For her birthday and mother's day I hope to give her some speakers and a new turntable vs what she currently has within a budget around $1000 to buy both (such as $600 for speakers and than $400 for the turntable).
Here is to the best of my ability my mother's current audio setup:
Pioneer Stereo Receiver SX-650
Her Dell labtop with Foobar2000 setup as her online streaming media player and CD Player
Soundblaster X-Fi HD SB1240 (Found online: "Strange card with cheap core on CA0189 (CA0189 is a highly-integrated, high-performance system-on-chip designed specifically for a range of lower end, cost-sensitive audio products.) with relatively good DAC (AK4396 sigma-delta Asahi-Kasei, 120dB 192kHz 24-Bit Advanced Multi-Bit DAC with PCM/DSD input)and ADC(Cirrus logic CS5361 114 dB, 192 kHz Stereo A/D Converter ) plus low noise amplifiers (ST microelectronics 33078 OpAmp). Capacitors WIMA red, Elna + ST M29W400DT flash memory 4mbit(512Kx8). The components can support 192kHz but card able to works only at 96kHz.")
A Ion turntable TTUSB10 with a Shure M97xE Stylus
Two very small speakers (8 ohms) from a old audiovox dv1100 DVD player Home theater system. This most likely be very well be the weakest link and I've considered replacing them for her many times.
I linked the turntable's rca to the Pioneer receiver's Phono input, I found that the gain dial on the ION turntable was set to the max (+) so I turned it down to the lowest (-) (should I set it back to high?), using the first receiver's tape monitor's outputs (rec) I linked it to the SB1240 line in connection, link the SB1240 to my receiver's Tape Monitor's input (play) with a rca cable in order for the labtop (using Foobar2000 for CD Playing and online streaming such as Sirius and similar) to access the speakers connected to the receiver. Connected the Soundblaster and labtop together using the soundblasters USB cable and input)
To me her speakers is what's going to bottleneck her listening experience and is the first thing I'm focusing on for her. Then since she listens and makes Flacs of her records on her Ion turntable that is the next thing I want to replace for her to get a more enjoyable listening and copying experience. Because of the Soundbaster's RCA input and usb link I don't need the turntable to have a USB link and I'm only looking for the best quality for her.
I've read many recommendations and topics and found myself with a huge list of recommended speakers. I'm focusing on clarity, sound-stage, and either monitor/non-colored speakers for her or perhaps something that puts forward the vocals due to how many soundtracks and Broadway shows she has (she is a musical theater lover). I think that would help her and she might get the most from such speakers but I also might be off.
Here is a huge list I gathered of speakers many people seemed to like (with major fluctuating prices):
Cambridge Audio S30
Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 or 10.2
BIC America DV62si
PSB Alpha B1
Cerwin Vega CLS-215
Magnepan Magneplanar MMG
Swans M1S
Energy rc-10
Dynaudio Excite 12
Dynaudio DM 2/7
Spendor SA 1
Monitor Audio Bronze BX2
Monitor Audio RX-1
Vanatoo Transparent One
KEF Q300
B&W 685/686
Pioneer SP BS41 LR
I'm looking into bookshelf speaks due to limited room she has and I don't think that she would be able to fit a pair of floor-standing speakers. I know majority of bookshelf type speakers cannot properly play strong bass thus pairing with a powered subwoofer (I don't think her Pioneer Stereo Receiver SX-650 has a sub out) would be best (if needed) and something I would have to save up some money for in the future.
I'm stumped on what to get her so any recommendations and advice would be helpful based on her music .
Here is to the best of my ability my mother's current audio setup:
Pioneer Stereo Receiver SX-650
Her Dell labtop with Foobar2000 setup as her online streaming media player and CD Player
Soundblaster X-Fi HD SB1240 (Found online: "Strange card with cheap core on CA0189 (CA0189 is a highly-integrated, high-performance system-on-chip designed specifically for a range of lower end, cost-sensitive audio products.) with relatively good DAC (AK4396 sigma-delta Asahi-Kasei, 120dB 192kHz 24-Bit Advanced Multi-Bit DAC with PCM/DSD input)and ADC(Cirrus logic CS5361 114 dB, 192 kHz Stereo A/D Converter ) plus low noise amplifiers (ST microelectronics 33078 OpAmp). Capacitors WIMA red, Elna + ST M29W400DT flash memory 4mbit(512Kx8). The components can support 192kHz but card able to works only at 96kHz.")
A Ion turntable TTUSB10 with a Shure M97xE Stylus
Two very small speakers (8 ohms) from a old audiovox dv1100 DVD player Home theater system. This most likely be very well be the weakest link and I've considered replacing them for her many times.
I linked the turntable's rca to the Pioneer receiver's Phono input, I found that the gain dial on the ION turntable was set to the max (+) so I turned it down to the lowest (-) (should I set it back to high?), using the first receiver's tape monitor's outputs (rec) I linked it to the SB1240 line in connection, link the SB1240 to my receiver's Tape Monitor's input (play) with a rca cable in order for the labtop (using Foobar2000 for CD Playing and online streaming such as Sirius and similar) to access the speakers connected to the receiver. Connected the Soundblaster and labtop together using the soundblasters USB cable and input)
To me her speakers is what's going to bottleneck her listening experience and is the first thing I'm focusing on for her. Then since she listens and makes Flacs of her records on her Ion turntable that is the next thing I want to replace for her to get a more enjoyable listening and copying experience. Because of the Soundbaster's RCA input and usb link I don't need the turntable to have a USB link and I'm only looking for the best quality for her.
I've read many recommendations and topics and found myself with a huge list of recommended speakers. I'm focusing on clarity, sound-stage, and either monitor/non-colored speakers for her or perhaps something that puts forward the vocals due to how many soundtracks and Broadway shows she has (she is a musical theater lover). I think that would help her and she might get the most from such speakers but I also might be off.
Here is a huge list I gathered of speakers many people seemed to like (with major fluctuating prices):
Cambridge Audio S30
Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 or 10.2
BIC America DV62si
PSB Alpha B1
Cerwin Vega CLS-215
Magnepan Magneplanar MMG
Swans M1S
Energy rc-10
Dynaudio Excite 12
Dynaudio DM 2/7
Spendor SA 1
Monitor Audio Bronze BX2
Monitor Audio RX-1
Vanatoo Transparent One
KEF Q300
B&W 685/686
Pioneer SP BS41 LR
I'm looking into bookshelf speaks due to limited room she has and I don't think that she would be able to fit a pair of floor-standing speakers. I know majority of bookshelf type speakers cannot properly play strong bass thus pairing with a powered subwoofer (I don't think her Pioneer Stereo Receiver SX-650 has a sub out) would be best (if needed) and something I would have to save up some money for in the future.
I'm stumped on what to get her so any recommendations and advice would be helpful based on her music .