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How to improve my setup for better sound?

Wesley14 said:
I did just order a pair of the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers because of the things you all said and all the good reviews online. I listen to mostly rock and pop, here is my discogs account if you want to see my collection and what I listen to https://www.discogs.com/user/WesleyHuffman

I also have an offer to buy a Sansui SR-212 for $85, but I might pass and save more for another table.
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Ah, so more of a laid back emphasis on midrange sound kinda listening. For rock & pop, I'd like to have seen you move up to a minimum of a 6"woofer port or no port up to you.
If your looking to stay within that type of sound I'd highly recommend the Infinity Primus P163 speakers. They can be had used for $75 on CL.
Oh and check Music Direct on occasion you'll find great speakers on discount closeouts.
Otherwise a good choice of speaker the Pioneer for near field listening.
 
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Smallies said:
Vinyl=money pit. I feel so youthful when I wail on my laptop/Dragonfly dac/CA computer speakers. Seems like a no-brainer college setup that you can throw in a pack and run.
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Like anything it CAN become a money pit if you allow yourself. But yes, your set up is the way to go on a budget and it's portable. I love my Samsung tablet, wifi streaming and now have over 800 songs. A great way to be introduced to new artist.
 
Congrats on getting the Pioneers. They will be a good step up from the Kenwoods. Don't be surprised if they sound a bit tinny straight out of the box, they may need a few hours of playing time to break in. I've actually wired speakers out of phase, put them face to face, threw a blanket over them and fed the FM for a couple of days.
 
bigaltx24 said:
Congrats on getting the Pioneers. They will be a good step up from the Kenwoods. Don't be surprised if they sound a bit tinny straight out of the box, they may need a few hours of playing time to break in. I've actually wired speakers out of phase, put them face to face, threw a blanket over them and fed the FM for a couple of days.
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Good idea!
 
Speaker stands....

I don't know if anyone covered this, but if the speakers are at ear level......we're talking about the woofer section of the speaker. That's right you see so many pictures of speakers sitting on the floor cause it's cool, but procicly arranged and the sound is actually quite different. Then most wives wouldn't put up with it either....
 
Djcoolray said:
Speaker stands....

I don't know if anyone covered this, but if the speakers are at ear level......we're talking about the woofer section of the speaker. That's right you see so many pictures of speakers sitting on the floor cause it's cool, but procicly arranged and the sound is actually quite different. Then most wives wouldn't put up with it either....
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I ordered these along with the speakers

VideoSecu One Pair of Side Clamping Bookshelf
Speaker Mounting Bracket with Swivel and Tilt for Large Surrounding Sound Speakers MS56B 3LH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X9O8SI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PhaEzb5022RK8
 
get your speaker positioning figured out, get some "cheap" room treatment going. You'll consistently see members here and other places being "shocked" at how good a budget system can sound, and more often or not when you look at their pics they tend to have good rooms and placement going. It is obviously not a cure all, but it will give you a much better starting point to evaluate changes to your system. I would also say get acquainted with the diy portion of things. Get a reasonable soldering iron and start practicing on some cheap gear, maybe build your own cables etc.

Keep an eye on CL for good deals too, and look at places like letgo, offerup, and fb marketplace (use the fb ap only way to get access to it.) If you are diligent you can get some really nice stuff for relatively cheap, and being handy with a soldering iron / multimeter is always good for the issues that can come up sometimes with vintage gear. Remember too, save the pennies up and buy right / buy once when you're starting. Poke around and learn how to test gear when buying stuff so that you don't end up with any surprises

Welcome to AK!
 
Wesley14 said:
Hi, I'm kind of a newbie to hifi and my setup is just things I inherited over time. I am looking to improve my sound without spending a whole lot if money (I'm just going to start college and work full time at McDonald's so I'm not exactly rich)
My setup is:
Technics SA-EX110 receiver
Sony CDP-291 CD player
Pioneer CT-W205R cassette deck
Sansui P-D10 turntable
Kenwood LSK-02S speakers

What are some things I can do to improve it, or what are some good things to lookout for?

Thanks :D
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Hey Wesley14,

Nice set up!

Remember speaker placement is key, and can improve the sound stage.

The hobby is not a cheap one, but also remember Craigslist is your friend. :)

good luck!
 
The speakers sound great, I didn't end up getting those wall mounts (was shipped the wrong item) so I got stands from letgo. Here's a pic of how it looks now.20170802_220046.jpgI have the opportunity tomorrow to get a Pro Ject Debut Carbon from Craigslist for $225, should I buh it or should I keep my Sansui?
 
Wesley14 said:
I'm just going to start college
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Folks keep asking about your listening space, and now we get a glimpse in the pic above, but the real question is are you bringing the equipment to college? If so, I would be a bit cautious in investing a lot in something as delicate as a nice turntable. I brought my stereo gear to college and it led a hard life. One roommate even threw up off the top bunk onto one of my speakers, forcing me to play defense with a trash can.
 
Aptone said:
Folks keep asking about your listening space, and now we get a glimpse in the pic above, but the real question is are you bringing the equipment to college? If so, I would be a bit cautious in investing a lot in something as delicate as a nice turntable. I brought my stereo gear to college and it led a hard life. One roommate even threw up off the top bunk onto one of my speakers, forcing me to play defense with a trash can.
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I'm just going to community college so I'll still live here for a few more years
 
Hey nice Thurston Moore pic! Welcome to AK. My advice is to be patient and consistently watch your local Craigslist and thrift stores and do your research. Good things will eventually come!
 
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