Hi fi separates

I can't advise either. My Pioneer separates system is 20+ years old, but still works a dream with vinyl, tapes and CDs.
 
massive subject and choice, kind of depends on how many pennies.
richer sounds cambridge audio stuff is well respected at a budget level.
speakers like monitor audio as well.
 
Reputable second is the way to go IMO, John at http://www.retrotechaudio.co.uk/currently-for-sale.html is a top chap.

If you want modern speakers Q Acoustic 2020i punch way above their budget, I used them when I had a second system and was very impressed for under £100(Richer Sounds)..

But I love old speakers, currently have 34 year old KEF Carina ii and they suit how I like things to sound perfectly.. My amp and turntable are modern tho, Cyrus 6a and Pro-Ject Carbon w/ Ortofon 2m Blue and Acrylic platter..

Hi Fi can be a bit like a camera purchase, nothing wrong with the other brands but one suits you better.
 
My advice is to go to an independent hifi dealer and talk to them.
They make their money by trying to find out what sort of sound suits you and your budget.
While they may not sell much at the lower end of the market (you have not mentioned budget) whatever they sell will have been carefully listened to and will be what they think offers decent sounds quality at the price.

strumstrum suggests Q Acoustics 2020i's - I've just sold mine as I have a slightly better version, but yes, they are Very good for the money and with a decent amp and decent music files (ie flac files from your phone) and you will have a good system.
A graphic equalizer has no place in a decent system, and is more a way to cover up a systems limitations.
How much do you want to spend ?
 
thanks for you'r reply's, probably will buy from richersounds, theres one local to me, had a friend many moons ago that used
to have a nice sounding system, but he's dead now , so cannot ask his advice :) had a quick look in richersounds, but so many
too choose from, probable will spend about £150 per separate plus speakers, I got a huge collection of cds plus old vinyls
so cd player is a must, amp and something for flac and mpv ?
 
Define a rough budget for your Hi-Fi spend.

Think about what sources you need. Do you listen to the radio? If not; there is no need to buy a tuner. Do you have a collection of physical media you want to play? If not; you can stream music from a variety of places at different quality levels and prices. If you go down this route then you don't need to pay for a CD player or turntable if you don't have to want get into vinyl.

Even if you have a CD collection; one option would be to rip your discs to a computer or external storage device and 'stream' the music to your Hi-Fi again precluding the need for a CD player.

Once you have an idea of what media you want to play. Take a look at the room you'll be playing your music in. The shape and size of the room, seating position when listening, absorbent surfaces (carpets, rugs, curtains etc) will all have a bearing on the way sound is reproduced in your room. Make a note of this information.

If you don't know one; get on the internet and find some proper Hi-Fi shops that you can get to. This excludes department stores and electrical warehouses like PC World. Suggestions include Richer Sounds, Sevenoaks Sound & Vision, Audio T or better still an independent Hi-Fi shop.

Sort out some music that you know well. If you don't have any CD's or Vinyl to take with you download your chosen songs/albums onto a USB stick. If you're unable to do that; just make a list of what you'd like to hear. Most decent Hi-Fi shops will subscribe to a quality streaming service and should be able to stream your favourite albums/artists.

Call the shop/s and arrange a demonstration; don't just turn up and try to avoid Saturdays if at all possible.

Go to the shop armed with information about your room, your budget, what media you want to play and ask them to demonstrate some speakers to you. Speakers will have the single biggest influence on the character of sound you get of any component in your Hi-Fi system. You have three objectives 1) To find speakers you like the sound of 2) Speakers you can afford out of your budget 3) Speakers that work in your room. There are no real specifics here; there will be a certain amount of trial and error. As a rule; larger floor standing speakers will produce more bass. But this bass could be overwhelming in room to small for speakers. Spend as much time listening as you can. Bear in mind speakers that initially sound impressive with oodles of detail can often be fatiguing to listen to over long periods of time.

Once you have chosen your favourite speaker; ask for recommendations for the best amplifier to work with them. The amplifier is the 'engine' that drives your speakers and an amplifier that works well with one set of speaker may not work so well with another pair.

