good separates system for about £400
- Thread starter raikesi
- Start date
£400 will definitely buy you a better setup if going 2.0/2.1.
Stereo amp would probably the best idea for 2.0/2.1, however an AV receiver would be worth considering if at any point you wanted to move to surround sound. Just an example, you could get the AVR, 2 speakers and a sub. At a later date, if you wanted, you could add rears and a centre for 5.1. If you definitely do not have any intention to move to 5.1 at any point, a stereo amp would be best.
Stereo amp would probably the best idea for 2.0/2.1, however an AV receiver would be worth considering if at any point you wanted to move to surround sound. Just an example, you could get the AVR, 2 speakers and a sub. At a later date, if you wanted, you could add rears and a centre for 5.1. If you definitely do not have any intention to move to 5.1 at any point, a stereo amp would be best.
Depends if you are willing to go 2nd hand for the amp, or if you would prefer to buy new. Going for a 2nd hand amp, you can get more for your money. I bought an Audiolab 8000A for under £100 not so long back, which would have cost £400 new. It is old, but it still works great.
It might be worth creating a thread in the Hi-Fi/Home Cinema section. There are a number of knowledgeable chaps when it comes to hi-fi, might have more luck in that section.
It might be worth creating a thread in the Hi-Fi/Home Cinema section. There are a number of knowledgeable chaps when it comes to hi-fi, might have more luck in that section.
Definitely go used for an amp. You get FAR more bang for buck. For speakers I would be a bit more cautious, if going used I would try and do a face to face and if possible taking along a cd or something of your own to listen to them with. The speakers will have the most impact on sound signature and how everything sounds in "real world" use.
A good price/performance amp to look at would be a Cambridge Audio A1 and I know from experience that they pair well with mordaunt short 902/i bookshelf speakers(which are also shielded). I'm a bit out of the loop, though. As marsman said, check the out the audio-boffs in the Hi-Fi forum
A good price/performance amp to look at would be a Cambridge Audio A1 and I know from experience that they pair well with mordaunt short 902/i bookshelf speakers(which are also shielded). I'm a bit out of the loop, though. As marsman said, check the out the audio-boffs in the Hi-Fi forum
I was in the same dillemma until recently and after lots of research and listening to various setups, I went for a Bantam Gold amp. It's as good as my audiolab 8000p/m pre/monoblock setup but it's not much bigger than a couple of boxes of fags and only cost a couple of hundred. Do a search for Bantam Gold. Lots of people on Avforums, headfi etc.. impressed with it. The only caveat is that it only have 1 input. And for that I'm using my Music Streamer II+ USB Dac to feed the amp. For speakers I auditioned a lot,and in the end I went for the Mordaunt Short Aviano 1's which go very well with this amp and don't take up too much space although they just fit on my cramped desk 
Below is a shot of the amp and my setup. It's the small black box on the right.
Below is a shot of the amp and my setup. It's the small black box on the right.
Really. I found the exact oposite. Medium size bedroom, and never go past half way on the dial. I admit my MS Aviano 1's are easy to drive. There's plenty of positive user reviews out there too. I assume it was the Gold you heard and not the Tamp.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/hi-fi-systems-separates/1214554-bantam-audiophile-class-t-amp.html
http://www.avforums.com/forums/hi-fi-systems-separates/1214554-bantam-audiophile-class-t-amp.html
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I bought a Yamaha DSP-AX759SE amp last yr, 2nd hand and it cost me £120 but £550 when new in 2006. Bought a pair of 2nd hand Denon SC-M50 speakers cos I already had 2 pairs of these speakers back from yrs ago and wanted 5.1. I also had 2 crappy subs aswel that I used at first.
So it costed about £200 to get the basics of a decent sound setup, but since then Ive upgraded the sub and Im going to be upgrading the speakers in a few months time.
So it costed about £200 to get the basics of a decent sound setup, but since then Ive upgraded the sub and Im going to be upgrading the speakers in a few months time.
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