Been told my current Hifi is crap, need advice

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EXACTLY that £2000 denon system has nothing in it.

Apart from some electronics. Would be a pretty expensive empty case otherwise.

My £300 system (which i got from dubai duty free, so probably more expensive if available here in uk) one has a Mid-High/Low crossover, and dual 2 channel amplifiers, PLUS full range speakers.

I dont think i've missed something in the specifiactions on the denon website.

It doesn't matter how many mid-high-low-lower-even lower crossovers it has, the parts used in a system like that will be the cheapest and worst quality parts possible. The speakers will be constructed of cheaply injection moulding plastics with some chipboard. Horrific construction for speakers, as veneered MDF or hardwood is much more structurally sound.

Companies can produce loads of these system for peanuts just because they use crappy electronic parts. If that sharp system was soo amazing then why are people with £200-£20000 still buying hi-fi separates. It's because they are just far superior. ????

It's like comparing a 'bad boy' Corsa with (x4) 6inch exhausts to an ferrari. The corsa might sound a lot louder, but it'l sound like a wet fart driving down the street and people will point and laugh at the crappy 1.2 corsa. But the ferrari will sound stunning and people will know it's an engineering masterpiece and the cost is justified.

 

[SideWinder]

EXACTLY that £2000 denon system has nothing in it. My £300 system (which i got from dubai duty free, so probably more expensive if available here in uk) one has a Mid-High/Low crossover, and dual 2 channel amplifiers, PLUS full range speakers.

I dont think i've missed something in the specifiactions on the denon website.

I can't wait for your jaw to drop when (if) you go to a HiFi shop when they spec. you a budget system that destroys your Sharp "HiFi".

And what the hell do you mean by full range speakers?
Dual 2 channel Amps? Makes no sense at all?

 

[asim18]

sharp should be quoting their power outputs across the entire audio spectrum with a distortion of less than 0.1% - they dont. they dont even give you any numbers, instead simply stating din 45 500 which, correct me if im wrong, is your bog standard 1% distortion @ 1khz / 8ohm. useless in other words

Huh?

If you're not prepared to take anyone's advice and go to a proper hifi shop for a listen then why are you continuing to act like a child on here?

Whoah calm down mate, i just started this tread like 12 hours ago, and havent yet had the time to go 20 miles to my nearest pro hi-fi shop. I will soon.

And what the hell do you mean by full range speakers?
Dual 2 channel Amps? Makes no sense at all?

Full range speakers - Sub for bass, woofer for mid, and super/tweeters for high

Dual 2 channel amps,
one amp for high and medium frequencies, for both left and right channels
and another amp for low frequencies, for for both left and right channels

Edit: i'm really liking this discussion/debate w/e .

 

[james.miller]

Huh?

simple, they deliberately dont give any real output figures for their amplifers. a number sounds big, its not so big if they give you figures to compare the sharp to a real amplifier

 

[SideWinder]

Full range speakers - Sub for bass, woofer for mid, and super/tweeters for high

Dual 2 channel amps,
one amp for high and medium frequencies, for both left and right channels
and another amp for low frequencies, for for both left and right channels

Not being funny but i'm sure all speakers are "full range" and as for the 2 channel bit...every Amp has 2 channels? Doesn't mean it has 2 Amps but just 2 channels?

I'm taking you to that store myself if it means you'll start realising your colourful Sharp isn't the best in the world. Where do you live?

 

[agw_01]

Ohh, he's talking about bi-wiring.

Something that manufacturers of these 'hi-fi' systems started using to make people think they are better than they actually are... when bi-wiring that level of equipment actually does nothing.

asim, listen to what these guys are saying. Your Sharp system is nothing more than a flashy box which produces a load of noise. If you think that it sounds good, you're going to absolutely love the stuff you can get from a 'proper' hi-fi shop.

 

[asim18]

Not being funny but i'm sure all speakers are "full range" and as for the 2 channel bit...every Amp has 2 channels? Doesn't mean it has 2 Amps but just 2 channels?

I'm taking you to that store myself if it means you'll start realising your colourful Sharp isn't the best in the world. Where do you live?

Yes it DOES have 2 amps!
There are 8 speaker inputs on the back of the hifi, 4 are for left channel and 4 are for right channel,
Left Channel: 2 are for one of the amps and 2 are for the second amp.

I live in Stratford, East London

 

[james.miller]

Not being funny but i'm sure all speakers are "full range" and as for the 2 channel bit...every Amp has 2 channels? Doesn't mean it has 2 Amps but just 2 channels?

I'm taking you to that store myself if it means you'll start realising your colourful Sharp isn't the best in the world. Where do you live?

it means seperate outputs for the bass and mid range/treble drivers. it doesnt mean its any good though

Ohh, he's talking about bi-wiring.

no, its bi-amping seperate amplified outputs for the bass drivers.

 

[agw_01]

No, it has one amp that has two channels.

Each channel then has a crossover to split the high frequencies from the low frequencies.

I'm guessing from the hi-fi to each speaker there are 4 wires? HF + and - and LF + and - ?

 

[Beansprout]

• Denon: 75W per channel (RMS or PMPO not stated)
  Current: 100W RMS per channel
  
• Denon: 1 woofer and a super-tweeter per speaker
  Current: 1 woofer, 1 tweeter, 2 super-tweeters and subwoofer with bass reflex.
  
