Should I invest in a hi-fi system?

[KayJay85]

Dear WHF members,

I have recently been contemplating making an investment in a hi-fi system in order to enjoy my music more. However, although I have been talking to alot of people regarding amp/speaker combos etc there is a question I first need an answer to:

All the music I have is digital (mp3) and I barely own any CDs

*ducks for cover*

So, is it WORTH me investing ~£1000 in a hifi system knowing that I am unlikely to invest in a real CD collection ever? Secondly, am I better served by investing in a home theatre system which has the capability to do justice to music?

Looking forward to hearing your input and getting my next questions ready!

KJ

 

[basshound]

IMO you won`t get the best out of a system,stereo or home cinema if you are only going to play mp3`s through it,if you have any lossless files then that`s a different matter... You might even be tempted to buy a few cd`s to hear how good a system can sound

 

[chebby]

Denon DM37-DAB system for about £300 with some decent bookshelf speakers. £60 for Atacama Nexus 6 stands and £40 for some good speaker cable.

Denon ASD-11R iPod dock £80

If you don't use an iPod then...

Pro-ject USB BOX (USB DAC) to plug between the computer and the hifi to improve your MP3 sound for about £80

Either way the total = £480

Leaves you £520 out of your £1k budget towards your AV system or CDs.

(£520 will get you 104 CDs in HMV with their '2 for £10' deals.)

 

[Anonymous]

Not sure what kit you have at the moment but some of the external DAC's that are around at the moment (CA) are quite highly thought of. not sure if this is something you might consider.

 

[nads]

generally following the above.

How do you play your music now? PC , I-Pod or other

 

[KayJay85]

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies!

Currently I play my music through my laptop into speakers (Logitech Z2300).

In terms of what I was considering:

Skipping the CD player (no CDs to play) and going for a good amp/receiver which has a strong internal DAC (Onkyo TX-SR600 or some recommended Marantz)

The reason I mention receiver is because I imagine that since my music is limited by its digital quality I can use the receiver to improve my TV/Xbox 360 sound as well

Speakers that my friend was mentioning include (all floorstanders):

Polk with sub from same line

B&W

Tannoy

Paradigm

Monitor

Mission

Hope that helps and leads to some other good ideas from you folks. As far as connecting my music, I was going to invest in a dock as someone earlier suggested

Cheers

 

[up the music]

What are you playing those MP3s on at the moment and what don't you like about it?

I'm guessing you already have a stack of DVDs or is your video all on hard disk too?

Get hold of ass many disks as you can which you like, and some others you're unsure about and burn them to a lossless format, they'll sound better whichever path you choose.

Whilst you won't get the best out of a system feeding it a diet of MP3's, you will get the best out of the MP3s feeding them to a proper system.

As for the AV system or hifi question, it will depend on how much use or enjoyment you're likely to derive from each option. I know that sounds kind of obvious.

I suspect you really know the answer to which you should get. It's avery personal decision and akin to me asking you whether I should buy a modern bungalow or a trendy loft apartment, or a Ford Transit or a peugot 306. So here goes, get a coin. Toss it. Heads - get an AV system, tails - get a HiFi. When you do this test, if you feel happy with the way the coin landed, go for it. If you get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, do the opposite.

 

[Anonymous]

I have an extremely good hi fi at home in which I play vinyl and cd the reason I write this is because I have a small Onkyo C5-515 with Q speakers in a holiday flat in which I only use an iPod Onkyo dock for playback.

The Onkyo with the iPod dock is very enjoyable and will get your head nodding and foot taping. It's exactly what you're looking for. Denon as written above will also be good.

Onkyo C5-515 can be bought here for £174.99 ( a real bargin ) clinck links

http://www.exceptional-av.co.uk/index.php?search_terms=515&gclid=COuW0N2px5gCFQpUtAodpUQj1w

Q 1010i speakers can be bought for £70.99 ( a real bargin )

http://www.hificablesdirect.com/416/Q-Acoustics-1010i-Speakers.html?referrer=froogle

Onkyo iPod dock £39.10 ( bargin )

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/3934

QED Silver Anniversary XT Speaker Cable $4.80 per meter

http://www.hificablesdirect.com/180/QED-Silver-Anniversary-XT-Speaker-Cable-.html

Total cost £294.68

And every one of these products got a what hi fi 5 star rating. You wont get anything that sounds this good for the price.A few years ago you would have been near the £500 mark for the complete system. It's a cracker.

 

[KayJay85]

So it seems like the consensus opinion is that there is no need to go for a full-fledged system but stick to one of these mini ones.

Just a clarification: an amp can only be used to audio signals whereas an AV receiver can be used for audio and video, correct?

 

[Anonymous]

Correct though you could still link up an mp3 player to a av-receiver with a dock station.

Ac-recivers good with music are

Yamaha , Denon , Marantz.

