New HIFI

[Tonberry]

I'm after a new system and was considering the Marantz MCR610 with some decent floorstanders.

After a bit of research, it would seem the 610 doesn't have the man power to drive said speakers to their fullest whilst playing loud and low.

Sadly my only reference point is a decade old Sony CMT CPX1 which is actually pretty damn feisty. It needs to blow this out of the water.

Should I be looking at a component system or will the mini HIFI meet my needs?

I listen to every genre going but have an addiction to bass so a lot of deep house and dub step etc.

Will also throw in some home cinema use eventually.

[gizlaroc]

What sources are you using?

If it were me I would rather spend £500 on a decent ex-demo amp and an Airport Express or something.

Or even look at some nice active bookshelf speakers and a sub.

[Tonberry]

Spotify on extreme quality so about 360kbps.

Does the job well via phono from the laptop.

Slightly OT but would the sound card within the laptop be a limiting factor?

[marctwo]

How about Tannoy DC6T

http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_p...

plus Yamaha RN500

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-13779-yamaha-rn500-netw...

This would make a very nice system. If your laptop has some kind of digital audio out then use that as it will be miles better than the analogue out.

[gizlaroc]

I love my dance stuff, and like bass, but want it tight and controlled.

I prefer active or DSP speakers, but a decent amp and a sub would be a better bet imho.


Even something like an older Arcam A22 with the DAVE module fitted, this gives you a dac built in, would do well with your set up. I sold one for £200 recently, then buy a small BK sub for £200 and you will stil have your money left for some nice speakers, these can just handle upper mid bass and above then, keeps it all under control.

I would get into a hifi shop and demo, a decent amp makes all the difference imho.

[marctwo]

Have a chat with VEX on here as he's sorted me out with some very good deals before.

[Tonberry]

Thanks guys.

After a bit of research I'm going down the Amp / Receiver + Speakers route.

The R-N500 highlighted or R-N301 look like good contenders with decent connectivity and in built tuners.

The setup should shake the room it's going into nicely.

[Tonberry]

So I've purchased the following;

Yamaha R-N500
Monitor Audio BX2 (can't justify floorstanders in the space available)
AudioQuest FLX-SLiP 14/2

Pretty darned beefy to say the least.

The laptop has no digital out so I'm looking at USB sound cards or DACS. The reviews all seem to be pretty poor for the cheaper jobbies (noise / interference etc). Any suggestions?

http://www.turtlebeach.com/product-detail/sound-ca...

Surely the quality of that little device should be pretty good over SPDIF rather than analog?

[gizlaroc]

The Meridian one is amazing and just been reduced as there is a MKII version about to launch.

[marctwo]

Schiit Modi

http://www.electromod.co.uk/schiit-audio/dac/modi/