New system for the extension
Discussion
Hi Folks
We're in the process of refurbishing an old property. It will have an extension added on to create a large dinning/living space next to the kitchen of approx 42m2. It will also be open to the kitchen which is another 24m2. Floors will be hard stone or wood, plenty of glass so probably going to be a bit of a nightmare for getting a decent sound out of a hi-fi.
I have an older Arcam Alpha 8 & Kef Q35 setup which was about £1k new when I bought it 20 years ago. It still sounds fine in the existing living room but isn't going to cut the mustard in the extension.
I can see us using this room way more than the actual living room so any recommendations for where to start looking with a budget of £3k on amp & speakers for this type of room? Helpfully I listen to just about every type of music except pan pipes!
Any thoughts on where to start looking would be greatly appreciated, new or used.
Cheers
James
We're in the process of refurbishing an old property. It will have an extension added on to create a large dinning/living space next to the kitchen of approx 42m2. It will also be open to the kitchen which is another 24m2. Floors will be hard stone or wood, plenty of glass so probably going to be a bit of a nightmare for getting a decent sound out of a hi-fi.
I have an older Arcam Alpha 8 & Kef Q35 setup which was about £1k new when I bought it 20 years ago. It still sounds fine in the existing living room but isn't going to cut the mustard in the extension.
I can see us using this room way more than the actual living room so any recommendations for where to start looking with a budget of £3k on amp & speakers for this type of room? Helpfully I listen to just about every type of music except pan pipes!
Any thoughts on where to start looking would be greatly appreciated, new or used.
Cheers
James
Edited by Jammez on Wednesday 12th August 15:08
You will always get more bang for buck from second hand kit, but it is trusting it and buying that is the trade off.
You also don’t say what it will be used for, is it music only or tv / surround duties as well.
On wall, bookshelf, tower is also a consideration especially if you are planning the aesthetics of the room.
As you have spotted, unless you have good plush furniture to help mute it a bit it is going to be difficult to control.
Maybe consider a speaker in each corner so you don’t hVe to run it so hard or even a very good set of 4 in-ceilings.
Or, here is a curve ball, put the new system in the old room, where you’ll get more benefit, and move the old system into the new room where most things will be unknown until it is finished.
V.
You also don’t say what it will be used for, is it music only or tv / surround duties as well.
On wall, bookshelf, tower is also a consideration especially if you are planning the aesthetics of the room.
As you have spotted, unless you have good plush furniture to help mute it a bit it is going to be difficult to control.
Maybe consider a speaker in each corner so you don’t hVe to run it so hard or even a very good set of 4 in-ceilings.
Or, here is a curve ball, put the new system in the old room, where you’ll get more benefit, and move the old system into the new room where most things will be unknown until it is finished.
V.
The system is purely for music, mostly streamed stuff but I will keep my Arcam 8 CD for occasional CD listening, no TV duties required. It's probably a good call on putting the old system in there initially (I'm looking for an excuse to buy a new system so hadn't really thought of that!)
As for soft furnishings, I notice Costco have the giant 8ft teddy bears in again, so would 4 or 5 of those scattered about the room work!!
As for soft furnishings, I notice Costco have the giant 8ft teddy bears in again, so would 4 or 5 of those scattered about the room work!!
More questions, but will help you / us narrow down what would work.
Do you sit and actually listen to music or have it on in the background?
Do you have space for / are you allowed (hehe) floor standers, something on stands or are you limited to on-wall or in-ceilings?
Got a few ideas, but these will be driven by your answers.
Also, do you have a floor plan.
Happy to take this off-line if you prefer.
V.
Do you sit and actually listen to music or have it on in the background?
Do you have space for / are you allowed (hehe) floor standers, something on stands or are you limited to on-wall or in-ceilings?
Got a few ideas, but these will be driven by your answers.
Also, do you have a floor plan.
Happy to take this off-line if you prefer.
V.
The system will be used mainly for background music but that is often going to be at a decent volume when I'm in on my own.
Plan of the extension attached. The doorway into the kitchen will be a large permanent opening, happy for music to drift from the extension into there. The opening from the entrance hall will have doors on it. Left side of the room is full height glass with the stone chimney in the centre.
Ignore the furniture, that's just for illustrative purposes on the design. Not a problem with floor standing speakers, ceiling mounts wont work as the roof is all open rafters.