Don't be put off with the Onkyo mini you will be quite taken aback by the quality of play back and volume. It can compete with budget separate systems no problem. It was also specially tuned for the UK.

 

[KayJay85]

Thanks IDC

Can anyone educate me on the uses of an external DAC? Is it basically something you connect your laptop to and then connect the other end to your amp in order to improve the quality of the sound?

aka: ipod playback should utilize a dock while direct laptop playback should utilize a DAC?

 

[Anonymous]

KayJay85:
Thanks IDC

Can anyone educate me on the uses of an external DAC? Is it basically something you connect your laptop to and then connect the other end to your amp in order to improve the quality of the sound?

aka: ipod playback should utilize a dock while direct laptop playback should utilize a DAC?

A DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) does exactly what it says; it converts a digital signal into an analogue one. How well and how accurately this is done is what determins the quality of the DAC, but it must be fed with a good signal (of CD quality or higher) to perform at its best. As the "Flat-Earthers" said in the 70s, "Rubbish In, Rubbish Out" - the resultant analogue signal can only be as good as the digital one it is being fed.

DACs can be connected to a Laptop via USB - some laptops have an SPDIF output, but that is best not used - but otherthings can be connected to DACs also. For example, it is possible to connect a normal CD player to one to improve over the quality of the internal DAC. Also, they can be used on networked systems to improve quality, such as with Apple's Airport Express.

The DAC is then connected to a pre-amp or an integrated amp (unless it has a volume control, in which case it can be connected directly to a power-amp) via RCA stereo phono (red and white or red and black normally) connectors. The amp then amplifies the analogue signal so that it can power loudspeakers with a big enough current to overcome the load they present (the impedence, measured in Ohms).

With the budget you have, my recommendation would be to either look at some second-hand components for the amplifier and speakers (perhaps an Arcam Alpha 9 (£200) with Ruark Talisman speakers (£300) and then buy a Cambridge Audio DACMagic brand new (£200) which would leave you with £300 to spend on CDs to rip to your computer to hear truly what your system can do and some decent cabling.

That said, you could go for a new system with the Yamaha AS700 (£400)and KEF iQ30s (£300 + £100 for speaker stands) and then the Cambridge Audio DACMagic (£200) and put in a few bob for cables.

Or, the other option is a cheap Denon DM37DAB (£300) and a Pro-ject USB Box (£100) and then just stick with what you've got, music wise.

...or you could go vintage and get yourself the best deals of all!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Snow-day in Oxfordshire, I guess...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Snow-day in Oxfordshire, I guess...

Yep, only had school on Wednesday...quite silly really, all those mums in their huge 4x4s think it's too dangerous...we got through in a Renault Megane no probs!

 

[Andrew Everard]

...And being on the Forums beats hurtling down a hill on a tea-tray anyday!

 

[KayJay85]

Looks like I have sucked the pros in!

Woohoo!

Thanks for the detailed info on the DAC. Considering some of the options presented and I am sure I will have more questions.

More opinions are welcomed in the mean time

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:...And being on the Forums beats hurtling down a hill on a tea-tray anyday!

Pah to that! I built not an igloo, but a snow house! It must have been the best part of 10ft high and we managed to build two floors in it!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Main staircase and back stairs for the servants, of course...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Main staircase and back stairs for the servants, of course...
No, the servants served as the carpet...

 

[Andrew Everard]

Downtrodden as ever...

 

[chebby]

Hughes123:...Or, the other option is a cheap Denon DM37DAB (£300) and a Pro-ject USB Box (£100) and then just stick with what you've got, music wise.

Yes indeed. See my ealier update/suggestion. (The Project USB Box is around £73 - £80 not £100)

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:The Project USB Box is around £73 - £80 not £100.

Not any more it isn't: Click.

 

[KayJay85]

Thanks for the bumps gents!

So just to reduce other options, I should definitely avoid getting something like a NAD355 amp and CDP combo together with a pair of Paradigm Monitors / Mission speakers and start off smaller and work my way up to a system like that? Maybe invest in CDs along the way?

 

[chebby]

Hughes123:
chebby:The Project USB Box is around £73 - £80 not £100.

Not any more it isn't: Click.

Out in the shops they are....

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4817

http://audioaffair.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1412

http://www.sightandsounduk.com/Product.aspx?id=7338&CatId=103&SubCatId=123

Besides, Henley Designs prices never apply to Ortofon cartridges or Project turntables. We all know the difference between RRP and what they really cost.

That price list is dated anyhow. It still quotes 17.5 percent VAT and lists a Pro-ject Debut as £215 and the Genie 2 (RPM 1) as £175. I have not seen anyone selling them for that much. (Richer Sounds do the Debut III for £149 right now and the Genie Mk2 for £119.)

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:Besides, Henley Designs prices never apply to Ortofon cartridges or Project turntables. We all know the difference between RRP and what they really cost.

...I desperatly need to speak to my dealer!