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Hifi

hey,
i have about £200/£250 to spend on a new hifi (including speakers)

i was looking at this paired up with some mission speakers (m71)
could some hifi experts tell me whether this is a good setup / alternatives

many thanks

Reply 1

Sparkey

I know nothing bout hi-fi's except they play music but it looks nice :wink:

Mine Changes colour http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/284_889501.html :biggrin:

Sorry i couldn't help though :smile:

Reply 2

Drogue

Quiksilver

I'd probably go for something different. You can easily get a better seperates set on eBay or at a shop second hand for £250, with some mission m71s. Having said that a bit extra can buy something much nicer, I spent £450 and got an NAD C340 amp, a C540 CD player and some gorgous walnut Castle Richmonds. Would cost over £1000 new.

Reply 3

teamvillage

If going for something small, I got a hitachi AX-M66D for £150 at Currys in September, and I'm most impressed with sound after hooking up decent speakers. The main draw for me on this one was the DAB tuner

Reply 4

Quiksilver

i think im just going to get some decent seperates :smile:

cambridge audio A5 amp
marantz CD5400 cd player
cambridge audio DAB300 dab radio
mission m71i speakers
:smile:

Reply 5

Nik P

mission are crap... u want the gale equilavent... they cost the same but the gale are more detailed, wont crack and muffle sound if they get knocked about and also have a great bass response...

Reply 6

Quiksilver

how is this computing or programming?! :frown:

Reply 7

AT82

I have built my system up since 1999 although my current system is different from my original seperates system. Most HIFI seperates don't change electronicaly it is just the facia that does, my sister has 1970's system that still sounds good, she uses this with her computer.

My trick is to wait to the model is about to be replace you can get real bargains this way. My current system is:

Marantz PM6010OSE (was £230, I paid £150 a few months before it was discontinued)

Marantz CD6000OSE LE - A very high quality CD player, the quality of the compoents have to be seen to believed (was £330, I paid £150 2 months after discontueation)

Eltax Monitor III's - Richer Sounds staples, cost £70, not audiophile but much better than any all in one system speakers

Project Debut MKII turntable - Paid RRP of £110 3 years ago, the unit is used daily and is brilliant, the sound has to be heared to be believed, I have to replace the stylus (cost £25) yearly though.

Rotel RC 870BX preamp - Bought this second for £15, this did cost £250 in 1989. This is used for my turtable and also as a switch to select from PC and freeview box.

Sony STE 300 RDS Tuner - Paid £80 for it but hardly used now

Philips HD890 headphones, cord needs replacing due to overuse, cost me £50.

Buying HIFI seperate is probably one of the best things I have ever invested in. The shear sound quality is simply amazing. I also have a very big soft spot for Marantz products.

Reply 8

Pollo Loco

Definitely take a look at http://www.richersounds.com/

Reply 9

AT82

The problem with Richersounds is stocks can be iratic, they offer a very good exetented warranty deal though (the best in the retail industry by far). If you're in after goods at the lower and end of the market Richer Sounds is great. You can buy DVD players for £25, freeview boxes for £40 etc. However for pure HIFI it has gone down hill.

I like Superfi has I have managed to get some great bargains and they have better stock management.

www.superfi.co.uk

Reply 10

AT82

Quiksilver

i think im just going to get some decent seperates :smile:

cambridge audio A5 amp
marantz CD5400 cd player
cambridge audio DAB300 dab radio
mission m71i speakers
:smile:

The cambridge has a very bright energetic sound, while the marantz is still on the entertaining side but also has a hint of smoothness. I think the two will work well together because the CD player will compliment the amp. The two together won't sound over bright. If you choose the right CDP then the A5 is a brilliant amp indeed - It is just a pitty it had no remote control.

I have never heared the Missions so can't really comment.

Reply 11

LostRiot

Top end mission speakers have recieved some amazing reviews i don't really know about the cheaper ones though.

Cambridge audio are a top make, ther're amps sound as good as far more expensive ones and their dab tuner is excellent. (I've had the old model about a year and love it, it sounds better than all my friends ones)

I'd say that hifi set-up was great, although personally, it go for some of these

http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/iiforty.htm

they are seriously the best thing i've ever bought, bit pricey though)

Reply 12

Quiksilver

amazingtrade

yeah, thats what im worried about - no remote :frown:

would this sound crap?
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1380

Reply 13

AT82

Quiksilver

yeah, thats what im worried about - no remote :frown:

would this sound crap?
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1380

They are good for a mini system but it will not be patch on the A5. Just a word of warning be very cautious about What HIFI star ratings. Without saying too much they have to be very careful not to upset their advertisers. I found out this when I bought my 5 star Sony Tuner for £80, it sounds quite poor (very soft) and when I opened it up I was shocked at the cheapness of the components.

I would only go for the Denon if space was a piroity of the sound. The amount of capacitors and heatsinks required in a good amp won't even fit into the entire body of that Denon.

The remote may not be a problem, I never use the remote for my amp as I always find it easier just to turn down the volume manaully than start trying to find the volume buttons on the amp remote control. I do use my CD player remote control all the time however. I think the key question is to wether you would find a remote handy or not is how far is the unit from your listening position?

Reply 14

LostRiot

Quiksilver

yeah, thats what im worried about - no remote :frown:

would this sound crap?
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1380

Denon mini systems are good, for minisystems, it would sound good compared to similar minisystems however compared to a proper hifi it would sound crap. :smile:

Reply 15

LostRiot

Quiksilver

yeah, thats what im worried about - no remote :frown:

would this sound crap?
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1380

About not having a remote, You have to think what you use a remote for at the moment, you will still have a remote for all the separate components you just won't be able to change between them or change volume.

Personally i didn't find this to be a problem. :smile:

Reply 16

AT82

The other thing is the Marantz should have a variable output level adjuster. You could use this to turn down the CD player using the remote. Some people advice against it sonicaly but the sonic quality differences will be extremely minor as the digital variable resistor (POT) used for this will be in the circuit path anyway.

Reply 17

Golden Maverick

I was in a very similar situation about a month ago. I am now listening to the Cambridge Audio A5 running with TDL speakers. I was originally thinking of the A5 with a pair of Wharfedale 8.2 which I hear are very good. lol. I use the pc for nearly all my music. I would also suggest trying the Denon PMA-255SE.
The best advice I can give however is - find a richer sounds shop (best prices anywhere and HAGGLE - I got £30 cabling free) with a demonstration room and listen to the systems you want to buy. I guarantee you it is the best way to shoose a system. (You might want to call ahead to ensure they have the items in stock).
The A5 does not have as much power as some in its price band but to me sounded the best.

EDIT:
If you want good websites:

http://www.richersounds.com/index.php?
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm
http://www.hifi4less.com/index.html
http://www.whathifi.com/dealers.asp
http://www.rayleighhifi.com/index.asp - good for general info

Reply 18

austinmetro

Nik P

mission are crap... u want the gale equilavent... they cost the same but the gale are more detailed, wont crack and muffle sound if they get knocked about and also have a great bass response...

that blasfemous!! :eek:

...how dare u

i have some mission 701's and they rock

with some decent cable, i get fat bottom end and crystal top..maybe not the best but they arn't mackies?!!!

:mad: