AirPlay enabled first Hi-Fi home system

[YellowTiger]

Hi guys!

I'm looking to buy my first hi-fi system for home.

First - what is important for me:

It needs to have AirPlay and internet radio. Other optional things would be USB port for listening music from external hard drive, Wi-Fi for wireless audio streaming.

Why this is important: I will stream music mostly from my Android smartphone and Apple iPad. Optional I would listen to music also from external hard drive through USB port on Amp.

At the beginning of my what-to-buy research I was looking Denon CEOL and Onkyo CS-N755 systems.

Later I came to idea, that I would get better sound if I buy separate components. (Maybe I'm wrong here - please advise if I'm wrong).

So now I'm here. The idea is to buy Dali Zensor 1 speakers (or Dali Zensor 3 - please advise what do you guys recommend as a better choice) and Amp with all the things that are important for me (written above)

I already saw recommendations that a good Amp for Dali Zensor 1 speakers would be Onkyo TX-8050, but looks like it doesn't have AirPlay.

So what Amp do you suggest me to buy for those Dali Zensor 1 (or 3) speakers?

My music style: electronic music (trance, deep house, progressive).

My budget: around 500-600€ (500£)

If you think there are better speakers for my music style and budget please feel free to recommend me others. I just saw good recommendations for Dali Zensor's.

Thanks for advice in advance!

 

[Tarxman]

Worth taking a look at a Yamaha RN500, has all you're after plus digital inputs for connecting up tv/bluray/DVD etc.

 

[d_a_n1979]

I listen too all sorts raining from Fischersposoner to Mount Kimbie to Datt Punk to Air to Nat King Cole/Dean Martin to Metallica/System of a Down to He'd Kandi to Layo & Bushwacka... You get the jist...

Anyways...

Id highly recommend the Marantz CR510: http://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/p/marantz-m-cr510network-system-ex-speakers?gclid=COfp4byWs7sCFQgOwwodczgAHg

Along with the likes of Q Acoustic 2020i's or Monitor Audio BX2’s on good stands such as the Soundstyle ZII's or Atacama Nexus 6i's loaded with dry kiln sand or even better; Atacama atabites you'd have a very capable and good sounding system...

If you want to save some pennies have a look out for the Marantz MCR603 and the same speakers as above or B&W 685's or 602 S3's second hand

 

[mr malarky]

Given your music taste the following combination could be worth auditioning:

monitor audio BX2's

pioneer N50 for streaming/airplay duties (or the N30 if budget is tight)

Rotel RA-10

Should give you a tight, muscular sound with decent bass but also capable of digging out detail and clear vocals.

 

[YellowTiger]

Thanks a lot all for all your replays!

Well I would like to say that I'm really excited about Yamaha RN500. It has really everything what I need, plus I really like the design of it.

But: It cost me about 500€ and if I add 2× Dali Zensor for about 300€ I'm way over my budget

I also like Pioneer N-50 in combination with Rotel RA-10, but if I take both plus speakers I am again over my budget.

I didn’t liked so much design of Marantz CR510, but anyway I'll keep it at my list because it's not too expensive and it has actually everything what I need (I'm not sure if you can play music from external USB drive).

d_a_n1979: Why do you think Q Acoustic 2020i's or Monitor Audio BX2’s are better choice than Dali Zensor?

Marantz CR510 is powerful enough to play any of those speakers or I should consider about anything stronger if I want to get out of them really everything?

I'm still the most excited about RN500. Is there anything else similar to this with lower price? It can be older model or maybe used from Ebay.

I know maybe I'm expecting too much for my budget. It can happen at the end that I'll really add 300€ more and take the RN500 and Dali Zensor 1

 

[YellowTiger]

I just saw Marantz M-CR510 has the same price as Yamaha RN500, so Marantz is not any more at my list

 

[d_a_n1979]

The Dali Zensors are very good speakers indeed but the Q Acoustic and MA speakers mentioned, IMO, are better

Tighter, deeper and punchier bass. Solid midrange and with a great top-end to boot!

As I'd mentioned the Marantz CR510 is more than powerful enough to drive those speakers! I had my Marantz MCR603 (the fore-runner) drive Rega RS5, Neat Motive 2's and Monitor Audio GX100's and they all worked VERY well indeed and they're c£1k+ speakers!

I'd still say your best bet for budget is to go for a 2nd hand Marantz MCR603 such as this on eBay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marantz-MCR603-M-CR603-MCR-603-Amplifier-Amp-AV-Receiver-Mini-System-Black-/331083264198?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item4d1619b0c6

Unsure of where you are located in Europe but a courier is very easy to arrange these days so you could always approach the seller and explain that you'll cover all courier costs and all they need to do is box it up and wait for the courier to collect

There are a few CR603's on eBay currently and all well within your budget constraints allowing you to get some good speakers

 

[YellowTiger]

Yeah you're right. It's not too expensive if I search for it at Ebay. Looks like its inside my budget if I search for 2nd hand Marantz MCR603 I will seriously think about this option. Thanks a lot!

BTW - I was looking I can get pretty cheap DENON AVR-X1000 or PIONEER VSX-528 here in our country (Slovenia). What do you think about any of those two in combination with Q Acoustic 2020i's or Monitor Audio BX2? Worth to consider or I should rather skip this?

 

[McCol]

Can't comment on most of the gear being talked about here but I just in the last week bought the Yamaha R-N500 and Dali Sensor 3 speakers. Got a deal from a site and saved around £140 on the Dali's.

So far very impressed with the setup, it replaced my old NAD c320bee amp and Acoustic Energy Aegis 1 speakers.

To get the most out of the network features it is better to use the Yamaha Android/IOS app. Can be used without but far easier with.

Not great at describing sound but I find the combo gives better textured punchier bass than my old set up. Mids are smooth and the highs are detailed without being harsh. The speakers are also quite airy, I'm assuming they will open up the more I use them.

 

[YellowTiger]

Hey mate thank you for your feedback.

You have my dream set-up so please tell me where did you get this deal with Yamaha R-N500 and Dali Zensor 3?

So the sound is awesome, right? What kind of music have you listened?

 

[JoelSim]

What bitrate are you listening to YellowTiger?

Have a look at the Nocs NS2 Air Monitor Airplay Speakers. Perfect for what you are considering I would think. And way under budget.

 

[McCol]

Hey mate thank you for your feedback.

You have my dream set-up so please tell me where did you get this deal with Yamaha R-N500 and Dali Zensor 3?

So the sound is awesome, right? What kind of music have you listened?

Creative-Audio in the UK. Excellent service with next day courier.

 

[McCol]

Hey mate thank you for your feedback.

You have my dream set-up so please tell me where did you get this deal with Yamaha R-N500 and Dali Zensor 3?

So the sound is awesome, right? What kind of music have you listened?

Creative-Audio in the UK. Excellent service with next day courier.

 

[YellowTiger]

Guys I have just ordered Yamaha R-N500 Network Stereo Amplifier & Dali Zensor 1 Speakers from audiblefidelity.co.uk for 499£ :bounce:

I'm so excited and can't wait to get the package. I hope I can still get it till the end of this year. ray:

Yeah it was a little over my budget but anyway...I hope I will not regret my decision.

I would like to thank you all for your comments and feedbacks. Helped me a lot with my decision.

I'll write my feedback when I test it :dance: :wave: :wave: