As a LP12 owner with Kore Karousel and Krystal I wouldn’t recommend the LP12 as a first T/T as it really needs TLC to the best from it. Rega 6 or similar that you can use “out of the box” will result in better overall user experience. Having had the source cost 8 times more than the speakers I would advocate a balanced system for owners who don’t intend to make HiFi a hobby.
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Yep, good point well presented 
(Forgot about that) oh well I’ll go back to my first suggestion.
REGA brio is not Elex R. The later is really much better.
Don’t worry FR, the more I think about this, the more I’m convinced the way to go is:
Rega RP8 with MM cartridge/perhaps a Michell as an alternative depending on aesthetic taste.
Nait XS3 (noting the built in phono-stage & remote) - as my friend likes soft-ish rock and from what I’ve read the XS3 is a step forward on the XS2(?), albeit box fresh XS2’s look very cheap and I hear what posters have said re using an XS2 with a decent phono-amp but that would mean more boxes and simplicity rules.
Speakers - with a bit of negotiation, a budget of ~£1k should get a decent set.
Plan B to look at/listen to a Rega-based system. Plan X = headphones!
I wouldn’t want to allocate too much of the budget to speakers, especially if these end up being placed in sub-optimal locations in the room. And spending more than say £2k on speakers would be relative mullet territory IMV.
Thank you to everyone for their responses, it’s all food for thought.
Of course, when/if this gets played-out is a very open question at the moment, as many dealers are (at best) operating behind closed doors and from looking at websites, a lot of kit is in very limited supply or out of stock…and I daren’t think what’s going to happen to any import prices post 1st Jan.
Happy Christmas & stay safe.
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Yep, it’s definitely hard work trying to buy hifi with lockdowns etc. although I appreciate it’s 1st world problems.
One thing to bear in mind is that unless you find a Rega in stock, you might have a wait. I ordered a P2 back in November as a present and it’s still not arrived as they’re experiencing record orders (excuse the pun).
All speakers should be positioned optimally but for some speakers that will be in the corners (Audionote) or tight against a wall (the proac tablets have already been mentioned) so bear in mind where they will have to go when choosing them.
Funk Firm is hardly ever mentioned on this forum but the decks look quite interesting, has anyone heard them?
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Definitely the case with TT based systems.
I’m afraid you’re perpetuating a very old myth about the LP12. A modern LP12 that has been properly set up will be fine for quite a long time - as is mine.
Spending over 50% of the £5k on a TT may seem counter-intuitive, indeed, a hifi novice may be tempted to go for your “balanced approach”, which probably works fine with a digital system. The OP sough the advice of the forum and has had replies from numerous “vinyl people” who have learned that the “source first” yields the best results. In happier times a competent dealer would be able to demonstrate this in about 45 minutes.
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From a Naim perspective the XS3 is about £2,300 leaving £2,700 for source, speakers and cables.
Amps from the Japanese companies usually come with built in phono stages, I think the only British company with built in phono stages at the sub £2k mark are Rega.
Keeping it simple and Naim based, again I go back to Clearaudio Concept, with built in phono stage, a Nait 5 which will leave around £1700 for speakers , cables and a stand.
It may not appeal to a hifi novice but, as a previous poster suggested, if I were looking to build the best purely vinyl system for £5k I would be going for a new or reconditioned sh LP12 with a good mm cartridge and then track down some sh Chrome or Olive components - 42/110, for example, with a pair of Kans or similar. Leaving a bit for cables and stands etc.
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It seems good. Don’t forget to comment when your new system choosen will be at home 
Has he got any records??
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Yep - quite a few and intends on buying more.
I must admit, I tried to point my friend away from vinyl but they are adamant this is the route they want to pursue - and I fully understand their drivers to this end.
It must be said that to a complete hi-fi newbie, there is so much to consider and stuff I took a few years to understand, I’m having to explain in a few mins on a 'phone call (isolation and all that).
Having a vision about what one wants and then appreciating what this means in terms of listening environment/placement/cablings et al, then trying to execute via whittling down to a list of alternatives is OK, but getting demos is impossible in this climate.
If your friend is new to vinyl consider the “plug and play” Vertere DG-1.
That leaves £2250 for amp, speakers and accessories.
Don’t know how much of a discount you expect to get, but I would consider getting a P6 or Technics GR instead to leave a bit more for the speakers and a good MM cart. (2M Bronze or Nag MP-150?) Or, a slightly cheaper amp would achieve the same, but then you’re looking outside Naim’s catalogue I guess.
I’m not perpetuating a myth I am reflecting my experience. Glad Linn have addressed this issue. I am a big fan of Linn which is why I spent £850 in 1988 in the front end.
A 2020 LP12, as I expect you know, is quite a different beast to the 1988 model… Some people believe it has lost some of its old analogue magic but I’ve followed the mods and upgrades up to start of 2020 (so without Karousel) and have been consistently impressed with the improvements - including stability after set up.
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Respecting my friend’s diktat of (new) box-fresh kit, I think an LP12 Majik version (with Karousel now) has challenges as to cost in eating 70% of budget and also only offering 33rpm, without faffing with a pulley converter or somesuch - and simple is good.
I’d love to consider going this way, with a pre-loved Naim amp but it’s not on the cards at the moment. Of course, an all pre-loved system from a dealer would open up even more options.
If your friend likes the idea of an LP12 then maybe have a chat with a specialist who can build a secondhand deck to suit the budget. Add a NAIT XS3 and a suitable pair of speakers and you should have a lovely vinyl system for £5k.
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Dear @HappyListener,
I second this suggestion from @Ian2001. Among the many “outside the box” suggestions, including using active speakers and headphones, the Concept Active is specifically marketed with this in mind over and above its traditional use as an entry level but high quality traditional turntable.
I just got one this fall, so biased perspective declared… but it is truly as simple as advertised. Out of the box to spinning first album in less than fifteen minutes. The cartridge is pre-mounted and all adjustments bar tracking force (you mount the counterweight yourself) are factory set. They provide a simple but effective rocker balance to do this single adjustment, and it’s trivially straightforward.
The built-in phono pre works fine for me (I got the MM version, with the gimbal rather than the magnetic bearing arm)… and this is the bit that is really flexible. It has a volume control that works with the headphone amp (1/4” socket on the side) and, optionally, with the line out (RCA sockets on the back). They specifically mention that this feature is to accommodate direct connection to active speakers for absolutely minimal equipment required vinyl-only systems. Note: I have not tried this, in spite of owning both headphones and active speakers… mine feeds a Nova.
I’m not well-versed or current on these things, but most reviews compare this table against P6 and P8 performance. Here in Canada, it was considerably cheaper (closer to P3 pricing, but also including the phono pre rather than needing an additional purchase). Up-spec to the MC version for an even more source-first investment strategy.
It is faff-free in operation: switch for 33/45/78 without touching belts. Lacks a dust cover. Has available upgrades (including cartridge and external power supply) for later tweakery.
I really love mine, and perhaps your friends would too: it sounds, feels, and looks great.
Have fun helping your friends, this is a cool thing you are doing.
Regards alan