[DorsalDin73]

H I'm new here. I'd be glad to get your thoughts on what I'd like to achieve.

I have a rega brio 3 although one channel is gone - around £200 to fix - not sure weather to bother, may just run a cd and mono speaker in my workshop.

I have a rega P1 turntable - collection of around 200 records which I do like to play but, I seldom do tbh. I'm starting to buy CDs again - always nice to find some gold in a charity shop! I like the idea of dab - for a listening out f r new music on 6 in the evening.

1) listening in evening and at night in a small house with kids and partner - would be happy with headphones only - but a bonus would be to have the option to add speakers later

2) sound good with lots of genres. Rock, indie, house, hip hop, electronica, folk, country, jazz influences, post punk, pop.

3) be immersive and sound special.

4) the system is in my bedroom and I have a rule that I don't take screen devices to bed - so no web browser phone, iPad computer etc. But could potentially be streaming - but no idea how this would work with my self imposed restrictions (I'd be interested to get peoples thoughts on how streaming effects the listener experience, positively and negatively, but this may be another thread!) cd, dab radio, option for a turntable all good.

4) new or second hand

4) Budget £500 ISH

Any input very welcome

Thanks

 

[pbui44]

So about your musical preferences: do you prefer listening to all of that is going around you (live performances and large jazz ensembles) or do you prefer listening to more intimate details (solo vocals and small jazz ensembles)?

Also, are there any individuals in your family that are sensitive to sounds around them? This matters on whether you can have open-back headphones with some sound leaking out of the ear cups or you are restricted to closed-back headphones from others being bothered by sound leaking from anywhere.

Lastly, where are you more precisely located in the UK? It does not have to be specific, just a general metro/rural area.

 

[DorsalDin73]

So about your musical preferences: do you prefer listening to all of that is going around you (live performances and large jazz ensembles) or do you prefer listening to more intimate details (solo vocals and small jazz ensembles)?

Also, are there any individuals in your family that are sensitive to sounds around them? This matters on whether you can have open-back headphones with some sound leaking out of the ear cups or you are restricted to closed-back headphones from others being bothered by sound leaking from anywhere.

Lastly, where are you more precisely located in the UK? It does not have to be specific, just a general metro/rural area.

 

[DorsalDin73]

Hi thanks,

Good question about musical preferences. I've not ever thought about that before. Out of the two I'd say I'd lean more towards the more intimate details.

Open back noise wouldn't be a problem for now maybe in a couple of years when we change our sleeping arrangements.

I live nr Brighton

 

[pbui44]

So considering that you already have a turntable and cd player as a source, you can start off with a JDS Labs Atom and it will play more than loud enough with digital sources, but your analog sources do need to provide a bit of clean power for it to play more than loud enough:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296341922982

I think that you should start off with a closed-back to get more accustomed to what headphones have to offer in general and be able to play at anytime, including evening and night. You can start off with a Sennheiser HD569:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-569-Around-Ear-Headphones-Black/dp/B01L1IIF1A/

However, if you really are that confident that you will learn more towards the more intimate details, then you can also look at the Denon AH-D7200:

https://petertyson.co.uk/denon-ah-d7200-over-ear-headphones

For either headphone, you can get this hardshell case to put them away during non-use and have them protected against the family's activities:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Large-Sized-Over-Ear-Headphones-Replacement-Compatible/dp/B0844QQJ3K/

 

[DorsalDin73]

Thanks very much! So am I right in thinking would the turntable need an amp to go to the JDS?

Also my cd player is ok but not great Cambridge CD36 would a hp amp dac improve it?

 

[DorsalDin73]

Do you know if my turntable connected to my amp with one channel blown connect to a head amp and give me stereo sound?

 

[pbui44]

Thanks very much! So am I right in thinking would the turntable need an amp to go to the JDS?

Also my cd player is ok but not great Cambridge CD36 would a hp amp dac improve it?

Assuming that your Rega P1 has a built-in-phono-stage, yes. For your Cambridge CD36, you will probably have to go at least 250 quid on a DAC to improve the sound.

Do you know if my turntable connected to my amp with one channel blown connect to a head amp and give me stereo sound?

That all depends on where your amp is blown.

I know that this headphone amp is rather cheap looking, but it has tone control that will probably do wonders with your Rega P1, so see if you can win this bid and you can just use your CD36 built-in headphone amp for now, so you can focus on getting better headphones:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116125266911

 

[pbui44]

So I took a closer look at the Rega Brio 3 from this page:

https://tmraudio.com/components/int...tereo-integrated-amplifier-mm-mc-phono-black/

...and I assume that you were looking to hook up a headphone amplifier to the Tape Output section, as that is the only option this way. However, you can get your Brio 3 fixed, a decent headphone amp, and maybe a Hifiman Sundara Closed (or HD569), all within budget with this switch:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005594717329.html

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SUNDARA-Cl...tachable-Recording-black-orange/dp/B0BF58RZQK

Use the 4 -RCA-side as inputs and the 2-RCA-side as outputs.

 

[DorsalDin73]

Thanks this is so useful. I understand about tape out to headphone amp, but I'm not sure how the switch would be used?

 

[DorsalDin73]

Would you pair the JDS atom or the Btech with the brio 3? And I'm curious to know why you thought tone control would be good for me turntable playback ?

 

[DorsalDin73]

Sorry, used to texting!

Or another headphone amp?

 

[pbui44]

Thanks this is so useful. I understand about tape out to headphone amp, but I'm not sure how the switch would be used?

You can switch between both inputs from your sources (extra inputs for a possible streamer and such, too) and outputs to your Rega Brio 3 or your future headphone amp.

As for tone control, if you don’t care for it, then do not worry about it. That used Atom amp was sold, but the JDS Atom 2 just came out, so see how much that would cost with shipping to the UK:

https://jdslabs.com/product/atom-amp-2/

 

[DorsalDin73]

Arrh ok got it. Thanks for your help much appreciated

 

[pbui44]

So just to make sure, you are getting a brand new JDS Atom Amp 2 and Hifiman Sundara Closed or Sennheiser HD569 (all of the links are above) to go along with fixing your Rega Brio 3. Get all of that done and post your comments on your fixed and new audio setup.