Cheap systems....

[Navanski]

I've been looking for a Rotel RCD 975 for ages but they seem to be pretty rare. I have an RCD 970 and they are very similar but always fancied getting hold of a 975 as well.


For budget systems nowadays it's hard to beat a cheap Topping or SMSL DAC and a cheap class D amp from 3e Audio, Topping, SMSL, Fosi etc and then buy whatever speakers you can afford.

I'm lucky enough to own a Rotel RDD980 CD Transport and a RDP980 the companion DAC. I love them both and would thoroughly recommend keeping your eye out for this combination. Old but great.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

I'm lucky enough to own a Rotel RDD980 CD Transport and a RDP980 the companion DAC. I love them both and would thoroughly recommend keeping your eye out for this combination. Old but great.

I have seen one or two of those on ebay. The 975 seems rarer!

 

[Jasonovich]

I have seen one or two of those on ebay. The 975 seems rarer!

I wouldn't mind one of those myself but I just haven't got the space! I saw a bit of a bargain at Smart Home Sounds, check link below 🙂

Roksan Attessa CD Transport | Smart Home Sounds

Experience class-leading digital performance from your entire CD collection and pair with either the Attessa Streaming or Integrated Amplifier to create a single seamlessly connected system.

www.smarthomesounds.co.uk

Or

Ruark R-CD100 CD Transport | Smart Home Sounds

Sleek, slot-loading CD transport designed to seamlessly integrate with the Ruark 100 Series, adding high-quality CD playback to your system.

www.smarthomesounds.co.uk

 

[Jasonovich]

If you're looking a cheap system based around a streamer DAC, like the WiiM Ultra, Smart Home Sounds have knocked off £60 from normal retail price, and they will price match if you found cheaper elsewhere.

WiiM Ultra | Hi-Res Streaming Amplifier | Smart Home Sounds

Introducing the WiiM Ultra, a revolutionary digital hub for your music that sets a new standard for audio streamers.

www.smarthomesounds.co.uk

 

[Jasonovich]

Also from the same vendor, if you're looking a cheap system based around analogue source and this is slightly above £500.

Pro-Ject E1 + Kanto YU4 Turntable Bundle | Plug-’n’-Play | Smart Home Sounds

Featuring the user-friendly Pro-Ject E1 Turntable and the versatile Kanto YU4 speakers, this bundle is everything you need to start your digital and analogue experience.

www.smarthomesounds.co.uk

Add the above WiiM Ultra streamer and you got pretty much the best of both worlds for an outlay of approx. £800.

Ok, I should be working. People are paying their Council Tax and I should be providing a service to the greater community, signing off for now! 🙂

 

[Navanski]

Sorry for going off topic, almost every time I listen to this particular reviewer, I end up buying the album.
Please could somebody tell me who the artist is? Love her voice 🙂

View: https://youtu.be/s1oBWFS10e0?si=al7UWLidKV6mAih5

Evie Sands

 

[Jasonovich]

Evie Sands

Absolute star ✨ 🌟⭐ Thanks 👍

 

[jarablue]

YUM.

 

[manicm]

The new Cambridge Audio MXW70 seems like a winner to partner the WiiM Ultra.

 

[idc]

I think the cheapest way to a decent hifi sound, is a good set of Bluetooth headphones, streaming music off a mobile phone. I use Austrian-Audio Hi-X25 BT on holiday and get 90% of the sound quality I get from my home system.

 

[record_spot]

Sorry Topping but I believe demos are essential. If you buy blind, based on reviews alone, it often goes pear shaped. The amount of people who mess up because they don't demo is staggering.

Ten, twenty years ago, yep, I could buy that.

These days? Not so much. You can pretty much buy blind and be almost guaranteed to get good sound with £1,000.

In fact, John Darko did exactly that a year or two back and bought £1,000-worth of three components off Amazon. Did very well from memory.

I haven't trialled instore for almost 15 years. That was when I bought a pair of Tannoy DC4 speakers. Since then online only.

Does it work well? For sure.

