Stereo Set Recommendations for the UK?

[K-Xie]

Hi! I am a new audiophile planning on buying a high-quality stereo set for my house in London, with a budget of 10k pounds. I'd really appreciate any recommendations on which brands to choose from. Thanks!

 

[RTHerringbone]

If the request is genuine, then you'll need to think about things beyond which brands to choose from.

As a starter: what will your source be? Do you already have music on physical media (CDs, vinyl), will you stream, will you listen to multiple formats?

 

[K-Xie]

Thanks for your reply! I'm streaming at the moment using ROM, and will be setting up the speakers in a 30 sq. m. basement. I'd also like to know how the different brands in the UK work and what their specialties are. Thanks again!

 

[abacus]

You need to go to a dealer and explain what you are looking for as they will be able to suggest options, just asking a forum with no frame of reference for them to go on will provide only multitudes of opinions, thus confusing you more.
There is no best set of equipment for Hi-Fi, only what suits your personal preferences.

Bill

 

[RoA]

It does cross my mind sometimes whether these posts are genuine or Admin created 🙂.

Call me cynical.

 

[Al ears]

It does cross my mind sometimes whether these posts are genuine or Admin created 🙂.

Call me cynical.

Ok, you're cynical.....

 

[RTHerringbone]

Ok, you're cynical.....

Well......new to Hi-Fi but happy to drop £10k is quite a first toe to dip in the water, especially when not seeming to know what kit is required. Obviously everyone is in different financial positions but one has to question the budget setting process.

One thing is for sure: rocking up to a dealer and divulging any budget can see that budget very quickly met 😆

 

[Revolutions]

As Bill said, best thing to do is get yourself to a dealer. We’re lucky in London to have quite a few different shops. Which part of town are you in?

Richer Sounds have a few branches, as do Sevenoaks audio. They stock quite a few brands & offer good deals on complete setups. Might be a good place to start.

 

[davidf]

You need to find a dealer that knows what they're talking about, not just some national boxshifter trying to hit a quota to get an annual kickback. You need to speak to someone that understands room acoustics, as this will/should be a large factor in your choice of loudspeakers. And I don't mean a dealer that instantly points to digital room correction. If the loudspeakers aren't performing well in the room, you can spend £50k, and you still won't be able to improve things.

Hi-Fi is a very personal thing - you're spending the money, you've got to live with it, you've got to look at it every day, and you've got to enjoy it.

 

[Gray]

One thing is for sure: rocking up to a dealer and divulging any budget can see that budget very quickly met 😆

He's a dodgy salesperson's dream.

 

[Revolutions]

You need to find a dealer that knows what they're talking about, not just some national boxshifter trying to hit a quota to get an annual kickback. You need to speak to someone that understands room acoustics, as this will/should be a large factor in your choice of loudspeakers. And I don't mean a dealer that instantly points to digital room correction. If the loudspeakers aren't performing well in the room, you can spend £50k, and you still won't be able to improve things.

Hi-Fi is a very personal thing - you're spending the money, you've got to live with it, you've got to look at it every day, and you've got to enjoy it.

How does one achieve all these things? I've been messing around with hifi for over 20 years on & off, and I don't know how to select a dealer that hits all of your requirement.

When I'm going to dealer, I do exactly that because they have specialist knowledge I do not. Apart from one issue with an amp/speaker match (one that a well-respected dealer suggested to me), I've had nothing but joy & satisfaction with sound quality when shopping at national chains or independent dealers.

 

[davidf]

How does one achieve all these things? I've been messing around with hifi for over 20 years on & off, and I don't know how to select a dealer that hits all of your requirement.

When I'm going to dealer, I do exactly that because they have specialist knowledge I do not. Apart from one issue with an amp/speaker match (one that a well-respected dealer suggested to me), I've had nothing but joy & satisfaction with sound quality when shopping at national chains or independent dealers.

Tricky, that's for sure.

Do they point out the negatives as well as the positives when you ask about a product? Do they tell you what your outcome will be before you've listened to anything? Do they provide information, and leave you to make your own choice? Do they demonstrate all brands fairly? Do they keep coming back to a product you've dismissed or aren't keen on?

Some chains have vested interests, as do some dealers nowadays now that some also distribute brands themselves. Large chains are chasing big targets, as are the salesmen. That aside, they'll generally take a safe route, which will usually end up with everyone happy, and closer to that weekly, monthly target.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hi! I am a new audiophile planning on buying a high-quality stereo set for my house in London, with a budget of 10k pounds. I'd really appreciate any recommendations on which brands to choose from. Thanks!

There are countless options. Rather than talking brands it is probably best to start with what you need. The obvious is a pair of speakers and an amp to drive them. What source(s) do you intend to use? CD, record player, streaming? Once you know what you need, you can then decide how much to dedicate to each item.

Before you start buying equipment, you should take a look at room. What is the reverb like? You may need some treatment to get the best out of it.

 

[RJW232]

Since you live in London you're lucky that there are still physical hifi stores around. Visit one or more of those shops and discuss your wishes. A good hifi shop will lend you the equipment to try it out in your space.

My favourite hifi shop is Audio Gold. They have a good selection of new and vintage hifi.