Advice on a sound system/hi fi

[CatBirdFly]

It’s been literally decades since I’ve had to research this stuff, and obviously it’s moved on so much — all wireless speakers and streaming from phones. But DD is moving into her own place and really wants a sound system with CD player, Bluetooth and possibly record player, and with two/four speakers around the room.

This will be our housewarming present for her, but please can anyone tell me where to start? What’s a good brand? How much will we have to spend to get “decent” rather than mind blowing top-of-the-range? (DD has been very explicit that she doesn’t want the most expensive possible option, just a way to listen to her records, CDs, and stuff on her phone). If she streams from phone, even on a decent system will it be compressed and not brilliant richness?

Hopefully some of you know something about all this. Thanks in advance!

And if anyone knows about optimal set-ups, that’s helpful too! Although I’m sure DD will know about that…

@CatBirdFly Have a search on YouTube for a guy called TechMoan, he does videos explaining about old HiFi setups. I recommend you buy second-hand components like the CD player & amp, but modern speakers. Denon is a very good brand, as are Pioneer, Yamaha, Rotel, Akai. For your record deck, ProJect make some excellent ones- I have one called a Debut III, which is lovely!

Four speakers are pointless as music is 99% stereo so only two speakers required.

Separates will always give the best sound but can also be most expensive.

What Hi Fi is a great source of good info. https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-internet-radios

We use our Revo Super Connect on a daily basis either DAB, Spotify Connect, or Internet radio. It has plenty of grunt for parties even.

Trying to add a CD player and record player you would be best going down the separates route. But you're starting to look at £1000s not £100s.

You're unlikely to get a reai bargain second hand, my CD player is worth pretty much the same as I paid 25 years ago.

You're unlikely to get a reai bargain second hand, my CD player is worth pretty much the same as I paid 25 years ago.

But the thing is, vintage HiFi is so much better quality than modern stuff!

I've got a Denon mini-system which is very good, and a separate Audio Technica turntable wired into it. Does me as a non-hifi geek who nonetheless appreciates reasonable sound.

Hmm, I'm not sure. With some pieces such as CD players or record decks perhaps, just because the market is that much smaller so a manufacturer doesn't have the volume to justify development and moqs. But amps, speakers, dacs, streamers are better all the time.

And please buy from an independent such as Richer Sounds.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/may/14/richer-sounds-staff-julian-richer

Go to Richer Sounds and the staff there will help you - they are so incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, and will work to your budget and DDs requirements.

I love our Ruark Mk 5 ♥️ My requirements were essentially the same as yours
https://www.ruarkaudio.com/products/r5-high-fidelity-music-system#section--specifications

I'm Preet sure you'd be able to connect a record player by cable, too, although we haven't.

The sound is wonderful, even on Spotify from phones. I use my phone as a remote control for it too.

Richer Sounds sell them - they set one up for me to go and listen too out the back off the ship floor to give it a proper going over before committing too👌

I've got a mixture of HiFi separates, my oldest component being my Denon tape deck from about 1987. I also have my dad'd Akai tape deck from 1976! The build quality is amazing. Same with my Rotel amp, Denon CD player & tuner & speakers from the 90s. My Pro-Ject record player from 2012 is good as well, although maybe a little more flimsy...

@Tzimi we have a Musical Fidelity X-Series CD player and XA amp with a Cambridge Audio dac and B&W 603s. The Kevlar cones on the 603s are pretty shot, and the tweeters have been pushed in by small fingers.

Our go to these days is our Revo Super Connect.

The small fingers are now much bigger and just dominate our Spotify account.