I have choices. I need advice...

Posted by: Tim Williams on 31 March 2004

Hello one and all. It's been a while since I posted on here, but just when I thought I was safe, life has got all 'unexpected' on me...

So... I'm moving from the Midlands to north west Scotland. And I'm going to be an (old) dad (for the first time). All very good news, but I've had to make some difficult choices.

First off, I've decided to sell off my entire record collection and my cherished Gyrodec / power supply / arm / cartridge / etc and blah.

I KNOW you'll order me not to but it's too late. I've decided. I need the (subtantial) cash tied up in my records. I don't want to lug them all up to Scotland anyway, and records / turntables and kids don't mix well...

So. - Choices. - Do I:

a) Keep what I have left (Micromega Pro CD3 transport / DAC 3 - Rather old, but little used and extremely lovely; NAC102 / Napsc / Flatcap / NAP180 - all olive fronted models; into PMC FB1's) buy a new cabinet with a lockable door and forget about any changes for the next 20 years.

b) Keep everything except the CD player. Sell that and try to get the money together for a good used CDX.

c) Sell the 180 (plus a NAT3 which I forgot to mention and don't use) and buy a NAP250

d) Sell everything (except the speakers) and buy a Nait 5i and CD5i, thus downgrading and being easily portable and easy to accommodate (reckless but kind of tempting...)

e) Some combination of the above

f) None of the above

The only stipulations here are that, 1) I'm keeping the speakers (at least until I know where I'll be living). I like them! And, 2) This can't involve spending any more money than can be raised by the sale of 'surplus' kit (not including the records. Well, maybe a little bit of it...)

Some opinions would be nice!

Tim

Posted on: 31 March 2004 by domfjbrown

Urm, you could get your mum-to-be to have an abortion...

OK OK just kidding!!! (oh, sorry - just realised that's an awful pun)

Just wandering - since you're sold on selling the Gyro, what spec is it and how much will it be???

Enquiring minds want to know...

I'd sell the spare bits (tt/tuner etc) and get a CD5, and keep the amps/speakers, and get a lockable cabinet.

Music's important and your son/daughter-to-be will love it from an early age. I just wish my folks had played more music when I was little....

__________________________
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Posted on: 31 March 2004 by seagull

quote:
I KNOW you'll order me not to but it's too late. I've decided.

DON'T DO IT!!!

If you haven't actually sold them then it is not too late!

How many stories have there been here where people have sold off their kit, for what ever reason, then subsequently regretted it and got back on the hi-fi ladder again losing money in the process.

Kids and records can mix. I am on my second (child that is) and have had no mishaps with my LP12 to date (touch wood). If you are very concerned get a wall shelf.

Posted on: 31 March 2004 by Tim Williams

Hi dom' the Gyro is the full spec, just prior to the DC motor. It has a new RB300 (actually a Moth) with factory re-wiring (not Origin Live, but that other Company, the name of which escapes me for the moment...)into 'Naim style' plugs. Dynavector DV20 LX cart (12 months old). Michell / Rega VTA adaptor. QC (? that doesn't sound right, but you know the one I mean - large, round, fins) power supply. Dino phono stage.

All totally mint / perfect.

Price? No idea but open to offers. - How do I 'post' something like that?!!

Seagull - I know mate, believe me I do. But I have to 'liberate' a serious amount of cash, and the record collection is the way to do it. I could (I suppose) sell off the rare and interesting items (hundreds of at least near mint UK original 60's 70's LP's) and keep the modern 'audiophile' pressings (and the Gyro), but I guess once the dam has burst, it will be easier to just sell all.

Any other ideas?

What are second hand CDX prices anyway? Can a Hicap be used to increase the performance of a CDX?

Posted on: 31 March 2004 by seagull

If you must sell try
Pink Fish or Ebay.

Sell the LPs separately, a pain but you will get better prices. You can also stop selling them once you have raised enough dosh.

I think CDX's go for about 1500-1700 these days, and they use an XPS not a Hi-cap.

Posted on: 31 March 2004 by cens

Tim,

I'm guessing that you won't have much time to listen to music with a babe around. If it were me, I'd listen to the Nait 5i and CD5i and, if you like the combo with your speakers, get it and sell off the rest. Then you'll have a relatively portable, easy to protect system that would provide musical enjoyment without seeking to dominate your attention. And you'll have some extra money to spend on your child.

Just my two cents.

Regards,

Chris

Posted on: 31 March 2004 by hungryhalibut

Tim

Don't listen to those who tell you that you need to lock away the hi fi in a cupboard and keep the kids at bay with an electric fence. I have a pile of Naim sitting on a rack in the corner of the room, which has been there ever since they were born. The Linn sits on a wall shelf out of reach but all the rest can be grabbed at will. The point is that if you don't make a big fuss and set the stereo up as an object of desire then the kids hopefully won't be interested in it. As soon as they can understand you just need to explain that is is not to be fiddled with and to explain how to use it properly when they are old enough. There really is nothing better than to see the children leaping around to the Undertones or relaxing to quiet jazz or whatever. By having the stereo as part of their life they will hopefully get to love music as much as you do. Accidents can always happen of course, so make sure you have accidental damage on your insurance. The worst my children ever did was to destroy an SBL tweeter, but the insurance paid out and I got new tweeters. The stereo is, after all, just a load of boxes that can be replaced. And on your options question buy the CDX and keep the rest.

Best wishes

Nigel

Posted on: 31 March 2004 by Not For Me

My 2p.

Sell all the Hi-Fi, keep the records.

You can very easily replace the boxes with whatever is the new thing, but you will NEVER be able to replace the records, particularly if some are rare.

Well, perhaps get a Linn Classik for background music.

DS

OTD - Koenig Cylinders - Koenig Cylinders II

Posted on: 31 March 2004 by kj burrell

Got to agree with most of the above: KEEP THE RECORDS!! For one thing, it's always pretty depressing how little you get form them, even stuff that you consider rare and valuable.
Congrats on the impending kid: as another "old dad" ( second time round in my case) I think it's just the best thing that can happen. And all of my kids have left the hi fi well alone, so don't expect the worst. 20 yrs of parenting and the only damage has been a button lost off a Rotel cd player when a ten year old got too excited lisening to Hendrix.

Kevin