Best Bang for Lowest Spend

[Witterings]

A friend who's definitely no audiophile has asked me for some suggestions to upgrade from using an Echo Dot in a fairly large Kitchen Living area with Patio doors out to the garden.

He was about to buy a pair of Sonos 1's but asked me what else he should consider but wanted to keep the spend as low as possible.

I was going to suggest Q Acoustic M20's with a WiiM Mini as a simple alternative but he also wants some ideas for an entry level separates system and I was thinking

Fosi Audio ZA3
WiiM Pro Plus OR Bluesound Nano
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1's

Whilst I prefer the sound of the Nano, the WiiM's are generally more compatible and easy to set as preferred speaker for the Echo Dot to use voice commands with a 12v trigger cable from the WiiM to the ZA3

Is this about the best "entry level" system / bang for the buck that would sound half decent or can anybody think of alternatives that wouldn't be much more but may be significantly better?

 

[Al ears]

A friend who's definitely no audiophile has asked me for some suggestions to upgrade from using an Echo Dot in a fairly large Kitchen Living area with Patio doors out to the garden.

He was about to buy a pair of Sonos 1's but asked me what else he should consider but wanted to keep the spend as low as possible.

I was going to suggest Q Acoustic M20's with a WiiM Mini as a simple alternative but he also wants some ideas for an entry level separates system and I was thinking

Fosi Audio ZA3
WiiM Pro Plus OR Bluesound Nano
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1's

Whilst I prefer the sound of the Nano, the WiiM's are generally more compatible and easy to set as preferred speaker for the Echo Dot to use voice commands with a 12v trigger cable from the WiiM to the ZA3

Is this about the best "entry level" system / bang for the buck that would sound half decent or can anybody think of alternatives that wouldn't be much more but may be significantly better?

Sonos 1's are available for £149, how low did he want to keep his budget??

 

[Witterings]

Sonos 1's are available for £149, how low did he want to keep his budget??

Funny thing is, he's reasonably well off but he doesn't see HiFi as high on his list or spends hence why he's used the Echo up until now but generally, he buys quality goods so I'd say there's no set budget .... but he's not looking for a Rolls Royce just something "reasonable".

If he was going to get the Sonos, he'd get a pair and set them up as stereo, he'd probably spend up to £1k but for his needs I don't personally think that's necessary.

What prompted it was he had a "social gathering" and with a number of people in a large 'ish room the music kind of got lost and if he's changing would quite like to be able to hear it sitting on the patio in the summer which is right by the doors.

 

[Al ears]

Funny thing is, he's reasonably well off but he doesn't see HiFi as high on his list or spends hence why he's used the Echo up until now but generally, he buys quality goods so I'd say there's no set budget .... but he's not looking for a Rolls Royce just something "reasonable".

If he was going to get the Sonos, he'd get a pair and set them up as stereo, he'd probably spend up to £1k but for his needs I don't personally think that's necessary.

What prompted it was he had a "social gathering" and with a number of people in a large 'ish room the music kind of got lost and if he's changing would quite like to be able to hear it sitting on the patio in the summer which is right by the doors.

Forget 2x Sonos speakers then......