• Denon: vaguely describes some sort of crossover
  Current: Crossover, with seperate amplifiers for high/low frequencies

None of those numbers mean anything

The Denon one you've found looks like quite an expensive piece of kit and I wouldn't pay £2k for it, but obviously there are many many others that they (and other companies) do which are around the same size, and vary in cost from £a few hundred to £lots.

But really for £350+ you should be looking at separates - see the spec someone else put together in this thread for about £370 - it'd be awesome. Sure, it might not have as much bass as your system, but it'd sound a lot better

 

[james.miller]

No, it has one amp that has two channels.

Each channel then has a crossover to split the high frequencies from the low frequencies.

I'm guessing from the hi-fi to each speaker there are 4 wires? HF + and - and LF + and - ?

'powered subwoofer'. means that the subs get their own powered output from the stereo. at the very least its 2+1 channels (1 channel driving both subwoofers) - seperate amplified outputs if the stereo had one 2 channel amp, there wouldnt even be LF and HF inputs on the speakers.


...it even has bi-amp written on the front of it!

 

[agw_01]

Gotya So it'll have probably 2 bass drivers per speaker? One for the bass and then a mid.

Reminds me of my friend's Philips hi-fi with WOOX. He used to go on about that like it was some kind of beast, haha.

Oh, I wasn't disagreeing with you James. The post you quoted was in response to something that asim posted

...it even has bi-amp written on the front of it!

I missed that bit I presumed it was just bi-wireable.

 

[james.miller]

Gotya So it'll have probably 2 bass drivers per speaker? One for the bass and then a mid.

Reminds me of my friend's Philips hi-fi with WOOX. He used to go on about that like it was some kind of beast, haha.

Oh, I wasn't disagreeing with you James. The post you quoted was in response to something that asim posted

hehe thats alright. yeah same thing with the WOOX super duper woofers. didnt technics do the same with their seperates-esque systems too?

 

[SGWills]

a lesson in a life, size isnt everything .

its the same with everything *well mostly everything* anyone buys, nike trainers = £90 but you can get a trainer that looks the same but is cheaper. only difference is the quality of the trainer, i only recently started listening to seperates after going through the aiwa big flashy lights systems and also went through a stage of listening to my music on my sennheisers * sounded better in my opinion *

a lot of the info you have been given has come from people who like your self started with a *insert major company* system who put together kits with speakers you need forklift trucks to move but in time have found that the best way to hear good music is to get quality components.

anyone can right figures down its when you put them side to side you will notice a difference

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

My £300 system (which i got from dubai duty free, so probably more expensive if available here in uk) one has a Mid-High/Low crossover, and dual 2 channel amplifiers, PLUS full range speakers.

A few thoughts:
- ALL speakers (unless active) include crossovers. It's a bit like calling a Focus a 1.6 fuel injected, as there are NO non-fuel injected cars produced and sold in the UK anymore. So frankly, that's a bit of a pointless statement by Sharp, and the reason why other manufacters don't bother.
- Full range does NOT mean a speaker driver for each frequency range. In speaker terms that refers to a speaker that is capable of producing 20hz-20kz (or very close to that figure). Real full range speakers cost a LOT of dosh, so I'd be more than a little surprised if your Sharp units can achieve that.

As you live in Stratford, if I can suggest you take the DLR to Lewisham, you'll find a really nice Naim dealer (Billy Vee). Give them a call, I'm sure they'd be happy to give you a dem.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Ref the your speakers. How many cables are there between the speaker and the main unit? Is it a single cable (i.e. two wires) going to each speaker?

 

[asim18]

^^ ill post a pic in a min

EDIT

This is the LEFT SPEAKER:

 

[Corasik]

Amp power ratings for mass market gear like the Sharp are complete nonsense. Half the time they dont even follow the virtually meaningless 'DIN' measurement.

I've seen gear like that rated 100W @1khz @ 10%Total harmonic distortion.

Which is about the same as 10W 10-20000hz, 0.01% distortion (If your lucky).

Each of my mono amplifiers cost over £800, and they 'only' produce 125W RMS... Mind you they weigh in at about 10 kilograms each.. with a 500W power supply sitting in the heart of each one.

As for all those tweeters and supertweeters, all that does is help create a disjointed sound. Ok sure there are different ways to design a nice sounding speaker, and done properly a multi driver array can sound great, My own speakers have 2 bass, 2 midrange, and 1 tweeter, and sound great (Mission 753 Freedoms), but there are some stunning 'two way' designs which just have a woofer and tweeter. Its the 'design' and quality of componants which is important, not the number of drivers.

If your trying to get people to say you've been given duff advice, and that your current music centre (Sorry its not a Hi-Fi at all) is a good one, your probably in the wrong forums. The denons should sound a lot closer to the recording artists intended sound than yours.

Of course if you like yours, then by all means keep it. Having the right system for your ears is at the end of the day the most important thing. However I suspect if you went to a hifi shop, asked them to set you up with a £600 separates system, (1 amp, 1 CD player, and a pair of speakers), you would realise how good even cheap 'Hi-Fi' is compared to a music centre.

 

[badbob]

asim18, I gurantee once you hear Hi-Fi you'll throw that midi system in the bin. Keep on deluding yourself what you have is quality. It isn't.

As for the poster above, Denon isn't high-end, they're budget gear.

 

[agw_01]

Looking at the picture of the speaker and seeing the lovely paper cone tweeter... I'd hazard a guess in saying that neither of those dome 'super tweeters' are actually wired up at all.