So now you should have an idea of your preferred components. You will also need to include the cost of speaker cables, interconnects and possibly speaker stands (if you buy stand mount speakers) in your budget.

Ask the shop if they will permit you to have a home demo. Independent shops are most likely to do this. Be prepared to pay either a deposit or in full and get a refund if you're not happy with the system. If the shop won't do this; the very minimum they should do is offer you an exchange if you're not happy. If they won't do this; walk away and find somewhere else to do business.

The shop should deliver and set up the equipment for you.

Hopefully after several days of listening to a wide variety of material you'll know if the system is for you. If you really hate it; take it back. If the system is 'almost there' but there are things about the sound that niggle (treble too bright, bass a bit 'flabby') tell the shop. There may be some fine tuning they can do to get the sound you want.

Fingers crossed; you will now be in possession of a Hi-Fi system that will provide you with many years of happy listening.

An alternative to the above would be joining a Hi-Fi forum - I'd suggest Hi-Fi WigWam - and find people near you and see if you can go and hear their systems. WigWam hold 'bake off's' were members meet and demonstrate various set ups and different components. I would caution that Hi-Fi forums are places where much nonsense is talked and incorrect dogma often prevails. Apply a bit of common sense and you should be able to distinguish sense from stupidity.

Good luck!

Edit: I spent so long typing the above on my IPad that I missed the last three replies!
 
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Uncle Fester said:
Define a rough budget for your Hi-Fi spend.

Think about what sources you need. Do you listen to the radio? If not; there is no need to buy a tuner. Do you have a collection of physical media you want to play? If not; you can stream music from a variety of places at different quality levels and prices. If you go down this route then you don't need to pay for a CD player or turntable if you don't have to want get into vinyl.

Even if you have a CD collection; one option would be to rip your discs to a computer or external storage device and 'stream' the music to your Hi-Fi again precluding the need for a CD player.

Once you have an idea of what media you want to play. Take a look at the room you'll be playing your music in. The shape and size of the room, seating position when listening, absorbent surfaces (carpets, rugs, curtains etc) will all have a bearing on the way sound is reproduced in your room. Make a note of this information.

If you don't know one; get on the internet and find some proper Hi-Fi shops that you can get to. This excludes department stores and electrical warehouses like PC World. Suggestions include Richer Sounds, Sevenoaks Sound & Vision, Audio T or better still an independent Hi-Fi shop.

Sort out some music that you know well. If you don't have any CD's or Vinyl to take with you download your chosen songs/albums onto a USB stick. If you're unable to do that; just make a list of what you'd like to hear. Most decent Hi-Fi shops will subscribe to a quality streaming service and should be able to stream your favourite albums/artists.

Call the shop/s and arrange a demonstration; don't just turn up and try to avoid Saturdays if at all possible.

Go to the shop armed with information about your room, your budget, what media you want to play and ask them to demonstrate some speakers to you. Speakers will have the single biggest influence on the character of sound you get of any component in your Hi-Fi system. You have three objectives 1) To find speakers you like the sound of 2) Speakers you can afford out of your budget 3) Speakers that work in your room. There are no real specifics here; there will be a certain amount of trial and error. As a rule; larger floor standing speakers will produce more bass. But this bass could be overwhelming in room to small for speakers. Spend as much time listening as you can. Bear in mind speakers that initially sound impressive with oodles of detail can often be fatiguing to listen to over long periods of time.

Once you have chosen your favourite speaker; ask for recommendations for the best amplifier to work with them. The amplifier is the 'engine' that drives your speakers and an amplifier that works well with one set of speaker may not work so well with another pair.

So now you should have an idea of your preferred components. You will also need to include the cost of speaker cables, interconnects and possibly speaker stands (if you buy stand mount speakers) in your budget.

Ask the shop if they will permit you to have a home demo. Independent shops are most likely to do this. Be prepared to pay either a deposit or in full and get a refund if you're not happy with the system. If the shop won't do this; the very minimum they should do is offer you an exchange if you're not happy. If they won't do this; walk away and find somewhere else to do business.

