Advice for a newbie

[StevieG77]

I'm new to Hi-Fi - please be kind. I'm after advice on where to spend my money. With a young family and several hobbies, money has always gone on other things.
I love playing my vinyl but have a very modest hand me down system. I have owned the Naim Muso and QB for a while and think they're great. I would like a decent set up for the "snug" - a small to medium room with chimney breast and alcoves either side. Currently I'm running my TT through the muso placed in the middle of the room.
I've been tempted to get the uniti atom and a couple of speakers - small floorstanders or bookshelf for that room and use the others around the house. There are some (what appear to be) good deals by combining the two. £2500 for Neat sx3 bookshelf or £3000 for sx2 or £2850 for Kef Ls50 metas.
Does this seem like a reasonable thing to buy? Would my money be better spent elsewhere. £3000 is about my limit. Second hand scares me a bit unless I know they've been looked after.

Thanks in advance
Steve

 

[Al ears]

Is the turntable your only source or do you use others?
Naim and Neat seem to be an expensive way to go but depends on what you plan to use the system for and what you can actually get to audition for yourself.

 

[StevieG77]

Is the turntable your only source or do you use others?
Naim and Neat seem to be an expensive way to go but depends on what you plan to use the system for and what you can actually get to audition for yourself.

Thanks for replying. I have hundreds of cds but don’t miss playing them. I use the Muso for Apple Music to stream/airplay and the turntable for my vinyl. I was thinking the atom would boost both sources and be able to link to the other devices when needed.

 

[Al ears]

Thanks for replying. I have hundreds of cds but don’t miss playing them. I use the Muso for Apple Music to stream/airplay and the turntable for my vinyl. I was thinking the atom would boost both sources and be able to link to the other devices when needed.

I see, however there a plenty of streaming amplifiers with phono stages around these days.
A second hand atom might be the way to go if you simply have to stick with Naim.

 

[Al ears]

I see, however there a plenty of streaming amplifiers with phono stages around these days.
A second hand atom might be the way to go if you simply have to stick with Naim.

Note also I am not sure what turntable you are attempting to attach and that Atom only has one analogue input so it depends on what those "other sources" might be .

 

[Fandango Andy]

I'm new to Hi-Fi - please be kind. I'm after advice on where to spend my money. With a young family and several hobbies, money has always gone on other things.
I love playing my vinyl but have a very modest hand me down system. I have owned the Naim Muso and QB for a while and think they're great. I would like a decent set up for the "snug" - a small to medium room with chimney breast and alcoves either side. Currently I'm running my TT through the muso placed in the middle of the room.
I've been tempted to get the uniti atom and a couple of speakers - small floorstanders or bookshelf for that room and use the others around the house. There are some (what appear to be) good deals by combining the two. £2500 for Neat sx3 bookshelf or £3000 for sx2 or £2850 for Kef Ls50 metas.
Does this seem like a reasonable thing to buy? Would my money be better spent elsewhere. £3000 is about my limit. Second hand scares me a bit unless I know they've been looked after.

Thanks in advance
Steve

While there is no limit to what you could spend on a HiFi, £3,000 is plenty to get a good system.

First and foremost, you need to listen to some systems too see what you like, but before you get to that it is probably worth looking at what you need.

• Are you starting from scratch, or do you plan to use some of the components mentioned?
• If starting from scratch am I correct saying you are looking for and amp, streamer, record player and speakers?
• What are the dimensions of the room?
• You mentioned some tiny speakers, are you short of space?
• What type of music will you be listening to?
• Will you be listing at high, normal or low volumes?

 

[RoA]

Keep it simple. If you like a cerebral but wide screen sound, the KEF's are ok but if you want something more visceral I'd advise against them. As to second hand, your money will go a lot further and there are good sources, some offering warranties.

 

[StevieG77]

While there is no limit to what you could spend on a HiFi, £3,000 is plenty to get a good system.

First and foremost, you need to listen to some systems too see what you like, but before you get to that it is probably worth looking at what you need.

• Are you starting from scratch, or do you plan to use some of the components mentioned?
• If starting from scratch am I correct saying you are looking for and amp, streamer, record player and speakers?
• What are the dimensions of the room?
• You mentioned some tiny speakers, are you short of space?
• What type of music will you be listening to?
• Will you be listing at high, normal or low volumes?

I appreciate you taking the time.

I have the attessa TT linked to Naim muso and a Naim qb in another room. I thought the atom would do the same job but better. The room is approx 5x4 metres with a big old chimney breast and fireplace in the middle about 80-90 cm deep.

I have a wide range of music tastes but I tend to save heavier rocky stuff for the gym or the car.

On vinyl it tends to be more folky/indie stuff - Midlake, Neil Young, Andrew Bird, some classical stuff so strings and piano and vocals more important than thumping bass. It’s never played loudly.

 

[Fandango Andy]

I appreciate you taking the time.

I have the attessa TT linked to Naim muso and a Naim qb in another room. I thought the atom would do the same job but better. The room is approx 5x4 metres with a big old chimney breast and fireplace in the middle about 80-90 cm deep.

I have a wide range of music tastes but I tend to save heavier rocky stuff for the gym or the car.

On vinyl it tends to be more folky/indie stuff - Midlake, Neil Young, Andrew Bird, some classical stuff so strings and piano and vocals more important than thumping bass. It’s never played loudly.

The room is a reasonable size, so regular size loudspeakers will be fine. I have no experience of the Atom, but it has good reviews. There are lots of excellent amps for around £1,000. If you spent about the same on a pair of speakers that gives you plenty of budget left over for a streamer and record player.