What system/seperates to buy?

r011ingthunder

Hi all,
I've read through the various threads and can't find the answer to my dilemma. I'm basically looking for a cd player and speakers (and amp?). I've only ever had 3in1s and 4in1s before and think it's about time I moved to a higher quality sound.
I reckon my budget to be about €500, and I've got until June to decide. I've trawled the net for reviews on various "mini-systems" but tbh, they were no help whatsoever, as more often than not they contradicted each other - besides the fact that I soon got lost in the technical jargon.
I want to be able to play CDs (multiple disc changer preferable) and mp3s, I also want to be able to plug a turntable into it so I can play my old vinyl for nostalgia trips. Radio and tape deck are non-essentials. From a sound quality point of view, high fidelity, and a high quality bass sound are a must.
Any and all suggestions are welcome. Terrestrial or online shops are both fine.
Thanks,
r011in
PS Speaker sizes are a concern, so I'll have to Google their dimensions before deciding.

mathias

These guys can be good without breaking the bank ,

http://www.richersounds.ie

They have all the usual contenders for your first separates system ,
Marantz are generally considered quite good
Also NAD , TEAC , Cambridge , etc , in here ,

Take Marantz as an example ,
CD player approx 150
Amplifier approx 150 ( and will have more than enough inputs for anything you might add later )
Speakers ( pair ) say mordaunt short ! , about 200 ,

A set like that should easily be a marked improvement on any midi system you have heard.

r011ingthunder

Thanks Mathias,
Your suggestions are coming in at around €700+ which is a bit high, but there are numerous other options on that site which will give me something to work with. Cheers.
r011in

Turbulent Bill

Richer Sounds usually have excellent reductions in their sales or on discontinued models. I got a Cambridge 540A V1 amp at less than half price last Christmas just because it was being replaced by the V2. Peats can also be good, picked up some speakers in their sale for cheaper than anywhere else (inc. online).

Kell

r011ingthunder wrote:

Your suggestions are coming in at around €700+ which is a bit high,

TBH- you wont see much of a difference between a €300.00 3/4 in one and separates costing you €500.00 all in, unless you have audiophile hearing. Too many things cloud the equation i.e.-

€150.00amp+ €150.00 CD Player + €200.00 Speaker = Speakers clouded by the muddiness and definitionless sounds of the other two. Change the costs of the components around, you still get the same result.

Realistically, your wasting your time unless spending €300.00 or more per component, at least €100.00 on a pair of interconnects and another €50-€150.00 on speaker cables.

K-

r011ingthunder

Kell wrote:

TBH- you wont see much of a difference between a €300.00 3/4 in one and separates costing you €500.00 all in, unless you have audiophile hearing. Too many things cloud the equation i.e.-

€150.00amp+ €150.00 CD Player + €200.00 Speaker = Speakers clouded by the muddiness and definitionless sounds of the other two. Change the costs of the components around, you still get the same result.

Realistically, your wasting your time unless spending €300.00 or more per component, at least €100.00 on a pair of interconnects and another €50-€150.00 on speaker cables.

K-

Are you serious??? I need to spend €1,000 on a system to get good sound? OK, so how do I start with just €500, and work on from there?
CD player first? and work from there?
Amp and work from there?
Or
Speakers and work from there?
Thanks,
r011in

Turbulent Bill

r011ingthunder wrote:

Are you serious??? I need to spend €1,000 on a system to get good sound? OK, so how do I start with just €500, and work on from there?
CD player first? and work from there?
Amp and work from there?
Or
Speakers and work from there?
Thanks,
r011in

Your best bet is to listen to as many components as you can (in your price range) and see what you think. I don't know of any shops that do take-home auditioning in Ireland, so you'll have to go to the shops: Peats in Dublin and Richer Sounds in Belfast are good places to start. Pick a quiet time and bring a few CDs. You should be able to do a like-with-like comparison of the components, e.g., different CD players with the same amp and speakers, different amps with the same player and speakers etc. Pick which ones you like best, and combine them to see what the total effect is. Ultimately it's very subjective: only pay for what you can hear and like!

As far as I'm aware, a system is only as strong as its weakest part, so you'll only get the full effect once all of the good componets are in place. I'd probably start with an amp and CD player, then get the rest of the bits over time.

Kell

r011ingthunder wrote:

Are you serious??? I need to spend €1,000 on a system to get good sound?

It depends on what you define as good sound. I had exposure to hi end audio since I was 13 so my definition of good sound tends to be pricey. My first system (1992) was a £375.00 CD Player, £150.00 amp and £300 speakers. So thats a little over a grand in yo yo's 15yrs ago.

So, its really finding out what you like in a sound. My taste is open vocals/mid, clear and crisp upper end and punchy bass so you can hear the hammer hit the bass drum skin in the recording.

For some, good sound is overwhelming flappy bass, cloudy mid range and undefined upper end.

Where would I start? The CD Player. I am currently using a mates CD Player that was bought in 1993 for £389.00 or something and it still plays and sounds really good. When I demo equipment, Cloney dont laugh when I hook it up neither. As far as separates are concerned, I have gone through more speakers than anything else and changed the amp twice. So, start with the component thats going to last you the longest.

K-