Magic Internet people! Please help with my quandary!

[hybridauth_Twitter_776354144]

Greetings,

I have been looking for a present for my other half for a while, but have had no luck finding something that suits her requirements.

Basically I am after a Compact Stereo, that takes all media from a USB drive or internal storage and is good at navigating and sorting this media.

Most stereos I have found which would be good focus mostly on the phone dock to work well. Otherhalf specifically doesn't want lots of music on her phone so another way must be found.

Non-Streamed or NAS as needs to be simple. Doesn't even need a CD player.

Just a simple Stereo with a decent screen enough screen and controls for navigating a USB stick. All other gumf not required.

Why does this seem so difficult?

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[tino]

Sony HAP-S1

 

[tino]

Alternatively, buy a couple of Sonos Play:1s, and a cheap Tesco Hudl 2 tablet to use as a controller. The Sonos comes with a free 1 year music subscription service to Deezer so you and your other half can get all the music you want streamed over wifi or even on your phone for 1 year for free. Although this is a streamed solution (not what you asked for) it really couldn't be simpler if you use the Sonos controller on the tablet.

 

[bigboss]

What's your budget?

 

[tino]

Another inexpensive option would be something like a handheld Sony NWZ A15 and a good set of Bluetooth speakers e.g. Ruark MR1.

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_776354144]

Thanks for the feedback so far, didn't really want to spend more than £100 given the relatively simple set of requirements.

Basic speakers, USB port and an alright way to browse contents of a USB stick. Seems odd such an obvious set-up doesn't exist as I have described it!

 

[cheeseboy]

Thanks for the feedback so far, didn't really want to spend more than £100 given the relatively simple set of requirements.

Basic speakers, USB port and an alright way to browse contents of a USB stick. Seems odd such an obvious set-up doesn't exist as I have described it!

100 squid isn't going to get you much to be honest. Given you want a screen in it.

Do you want speakers as well? If you do, I don't think you are really going to get what you are after. To be honest, the best thing I can suggest for that price is a cheap netbook/chromebook.

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_776354144]

Not an impressive screen, the kind of thing you would find on a £20 MP3 player.

If they can put one on a tiny cheap MP3 player for navigating the music files, why is it such an ask to have one on a compact Stereo. You see my confusion?

 

[tino]

I would go for a cheap wireless solution rather than a docking type solution. For a budget of £100 I would recommend an apt-x Bluetooth speaker for about £50, then use a mobile device with a good screen and apt-x Bluetooth. Creative did some apt-x Bluetooth MP3 players and a 7" Ziio tablet for around £50 (you might be able to find some new old stock), or you could use a used iPod with a Creative BT-D5 apt-x dongle, or you could find a cheap Android or BlackBerry 10 mobile phone that supports apt-x Bluetooth (beware only certain Android devices do apt-x, but all BlackBerry 10 do).

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_776354144]

I could just look into an old iPod, that way at least there is plenty of choice for a dock.

But dissapointing that something I thought would be fairly easy to find appears to not exist.....very suprising.

 

[Paul.]

If they can put one on a tiny cheap MP3 player for navigating the music files, why is it such an ask to have one on a compact Stereo. You see my confusion?

MP3 players are made in the hundreds of thousands, wheras what you are asking for is a relatively niche product. Because they dont make anywhere near as many, the price goes up rapidly.

Marantz CR603 have been know to go as low as £150-180 on eBay but usualy go for £200.

How technicaly savvy are you? The only way I can see this fitting in to £100 would be with a Raspberry Pi plugged in to a cheap amplifier. I recently picked up a Marantz PM4200 for £18 collected on eBay, more than happy with it. Get some Denon/Mission SCM50 speakers for £30 and you have an awesome cheap system that will murder a Sonos.

 

[smbmetal]

This any good? Has USB and is under £100

 

[tino]

Phillips used to do a range of hifi streaming players called "Streamium". These had integral screens and speakers. Some models 'may' have had USB input for a memory stick, There were many different models at different price points and some were less than £100. Google around and see if you can find one of those.