You usually get at least 14 days, other retailers or brands give you more. You get to trial against your own gear, in your own room. No brainer.

 

[plastic penguin]

Ten, twenty years ago, yep, I could buy that.

These days? Not so much. You can pretty much buy blind and be almost guaranteed to get good sound with £1,000.

In fact, John Darko did exactly that a year or two back and bought £1,000-worth of three components off Amazon. Did very well from memory.

I haven't trialled instore for almost 15 years. That was when I bought a pair of Tannoy DC4 speakers. Since then online only.

Does it work well? For sure.

You usually get at least 14 days, other retailers or brands give you more. You get to trial against your own gear, in your own room. No brainer.

A good few years ago I demoed the then new Cyrus Lyric with Tannoy Precision standmounts, it was way too bright. By contrast, RS salesperson had a Roksan amp he connected to the Tannoys and that sounded nicely balanced.

Unless I'm familiar with a particular brand, which I could take a punt, demos are the best way to decide which combo works best for you and the rest of your system. It saves all the faffing, long-term, and saves the seller from unnecessary frustration.

 

[record_spot]

A good few years ago I demoed the then new Cyrus Lyric with Tannoy Precision standmounts, it was way too bright. By contrast, RS salesperson had a Roksan amp he connected to the Tannoys and that sounded nicely balanced.

Unless I'm familiar with a particular brand, which I could take a punt, demos are the best way to decide which combo works best for you and the rest of your system. It saves all the faffing, long-term, and saves the seller from unnecessary frustration.

Personally, I hate wasting a dealer's time.

What frustration? They post it out, you listen, buy, or return. No different to listening instore then deciding at home later that, ah, not for you. But then, you've bought it instore and the dealer doesn't have to take it back. Who's frustrated then?

All you mentioned was something you heard in a shop and the dealer suggested something else. Alternatively, you do a bit of legwork beforehand, read up and do the homework. All my current system, all of it, was bought blind. Works a treat too.

 

[plastic penguin]

Personally, I hate wasting a dealer's time.

What frustration? They post it out, you listen, buy, or return. No different to listening instore then deciding at home later that, ah, not for you. But then, you've bought it instore and the dealer doesn't have to take it back. Who's frustrated then?

All you mentioned was something you heard in a shop and the dealer suggested something else. Alternatively, you do a bit of legwork beforehand, read up and do the homework. All my current system, all of it, was bought blind. Works a treat too.

That's fine. It works for you, I'm rather more cautious when it comes to spending my hard earned.

I do a lot of legwork before deciding.

 

[matthewpianist]

Each to his own.

Buying online and using return policies and distance selling regulations sounds great on the surface, but unless it works out, it's a PITA for everyone. As a buyer you have the hassle of beginning the returns process, passing the item(s) to the courier and waiting what is sometimes several days for the refund (up to 10 working days in some cases, to give the retailer/warehouse time to check the condition of the returned items. Sometimes, you also incur the courier costs.

For the retailer, it means additional logistics, processing time (including the condition checks and refund), and stock they then have to sell at a discount. Their margin is squeezed by both the cost of the time, and the reduced selling price. Margins on a lot of electronics and speakers aren't that great in the first place, and these are businesses, not altruistic organisations. It isn't a great experience for either side.

Research is a very good thing to do, I agree, but looking at a spec sheet (which can be more or less accurate depending on the manufacturer) only goes so far, and the rest is down to the personal opinions of others. Most of the YouTube reviewers are a bit crackers TBH, and there are only a couple I would hold much confidence in. There's a bit more chance of getting it right if you know the general signature sound of the brands, but that can be quite variable too, for example the Radia A5 is quite a different sounding amplifier to the SA10. Those who didn't get on with the latter because it was slow and dirge-like sounding (including me) might discount the newer model without hearing how much more drive and rhythmic prowess it has.

If you're re-purchasing things you had in the past, this can be done a little more confidently, but aural memory can be deceptive, and if buying secondhand, different examples of the same make and model may have aged differently due to amount of use, operating conditions, the quality of any repairs, differences in replaced capacitors etc.