Cheers
James
That isnt actually too bad for sound, there isn’t that much glass as a usual conservatory or orangery would be.
I know what I would like to do with it.
Nice pair of good looking (WAF approved) floor standers just in the nibs, either side of the patio doors at the fire end. Hidden amp / streamer box, maybe BlueSound / BluOS / NAD something like that.
A couple of different speaker brands jump to mind, but I would say that, I supply them!!
I know what I would like to do with it.
Nice pair of good looking (WAF approved) floor standers just in the nibs, either side of the patio doors at the fire end. Hidden amp / streamer box, maybe BlueSound / BluOS / NAD something like that.
A couple of different speaker brands jump to mind, but I would say that, I supply them!!
Cheers Vex I thinking of going for the speaker location as you suggest, seems the most logical place.
My initial internet trawling was around the brands I already have Arcam & Kef purely from the perspective that I've had them for 20 years and they've never given any problems. Looking at the Arcam SA30 as a combined amp & streamer then looking at the Kef Q series floor standers.
Also liked the look of some of the Naim Uniti stuff.
My initial internet trawling was around the brands I already have Arcam & Kef purely from the perspective that I've had them for 20 years and they've never given any problems. Looking at the Arcam SA30 as a combined amp & streamer then looking at the Kef Q series floor standers.
Also liked the look of some of the Naim Uniti stuff.
That sounds a good combination. I can help with both of those.
Alternatively have a look at GoldenEar Triton 7's or 5's. A little bit of a marmite speaker range, but I love them.
For a streamer, Arcam is good however, a lot can be done with a streamer, external DAC and indepenant amp, almost to the point of Sonos sounding good. I have supplied a system using Sonos, Chord DAC, Naim Power Amp and powered Triton Ones and the quality / definition coming from the system was genuinely amazing. Hearing things in tracks I had not heard before.
Happy to chat more off-line or nearer the time.
V.
Alternatively have a look at GoldenEar Triton 7's or 5's. A little bit of a marmite speaker range, but I love them.
For a streamer, Arcam is good however, a lot can be done with a streamer, external DAC and indepenant amp, almost to the point of Sonos sounding good. I have supplied a system using Sonos, Chord DAC, Naim Power Amp and powered Triton Ones and the quality / definition coming from the system was genuinely amazing. Hearing things in tracks I had not heard before.
Happy to chat more off-line or nearer the time.
V.
What about in wall/ceiling? We have not long launched ours using the drive units from the F501 and F502.
Amp - Cambridge CXA with CXN streamer?
Moving upmarket a bit, the new Rega Aethos amp is some piece of kit. Sounds stunning with our F502SP’s
Amp - Cambridge CXA with CXN streamer?
Moving upmarket a bit, the new Rega Aethos amp is some piece of kit. Sounds stunning with our F502SP’s
Edited by StescoG66 on Sunday 30th August 22:29
There are some excellent active speakers available within budget.
The following Dynaudio and KEF options are both approx £2000 a pair...........£1k balance for the source(s) / switching / volume control
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/dynaudio-lyd-...
https://uk.kef.com/products/ls50-wireless
The following Dynaudio and KEF options are both approx £2000 a pair...........£1k balance for the source(s) / switching / volume control
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/dynaudio-lyd-...
https://uk.kef.com/products/ls50-wireless
Choices, choices!
I'm moving away from my initial one box solution like the Arcam SA30 or Naim Unity as the more I think about it this is going to be a long term purchase. Previous stuff is 20 years old & still going strong.
I think I'd rather invest in a good quality amp & speakers as these are likely to have a longer shelf life & then look at a DAC & separate source for the streaming as this is the bit that will likely move on much quicker as tech advances.
Still early days yet as I'm digging the hole for concrete slab! Also getting slightly sidetracked with second had Arcam 10 amps on ebay!
I'm moving away from my initial one box solution like the Arcam SA30 or Naim Unity as the more I think about it this is going to be a long term purchase. Previous stuff is 20 years old & still going strong.
I think I'd rather invest in a good quality amp & speakers as these are likely to have a longer shelf life & then look at a DAC & separate source for the streaming as this is the bit that will likely move on much quicker as tech advances.
Still early days yet as I'm digging the hole for concrete slab! Also getting slightly sidetracked with second had Arcam 10 amps on ebay!
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