 

[davedotco]

Thanks for the feedback so far, didn't really want to spend more than £100 given the relatively simple set of requirements.

Basic speakers, USB port and an alright way to browse contents of a USB stick. Seems odd such an obvious set-up doesn't exist as I have described it!

It is actually quite complex to 'browse' music on a usb drive. Switch the drive, power off and on and the contents of the drive have to be re-read in order to be 'browsed', if the drive is large, this can take some time, this explains the popularity of Nas drives instead of usb.

For the kind of application you have in mind, control software and screens are going to be too expensive, best cheap solution is a smartphone and a pair of Bluetooth speakers.

PS. You remind me of my first wife, she would decide that her new raincoat would be green, with pink buttons, a built in hood and a secure inside pocket. She would then scour the West End and be amazed that no-one had a selection of such an 'obvious' design available from stock.

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_776354144]

Okay to make things MUCH easier, she now has a new phone with a decent capacity (HTC One M8 with 64gb SD card)

And is happy to use the phone to browse music after some convincing.

What is a good recommended Speaker docking thingy which is non-apple? (Nearly all I found were apple only)

Thanks for the help so far!

 

[smbmetal]

Okay to make things MUCH easier, she now has a new phone with a decent capacity (HTC One M8 with 64gb SD card)

And is happy to use the phone to browse music after some convincing.

What is a good recommended Speaker docking thingy which is non-apple? (Nearly all I found were apple only)

Thanks for the help so far!

If your budget is still around the £100 mark, what about something like the above? You can use the bluetooth on the phone to stream to the system so easy to browse the music and she can enjoy all the other facebooky type things on the phone or whatever it is ladies do these days haha.

 

[davedotco]

As always, it depends on what you want.

Richers are currently selling the Minx Go, a decent all in one solution for just £80. Hard to see past that under £100.

Pay a bit more at this level and you get a lot more, check out the Wharfedale DS1 at £149 from the same dealer or spend a little more on Audio Engine A2 plus a Bluetooth receiver.

 

[tino]

Okay to make things MUCH easier, she now has a new phone with a decent capacity (HTC One M8 with 64gb SD card)

And is happy to use the phone to browse music after some convincing.

What is a good recommended Speaker docking thingy which is non-apple? (Nearly all I found were apple only)

Thanks for the help so far!

There are literally hundreds of speakers, some better than others and certainly not all Apple only. I would recommend a wireless setup rather than a dock if you are using a phone ... after all it is meant to be mobile. You'll be pleased to know that your other half's HTC phone supports Bluetooth 4.0 and aptX. Make sure that if you go for a wireless speaker (as opposed to a dock) with Bluetooth that it has aptX because it usually makes a positive difference. My £99 BlackBerry has it and it made a friend's iPhone 5 sound naff by comparison over Bluetooth using the same speakers.

Anyway your choice might be dictated by where you want to listen to it e.g kitchen, bedroom, study, lounge etc. Usually the bigger the speaker the better it will sound, but will probably be more expensive. If you don't mind something a bit bigger you can go for a sound base or sound bar that slots under your TV or you can place it standalone on a cabinet. These may just be over your budget but there are some good ones to be had for £80-£150.

If you want a compact speaker I can recommend Creative speakers ... either the SoundBlaster Roar £130, the D3xm for £100 with room correction, or the D5x for £130. These are all aptX Bluetooth and are well reviewed. There are also other cheaper speakers ... have a look at Richer Sounds and similar retailers to see what they have on offer. Sometimes a good speaker will be on offer and you can save a bit.

I can also recommend a Sonos Play:1 for £169. You can play music from your phone over a wireless network to the Sonos. Note that this is NOT Bluetooth. Better still it comes with a free 1 year subscription to Deezer music streaming service which in itself is worth £120. So despite the price being over your budget, it is a good offer and it sounds very good.

 

[CarlDW]

+1 for the Cambridge Audio Minx Go. I have one and for the money (and it's size) it sounds great.