Purchasing first system (your opinions are valued)
- Thread starter MikeFrank
- Start date
MikeFrank
Active Member
Figured I would update those of you that are interested. First off, I subscribed to this forum because the community is top notch. I have fallen down the stereo rabbit hole pretty good. I have made a couple mistakes, learned along the way, and have enjoyed this new hobby immensely. The 2230 I got from Ebay was not as expected (probably a huge surprise to almost no one). There were undisclosed issues which led to me pursing a refund. Got the notice last night that Ebay is refunding my money. I haven't got the money back yet, but I should in a few days. Because Ebay had to handle the resolution, it looks like I also get to keep the 2230. It has problems and I am trying to figure out what to do about it.
I have met some really interesting, good people both on this site and IRL. Bought some albums off a young guy who ended up being a Klipsch fanatic. Had some good talks with him about their speakers. Bought a pair of Klipsch SF2 speakers from a different person. Got them at a price that seems reasonable based on what they seem to go for, so I am content. They were my first purchase and I may not have bought them with all I have seen and learned up to this point. They are good speakers and sound good, don't get me wrong. I may have just saved that money for something more interesting. (I'll share one example of something I may have gotten instead at the bottom of this post.) I found a lot of love for the Pioneer SX receivers in talking with some local vintage fans here locally and seeing some things online. I bought a Pioneer SX-650 off a local vintage Craigslist seller and I absolutely love it. I listen to it almost every day after work. The gentleman I bought it from seems to be a good guy. He and I talked for almost 45 minutes about all sorts of stuff. I was all set to trade up to the SX-850 but he had another repeat customer coming that night to buy it. They seem to turn up enough, so I am sure I'll trade up in the SX line at some point. I then bought a Denon DP-7F turntable. This was a Craigslist purchase but not from a vintage re-seller. Got it at a good price as far as I can tell and it plays really well. It's a direct drive TT and seems to be a good starter unit. I saw a pair of speakers on Craigslist and went to give them a listen. Needless to say I came home with a great pair of EPI 180 speakers. Equally cool was meeting the guy selling them. He is an electronics hobbyist and an Audiokarma member too. He and I talked equipment for about a half hour. I have also spent a lot of time in local records shops and at rummage sales picking up vinyl. My collection has grown to be eclectic and respectable. I have listened to music for so many years now in digital format. I have 1500 songs on my phone and I really do love music. Not to be overly corny, but when I hooked everything up for the first time (the SX 650 to the EPI 180 and played some vinyl through the Denon) it was like hearing music for the first time again. It sounded beyond amazing. If you've read this far you'll probably be interested that I played Terrence Trent D'Arby's Wishing Well, then The Faces - Stay With Me, and then Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes. I wanted to hear vastly different music types and they all sounded amazing.
Since subscribing I have rekindled my Marantz obsession and have talked to a couple members about buying one from them. The barter town forum is friggin unbelievable. If you are reading this and have not subscribed, do so. For $25 a year you will NOT regret it. I am confident I will buy a Marantz to go along with my Pioneer and I will have 2 systems that will make me smile every time I see and listen to them. I have started glancing at other turntables to see about getting a deal on an even better TT. I also have my eye on these crazy Atlantis Oracle II speakers a guy is selling here locally on CL. I am fascinated by them and might have to go give them a listen. The only problem is there is not much information on them (and I have scoured online including this wonderful site.) With the Klipsch speakers, SX-650, Denon TT, and EPI 180 speakers I am still below half my budget.
I may not have responded to all your posts, but I have read them and weighed them all into my decisions, so I am legitimately appreciative of all you have done. The one thing I still somewhat struggle with is how to gauge a good price for a piece of vintage. For some items that are common, you can build a good price model off CL, AK, and Ebay. For other items, it is hard to build that fair market price. If I see an item, I am searching here first for information, then moving on to other sites, then looking at Ebay sales, and on and on. I have yet to find the $8 turntable at Goodwill or a rummage sale. The closest I have come was finding a Marantz ST100 receiver at a flea market for $20. It was in rough condition and I flipped it at a local record shop for $50 in store credit which I used immediately on albums. I felt like a master of the deal for at least a few moments.
So thank you again to all of you. You've helped create a monster. I hope you are proud of yourselves.
