Looking For First HiFi Setup With a Laptop - any advice?

[admin_exported]

Hi, thanks for having me here guys. I've been browsing the forums for a while and have been convinced that I should try to set up my own hi-fi system.

I have gotten rather bored with the poor quality of my current ipod dock speakers (gear 4 house party)

All my music is on my laptop, being either 320kbps MP3 (i know it's not perfect) with a few FLAC albums. I have a macbook pro - no optical output or anything. Only usb, firewire, and the 3.5mm

How would, for example, The Bose companion II speakers compare to an entry level Hi-Fi system? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Companion%C2...2030334&sr=1-1 - my friend has a pair and they sound much better than my current speakers

My question is: What do I need to begin?

To play music from my laptop I am under the impression I need to have:

- A DAC? for good quality audio transfer? or could i just use the 3.5mm jack in my laptop?

- An Amplifier

- And some speakers

- also quaility wires?

Is there anything else I need?

my budget it between £200-300

I've read good reviews about the wharfdale diamond 9.1 and the acoustic q 2020i -are they good for an entry level set up?

Wharfdale: http://www.amazon.co.uk/WHARFEDALE-D...2030192&sr=1-1

Acoustic Q: Q ACOUSTICS 2020i SPEAKERS (PAIR) (WALNUT): Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

in terms of the amplifier - a richer sounds shop down the road for me is selling a cambridge audio topaz a1 for £80 CAMBRIDGE AUDIO TOPAZ AM1 Stereo Amplifier: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics - are there any other good entry level amps?

Do I then need a DAC? basically how do i then connect my laptop to the amp?

My Understanding is that, With a DAC my setup would go like this Laptop>DAC>amp>Speakers - is that right?

If so, are there any good budget DACs? or are there other methods?

Sorry about my complete lack of knowledge

Thanks a lot

 

[matthewpiano]

I would suggest seeking out a decent used amp. Something like a Denon PMA250SE could be had for less than £100 and you could combine this with some pre-owned speakers such as Mission 760s for around £50. Add a Musical Fidelity V-DAC to this and you'll have a cracking first system on a budget.

 

[NHL]

The Elac AM 150. Active with internal DAC. €500.

 

[amcluesent]

>or are there other methods?<

Yep. Get an Apple Airport Express and a pair of Audio Engine A2 speakers, bought new about £240 all up. That'll stream music off the macbook, so long as you're using iTunes. (N.B. using FLAC in a Apple world is setting yourself up for bother, convert to Apple Lossless and everything's a lot simpler. Just saying.)

 

[matthewpiano]

>or are there other methods?<

Yep. Get an Apple Airport Express and a pair of Audio Engine A2 speakers, bought new about £240 all up. That'll stream music off the macbook, so long as you're using iTunes. (N.B. using FLAC in a Apple world is setting yourself up for bother, convert to Apple Lossless and everything's a lot simpler. Just saying.)

Sounds like a great suggestion to me and certainly better than compromising with one of those CA Topaz amps. Simple, functional, and it should sound good at the same time.

 

[Tim2010]

Never waste your money on Bose or Beats Audio.

Blue Jeans Cable is good for RCA interconnects at a "normal" price.

Amp: Marantz PM7004?

Speakers: B&W685 (they're not cheap) or some entry level Boston Acoustics speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

>or are there other methods?<

Yep. Get an Apple Airport Express and a pair of Audio Engine A2 speakers, bought new about £240 all up. That'll stream music off the macbook, so long as you're using iTunes. (N.B. using FLAC in a Apple world is setting yourself up for bother, convert to Apple Lossless and everything's a lot simpler. Just saying.)

Hi, thanks for the replies everyone - amcluesent - what would the audio quality be like from the audio engine a2s via the apple airport as opposed to going through an amp > missions / whardale/ 2020i?

how would the denon pma-250se compare to the cambridge audio am1? Also I went to a richer sound shop today and was recommended the Mission MX1s - are they any good?

so at the moment my options are:

Apple airport > Audio engines

Laptop>amp>Speakers (any listed above)- this setup (due to lack of funds i would either use a usb sound card or the internal 3.5mm jack of my laptop)

Which would you recommend? I am leaning toward a setup with an amp, purely because it allows for upgrades - unless the airport would be a better idea?

Thanks alot guys, I really appreciate the help!

 

[cayorob]

Are you sure the 3.5mm doesn't double as an optical out from your macbook?

 

[Overdose]

Some ideas for an active system. Whatever route you choose, at your budget, carefully selected used equipment might be the best way forward.

Speakers:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Behringer-Truth-B2031-High-Resolution-Reference-Studio-Monitors-/170807218656?pt=UK_Consumer_Professional_RL&hash=item27c4e751e0

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Event-20-20-Nearfield-Studio-Monitors-Speakers-2020-150W-/290685732774?pt=UK_Consumer_Professional_RL&hash=item43ae3847a6

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genelec-1029A-Active-Monitor-speakers-/280848757344?pt=UK_Consumer_Professional_RL&hash=item4163e3f260

DAC/Preamp:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M-Audio-Fast-Track-Pro-Sound-Card-/300678797938?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_SoundCards&hash=item4601da5a72

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EDIROL-UA-25-24-bit-96kHz-USB-Audio-Capture-Interface-LOW-START-PRICE-/251020699110?pt=Midi_Controllers&hash=item3a71ffe5e6

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Behringer-U-Control-UCA202-USB-Audio-Interface-/150779508793?pt=Midi_Controllers&hash=item231b28b839

Some ideas for an active system. Whatever route you choose, at your budget, carefully selected used equipment might be the best way forward.

 

[Overdose]

Are you sure the 3.5mm doesn't double as an optical out from your macbook?

Jinx. +1.

 

[SteveR750]

Are you sure the 3.5mm doesn't double as an optical out from your macbook?

Jinx. +1.

In which case iTunes lossless should be excellent, as I'm sure it runs "bit perfectly" with Apples OS