Student Setup

[hybridauth_google_103985029853366163558]

Hi guys
I'm off to uni this September and selling my big old system at home to save money for a cheap system for halls. As being a student is financially tricky, I'm looking to save and only spend around £250 on an amp/pre-amp & speaker setup. My project table will follow me so no need for a new one. Now I'm not sure whether to buy a pair of speakers (was thinking of wharfedales but open to suggestions) for around £160 such as diamond 220s along with a cheap amp/preamp setup such as an SMSL SA60 & Pro-ject preamp. Or whether to go for a pair of diamond 9.0s for £40 and spend more on an amp/preamp system? I'm not sure which would give me better sound hence why i'm asking. If the difference is negligible, a smaller setup in terms of amps would be preferable as room size will be limited.

Thanks for the help.

Doug

 

[Al ears]

Hi guysI'm off to uni this September and selling my big old system at home to save money for a cheap system for halls. As being a student is financially tricky, I'm looking to save and only spend around £250 on an amp/pre-amp & speaker setup. My project table will follow me so no need for a new one. Now I'm not sure whether to buy a pair of speakers (was thinking of wharfedales but open to suggestions) for around £160 such as diamond 220s along with a cheap amp/preamp setup such as an SMSL SA60 & Pro-ject preamp. Or whether to go for a pair of diamond 9.0s for £40 and spend more on an amp/preamp system? I'm not sure which would give me better sound hence why i'm asking. If the difference is negligible, a smaller setup in terms of amps would be preferable as room size will be limited.

Thanks for the help.

Doug

Nothing wrong with the diamond 9.0 but 9.1's better. They should be suitable for a smaller room.

Regards preamp I guess you mean a phono preamp for the turntable. If this is the case you should simply cut down on costs and box count by buying an integrated amp with inbuilt phono stage like the Denon PMA720AE.

 

[rainsoothe]

If your only source is gonna be a laptop, get a cheap audio interface and a pair of active studio monitors. No hi-fi setup in this budget will be able to touch it, sound-quality wise. Check Yamaha HS5 or JBL LSR305. Stick those into a Behringer UCA202 audio interface, connect that to your laptop's usb port and voila.

 

[Al ears]

If your only source is gonna be a laptop, get a cheap audio interface and a pair of active studio monitors. No hi-fi setup in this budget will be able to touch it, sound-quality wise. Check Yamaha HS5 or JBL LSR305. Stick those into a Behringer UCA202 audio interface, connect that to your laptop's usb port and voila.

And just where did Douglas mention a laptop? Your post is pointless.

 

[rainsoothe]

If your only source is gonna be a laptop, get a cheap audio interface and a pair of active studio monitors. No hi-fi setup in this budget will be able to touch it, sound-quality wise. Check Yamaha HS5 or JBL LSR305. Stick those into a Behringer UCA202 audio interface, connect that to your laptop's usb port and voila.

And just where did Douglas mention a laptop? Your post is pointless.

Ok, I somehow missed the "my project table will follow me" bit, so my post is indeed pointless Then yes, Denon 720 or 520 do make sense.

 

[hybridauth_google_103985029853366163558]

Ok, I somehow missed the "my project table will follow me" bit, so my post is indeed pointless Then yes, Denon 720 or 520 do make sense.

Haha thats okay! So the reason I was looking at the SMSL SA60, or similar, was because it would power speakers with two inputs. I could hook my PC into a DAC/Headphone amp and then into the 3.5mm input on the SA60 for speakers? That was my thinking atleast? If it were to work it would be a lot smaller then say a receiver, take up less precious surface space in my student room and be easier to move year after year.

The reason I am posting is to ask peoples opinion on whether a.) this setup would compromise on sound quality and b.) whether its best to spend £150-£200 on Pre-amp/Amp stage and £50-£100 on speakers or vice versa.

 

[Al ears]

Ok, I somehow missed the "my project table will follow me" bit, so my post is indeed pointless Then yes, Denon 720 or 520 do make sense.

Haha thats okay! So the reason I was looking at the SMSL SA60, or similar, was because it would power speakers with two inputs. I could hook my PC into a DAC/Headphone amp and then into the 3.5mm input on the SA60 for speakers? That was my thinking atleast? If it were to work it would be a lot smaller then say a receiver, take up less precious surface space in my student room and be easier to move year after year.

The reason I am posting is to ask peoples opinion on whether a.) this setup would compromise on sound quality and b.) whether its best to spend £150-£200 on Pre-amp/Amp stage and £50-£100 on speakers or vice versa.

It should work but could not vouch for its sound quality. By going with a full size amp we could at least do that. The ones mentioned are well known whereas I very much doubt anyone on here has actually heard the SMSL. I think if you went down that route you would be buying at your own risk.

 

[Vladimir]

SMSL SA-60 (if it's as good as the SA-50) = good idea

Denon PMA720AE = better idea

HiResFi AMPER502T = cool idea