Advice on my first system

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Well, so I'm hopeing to eventually splash out and get some nice new hifi kit, but it's been forever since I've really "looked into" it all (when I was younger I got into researching a nice separates system that I never got round to buying). Anyway, it looks like everything has changed a bit since then so I feel a bit out of touch..

My budget is pretty flexible, but I'd preferably like to get the basics for £400-£800.

Most of my music is now digital - FLAC's, WMA lossless, and MP3's. I've got a bunch of CD's but don't really listen to them all that much. I also quite like to have access to the radio and have an ipod. This would be a system for my bedroom, and would probably be next to/close to my computer. It's a fairly small room which probably couldn't handle floorstanding speakers. That said, I've always been a bit clueless about speakers.

I listen to a tediously eclectic lot of music, ranging from fairly bassy dancy stuff to quite a lot of classical (usually baroque, often vocal) so probably need versatility more than anything.

What I was thinking about getting as a basic set-up was:

NAD 325

Dali Lektor 1 (I'm fairly clueless about speakers so would welcome advice).

Either a Squeezebox, or a Cambridge Audio DACmagic/Beresford (or possibly both?)

I don't think I have any need for a CD player if I can play it from my PC. (Although - would it work for me to play a CD through my PC to the DAC? Or would I have to rip them?)

Also, is it useful to have an ipod dock? How is this better from simply plugging it in? (And I guess there probably wouldn't be any point if it was all attached to my PC anyway...)

It looks like I could also set up getting digital/internet radio through a squeezebox? Anyone know if this really works because it seems a bit too good to be true. What are peoples opinions on DAB receivers? I'm not sure if I listen to radio enough for it to be worth it.

Is there anything I'm missing or have forgotten? Will this work passably? Sorry - bit of a rambly post. Trying to figure out how all of this could work..

 

[Ajani]

Since you will be setting up the system very close to (or attached to) your computer, then you don't need a Squeezebox (unless you want a remote control). If you need a remote (assuming your computer doesn't have one) then the Squeezebox is an excellent option (especially for internet radio)...

Forget the ipod dock as it is totally unecessary since you can use your computer.

With your budget you have many options:

1) Active speakers such as Quad 12L/11L or Dynaudo MC15 + a DAC (Cambridge DACMagic/Beresford/Musical Fidelity V-DAC) AND/OR Squeezebox (if a remote is critical)

2) Passive speakers and an integrated amp (such as the NAD/Dali combo you mentioned) + a DAC and/or a Squeezebox

3) Spend the full budget on the speakers and integrated amp and connect directly to the computer (you can always add a DAC later if you need to)

The best advice I can give you is to audition as many setups in your price range as you can...

 

[Anonymous]

Ah, thanks. That makes a lot of sense. I hadn't considered the active speakers combo properly. Are there any downsides? I just quite like the idea of having an amp because it feels a bit more flexible for anything I'd want to add in the future.

I may well spend the bottom half of my budget on the speakers/amp and then add a DAC/squeezebox later.

The squeezebox just looks like a super cool piece of kit, but you are right - I probably wouldn't need it where I currently live. I'll probably just bear it in mind for when I move to a bigger flat.

If I was just connecteing my PC direct to an amp, would I just connect with one of those cords that go from a single jack socket to the red and black two socket thingy? (Don't know the technical phrase). And would it sound okay? Or is there a cleverer way to attach it all? I think my PC has a fairly average soundcard - definitely nothing flash.

How would I go about auditioning if my source is going to be my PC?

 

[Ajani]

unhealthyman:
Ah, thanks. That makes a lot of sense. I hadn't considered the active speakers combo properly. Are there any downsides? I just quite like the idea of having an amp because it feels a bit more flexible for anything I'd want to add in the future.

I may well spend the bottom half of my budget on the speakers/amp and then add a DAC/squeezebox later.

The squeezebox just looks like a super cool piece of kit, but you are right - I probably wouldn't need it where I currently live. I'll probably just bear it in mind for when I move to a bigger flat.

If I was just connecteing my PC direct to an amp, would I just connect with one of those cords that go from a single jack socket to the red and black two socket thingy? (Don't know the technical phrase). And would it sound okay? Or is there a cleverer way to attach it all? I think my PC has a fairly average soundcard - definitely nothing flash.

How would I go about auditioning if my source is going to be my PC?

Two problems with Active Speakers are: 1) The lack of flexibility you mentioned. Not as many inputs as an integrated amp + if you want to upgrade later, you have to replace both amp and speakers at the same time & 2) If anything malfunctions, you either have to repair it or replace the whole thing. If you had an amp/speaker combo and the speaker blew or the amp stopped working, you could just replace the malfunctioning component.

Yep, a Squeezebox is pretty cool and definitely worth adding when you move to a flat where you can make better use of it...

A minijack to RCA cable/converter is all you need to connect the headphone output of your computer or ipod to one of the inputs on your Integrated amp.

To audition, I'd suggest carrying an ipod and connecting to the equipment using a minijack to RCA cable... that should be pretty close to the quality you'd get from your computer...