New hi fi setup high volume rather than quality. advice please

[admin_exported]

Hi

I am looking for a new sound setup for a new house. Its a student house and from what I understand a hi fi setup is the way forward if music is the primary source. We have decided to go for a seperates option as previously we had a 1 box home cinema panasonic scht 880 which was reasonably loud but lacked good bass at higher volumes, it said 1000watts on the box but I know that this is complete cr*p as it wasnt loud enough. We have around £500 to spend but it is flexable to around £600. Unlike most people we are after high volume rather than super audiophile quality. Obviously the quality has to be reasonably good and good base is a must have but it is the volume that we want so it must be louder than the panasonic system. We need help on what to look for in the specs and what brands are good for what we want.

Please help

Thanks James

 

[cheyworth]

I think second hand is the way to go, for amp/speakers.

ebay can be your friend, Rotel, NAD, Monitor Audio, B&W.

For bass go for floor standers if you have room for them.

 

[Anonymous]

ok but I dont want them to break after a few months of serious hammer. Is that likley do amps and speakers go faulty often and how much is a reasonable price second hand for a loud setup

Is there any tech specs I should look out for to give an indicator?

Thanks

 

[chebby]

I would find a decent pro shop and buy a couple/few pairs of these....

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/B1031A.aspx

(One set upstairs and one pair downstairs maybe?)

Plug your computers straight into them. No seperate boxes cluttering the place and plenty of decent power. (8" bass drivers should be bassy enough.)

Cheap enough not to break the bank.

 

[John Duncan]

Can you also let us know where this student house is (so we can send the council round)?

 

[Sizzers]

JohnDuncan:Can you also let us know where this student house is (so we can send the council round)?

Is that to provide structural support to prevent the walls from falling down?

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:Can you also let us know where this student house is (so we can send the council round)?

 

[Anonymous]

will the base be good enough with only 8" drivers... on another forum sombody suggested these

http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR223844

What do you think?

Just a case of finding a good amp which is another problem

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Ha John.. theres 8 of us lads living together and the whole street is occupied by students so there shouldnt be a problem ha

 

[d_a_n1979]

I'd say find yourself a decent amp and some Cerwin Vega speakers!

If that fails then something along the lines of an Arcam Alpha 10 or NAD C352 integrated and some B&W 603 or 603 S2 floorstanding speakers

 

[Anonymous]

I think these look pretty good

http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR223844

struggeling to find a suitable amp though

Anybody got any suggestions?

 

[chebby]

Wilko118:I think these look pretty good
http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR223844

Yes. They should get the job done...

 

[Anonymous]

any ideas on an amp? ta

 

[the record spot]

Check whichever speakers you buy have a suitable sensitivity - 89db or better. This means you can plug in an amp which has a lower power rating but you can still achieve good volume. I used and elderly Sansui amp which was conservatively rated at 30wpc but with a pair of Mission 752 floorstanders rated at 89db. Result? No problem.

Q Acoustics do a pair of floorstanders called the 1050i, they've a sensitivity of 92db, so you're fine there. Pay around £200 for those new, or go for the 1030i at £130 (smaller floorstanders).

After that, the world is your lunchbox. NAD's C355 is £249 in Richer Sounds (as per their WHFS&V ad in this month's mag) - watch out, it's £299 instore. Much cheaper, but as impressive, if not moreso, there's Sansui's AU-217 (£60 or less, brilliant), their AU-417 (one on Ebay now for £140 with £30 P&P, but contact the seller to see if he'll drop the postage rate) or one or two further up that 17 series range. You'll pay way more though.

There's CD players or laptops/Macs and DACs...another tale for another time. For me, you'll find a good CD player or two kicking around and within budget, likely secondhand. As funds allow, you'll be able to upgrade in time.

 

[Anonymous]

how much difference does the sensitivity make eg if I have a 100 watt speaker @ 89db and a 100 watt @ 92db how much lower powered amp can I get away with?

Am I correct in saying you want the output of the amp to be as close to the speaker output as possible?

 

[the record spot]

It's not so much the speaker's wattage it's the sensitivity against the amp's rated power output - although the caveat to that is too low a power rating can be an issue (though needn't be with careful partnering - some low powered valve amps, 5w or less, will drive some big speakers), however, I get a good volume out of my Sansui AU-217 through the Missions. I'd imagine if I hooked it up to the Q's it would maybe put out a little more, but you probably best talk to a speaker design and amp expert than me!

I'd stick to around 30wpc as a minimum (more is good, to better control and drive the speaker) - the more you drive the amp, the more it'll either distort or clip; neither are good!

 

[Dougal1331]

To be honest Wilko, you should really go to Maplin and get a PA amp and some disco speakers. No hifi components will stand up to the kind of abuse you have planned for long, and at those volumes the PA gear would probably sound better!

The whole point of hifi is the focus on quality over absolute volume- it simply isn't designed to be thrashed all the time.

You would be wasting your money.

 

[chebby]

Dougal1331:The whole point of hifi is the focus on quality over absolute volume- it simply isn't designed to be thrashed all the time.
You would be wasting your money.

And permanently damaging your ears. (Yes I know, undamaged hearing is for wimps.)