Request help with compact stereo purchase!

[hollywood926]

And where better to request help than from the democratic underground website?

I have an old clunky stereo that is huge and I want to replace it with a smaller (boom box-sized) stereo.

My dilemma is that I want to be able to hear my tv through the speakers and also I would like it to have a hole for me to plug in my record player. (LPs...remember those?)

Does anyone here know about such things? I haven't bought a piece of stereo equipment since 1985.

Any recommmended brands????

Thanks!

[Kali]

1. We've bought several for the kids

they are all about the same - this is the one case I would say buy the service agreement because the cd players seem to always break pretty fast (at least buy for one year after that its cheaper to replace the whole thing) My kids have tv's video games etc all hooked to them - just ask the sales guy how many accesory jacks it has - tell them (or even take the wires) what else you plan to hook up.

[hollywood926]

4. accessory jacks...thanks! n/t

[bif]

7. I agree about the cd players

We've bought several over the past 5 years and the CD players always break after about a year. Same problem with every brand we're purchased. Pisses me off when you spend $150 and the cd player breaks and everything else works fine.

[mac56]

2. I used to think it was better to buy individual components.

That way if one part of it breaks down, the rest is still usable.

Good luck finding individual components at an affordable price anymore.

[Logiola]

3. record player

You may have problems with the record player, most record players do not have a pre-amp so the signal will be to week. if you just want to get rid of all your "big equipment" you could get a cheap surround sound unit with a dvd player and all the speakers with a built in amp.. usually the cheap ones are not to powerful but if you are not looking for "overpowering" sound it should do you fine. for your record player you will need to buy a pre-amp. good thing about a pre-amp is then you can use it along with your computer soundcard to copy your records into digital format.

another option is if you have a dvd player, and if your big stereo has a separate amp, you can plug your dvd player, tv, and record player thru this and you can use your dvd player as your cd player as well.. that way you only need one set of speakers for everything..

[MISSDem]

5. Bose Acoustic Wave with the

five cd changer. It sounds great

[MISSDem]

6. Yes you will have to buy a pre-amp (about 6 bucks) for the

turntable if you buy the Bose Acoustic Wave. This stereo is one piece about the size of a briefcase and then you can add the 5 cd changer if you like, for convenience. Plus you can get free shipping and they will let you pay 12 months same as cash. Can't beat it.

[Red State Blues]

8. About the Record Player

Phonographs require RIAA equalization which will be very rare (or non-existent) on modern boom box systems. BUT if the unit you buy has an auxillary input (that you would use for a tape deck, cd, computer ect --- this will not work for your turntable ) you can buy an outboard head amp (also called phono pre-amp/turntable adapter) that will go between the turntable and the aux input. You can spend more than the price of a new car on such a thing if you really want, but some lower end ones used to sell for $50 or less. I remember recoton used to have an inexpensive one.