London Hi-Fi Shops

[nickd01]

So, where can I go to listen to some decent 2ch kit to replace my ageing setup?

I don't want 5.1, 7.1 or whatever - just a nice DAC / Preamp and a couple of power-amps to drive my speakers. Sonos or Squeezebox will feed it.

Does anyone still "specialise" in this area? Or is it too old-fashioned now?!

Following on from this, can anyone recommend a DAC/PreAmp/Poweramp setup for up to £3.5k or so? (To drive FLAC files into stand-mount speakers, mainstream music tastes!)

[Rosscow]

Get yourself on AV Forums.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/audio-processors-po...

[nickd01]

Good link, thanks

[croyde]

Sadly most of these specialist shops have gone or are all on-line. There was a place in Beckenham back in the 80s where they would set up your old system and then have the system with the new bits that you wanted and all you did was bring along your records and spend ages trying to work out if that amp that cost loads more made a difference to your Deep Purple Live in Japan album.

I get my stuff from Richer Sounds these days after scouring the net for reviews.

[0a]

You can purchase some great kit on the Hifi Wigwam forum at a massive discount to new.

[Dr G]

I like Harrow Audio, about a 5 minute walk from Harrow on the Hill tube if that isn't too far out? Nicely old school.

They do surround gear now but still focus on 2 channel.

[Riff Raff]

Infidelity in Hampton Wick are good people. I used to deal with them a lot when I had a Linn setup, less so now that I've moved into manufacturers that they don't deal with, but I still pop in for a chat from time to time.

[IforB]

There's Zinc HT in Borehamwood, though Paul has left (or is about to) and is setting up his own place a bit further up the A1, mainly to deal with 2ch stuff. He's a top bloke and you'll find him lurking about on AV forums as "Viper".

Very knowledgable and a very nice bloke with it too.

[DavidY]

Bartletts
Oranges and Lemons
Billy Vee
Grahams
KJ West One
The Cornflake Shop
Music Matters (Hatch End Branch)
Unilet
O'Brien HiFi
Audio Venue

Really there no shortage of decent two channel shops in London

[Mermaid]

IforB said:

There's Zinc HT in Borehamwood, .

Thanks for that recommendation., look a cool place.

[Crackie]

nickd01 said:

Following on from this, can anyone recommend a DAC/PreAmp/Poweramp setup for up to £3.5k or so? (To drive FLAC files into stand-mount speakers, mainstream music tastes!)

Probably worth having these on your shortlist to audition..............

Audiolab M-DAC
Lyngdorf SDA2175 Power amp
ATC P1 Power amp
Benchmark DAC1-PRE
2 x Audiolab 8200MB Monoblocs

If second hand power amps are an option then Chord Electronics 1200C, Krell FPBs, Mark Levinson 331 are possibilities.

Edited by Crackie on Tuesday 17th July 07:48

[DavidY]

I'd put the Leema Elements DAC into that list, stunning piece of kit, knocks the Audiolab M-DAC off the playing field, so good I had to buy one!

then add a power amp of your choice, though Leema have a matching one coming out shortly (but I won't be buying that as I have active speakers)

davidy

[nickd01]

Thanks all, for both shop recommendations and the kit.

I'll start hunting around; it's a minefield to narrow down choices!

[Zod]

Bartletts on Holloway Road is a good, unpretentious, old-fashioned, non-chain hifi shop.

For DAC,PreAmp and PowerAmp, I'd suggest trying out Cyrus. There are several options for that combination from about £2000 up to £8000.

[Marvindodgers]

Dr G said:

I like Harrow Audio, about a 5 minute walk from Harrow on the Hill tube if that isn't too far out? Nicely old school.

They do surround gear now but still focus on 2 channel.

Great shop and always willing to offer advice or suggest items to compare in their listening room. Two or three times I've walked in thinking I'm going to buy X, listened to it, listened to their suggestion Y and walked out the shop with Y under my arm! Ask for Richard if you do go down there, great bloke.

[nickd01]

Zod said:

Bartletts on Holloway Road is a good, unpretentious, old-fashioned, non-chain hifi shop.

For DAC,PreAmp and PowerAmp, I'd suggest trying out Cyrus. There are several options for that combination from about £2000 up to £8000.

I've actually got a DAC XP and a couple of Mono X's currently. They're driving some B&W floor standers at the moment and the sound is a bit warm (Not helped with the speakers stuffed in a corner) Maybe if I just look at replacing the DAC / PreAmp that could help, then I can put the rest toward some nice stand-mount speakers that work better in a corner.

[Riff Raff]

nickd01 said:

I've actually got a DAC XP and a couple of Mono X's currently. They're driving some B&W floor standers at the moment and the sound is a bit warm (Not helped with the speakers stuffed in a corner) Maybe if I just look at replacing the DAC / PreAmp that could help, then I can put the rest toward some nice stand-mount speakers that work better in a corner.

I'd play with your speaker positioning before spending any more money. You don't say which floor standers you have, but if I had mine in a corner they would sound horrible, bass heavy and 'honky'.

Edited to add, mine are also incredibly sensitive to toe-in. They are PMC Fact8's BTW.

[Digger]

Zod said:

Bartletts on Holloway Road is a good, unpretentious, old-fashioned, non-chain hifi shop.

I have bought a shed load from there in the past. Recommended.

[Zod]

nickd01 said:

Zod said:

Bartletts on Holloway Road is a good, unpretentious, old-fashioned, non-chain hifi shop.

For DAC,PreAmp and PowerAmp, I'd suggest trying out Cyrus. There are several options for that combination from about £2000 up to £8000.

I've actually got a DAC XP and a couple of Mono X's currently. They're driving some B&W floor standers at the moment and the sound is a bit warm (Not helped with the speakers stuffed in a corner) Maybe if I just look at replacing the DAC / PreAmp that could help, then I can put the rest toward some nice stand-mount speakers that work better in a corner.

I have a DAC XP+ (upgraded from DAC XP) and Mono-Xs with Audiovector speakers (Mi3 AvantGarde). The sound is very precise, not overly warm. I auditioned quite a few speakers, but not B&Ws. I hated the Dynaudios, quite liked PMCs, but the Audiovectors did it for me. Perhaps you could look at the speakers and upgradethe DAC XP.

[Teetertank]

For serious hi-fi kit, K J West One as mentioned by David is great - Cavendish St. near Pimlico.

If you're using Squeezebox digital out I would try and do away with pre-amp altogether and find a DAC with a variable volume control or use the volume control on the Squeezbox (better if you can find a decent DAC with volume control to minimise loss in resolution). That way you can run straight from DAC into power amp.