Seeking advice on combining turntable with smart speaker(s) or smart amp + speakers

[Boomster]

Hi all,

 

I am quite new to the forum and looking for some suggestions on a new setup. The three main uses will be:

 

- Streaming music through Spotify

- listening to records on a 35 year old Technics SL-B2 turntable (my dad bought it in the 1980s).

- Sound while watching movies.

 

Volume will hardly ever be really loud as I am in a strata complex.

 

I have recently sold my Q acoustic 3020i bookshelf speakers but still own an old Pioneer A-337 amp. Previously, I had the amp connected to the turntable, Chromecast audio, and the tv. Before the Q acoustics, I had a set of large Jamo studio 190 floor standing speakers.

 

I am currently using a JBL link 300 (gift from a friend) to stream Spotify in the living room. Quite happy with the quality and user friendliness.

 

I am looking for a soundbar/smart speaker/amp + speakers setup that can be placed (hidden if you like) in the middle shelf of my new tv unit (the middle shelf is 80cm wide and 11.5 cm high). I am, however, open to other options where the speakers are not very visible. I would like to keep things minimalistic :-).

 

I am going around in circles looking at options online. I am hoping you may have some good ideas! My budget is around $1000.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Cheers,

 

Roel

 

[RCAJack]

There aren’t a lot of sound bars with analogue inputs, but here’s one:

 

https://www.bose.com.au/en_au/products/speakers/home_theater/bose-tv-speaker.html#v=bose_tv_speaker_black_anz

 

To connect the turntable, you plug it onto something like this phono preamp…

https://www.radioparts.com.au/product/60850435/pro1387-riaa-phono-preamp-with-aux-preamp-with-aux-input-preamp-with-aux-input
 

And then you connect the output from that phono preamp to the soundbar analogue input with an stereo RCA to 3.5mm stereo mini jack cable. Then the little preamp box can be hidden behind the turntable. BTW it has its own volume control and a spare analogue input. I’d just set the volume to a good level and then leave it alone, or tweak as necessary. 

 

For TV and movie sound, you could connect the TV’s HDMI ARC out to the soundbar with an HDMI cable. Then you can control volume with the TV’s remote. Or there’s an optical connection, but then you need to use the Bose remote for volume. 
 

Most TVs seem to have a Spotify app built in so you could listen to music via the TV in the same way. If you want to listen to music without the TV being on, you could connect to the soundbar from your phone using Bluetooth, or add another device like a Chromecast audio (no longer available new, sadly) which could connect to the optical input. 
 

This is not going to give you super hifi quality but will be low profile. You can add a sub later if desired

 

 

[POV]

suggest  you look into Ruark.  They make the best sounding lifestyle components that I have heard.  They have a natural, open sound that surprises.

 

Ruark R3

 

Edited August 2, 2021 by POV

[Boomster]

Hi both,

 

Thanks for your suggestions! Your help is much appreciated. I had looked at the Bose sound bar before and it does seem to meet all of my criteria. I have a Chromecast audio. It is a pity these devices a no longer available new though. Very handy and affordable. The possibility of adding is a sub to the system is appreciated! The only potentially annoying issue would be switching between sources:

 

As per the Bose website: If necessary, you can plug in up to three devices using the HDMI, OPTICAL IN and AUX IN jacks on your speaker. In these setups, press the TV button on your remote, then power on only the device you want to hear. If more than one device is powered on, your speaker automatically selects the device it detects first, which might not be the one you want to hear."

 

The Ruark brand is new to me. They sure look nice and we do listen to radio quite a bit! I may run out of connections with the R3 though. As it does not support google assistant natively, I would also have to connect my Chromecast audio (which is fine). But I don't think I would be able to also connect my turntable and the tv. The R3 would be an option if I could do without connecting the tv and just sticking with Chromecast audio and turntable. Or connect the tv to the optical input, the turntable to the line-in (using a pre-amp), and use Spotify connect. I am not sure how Spotify connect works with google assistant? I have a google mesh router in the living room that can take listen to instructions. 

 

The R5 is more expensive but would better meet my requirements as it has a built-in phono stage, line-in/aux, and an optical input. 

 

Any other ideas? :-) 

 

Thanks again!

 

Cheers, 

 

Roel

 

 

 

 

[POV]

6 hours ago, Boomster said:

 

 

The R5 is more expensive but would better meet my requirements as it has a built-in phono stage, line-in/aux, and an optical input. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The R5 is absolutely killer all in one device if you can stretch your budget to it.  I know it looks like a lot of money but it really does sound fantastic.  It will absolutely smoke any of these plastic soundbars with it's natural open sound.

 

Other suggestions from me:

 

•  Dali Katch One.  It's marketed as a Soundbar but it's really more of a music centric device if you ask me.  Sounds surprisingly good, not sure about connectivity meeting your needs.
• Klipsch Tabletop range may also be worth looking at.  I've never listened to them but they do have a cool retro vibe.  I have an idea that maaybe you can only have one of either phono or google assistant and not both, but you'd need to look into that.

 

But as per above, if you can afford the Ruark R5 don't hesitate!!

[Boomster]

@POV Thanks for the additional suggestions, this is much appreciated. 

 

I'd rather spend a bit more to get a device that will not disappoint and that I'd still be happy with in a few years time. Leaning towards the Ruark R5 now! Would you know whether shops ever have the Ruark devices, the R5 in particular, on sale?

 

Otherwise, I would have to use the current lockdown in Sydney as an excuse to get a nice present for myself and double the budget... .

 

 

Edited August 4, 2021 by Boomster

[POV]

I’m not sure about Sydney Dealers to be honest but I know Addicted to Audio sell Ruark and they are in Sydney.

 

The Australian distributor for Ruark is Synergy Audio Video I think, so their website should be able to point you in the right direction.