Hifi seperates query

[egor110]

I fancy getting a record player, amp, cd player and speakers but have no idea.

My budget is 400-500 and i guess going second hand is going to get get me most bang for my buck, however what brands models should i be looking for?

[Patrick1964]

I'd suggest a visit to Richer Sounds, they should be able to sort you out with new stuff for your budget. Buying second hand is fine and you will certainly get "better" kit if you go this route, but at least if you buy new you will be able to hear everything plugged together and decide if you are happy with the sound

[B17NNS]

Another vote for Richer Sounds.

[robbyd]

Buying all new for that budget - well it will all be rubbish I have to say..

That's also a tall order for buying used - and don't forget interconnects & speaker cable will add up to something out of that, too, as well as a cartridge, if needed. (I know turntable will probably come with phono leads).

If you trust eBay I'd really look there - Dual CS 505 / Rega Planar3 or similar, maybe a NAD 3020, Wharefdale Diamonds - god this sounds old stuff, but reliable. Get the turntable locally - I wouldn't like one sent through the post..

Good luck!

[Patrick1964]

I disagree - I think this http://www.richersounds.com/package/system-savers/... or something similar will sound pretty good. It's not going to compare to a high budget system, but it'll be good enough to start with and allows for upgrades as the budget allows. There's enough change for a second hand turntable from the budget as well, plus it's guaranteed,

[robbyd]

yes - but where's the turntable in that? Those speakers are rubbish - come on..

does it come with interconnects & speaker cable in that price? bet not..

ok, it is 'audio', let's say that and agree..

[castex]

NAD equipment from the 90s and such is very good value.

[otherman]

robbyd said:

Buying all new for that budget - well it will all be rubbish I have to say..

Sounds like hifi snobbery to me. Some will say that the cheapest worthwhile camera, bicyle, watch etc is £xxxx. But really, rubbish? OP can get a some good quality sounds for his budget.

[robbyd]

ok, OP will get something, but that's a tail order within budget for everything asked for, even buying used...

[caprirob]

Another vote here for used gear.

With that budget you'd be able to get a fantastic setup of 80's or 90's gear.

Turntables as already mentioned Dual 505 or Rega planar 2 or 3, as for the rest of the gear check out Rotel, Denon, Yamaha for the amp and CD player, Wharfedale Diamonds were cracking speakers as were slightly more modern Mission ones

If you can stretch to it you can get a pre/power amp setup which would have been hundreds when new but can now be bought for not a lot from ebay.

The budget new stuff from richer sounds is fine but you will get much higher grade equipment by buying used with a bit of research first.

Another definite for collecting any turntable - I've had 3 couriered none of which arrived intact.

Edited by caprirob on Saturday 27th December 22:37

[tjlees]

Crikey that the same budget I had - but in 1987.

Secondhand is the way to go and ebay or gumtree is your friend. Do you research from the hifi mags that three to five years should reveal some good starter hifi kit. NAD or denon for the amp, Marantz or Sony for CD player. Yamaha was good. Missions, ars or wharfdales for speakers. Not sure about the record deck since I managed to avoid vinyl.

I still have my ar18s, NAD amp and Phillips CD player - they all work perfectly so old does last

[delmatt]

You could get a decent sounding system to play LPs for a relatively small amount. In the last two weeks I have won a perfect Thorens TD280 for less than 50 quid and a Rega clone (Goldring GR1)for 72.00 on Ebay. There are loads of half decent amps and speakers that you could buy for around 50 or 60 quid each as well. You would just need to do a bit of running about to collect and maybe a small wait to find something you like.

Whilst a system like this will not be tip top upto date hifi it will sound pretty good and probably be worth what you paid if you want to upgrade.

[Crackie]

egor110 said:

I fancy getting a record player, amp, cd player and speakers but have no idea.

My budget is 400-500 and i guess going second hand is going to get get me most bang for my buck, however what brands models should i be looking for?

