Owning the perfect audiophile setup requires that all components work in perfect harmony. To achieve this level of musical balance, you need to pay attention to every unit of your setup starting with the source. Now let us look at how to set up the best hi-fi system for your vinyl records.
Set a budget.
You can’t build a perfect ‘budget setup’ without full knowledge of your financial strength and capabilities. Although quality speakers, amps, and turntables don’t come cheap, you don’t have to break the bank to get a pleasurable hearing experience. A pocket-friendly way to allocate your money is by following this simple rule; spend 40% on your source and preamps/amps, 50% on speakers, and spend the rest to miscellaneous like cables and stands.
Conduct your research.
This stage of your setup may be the most intensive one, but it is totally worth it. For you to get the perfect system, you need to do due diligence. There are quite a number of things you need to consider, and the information you gather here will help you with your budget. We will do your homework for you. Keep on reading to learn all you need to create the best audiophile headphone setup on a budget.
The source.
Imagine the system behind hi-fi music as a stream. The origin of the beautiful stream is the source. The source means the root of the audio signals- this could be the vinyl player, CD player, smartphone or radio, or any other streaming device. In this article, we will focus on just Vinyl (because that is the true source of pure, clean sound).
Your budget audiophile vinyl setup isn’t complete without other crucial components. Some of the things you need include:
- The preamp or the phono stage.
- Amplifiers
- Speakers (check out our blog on how to select the right speakers)
- Cables and stands.
How to choose a turntable
When it comes to choosing a vinyl player, there are many things you need to consider. The factors that should guide you include the speed, motor, tonearm, cartridge and stylus, and build quality (material). These factors may not seem like much to the untrained, but to genuine audiophiles, they make a world of difference.
Speed.
Most turntables run at 33 1/3 and 45 RPM ( for LPs and 12” or 7’” singles, respectively). If you have older records, you might want to find a more appropriate turntable- you will need one that can play at 78 RPM.
Motors
When it comes to motors, you either get a belt-driven player or a direct drive. The belt drive uses a pulley system underneath the platter (slightly off the center) to spin the vinyl; while the direct drive sits directly underneath the platter. Many Audiophiles would argue the belt drive players produce more crisp sounds compared to its counterpart. On the other hand, direct drive turntables are more robust and have more torque.
Build-quality.
The materials used to build your player will not only affect its longevity, but the sound quality -This part deserves its own article. However, some components you shouldn’t compromise on quality are the platter, tonearm, cartridge, and plinth.
Cartridge and stylus.
The stylus (needle) and the cartridge work together to transform the grooves on record into music. Many turntables come with a cartridge, but you can upgrade it if you want better performance.
Tonearms
Tonearms come straight or curved. They keep the cartridge steady as the stylus moves along the grooves. Irrespective of the one you choose, you want them to be made with a durable material that will last you a long time.
Some things to look out for.
For newbies, commonly used terms like signal to noise ratio, wow, and flutter can be confusing. This is what they mean.
Signal to noise ratio: This term refers to the background noise you hear while the record is playing. It compares the signal from the player to the noise output. The higher the signal-to-noise ratio, the better.
Wow and fluff: This term refers to the accuracy or deviation of the player. If the turn table deviates too much, it can cause audible wavering. For the best results, choose a player with less than 0.25% deviation.
Playback speed: we have already covered playback speed above.