Beginner Budget Hi-Fi Build: Part 3

A four part series where I assemble a budget HiFi with components bought from ebay. A new episode will be released daily.

HiFi components on ebay (Affiliated links)

Special Musical thanks to...
You may also have heard a snippet of the latest album from Logic 'YSIV' - the cassette was a limited edition.

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When you click on links to various merchants posted here and make a purchase, this can result in me earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network & Amazon.
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[snacklofter]

Can't tell you how much I'm enjoying this series. Please don't stop - can you do a highish end system too? Cheers snack.

[decadentnightmare]

I come for the tech but I stay for the shirts

[DisplacedGamers]

This multi-part video series is just conditioning me to expect new Techmoan videos on a daily basis.

[motogadzet]

This is Audio Technica AT91 cartridge. With this cartridge, standard tracking force will be 2.0g, but it sounds better with 1.5-1.7g :)

[hiprockdud]

My second TT I bought was Pioneer PL-200. Cost me 10 euros without lid and it was sent to me just in textile bag. Luckily it arrived all alright. Really beautiful player, slim, stylish, on/off integrated in the arm movement. Very happy to see it on this channel. Cheers

[FatNorthernBigot]

These are always watchable... It's as interesting as it is "penultimate".

[nicolasjarpa]

You really don't know how many of these devices are around you. I have a collection of vintage stereos, VCRs, walkmans, tube radios etc, and most of them were donated!. Your Family, friend's family, neighbors may have something like these and you don't need to buy anything. Flea markets and thrift stores are a good option too. Nice video!

[jafizzle]

Four days in a row of Techmoan is really all I could ever ask for for Christmas.

[Scott_From_Maine]

The PL400 has a series of magnets made into the bottom of the platter and a coil mounted below in the body of the turntable. So the platter IS the motor. It doesn't get any more direct drive than that.

[JeffBreyer]

My parents had a Hitachi SR303 receiver. Always loved that thing. While not a high level of output it had full clear sound. And it looked great. When I went and put together a system I thought about using it as my base but went with a Sony HDMI receiver instead. I may add the SR303 in in the future but anyways, this is a great series.

[tarotoculus]

I had always heard that antiskate was supposed to be the same as the force of the needle and that was that. I had no idea it was about centering the needle. Thanks for that bit!

[SirJeff]

Hello Techmoan, regarding the stylus cartridge, I think it's an Audio-Technica AT-91 :)

[crbenne]

Not too long ago I was able to find a local chap through Facebook that refurbished older HiFi equipment for resale, and he sold me a Pioneer PL-255 turntable which has been a real treat to own. Would definitely recommend the range to anyone looking for a good turntable.

[Zadster]

Thank you for making audio videos based in the real world! Most audio based stuff on the Interwebtubenet seems to be based somewhere in the upper financial stratosphere. My late 1980s black Technics separates system is looking better by the day, carry on! No I don't mean that sarcastically, this series is highlighting that good equipment is still good, despite all the technological advances. The linear Class A/AB amp is still solid, and the speakers are just about run in, as these days I feed my PC sound out through the system. The design of good gear seems to owe more to engineering than stylists.

[spuds]

I have the linear tracking turntable Mat shows in the vid... Still works...got it for 15 bucks at a garage sale 10 years ago...the teenage girl who sold it had to ask her dad what it was!!! He was a few years older than me but I could see the sorry look in his eyes and as he gave out a silent groan. I felt like I was taking away a once prized possession!! 😁

[kekk]

I've owned and used record players for over 30 years but only today did I learn how to set the anti-skate :)

[numptification]

Loving this series. I always wanted a direct drive turntable when I was young. And I finally got one for £15 last month at a flea market. Old hi-fi is amazing value.

[ixionn]

Not liking certain components in a setup is the reason I love hifi, don't like the record player? Try a different one. Don't like the sound of your amp? Try a different one. Being able to change any component of the setup to one of your liking and upgrade overtime is what makes it such a fun hobby. I don't think it's worth arguing about in the comment section of a youtube video, if you like how your system sounds then stick with it, no need to listen to anyone talking down on your setup. However it is always good to listen to advice to improve your setup. Thanks for the quality content, I'm sure there are many who will appreciate the help in setting up their own hifi.

[eugenelam]

Watching this series from Matt inspired me to go hunting for a budget hifi setup.

Off eBay I got a Technics SA-EX700 for $50AUD, and a AKAI AP-D210 turntable with new stylus for $99AUD. I got lucky with a set of standing speakers, getting them for free off a Sharp microsystem. A chance driveby through a council cleanup area yielded both a Yamaha CDX-550 CD player and KX232 double tape deck. After some setup, my $149AUD hifi was done and seemed reasonable.

When I watched this video, I thought about colours and decided to go down the silver route. I picked up a Sansui 4000 receiver for $200, an AKAI CS-M3 for $70, and managed to win a Matt-prefrence fully automatic, quartz lock, direct drive AKAI AP-Q60 for $200.

Now I just need to clear the unused bits and my budget should be around the same as 250 British Pounds :)
Thanks Matt for your time and dedication into these videos and giving others inspiration to tinker along!

[JunkTardis]

I have a Sony PS-212A which I brought with me from the UK to the US when I emigrated last year, and this does not have a power switch. It's semi automatic, direct drive from around 1977ish. It's rated for 220-240v but works fine on 110v/60Hz without having to replace the transformer and has indicators for both on the strobe. When I was doing some repair work on it, I noticed the direct AC wire goes to a switch under the platter that the tonearm switches on or off, so once the stylus retracts fully the switch disengages and cuts AC power. It came with no pre-amp, but I managed to take a pre-amp from eBay, disassemble it and built it straight inside the turntable and replaced the old phono leads with some brand new high end Technics lead that provide line level output. It's been my project for a few years to fully restore it, as I picked it up from a pawn shop for £30 (Cash Generator). It did come with a perspex lid in perfect physical condition, and amazingly had the original stylus on it. I changed the clamshell and stylus to an Audio Technica and it helped a huge amount. The hardest part of the project was replacing the tonearm wire. I wanted to put some newer wire in there that was less likely to pick up any hum or background noise, it's not a job for the faint of heart.