The shop should deliver and set up the equipment for you.

Hopefully after several days of listening to a wide variety of material you'll know if the system is for you. If you really hate it; take it back. If the system is 'almost there' but there are things about the sound that niggle (treble too bright, bass a bit 'flabby') tell the shop. There may be some fine tuning they can do to get the sound you want.

Fingers crossed; you will now be in possession of a Hi-Fi system that will provide you with many years of happy listening.

An alternative to the above would be joining a Hi-Fi forum - I'd suggest Hi-Fi WigWam - and find people near you and see if you can go and hear their systems. WigWam hold 'bake off's' were members meet and demonstrate various set ups and different components. I would caution that Hi-Fi forums are places where much nonsense is talked and incorrect dogma often prevails. Apply a bit of common sense and you should be able to distinguish sense from stupidity.

Good luck!

Edit: I spent so long typing the above on my IPad that I missed the last three replies!
Click to expand...
You may have spent a long time typing, but you said all I should have said but I was in a rush, so didn't...!
The most important thing is to trust you and your wife's ears - specs are not important, nor are reviews.
I'd say don't join a hifi forum, as everyone has a different opinion, all of which are different. That said, I belong to one or two...
Music files can be stored and played from any phone, laptop/computer, streamer,ipod/mp3 player etc so you should have a source for your (ie bought and ripped, or downloaded) music so an amp and speakers, plus whatever cables and stands could be all you need . Ripping CD's to your computer is not difficult, but please do it in flac file format...
As an example, I had a pair of Q Acoustics (which I sold for £50 inc delivery yesterday) with a tiny SMSL amp (£50 on ebay) running from my phone. Sounded way better than most mini systems costing anything up to £500, in part as I have my music in flac file format. I now have something better, but still at way under what I think is your budget, but I did buy used.
 
I still have & use daily, my JVC system (less turntable) that I bought in 1983/4.
It cost a few bob at the time & may not be up to todays equipment standards, but it's certainly been good value & still sounds good to me. :cool:
 
Mine is a mix of Sony and Technics gear, but the star of the show is my DIY amplifier I built.

tumblr_oyrf8l8L6J1sb7qm1o1_1280.jpg


90 Watts a side, push/pull output configuration, uses 8 EL34 power tubes and 2x ECC82 - 83 Pre-amp tubes.
 
Only 3 things here, and they're your ears, your choice of music and your wallet. You've put us on track with "about £150" for each component and that's fine, but a rock system may not suit clasicaal and vice versa. Richer generally have deals and will point you towards a balanced system, but don't obsess with separates if there is an all-in-one system with a 5 or 6 year gaurantee in your price range. Secondhand will certainly get you cheaper, but not necessarily for the longer term. Check out your local Gumtree for secondhand.
 
I have a Yamaha amp, bought a couple of years ago, still available from Richer, will take all sorts of inputs including turntable, optical, cd and Bluetooth (needs the adaptor for that), so, nicely future proofed, or as much as can be. In addition a couple of Wharfedale spkrs which cost about £60 and are for the price unbelievably good, plus they are book case size. I tried some large floor mounts but found they only sounded better, to me, when being driven quite loudly, which would probably have driven my neighbour mad and limited the amount of time I would have enjoyed them. The small Wharfedales can also be used with a pc, so much so I ended up buying 2 pairs for 2 rooms.
As has been said, it has to sound good to you and like photography you can get something quite good for not a fortune but something really good costs a great deal more, excessively so (imo).
Matt
 
MatBin said:
I have a Yamaha amp, bought a couple of years ago, still available from Richer, will take all sorts of inputs including turntable, optical, cd and Bluetooth (needs the adaptor for that), so, nicely future proofed, or as much as can be. In addition a couple of Wharfedale spkrs which cost about £60 and are for the price unbelievably good, plus they are book case size. I tried some large floor mounts but found they only sounded better, to me, when being driven quite loudly, which would probably have driven my neighbour mad and limited the amount of time I would have enjoyed them. The small Wharfedales can also be used with a pc, so much so I ended up buying 2 pairs for 2 rooms.
As has been said, it has to sound good to you and like photography you can get something quite good for not a fortune but something really good costs a great deal more, excessively so (imo).
Matt
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yeh, not going to get a great deal of use from me, and wife wouldn't know what a good sound system sounds like.
but i do like listening to pink Floyd now and again.:)
 
Spend the majority on your budget on speakers, some of it on an amp and a little bit on a Chromecast Audio. Sorted.

