Looking to move on from cds and need some advice

ZXSpekky48k

ZXSpekky48k

ZXSpekky48k

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I have generally just had music by playing cds in the house- in fact I've only just really got onto spotify. Our lounge hi-fi has given up the ghost and like those people who last built a pc 10 years ago I have no idea what to get currently. Is the best way to use my iphone to play via bluetooth or do hi-fis do it themselves now? What would be the best ones to look at if uyou're using spotify - preferably £250 and lower? Thanks
 
Do you have a stereo system already? If not you'll need

Stereo integrated amplifier, or moden amp with built in DAC, bluetooth, even media streaming built in.
Speakers
Possibly subwoofer

You could stream from phone to amp, via bluetooth- either built into the amp or use a bluetooth receiver. However it would be better to have dedicated streamer, there's Bluesound.

£250 isn't much really.
 
Bit over budget, but my Dad went for this and it sounds great.

petertyson.co.uk

Denon D-M41DAB Hi-Fi System with Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf Speakers

When you buy the Denon D-M41DAB with these speakers as a bundle, you'll make significant savings. Not only that but we also offer the option to buy on Finance. Free next working day delivery to most UK regions is also included.
petertyson.co.uk petertyson.co.uk

Can obviously go for the original or lower end speakers to bring the price down if you just search for the unit itself.
 
You'd need stands with those speakers and possibly a sub. Sub can be bought later.


Personally I'd just get a regular amp and have separate streamer, if the built in streamer isn't great you've paid for it and need to buy another.
 
The M41 is pretty well reviewed with a few reporting bugs in the firmware, i almost picked one up. They're a nice unit at the 2nd hand prices, if you want the CD etc that is. The equivalent Panasonic has a much weaker amp IIRC.

I picked up some B-grade Wharfedale Diamond A1s for £500. I only mention because you were maybe stretching budget. I haven't used the bluetooth, but am happy with the sound and the ability to offer multi room support via mono output.
 
Do you still have the speakers working from the old hifi setup? How serious are you about the quality ?

Reason I ask is that I replaced an old denon midi hifi with an smsl sa300 amp plugged into the existing speakers. The unit has Bluetooth, line in and USB and packs plenty enough punch for my needs. my iPhone links fine with Bluetooth, and i use it to play thinks like Apple Music, BBC Sounds etc etc. I’m no evangelical audio buff, but at the same time do have a decent ear, and its fine enough for me.

So if you’re not needing the CD Side of things, that might fit the bill.
 
I think we'd want to keep the cd option really. I kind of want an all in one unit really - I'm not a mega hi-fi nerd just want decent sound. Not going to shake the rafters. The previous speakers are good but they're of the 'stick wire in and clamp' variety and a lot of these seem to have proper plugs. How diff is it to add plugs to it?
 
Yeah add banana plugs to existing cables I meant. It's not massively important - tbh - I could just do with what the best solution (and price creep here) for a streaming setup for c£400 inc cd capability
 
Yeah too much choice. For example this is stereo, but do you have any plans to go home cinema? If so you'd need a integrated amp with HT bypass. Or you could get a AVR and that'll function as a stereo amp and have useful things like room correction, bass management, auto setup, HDMI, down mixing, also audio streaming and bluetooth.

And for speakers you have different styling, sound presentation, bookshelf, standmount, tower and big towers.
Different streamers, do you want one music streamer, or plan to have multi room? Do you want a single eco system that can be controlled via a single app?

A all in one may work, and you like some parts of it, but may find the streaming not the best.

If you just get a good stereo integrated amp that allows you to have choice in steamer, whether that's Sonos, Squeezebox, a generic Android kodi box, Bluesound, Google boxes etc.

Also the amp may or may not match well with the speakers or your personal preference.

Best to go to a shop, look at stereo/amp combos first, put your attention to that, then look at CD/Bluetooth/Streaming functionality.
 
If you still want to play CDs then just go into your nearest john lewis/richer sounds and start looking for hifis with bluetooth so you can optionally use your phone to stream whatever music service you choose to stick to.

Or,pick up a pair of sonos play 1's second hand for £200 (you can either run them as a stereo pair in the same room, or have music in sync through the house in other rooms) and realise that changing CDs is a pain in the backside and that you're life is perfectly fine without them.
 
ZXSpekky48k said:
Thanks Roy - I tend to agree but we have so many! Plus wife might not agree
Click to expand...
Sounds like you'll be saving some space at the same time :D

I jest, but yeah, why fix what ain't broke. If you enjoy listening to CDs then have at it. Remember as well that Bluetooth / airplay receivers are a thing that you can plug into a line in on the back of most hifi units. So buy anything you like the look of and add the smarts by adding one of them. If your budget is £250 you're not going to get THAT much variability in performance and I'd just pick up something that reviews well on amazon with the features you want.
 
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