This lot comes to about £475.00. There will be hi-fi snobs who will insist the Denon isn't Hi-fi but hopefully an audition will tell you all you need to know.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/mini-hi-fi/den...

http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntables/pro...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-PP400-Microphono...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/KabelDirekt-Series-Stereo-...

http://www.richersounds.com/product/floorstanders/...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quality-2-5mm%C2%B2-Loud-S...

[Jonny_]

Crackie said:

This lot comes to about £475.00. There will be hi-fi snobs who will insist the Denon isn't Hi-fi but hopefully an audition will tell you all you need to know.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/mini-hi-fi/den...

http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntables/pro...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-PP400-Microphono...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/KabelDirekt-Series-Stereo-...

http://www.richersounds.com/product/floorstanders/...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quality-2-5mm%C2%B2-Loud-S...

I've got the older version of the Denon (mines a DM38 not a 39) driving some second-hand Q Acoustics 1050i floorstanders. Total cost under £300 and it really does sound rather good

That'll be a belting setup for under £500. Good shout Crackie.

Edited by Jonny_ on Sunday 28th December 21:44

[sprouting]

If its not to far from you, free's always a good start.

https://www.avforums.com/threads/sherwood-ax-3030r...

[egor110]

Thanks for all the advice.

After mulling it over i think i'm going to ditch the record player and get something with cd/mp3/dab capability and add a pair of 2020i /cambridge audio sx50/60 or dali zensor 1 / wharfedale diamond 121 or tanoy mercury mx1 speakers

Looking at richer sounds web site they have pioneer with 75w 4 ohms or a marantz with 60w 6 ohms, which is the most important number the wattage or ohms?

[900T-R]

egor110 said:

Looking at richer sounds web site they have pioneer with 75w 4 ohms or a marantz with 60w 6 ohms, which is the most important number the wattage or ohms?

Neither. Both data are only relevant in association with the speakers you'll be driving with it, and even then it's very hard to read anything from the factory specs bar the probability of a complete electrical mismatch so I would start with deciding on speakers, and finding an amplifier that matches.

Most speakers on the budget end of things are easy to drive for your average solid state amp though, so unless you want to play at rock concert levels or happen to live in something the size of the millennium dome, it's mostly about avoiding things like hooking up an amp that ultimately sounds a bit thin and bright to speakers with a similar tendency, tipping the overall sound 'over the edge'...

Start with finding speakers that you like and are well suited to the room you'll be using them in, you'll find the rest will then all fall into place quite easily.

[Speedracer329]

For your budget you could go British for a slightly quirky but well balanced system of a Quad 33/303 pre & power amplifier, with a NAD CD player & Castle Kendal or similar speakers.
A couple of visits to eBay should allow you to get that little lot for:
Quad 33/303 £250
NAD CD player £100
Castle speakers £100

Leaving £50 for cables and interconnects.

[tjlees]

Speedracer329 said:

For your budget you could go British for a slightly quirky but well balanced system of a Quad 33/303 pre & power amplifier, with a NAD CD player & Castle Kendal or similar speakers.
A couple of visits to eBay should allow you to get that little lot for:
Quad 33/303 £250
NAD CD player £100
Castle speakers £100

Leaving £50 for cables and interconnects.

swap out the Quad for a NAD 3020 and I would buy it

[Crackie]

egor110 said:

Thanks for all the advice.

After mulling it over i think i'm going to ditch the record player and get something with cd/mp3/dab capability and add a pair of 2020i /cambridge audio sx50/60 or dali zensor 1 / wharfedale diamond 121 or tanoy mercury mx1 speakers

Looking at richer sounds web site they have pioneer with 75w 4 ohms or a marantz with 60w 6 ohms, which is the most important number the wattage or ohms?

Have a look at the specs of the Denon I mentioned above http://www.denon.de/uk/product/compactsystems/mini...
I think it will fit the CD/MP3/DAB capability you're after. Dropping the the turntable will free up some more money to spend on the speakers. The speakers are by far the most influential component in the chain; don't be too concerned by power ratings and impedances though, as said by 900T-R, neither tells you very much in islolation. Try to shortlist speakers with highish sensitivity, anything over 90dB/W/M is good.