New hifi advice please....

[Dover Nige]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right section of PH to post this on, but here goes (mods feel free to move as necessary).

I'm after a new hi-fi system. I guess you'd say micro hi-fi system. It's to go on the shelf in my lounge alcove (29cm deep x 90cm wide x unlimited height) which is currently occupied by an older version of this (minus DAB and USB): http://www.teac.co.uk/product%20pages/lifestyle/li...

Budget is ideally up to £300ish, but might stretch up to as far as £500 for something seriously, seriously amazing that does something extra like playing dvd's or hooking up to my sky+...!!

It's got to have a decent radio, cd player and it's essential to have an iPod dock that works better than the old headphone jack to RCA lead I'm using now which requires everything to be at full volume to get vaguely loud...!!

If it's a really good piece of kit and it doesn't fit my alcove, I could buy a nice glass stand and speaker stands, but that eats into the budget and space in my little house.


Currently looking at these:

1. Onkyo CS515 DAB
2. Yamaha M170
3. Teac MC-DX220IDAB

I'm a bit lost looking at it all really. I just want to fill my 12' x 12' room with quality sound that I would be able to hear wherever I go in the house (it's detached - no neighbour issues).

Guide me O' PH'ers......

Cheers,
Nige.

Edited by Dover Nige on Friday 27th June 23:36

[Dover Nige]

Think I may have this one cracked after some research....

A Sony DAV-IS10 home cinema package..!

It connects to my tv and sky, plays CD's, has a radio and I can pick up a dock for my iPod..!! Result.

Anyone got one of these systems that can advise..?

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Hmmm - personally I would get some good used separates like the below. Should come in at around your budget and will sound out of this world.

Audiolab 8000A Integrated Amp (with enough inputs for the ipod)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Marantz CD6000OSE KI Signature CD Player

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marantz-CD6000OSE-KI-Signatu...

Epos 11 Speakers (Partner well with the Audiolab)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EPOS-11-Loudspeakers-Stands-...

Atacama Se 75 speaker stands

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Atacama-Nexus-5-Speaker-Stan...

And remember to get some good interconnects for the CD to the amp, and some good speaker cables too.

[Dover Nige]

I see your train of thought Ecurie, trouble is, my lounge is err.. rather small...!! I think that whilst a good separates system would sound out of this world, it would take up too much space and look a little dated...? An ex had an older version of this and the sound (to me) was astonishing.

[Darkdice]

nige

def worth checking out the denon micro system, always won the awards in what hifi, i dont have a copy here at mo to get the model number.

[Revs_Addiction]

If you were impressed with the sound of the Denon (which do sound very good) then you will wet your pants when you hear something like the system that Ecurie Ecosse has suggested. 2nd hand hifi can be an absolute bargain...

There is a compromise on looks vs sound quality though, (esp when you're on a budget), depends which is most important to you.

[roy e6]

I can recomend Arcam A85 and P85 intergrated and amp and power amp,Bi Wired to B+W 603 speakers. Arcam cd 92 cd player. Great quality sound at al volume levels.

[BigAlinEmbra]

Dover Nige said:

I see your train of thought Ecurie, trouble is, my lounge is err.. rather small...!! I think that whilst a good separates system would sound out of this world, it would take up too much space and look a little dated...? An ex had an older version of this and the sound (to me) was astonishing.

That denon is only £170 without speakers in richer sounds just now. Quite fancy one myself.
I tend to play my music through my comp as mp3 these days via my tv, so I'm considering an AV amp as an alternative...

[combine]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Hmmm - personally I would get some good used separates like the below. Should come in at around your budget and will sound out of this world.

Audiolab 8000A Integrated Amp (with enough inputs for the ipod)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Marantz CD6000OSE KI Signature CD Player

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marantz-CD6000OSE-KI-Signatu...

Epos 11 Speakers (Partner well with the Audiolab)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EPOS-11-Loudspeakers-Stands-...

Atacama Se 75 speaker stands

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Atacama-Nexus-5-Speaker-Stan...

And remember to get some good interconnects for the CD to the amp, and some good speaker cables too.

Agree with this , bought some s/h stuff , quality names , spent about £500 , including new quality connects and the sound is wonderful.http://www.adverts.hififorsale.com/public.asp

Edited by combine on Sunday 29th June 20:05

[koenig999]

How much is that Arcam Solo? That would be nice.

Or a s/h Linn Classik?

The Denon mini systems are usually good, I have one in the bedroom, and is performed will withe those lttle speakers from Mission, badged as Denon.

Koenig

[telecat]

Let's go alternative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How about this

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.c... Mind you'd need an amp hhhhhmmmmmm!!

For something a bit more off the wall and fully integrated this!!!

http://www.realhi-fi.com/products/shanling_mc-30.h...

Different

[scott.s]

buy a second hand solo or classic, if not then the denon is fine just bin the speakers and get some second hand ones.

all cheap all in one cinema will break after a year or so due to the cheap drives in them.
They look like great value but are rubbish in every department.

[t0ny99]

I'd have suggested the Solo, or the new Solo Mini (price not withstanding) but, having looked at both myself, I think the OP will find them too deep for his alcove.

[Plotloss]

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/lar...

Just add an external cd/tuner

[Littlenewshound]

Whatever you do it is important to hear the system as a whole before buying it.
There are numerous components out there requiring careful matching in order to get a good sound. Cables make a difference too, so should be well budgeted for. Unless you have heard a good seperates system and can hunt around for the same components secondhand, you are probably better off buying something 'off the shelf', this way you instantly know what it sounds like, as opposed to going down the experimental route which can easily get out of hand financially! Good luck with this, there are plenty of options to explore.

[Dover Nige]

Cheers for all the replies chaps.

Having looked carefully at my room and the options, I've decided I really can't go down the separates route. I've also found that my shelf being only 29cm deep, rules out lots of stuff too and having carefully considered it, I don't want to lose any more space.

What about THIS..?

Any good..? Big savings to be had. Glad I started looking at the richer sounds site, how are they so cheap..?