Don't be suckered into thinking you need to spend lots on cables either, no scientific experiment EVER has shown anyone can hear a difference.
 
Its not just the system you have to think about when it comes to sound quality, the room its played in is important too, ideally you want the room to sound flat.
 
Rob 80386 said:
Its not just the system you have to think about when it comes to sound quality, the room its played in is important too, ideally you want the room to sound flat.
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This is absolutely right.

Simplistically there's no point in buying big speakers and putting them in a corner of a small room - you'll just end up with a mush of a sound - so it's good to consider the room and where you will put the speakers before just buying an award winning set of speakers.

Likewise hard flooring is an issue too - lots of reflections - so you will ideally want them in a carpeted room.
 
the most important part of your system will be the amplifier and speakers, the source will not be as important at the price level you are considering,
at the price quoted cd players and digital file players ( mp3 flac etc ) will sound very similar to each other
if you planning on buying a turntable make sure the amplifier you choose has the facilities for one, not all amplifiers will have a turntable input and not all turntables even at that price level will sound the same, you will need to listen to a few to choose one you like the sound of with your chosen amplifier and speaker combination

don't get caught caught up in the golden carrot syndrome ( for an extra 50 quid you could have this ) choose a budget and stick to it or it could get quite expensive
 
Nawty said:
Spend the majority on your budget on speakers.
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I think that used to be true but these days you can get fantastic speakers for not a lot of money and expensive spkrs tend to be bigger and need a bigger room to make them sound any good, imo.
Matt
 
Wharfedale 9's unbelievably good for the money. I really didn't think anything this cheap could be this good, I paid £60 a year ago, so at £40 they are an absolute bargain and if you don't like them Richer will refund you, within a certain period. They work well against a wall as their bass is supposed to be a bit lacking, given their size this could be true, although for me they are fine so long as you don't want to shake your windows.
Amp Yamaha as301 - a couple of years ago Yamaha released a batch of newly designed amps, they slipped under most people's radar, the prices plunged and they became terrific value for money, worth a listen if you are on a budget.
Just my opinion of 2 bits of kit I like.
I also bought the Bluetooth adapter, which was by comparison quite expensive but we'll worth it.
All in I couldn't believe how much detail this lot produced from MP3 files.
I also have wooden floors, 1930 house.
Yamaha BDS 681 looks like a good media source too. I have an earlier model and can't complain, bit more than your original budget but given the savings on spkrs may be worthwhile?
Matt
 
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A wooden floor is only really a problem if you don't have much by way of soft furnishings to soften and absorb so don't worry too much about it.
It doesn't sound like you are overly fussy listeners anyway.
Should you get the 20201's that strumstrum has linked to, they come with a foam bung that you can put into the port at the back of the speakers if the bass needs taming ( placing speakers close to a wall can lead to a boomy bass sound)
 
Good advice already given. I’d just say, go and have a listen to the gear first... things sound completely different to different people and you can’t always go by recommendations.

Richer Sounds are a good place to start and will demo gear for you. Personally I’m not fond of their Cambridge Audio brand as someone recommended above. Although it sounds good and is initially decent value for money, my experience hasn’t been good with it: two CA cd players have died on me after a couple of years of (not hard) use.
 
