My first Hi Fi journey.

[Metallicafanboy100]

Hi everyone just thought I'd share my short story of my Hi Fi journey (so far) and showing my current system as it is now acceptable to show on here! Ha ha

Almost exactly a year ago I got my first Stereo ever, a 2nd hand, 12 (ish) year old Phillips FWC399 mini all-in-one system, this was my gateway to Hi Fi, not very "Hi Fi" I know but it was a start and after listening to everything through a 32in Samsung LED t.v's speakers, it sounded amazing!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101692713@N03/9738951400/lightbox/ The Phillips mini system speakers.

Unfortunately it didn't take long for it to die on me, but I was already bitten by the Hi Fi bug and a few months later I managed to find an immaculate and perfectly working NAD 3130 integrated amp for £30 and a Marantz 2225 receiver for £18, both in a charity shop, the Marantz was sold for £90, I kept the NAD, it was just on another level, even with the same Phillips speakers, soon I managed to upgrade to some AKAI SW-350S speakers, which unfortunately one had a slight crackle from the mid-range and the other on the bass.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101692713@N03/9735722045/lightbox/ NAD 3130.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101692713@N03/9738962450/lightbox/ AKAI SW-350S.

Within the next couple of months I bought an Atlas Element Integra interconnect and a Marantz CD6004, still through the Crackling AKAIs though, I wasn't hearing much of an improvement, that changed when I found a pair of KEF C15 standmounters, what stunning little, old speakers, I quickly upgraded to Audioquest FLX-SLip 14/2 speaker cable, with banana plugs, I was finally getting a halfway decent sound!

Along the way I thought I'd give some serious headphones a go and I'm glad I did! I bought some Grado SR80is, and wow, I didn't know headphones could sound this good, they're a seriously good buy for the money they are! (£135)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101692713@N03/9736068377/lightbox/ Grado SR80i.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101692713@N03/9738967766/lightbox/ KEF C15.

To finish this story off, just last week I sold the NAD (£40) after purchasing myself a Marantz PM6004 to go with the CD player, what a brilliant amp, brings out the best of those little KEFs even more than the NAD, next up is some Custom Design RS300 stands and then at some point some KEF Q300s, can't wait!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101692713@N03/9735726335/lightbox/ Marantz CD/PM6004.

 

[matt49]

Hello and welcome to the fun.
Good to hear your story. It sounds as though you've bought very wisely.
Did you try to integrate the photos into your post? I had trouble with this first time around. There's an option in flickr to copy the source URL of the photo. (This URL needs to end in jpg/jpeg.) When you compose your post, you'll see a little tree symbol at the top. Click there and pop the URL into the appropriate box. You can also resize photos.
:cheers:
Matt

 

[Metallicafanboy100]

Hi Matt

Yes I have tried to buy wisely, mostly because I'm on an extremely tight budget and can't afford to change too much if I don't like what I'm hearing ha ha!

Thanks for the advice on the pictures too.

 

[askemeum]

Hey all.

Just wanted to get your opinion on my system that I finally got set up and it sounds fantastic! I have no real experience with the technical stuff in terms of hifi-systems, but I've researched the web like crazy to find the right amp and speakers to go with my dad's old turntable. So here it is:

Amplifier: Pioneer SA-500A http://stereonomono.blogspot.dk/2013/02/pioneer-sa-500a-1972.html

Turntable: Thorens TD 166 MkII

Speakers: DALI III (shelf speakers)

I haven't checked when the different components are from, but I hope someone, can confirm my weak self confidence in saying that it's a nice system.

Cheers!

Aske

 

[Metallicafanboy100]

Hey Aske

Don't think I'm the best person to be answering your question but I will say that I've heard the retro Pioneer stuff can be good and it sure looks nice.

As for the Dali speakers, I've only ever really heard good things about Dali, I can't comment on the Thorens as I don't have a clue when it comes to vinyl/turntables.

I'm sure if you done your research everything's ok, and if it "sounds fantastic" I wouldn't worry!

 

[askemeum]

Thank you so much fanboy!

 

[Metallicafanboy100]

Just thought I'd give an update as I have now got myself a pair of KEF Q300s, literally today.

First impressions are good, quite a bit bigger than I was expecting, and nicely finished, personally I LOVE the look of them!

Sound wise, actually a fairly similar 'signature' to my much smaller & older KEFs but definitely a nice improvement, much stronger lows and sweeter, less harsh highs, and a broader, more detailed soundstage, they sound like they're working a lot less hard compared to the old ones, the sound is more effotless.

I've not had them very loud yet as they have to 'run in' (I don't know whether to believe all the run in, 'burn in' talk, but just to be on the safe side) so I've not heard what they're really capable of.

Have also changed my mind on stands as they're bigger than I was expecting, I'm now going for the Custom Design FS104 Signature with the larger top plate, opposed to the RS300s.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/afineyoungchap/10822549376/lightbox/

No, I've still not figured out how to integrate pictures into the post.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

It's easy as cleaning a baby botton...