I have met some really interesting, good people both on this site and IRL. Bought some albums off a young guy who ended up being a Klipsch fanatic. Had some good talks with him about their speakers. Bought a pair of Klipsch SF2 speakers from a different person. Got them at a price that seems reasonable based on what they seem to go for, so I am content. They were my first purchase and I may not have bought them with all I have seen and learned up to this point. They are good speakers and sound good, don't get me wrong. I may have just saved that money for something more interesting. (I'll share one example of something I may have gotten instead at the bottom of this post.) I found a lot of love for the Pioneer SX receivers in talking with some local vintage fans here locally and seeing some things online. I bought a Pioneer SX-650 off a local vintage Craigslist seller and I absolutely love it. I listen to it almost every day after work. The gentleman I bought it from seems to be a good guy. He and I talked for almost 45 minutes about all sorts of stuff. I was all set to trade up to the SX-850 but he had another repeat customer coming that night to buy it. They seem to turn up enough, so I am sure I'll trade up in the SX line at some point. I then bought a Denon DP-7F turntable. This was a Craigslist purchase but not from a vintage re-seller. Got it at a good price as far as I can tell and it plays really well. It's a direct drive TT and seems to be a good starter unit. I saw a pair of speakers on Craigslist and went to give them a listen. Needless to say I came home with a great pair of EPI 180 speakers. Equally cool was meeting the guy selling them. He is an electronics hobbyist and an Audiokarma member too. He and I talked equipment for about a half hour. I have also spent a lot of time in local records shops and at rummage sales picking up vinyl. My collection has grown to be eclectic and respectable. I have listened to music for so many years now in digital format. I have 1500 songs on my phone and I really do love music. Not to be overly corny, but when I hooked everything up for the first time (the SX 650 to the EPI 180 and played some vinyl through the Denon) it was like hearing music for the first time again. It sounded beyond amazing. If you've read this far you'll probably be interested that I played Terrence Trent D'Arby's Wishing Well, then The Faces - Stay With Me, and then Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes. I wanted to hear vastly different music types and they all sounded amazing.
Since subscribing I have rekindled my Marantz obsession and have talked to a couple members about buying one from them. The barter town forum is friggin unbelievable. If you are reading this and have not subscribed, do so. For $25 a year you will NOT regret it. I am confident I will buy a Marantz to go along with my Pioneer and I will have 2 systems that will make me smile every time I see and listen to them. I have started glancing at other turntables to see about getting a deal on an even better TT. I also have my eye on these crazy Atlantis Oracle II speakers a guy is selling here locally on CL. I am fascinated by them and might have to go give them a listen. The only problem is there is not much information on them (and I have scoured online including this wonderful site.) With the Klipsch speakers, SX-650, Denon TT, and EPI 180 speakers I am still below half my budget.
I may not have responded to all your posts, but I have read them and weighed them all into my decisions, so I am legitimately appreciative of all you have done. The one thing I still somewhat struggle with is how to gauge a good price for a piece of vintage. For some items that are common, you can build a good price model off CL, AK, and Ebay. For other items, it is hard to build that fair market price. If I see an item, I am searching here first for information, then moving on to other sites, then looking at Ebay sales, and on and on. I have yet to find the $8 turntable at Goodwill or a rummage sale. The closest I have come was finding a Marantz ST100 receiver at a flea market for $20. It was in rough condition and I flipped it at a local record shop for $50 in store credit which I used immediately on albums. I felt like a master of the deal for at least a few moments.
So thank you again to all of you. You've helped create a monster. I hope you are proud of yourselves.
mhedges
Super Member
Sorry the Marantz didn't work out.
I've already made my opinion clear so I won't repeat that but I will say that I would stay away from eBay for vintage stuff. Sure it's convenient but (as you have seen) you never know what you are going to get. You also have the problem of shipping, or more accurately packing. The average "layperson" has no idea how to pack this stuff properly. Even shipping stores are very hit or miss.
I've already made my opinion clear so I won't repeat that but I will say that I would stay away from eBay for vintage stuff. Sure it's convenient but (as you have seen) you never know what you are going to get. You also have the problem of shipping, or more accurately packing. The average "layperson" has no idea how to pack this stuff properly. Even shipping stores are very hit or miss.
johnda
Addicted Member
After years of buying used gear on EBay, I have changed to buying new. My luck on EBay was fine with only one
Piece being DOA. Right now I am listening to my living room credenza system with all new gear and it will probably become Part of my estate when I'm gone.
I wish you all the best with whatever way you want to go!
Piece being DOA. Right now I am listening to my living room credenza system with all new gear and it will probably become Part of my estate when I'm gone.
I wish you all the best with whatever way you want to go!