Do you want the system separate to the TV? Otherwise a decent AV receiver could be a good solution, and give you the same high quality sound with your audio and video sources. You can then just use a DVD player for your CDs (with a digital connection like HDMI, the audio quality will be determined by the DAC and the amplifier in the receiver). Whatever you go for, I agree it makes sense to spend a decent proportion of your budget on speakers (I ended up spending well over half of mine on some KEFs, driven by a Denon receiver, connected by unbranded copper cables - fancy speaker cables are basically a scam). A modern receiver will also have built-in networking, typically with DLNA or AirPlay support so you can stream directly to it. The Chromecast Audio mentioned above (or a regular video Chromecast) is another option for streaming. The Audio version both has analogue and digital audio outputs, while the video version has HDMI for digital audio and video. One problem with the Chromecast is that it doesn't natively support true gapless playback of local audio files, which is a pain if you listen to lots of albums without track breaks, DJ mixes, live albums, operas, etc. One way to work around this is to stream via the Hi-Fi Cast Android app.
 
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You're going to think I'm utterly insane, but that's ok, most people do.

If the speakers are to be wall mounted get a pair of Acoustic Research AR6 from the early / mid '70s

They are designed to go against a wall and are still the best small speakers I've ever heard.

Get a Yamaha A-S500 to wack some power up their chuff - sorted.
 
I can only give general advice but the first is to trawl eBay, the Arcam Alpha CD;s and amp's still sound good and can be picked up cheap or good one box solutions include the NAD C715 DAB, I know they sound really good as I had one before I upgraded to my Naim/PMC rig that I currently use.
As for speakers nothing sounds good on a wall. You can buy spike shoes that go underneath the spikes on speaker stand and prevent damage to floors, I use them myself and they work well.
Avoid speaker with a rear port at all costs, such speakers need plenty of space around them and need to be well away from walls other wise they sound "boomy" , even my PMC twenty 21's which are front ported and work well near to a wall have to be 6" away and well away from corners to sound good.
 
magicaxeman said:
I can only give general advice but the first is to trawl eBay, the Arcam Alpha CD;s and amp's still sound good and can be picked up cheap or good one box solutions include the NAD C715 DAB, I know they sound really good as I had one before I upgraded to my Naim/PMC rig that I currently use.
As for speakers nothing sounds good on a wall. You can buy spike shoes that go underneath the spikes on speaker stand and prevent damage to floors, I use them myself and they work well.
Avoid speaker with a rear port at all costs, such speakers need plenty of space around them and need to be well away from walls other wise they sound "boomy" , even my PMC twenty 21's which are front ported and work well near to a wall have to be 6" away and well away from corners to sound good.
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I need to go wall mounted unfortunately my son and daughter are disabled, and these are in living room where they both play.
 
mark richards said:
I need to go wall mounted unfortunately my son and daughter are disabled, and these are in living room where they both play.
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You do need to go with speakers designed to go against a wall or the Axeman's point is spot on. They will sound terrible.
 
Mines a right mismatch of stuff that's now quite old but still works great.
Eltax speakers, great Pioneer amp, Denon tuner and Technics CD player. The Amp also has inputs from the TV Feeds, a 3.5mm jack so I can plug in mp3 devices etc. I have a Garard SP25 turntable in the loft for when I sometimes get the vinyl out.

Might be worth looking out at second hand stuff? A lot of people get rid of it now for something plastic and small.
 
If your budget is around 150 I would go into RS and ask them what they can do. Tell them you don't mind ex demo. I saved £50 from them a couple of months on a TV cabinet that was on display. £50 off and it was already made for me :)
I wanted a nice system for my 50th in August. I thought about the Bose all in one but after listening to it and what I could get for the same money I went for a all in one Yamaha CRXN470D and some nice speakers (Monitor Audio BRONZE 2) and stands. The sound is much better.
If I was you (and if you can) I would have a Hi-Fi saving jar.
When you have something that sounds really nice it will put a smile on your face every time you listen to it :)
 
mark richards said:
do i need a amp for this?
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No. The amp is built in.

Whilst this may well sound fine; 'separate' Hi-FI components are more likely to offer superior sound quality.

Try to listen to both types of systems before deciding.
 
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