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Need help with first Mcintosh for turntable

Hey all,

Long time reader, first time question poster...
I need your assitance organizing my thoughts.

I decided to extend my digital rig with a turntable. I recently acquired technics 1210MK2, and I want to connect it to my setup.

Currently, I am using the Peachtree decco2 which is connected to my computer, and I am using it as an integrated. the Decoo2 doesn't have a phono stage, so my first thought was to buy a phono preamp, and connect to it.

As I was thinking about it, I thought that this might be my opporutnity to go vintage (we are talking turntable), so why not look at old integrated equipment.

I am currently researching few optiosn: Marantz, Fisher 500c, but high on my list has always been a Mcintosh.

What are your thoughts? Can I buy a Mcintosh 6200, connect my decco to it as a preamp (for digital sources) and the phono to it for the turntable?

Since I only have 1 pair of speakers at the moment, i thought that this might be the easiest option. Would that be my best option at ~$1,000?

Looking forward to hearing your toughts...
tk1212
nick_sr
263 posts
 
What cartridge are you using or planning on using?
tk1212 OP
6 posts
 
The technics is currently without a cartrige. I'd rather first settle on the setup before buying one. For the record, the ~$1,000 budget was not taking into account the cartridge/needle/cables. It is just for one of the below options:

I am still trying to figure out what are my best options:
1. Buy a phono preamp and connect it to the decco2 dac...
2. Buy an integrated amp/receiver and connect technics directly to it as well as the dac. I am currently thinking 6200 or Sansui 9090, Fisher 500, Marantz 2275.
3. Buy a mc preamp (with phono stage) and connect it to the decco (so the decco becomes the amp)...
nick_sr
263 posts
 
If you decide to use a LOMC cartridge you will need a SUT or head amp with the McIntosh you suggested, whereas if you choose a HOMC or MM cartridge the Mac will work fine.

So if you have to buy a SUT or head amp, then you might as well purchase a phono-pre and keep the Peachtree. I assume the situation would be the same for the other integrated amps on you list.
tk1212 OP
6 posts
 
Thanks Nick for the response.

I don't think that I'll go with MC heads. ESP not in the beggining, as I am still a rookie with everything TT.

I am trying to think what will maximize the yield of my money, and how I can most easily end up with a sweet sounding Turntable that will ignite my old nostalgia.

Connecting a phono preamp to the peachtree, should work, and is likely the cheapest thing I can do ($200 on Azur or someting similar). If I understand currently, I can always buy later a seperate Mcintosh Amp and use it to power up the peachtree and phono stage right?

On the other hand a vitange receiver like the mcintosh 6200/4100 or Marantz/Sansui "sounds" (at least in in theory) more fun and sexy.

The third option would be to buy a mcintosh preamp and use use it with the peachtree, but I assume that the phonostage in such preamp would not be better than Azur, so I might be spending too much money for too little benefit.

Bottom line, if I were to do a blind test (using the same TT and speakers), on each of the options below. Will the vintage receiver yield a more vintage sound compared to a modern phonostage through the peachtree? Or would I maximize my experience by simply buying the best phono stage I can and connceting it to the peachtree. At the end of the day that's what I am after - a great vintage sound.

Thanks so much for your help!
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