencies to make the pressing sound better and less likely to skip. the phono input will apply the inverse curve for you to boost those frequencies back so it sounds correct.
While this information is accurate, the LP60 has a built in preamp so any sort of stereo amp will work in this case. I have had lots of good luck from these little Class T amps for small stereo setups.
posted by ndfine at 8:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
While this information is accurate, the LP60 has a built in preamp so any sort of stereo amp will work in this case. I have had lots of good luck from these little Class T amps for small stereo setups.
posted by ndfine at 8:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah. The wirecutter doesn't do 'minimalist' very well.
My setup is exactly like yours in function (the pieces are slightly different) and I run everything off of a harmon kardon 330c. We run the TV (well, projector/laptop) through the 'aux' channel, the record player through the 'phono' channel, and we have a bluetooth dongle set up for phones and the like pumped through the 'tape' channel...this piece can easily be swapped out for a physical jack like noloveforned suggests.
Really, for that setup all you need is a receiver with 3 outputs. As ndfine suggets, your record player has a built in preamp, but there's that little switch on the back that can turn it on and off. Basically, if the sound from your record player sounds messed up in any way on the channel you're using, just flip that switch to see if it fixes the issue.
There aren't many good options out there for newer minimalist amps out there, unfortunately. One of the better I've seen is from Audiosource, but they only offer models with 2 channels instead of 3. There are RCA switches out there, but I find them to be a little cumbersome, and kind of a pain.
posted by furnace.heart at 8:51 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
My setup is exactly like yours in function (the pieces are slightly different) and I run everything off of a harmon kardon 330c. We run the TV (well, projector/laptop) through the 'aux' channel, the record player through the 'phono' channel, and we have a bluetooth dongle set up for phones and the like pumped through the 'tape' channel...this piece can easily be swapped out for a physical jack like noloveforned suggests.
Really, for that setup all you need is a receiver with 3 outputs. As ndfine suggets, your record player has a built in preamp, but there's that little switch on the back that can turn it on and off. Basically, if the sound from your record player sounds messed up in any way on the channel you're using, just flip that switch to see if it fixes the issue.
There aren't many good options out there for newer minimalist amps out there, unfortunately. One of the better I've seen is from Audiosource, but they only offer models with 2 channels instead of 3. There are RCA switches out there, but I find them to be a little cumbersome, and kind of a pain.
posted by furnace.heart at 8:51 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Onkyo A-9010 is the current most recommended budget component for 2-channel listening. [Review] It's got a phono stage, a built in DAC for connection to digital sources. The phono stage would be a step up from the buillt in preamp. The digital line ins are coax / optical, but there is a standard line in on the front plate for mp3 players. As a clean, simple design based purely on music listening, I have no doubt it would blow away the Wirecutter rec.
Traditionally, receiver refers to an integrated amp with a tuner, although the distinction is not always so clear, especially now. But searching for integrated amps will turn up a lot more minimal offerings. Only downside being it won't give you the ability to do a 5 channel set up down the road.
If that's too spendy, you could do worse than a clean used NAD C325BEE. They were made relatively recently, plenty of inputs, good clean power, a remote. Fantastic bass. No phono preamp though.
Nthing the 3.5mm to rca cable. You don't need fancy modern features to run whichever device into an old amp. Old apple devices sound quite good like this. They don't suffer from the noise you'll get on the line out of some computer / sound card setups.
posted by Lorin at 3:09 PM on August 8, 2016
Traditionally, receiver refers to an integrated amp with a tuner, although the distinction is not always so clear, especially now. But searching for integrated amps will turn up a lot more minimal offerings. Only downside being it won't give you the ability to do a 5 channel set up down the road.
If that's too spendy, you could do worse than a clean used NAD C325BEE. They were made relatively recently, plenty of inputs, good clean power, a remote. Fantastic bass. No phono preamp though.
Nthing the 3.5mm to rca cable. You don't need fancy modern features to run whichever device into an old amp. Old apple devices sound quite good like this. They don't suffer from the noise you'll get on the line out of some computer / sound card setups.
posted by Lorin at 3:09 PM on August 8, 2016
NAD 302 is another simple vintage amp that is often available for about 100 USD online. 25 watts, good quality phono stage. Made in the mid 90s. Great in a small room. Mine is still kicking. No remote though. I guess I am biased against the big silver beasts of Goodwill. They're getting on in age. I keep expecting them to give up the ghost, and I'm not a tinkerer.
posted by Lorin at 3:27 PM on August 8, 2016
posted by Lorin at 3:27 PM on August 8, 2016
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the phono input is important as LPs are manufactured after applying what's called the RIAA curve that de-emphasizes certain frequencies to make the pressing sound better and less likely to skip. the phono input will apply the inverse curve for you to boost those frequencies back so it sounds correct.
the other input just needs to be the standard white/red pair rca input. it's been pretty standard on receivers for tape decks, cd player, aux ports even VCRs for a good 35 years or so.
you then just get a 1/8" stereo to rca cable (they were pretty standard in the discman era) to plug your phone into one of the rca ports on it.
posted by noloveforned at 8:22 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]