Apart from going to Argos and buying the one with the most buttons....

[teamsaint]

How else can I decide how to spend some hard earned on some new stereo kit?

well since most of the technical conversations on here are way over my head, I guess some of you are deeply knowledgeable, and would love guide me on a shopping spree.

If a person was thinking of spending up to , say £500 (and preferably a good deal less) on something decent to listen to their favourite tunes on, what would you advise?

I would want CD player, ipod connectivity, tuner(including digital) some speakers, and a socket for the old turntable.
Or is there something else i need that I don't even know about?

any colour.
Style not important.
Nothing that will give money to alan sugar.


I know its not much money. (thank uni tuition fees for that).
But I feel sure there is help out there.

Thanks .

TS

[Petrushka]

Not bought anything in the hi-fi line from them but the method I used to purchase telephones for the home, a digital camera and a smart TV was to go on Amazon (or Comet) and by filtering for your budget read the reviews from customers. I'd choose to take note of items that have a fair number of reviews in order to get a feel for what would work best for you. You can then easily buy the goods cheaper from somewhere else if possible. I generally find Amazon reviews to be very accurate though you do get the odd idiot with a daft complaint.

Nothing wrong with Argos if what you decide to buy does the business for you!

[Ferretfancy]

teamsaint
This is a very tentative opinion, given your modest budget, but I would suggest a visit to Richer Sounds if you are in London near London Bridge. I may be out of date on the location, but they do have some sensible offers.
It would be wise not to be tempted by offers for all singing all dancing single box solutions as advertised in the Radio Times and elsewhere. They look tempting in their versatility, but every component is designed down to a price.
I have friends who have bought NAD and Denon products, and found them reliable, but I'm not too sure what is available at present, as it's been a while since I've bought new equipment.
Speakers are the most crucial link in the chain, and it's a good idea to audition them in your own location before choosing.

Good luck!

A not very helpful Ferret!

[EnemyoftheStoat]

How else can I decide how to spend some hard earned on some new stereo kit?

well since most of the technical conversations on here are way over my head, I guess some of you are deeply knowledgeable, and would love guide me on a shopping spree.

If a person was thinking of spending up to , say £500 (and preferably a good deal less) on something decent to listen to their favourite tunes on, what would you advise?

I would want CD player, ipod connectivity, tuner(including digital) some speakers, and a socket for the old turntable.
Or is there something else i need that I don't even know about?

any colour.
Style not important.
Nothing that will give money to alan sugar.


I know its not much money. (thank uni tuition fees for that).
But I feel sure there is help out there.

Thanks .

TS

Hi Teamsaint,

I'd say that if you're lucky enough (as I presume) to be within striking distance of the holy shrine at St Marys, you can do a darn site better than Argos or Comet; your local Richer Sounds should be able to put together a pretty decent system for £500 or so - have a look at http://www.richersounds.com for some ideas and http://www.richersounds.com/stores/southampton for a rogue's gallery.

Cheers,

Stoatfoe

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Crikey, there's a coincidence - Ferret and Foe in agreement :)

[Mr Pee]

This is a pretty good site for unbiased reviews:-

http://www.whathifi.com/reviews/hi-fi

[Bryn]

"What HiFi" unbiased?! You have got to be joking!

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes, be careful of What HiFi, their reviews are a bit slapdash...

have a good look at the Cambridge brand, sold at Richer sounds. Their CD players and DACs are technically very advanced for the cost, I use the DacMagic in a fairly highend system and it's just a silly bargain for the money. If you ever stream music from (or play downloads from) a computer you'll need a DAC or at least a CD player with digital inputs. Do think about future-proofing. Cambridge's older Universal disc player (the 650 model I think) was originally about £400, could be much less 2ndhand or ex-dem etc now.

Have a chat to Richer Sounds as a good starting point - you could consider a mini hifi system like Arcam's Solo Mini - but new, it would bust your budget a bit at around £600 at Sevenoaks HiFi - they're another retailer worth talking to if they're local for you. Be clear about your needs and your budget and you'll be fine.

[PhilipT]

I'd go along with the recommendation of Richer Sounds (at your price level). This point has been made before but it's worth making it again - do invest in some decently heavy speaker cable. By all means let your wife choose the colour, but not how heavy it is. Beware of cable labelled 'speaker cable' that is little more than bell wire with a black stripe down one side; equally, just smile and hold on to your wallet if you meet a snake-oil salesman waxing about "directionality" and "oxygen-free copper". When choosing speakers do plan early on where they are going to go and how you are going to position them at the right height - no hi-fi salesman would dream of demo-ing speakers just lying on the floor teenager's bedroom style, but some people get them home from the shop and ...

[mangerton]

I've just read this entire thread. After reading message 1, I thought "Richer Sounds". Interesting to see that so many of us are in agreement.

As has been pointed out, it's important to listen to the speakers, and preferably the whole system, and to get the tweeters at ear height when listening.

Do let us know how you get on.

[John Skelton]

I'm sure Richer Sounds are very good - if you want a look at Sevenoaks, Southampton, this might help http://marketing.sevenoakssoundandvi...n/default.aspx

I've bought my audio equipment over the years from our local branch of Sevenoaks and they have been excellent.

[Bryn]

I'm sure Richer Sounds are very good - if you want a look at Sevenoaks, Southampton, this might help http://marketing.sevenoakssoundandvi...n/default.aspx

I've bought my audio equipment over the years from our local branch of Sevenoaks and they have been excellent.

My experiences with both Richer Sounds and Sevenoaks has been positive.

[Stunsworth]

Another vote for Richer sounds. When I read the OP they were the people that came to mind, and I see many others have recommended them too. I'd have a look around there website and see if there's anything that takes your eye...

http://www.richersounds.com/

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Superfi do some good deals .... but you may have to know what's what

Technics are usually very good kit with dreadful speakers so i have upgraded these with the cheapest Missions i could find and helped chums do this as well ... and paying attention to the speakers is usually the most important thing to do ..... when it gets to the electronics small differences are hugely magnified in reviews ....

[MrGongGong]

I would also go the Richer Sounds route
and use the "cheapest Saab most expensive Lada" principle (though not sure that still applies unless you want to buy a fighter jet ?)

Cambridge audio gear is very good and you can't go wrong with NAD in my experience

I would avoid reading nonsense in HiFi porn and use the flappy things on the side of my head with some music that I took along myself .......