First Hifi Advice

sukotto85

sukotto85

sukotto85

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Joined
24 Aug 2013
Posts
103
Hi all,

A few months ago I decided I wanted to buy myself my first Hifi system. Without much knowledge I popped into Richer Sounds and tried out the Q3500, Bronze Audio 5 and 6 with the CXA60. Which all sounded great to me. But that's coming from someone who have never owned a good sound system before.

The more I look through forums, the further away I get to making a decision on what to purchase. Hence why I've come to this forum for some advice.

A bit of information below.

Speakers & integrated amp
Budget £1,000 - £1,200

Music taste - I mainly listen to electric music. But I also listen to a lot of indie bands, films scored ect.

The speakers will be placed in a L-shaped living room, which I know isn't ideal. The living room is pretty big, though, 18 x 18. At the moment I have my TV in one of the corners of the room, which is next to the window. This is where I will be placing the speakers.

I own no cds, all of my music is either on my phone or on my computer. Although I will look to buying a cd player at a later date. Recently I've been updating all my mp3 files to flac. In preparation for when I made my decision on what to buy. I require 2 x optical ports, to connect my PC and PS4. Bluetooth or USB support is also required.

With my musical taste, room size, and budget what would you recommend. Of course I know the decision comes down to what I like the sound of. But is there any other combination you would try?

Any help will he appreciated.
 
Only real advice to give is to either demo some equipment at home- some dealers will allow you to do it. If not and you can only demo at shop take a few pieces of music with you that you can compare between kit. When I got my Cyrus amp I was not intending on getting Cyrus at all but for me taking some really well known stuff it fitted my ears best
 
Will you be going into home cinema in the future? You have two options

If so, buy a stereo interated amplifier with power amplifier inputs so the AVR will control the stereo amp.

Buy a AVR and that'll do everything all channels.

As for speakers, you have choice of standmount + subwoofer, or floorstander and possibly subwoofer if required.

I won't recommend speakers or amplifier because the choice is huge. But you could consider second hand and get nice speakers for your budget, rather than lower quality new speakers.

With 18x18 room I'd recommend floorstanders.

AVR's will have streaming functions, although some stereo amps may have these as well. I'd recommend using a source such as squeezebox, sonos to play your lossless audio files.
 
Mcthommo said:
Only real advice to give is to either demo some equipment at home- some dealers will allow you to do it. If not and you can only demo at shop take a few pieces of music with you that you can compare between kit. When I got my Cyrus amp I was not intending on getting Cyrus at all but for me taking some really well known stuff it fitted my ears best
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware that you could demo at your own home. That's something I'll definitely look into.

Thanks
 
hornetstinger said:
Will you be going into home cinema in the future? You have two options

If so, buy a stereo interated amplifier with power amplifier inputs so the AVR will control the stereo amp.

Buy a AVR and that'll do everything all channels.

As for speakers, you have choice of standmount + subwoofer, or floorstander and possibly subwoofer if required.

I won't recommend speakers or amplifier because the choice is huge. But you
hornetstinger said:
Will you be going into home cinema in the future? You have two options

If so, buy a stereo interated amplifier with power amplifier inputs so the AVR will control the stereo amp.

Buy a AVR and that'll do everything all channels.

As for speakers, you have choice of standmount + subwoofer, or floorstander and possibly subwoofer if required.

I won't recommend speakers or amplifier because the choice is huge. But you could consider second hand and get nice speakers for your budget, rather than lower quality new speakers.

With 18x18 room I'd recommend floorstanders.

AVR's will have streaming functions, although some stereo amps may have these as well. I'd recommend using a source such as squeezebox, sonos to play your lossless audio files.
Click to expand...

Home cinema in the future is definitely on the cards in the future. But with my budget I thought it would be best to go for a stereo system. If I was going 5.1 I would want my budget to be much higher.

I'm heading to richer sounds again next week to demo Monitor audio Silver 2, with the Yamaha RN602. Without and without a sub. As I will definitely be getting one in the future.
Click to expand...
 
Then make sure your stereo amplifier has power amplifier inputs, otherwise you'll have to balance the level input (pre set volume to marked level) switch input on your stereo amp, then reduce it back down. And the L/R is going through another pre-amp which isn't ideal.
 
hornetstinger said:
Then make sure your stereo amplifier has power amplifier inputs, otherwise you'll have to balance the level input (pre set volume to marked level) switch input on your stereo amp, then reduce it back down. And the L/R is going through another pre-amp which isn't ideal.
Click to expand...

Apologies, I am not quite sure what you mean. I did say my knowledge is extremely poor regarding this subject. I guess reading up on these things will do me some good.
 
How does the RN602 compare to the CXA60? Which amp pairs better with the monitor speakers? Of course the guy at richer sounds will lead me more towards the CXA60.
 
Richer Sounds will try you put to brands they own outright. Last time I heard Monitor Audio I didn't like them, but they may pair up well with more warmer sounding amps like Yamaha.

If you do get a AVR later on, then you send left & right pre-outs from that into your stereo amp. Pre-outs are volume controlled, so the Yamaha will control the 5.1 speakers. But to do this properly your stereo amp must have inputs which transform the amp from a stereo amp, to a power amplifier.

So in AV mode, the stereo amp acts as a 2 channel power amplifier. It's own pre-amp (volume) controls are bypassed.
In stereo mode, the stereo amp acts like a stereo integrated amplifier. The pre-amp (volume) control functions
 
Own outright, as in their stock? I've been reading a lot of forums, which have mentioned all monitor audio speakers sound bright. As I've only tried those and the Q Acoustics 3050s, I haven't got much to compare them too.

Have you heard the 3050s?

If I was going down the 5.1 route in the future, I would buy a AV reviver.
 
After a bit of digging around on Google I have found out the owner of richer sounds owns big shares in Cambridge audio. Is this what you meant by own out right?

If there anything else I should demo while I am there?
 
with a 1k - 1.2k budget your split should be - 60/40 or perhaps 70/30 (speakers/amp)

Worth listening to

Focal 7 series (714/716)
Monitor Audio Bronze 5
Dali
KEF Q series
Q Acoustics 2050/3050

Peter Tyson are currently selling MA Silver 6 for 800 (newer model released) - http://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/monitor-audio-silver-6-speakers-high-gloss-black.html?___SID=U
These are right at the top end of your 1200 budget. If you do go 5.1 then the matching speakers are readily available.

Yamaha are probably your best bet for a good but cheap amp - http://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/yamaha-a-s501-integrated-amplifier.html?___SID=U

Marantz are worth a look also - http://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/marantz-pm7005-integrated-amplifier.html?___SID=U. They're described as being 'warm' so take some of the brightness out of the MA Silver.
 
Richer Sounds are selling the Silver 6's for £699.

So warm amps work better with bright sounding speakers? Are Cambridge Audio amps classed as warm? I'll contact Richer Sounds today about testing the Silver 6. Not sure if they have the Kefs you have mentioned.

With the speakers and amp I was looking at getting it would be more like 55/45. More on the amp. So spending more on the speakers is always the better option?
 
Yeah speakers should have the higher % of the budget at this price range. The Silver 6 sold for 1500 odd when released, so they need a decent amp.

699 is a steal btw they're clearing stock as the Silver 5/6 were recently replaced by the Silver 200/300
 
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