New complete system for around £2000

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

I've just moved house and have decided to upgrade to a complete new system. I've tried to do some research but i'm frankly overwhelmed by the choice and with spending this much money my 'bottle' will easily disapear!

I am looking for some guidance on maybe 2 or 3 system packages to focus on and if necessary can increase the budget by a few hundred quid. A few grey areas I have are around pre amp solutions and floorstanders versus bookshelf speakers to complicate my thoughts.

The room it will be located is 7m by 5.5m lounge and my current (old but much loved) system doesn't really fill it.

My music tastes are generally guitar based noise!; maximo park, radiohead, elbow, i am kloot. My girlfriend is a big dance fan also so I'd better accomodate that rubbish to keep on her good side!

I've popped in to a local hi-fi store and the chap recommended a Linn system; 'all-in-1' Linn classik cd and amp and Majik 140 speakers. Whilst it sounded good it was in a tiny demo room. More importantly I couldn't find any top reviews for this package but I may be looking in the wrong place. If possible I would like a tuner with the package but not essential.

Anyhoo, enough rambling. Hopefully, i've given you enough to go on and any steer would really help.

Thanks

Barry

 

[Anonymous]

First off I'd recommend auditioning at a few dealers to try and narrow down your choice. For £2000 there are a 101 options.

If you are considering a tuner (and for added convenience) I would strongly recommend you looking at computer based options and maybe even include wireless streaming such as Squeezebox or Sonos.

Both these allow you to access your own CD library from your sofa but also have internet radio, Napster, lastfm.

Have a look at Spotify too.

Dont be blinkered by the CD ---> amp ---> speakers system, there are other options.

 

[bay24]

heystak:First off I'd recommend auditioning at a few dealers to try and narrow down your choice. For £2000 there are a 101 options.

If you are considering a tuner (and for added convenience) I would strongly recommend you looking at computer based options and maybe even include wireless streaming such as Squeezebox or Sonos.

Both these allow you to access your own CD library from your sofa but also have internet radio, Napster, lastfm.

Have a look at Spotify too.

Dont be blinkered by the CD ---> amp ---> speakers system, there are other options.

I was thinking the same thing £2000 could get you avi adm9.1 and the matching sub ( for the room size) and some change for a squeezebox! Or just the adm 9.1 and a sonos pluss nas drive!

 

[bay24]

heystak:First off I'd recommend auditioning at a few dealers to try and narrow down your choice. For £2000 there are a 101 options.

If you are considering a tuner (and for added convenience) I would strongly recommend you looking at computer based options and maybe even include wireless streaming such as Squeezebox or Sonos.

Both these allow you to access your own CD library from your sofa but also have internet radio, Napster, lastfm.

Have a look at Spotify too.

Dont be blinkered by the CD ---> amp ---> speakers system, there are other options.

I was thinking the same thing £2000 could get you avi adm9.1 and the matching sub ( for the room size) and some change for a squeezebox! Or just the adm 9.1 and a sonos pluss nas drive!

 

[John Duncan]

Make it two and a half grand and get a NaimUniti and some 500 quid speakers...

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Barry G:
Hi all,

I've just moved house and have decided to upgrade to a complete new system. I've tried to do some research but i'm frankly overwhelmed by the choice and with spending this much money my 'bottle' will easily disapear!

I am looking for some guidance on maybe 2 or 3 system packages to focus on and if necessary can increase the budget by a few hundred quid. A few grey areas I have are around pre amp solutions and floorstanders versus bookshelf speakers to complicate my thoughts.

The room it will be located is 7m by 5.5m lounge and my current (old but much loved) system doesn't really fill it.

My music tastes are generally guitar based noise!; maximo park, radiohead, elbow, i am kloot. My girlfriend is a big dance fan also so I'd better accomodate that rubbish to keep on her good side!

I've popped in to a local hi-fi store and the chap recommended a Linn system; 'all-in-1' Linn classik cd and amp and Majik 140 speakers. Whilst it sounded good it was in a tiny demo room. More importantly I couldn't find any top reviews for this package but I may be looking in the wrong place. If possible I would like a tuner with the package but not essential.

Anyhoo, enough rambling. Hopefully, i've given you enough to go on and any steer would really help.

Thanks

Barry

If you are happy with silver boxes, Richer Sounds are doing the Cambridge 840A v2 and 840C for £699 each! Fantastic combo for the money and the 840C offers the use of it's DAC to link up to a computer or other devices. That leaves you £600 for speakers. I would recommend the RS6s as I have the same and they sound brilliant with the 840 amp for the music you like. You might have to get ex demo or go a smidge over budget to get decent cables but you will be very pleased with the result. You can buy the 840s with a no problem full refund guarantee as well, perfect to demo at home.

 

[d_a_n1979]

for that budget and the tastes in music I'd be looking at B&W speakers (685's or the 684's), NAD, Arcam or Cyrus amps (new via eBay 6vs2 or 8vs2 integrated) and CDP's, maybe the Rega Apollo CDP. Monitor Audio RS6 speakers, Roksan Kandy 2 amp.

If it were me (and also if you could stretch the budget a bit) i'd be going for a Cyrus 8vs2 integrated amp, Rega Apollo or Arcam CD192 CDP (if you can find a decent one on eBay) with B&W 684 speakers connected with Chord Carnival Silverscreen speaker cable and Chord interconnects.

The Cyrus amp will drive the 684's well with plenty of gusto, good bottom and and smooth/detailed midrange and crisp treble. Will suit the guitar music very well with good vocals and good bass notes. The Rega CDP will offer superb clarity and clout and a good depth for the dance music.

The 684 speakers are brilliant and work with a lot of music tastes; yours especially IMO

Get demo'ing as soon as you can and give it a good few weeks if you can trying different combos.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks all for the comments. I will spend a few weeks doing some demo's. I'll let you know the results

Barry

 

[Anonymous]

I'd take a bit of a different approach - spend more on speakers - IMHO they make the most difference. Difference between a £400 amp and £1000 amp is not as significant as difference between £400 speakers and £1000 speakers. So get the best speakers you can afford. They will also last you through upgrades.

That said, spend £1K on the speakers and £1K on the amp/cdp/cables, budgeting 450/450/100 respectively. There are lots of amps/cdps at those price points. Marantz PM7003 or NAD 355 as well as Roksan Kandy LIII - are all good amps at that price.

Also don't skimp out on cables. For cheap you can get Silver High Breed Synergy 2i interconnects - for around £24-25 in fact. They are amazing ICs and not just on value for money basis. That leaves you £75 for speaker cables - I got my Chord Odyssey2 2m terminated pair for about that much I think. Get Chord Rumor2 at least.