Advice on first Hi-Fi purchase please

xmb

I would go with a streaming amplifier, such as the Yamaha R-N602, and pair with some Monitor Audio Bronze 2 or maybe some DALI speakers. A package can be had for £529 so well under your budget.
This option also reduces the number of boxes you need and keeps operation simple.

RBZ5416

Don't buy anything until you've heard a range of speakers in your price bracket. Speakers make the biggest difference in sound in a HiFi chain so you need to select those first. Ideally you want a demo facility that has a range of speakers set up on a switch box so you can quickly flick between them. Beware of bright, highly detailed speakers that sound impressive on initial listen but soon become tiring to listen to. Differences in amps & sources at your budget will be minimal.

If going for bookshelf speakers also budget for decent stands.

SickSquirrel

I would not recommend the LSX's, I use then as computer speakers and for that they excel, for HiFi not so much...

Other options:-

Amp:-

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Audiolab 6000A  Amplifier                                                                                                        The Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amplifier contains everything for a fully flexible modern amplifier, with high quality D/A conversion, digital and analogue inputs, and a turntable input, as well as Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a headphone output.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.hifix.co.uk                                                                               
Has a DAC and Bluetooth so you can stream directly to it from your phone.

Speakers:-

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Q Acoustics Concept 20 Speakers                                                                                                        The Q Acoustics Concept 20 is a truly remarkable new loudspeaker which delivers a level of sonic performance previously only available to audiophiles able to invest in high-end models                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.hifix.co.uk                                                                               
As ever, find a local dealer and have a listen, try not to buy blind.

Jason72

Hi,
A thumbs up here for the Concept 20's. Brilliant little speaker.
Gregory

Costello

The Audiolab 6000A is a brilliant amp, full of features. More importantly, it has brilliant sound quality. I’ve been trialling one and I’ve taken the plunge, replacing my Rega Brio. That’s how good it is.

dollag

not too sure if i agree with that statement regarding the lsx's tbh.


What's the size of your room? this generally has a large impact on what equipment you should be choosing?

Filipedine

Hi Stoofer,

The market is currently really big on offers at the price range you are aiming and most of them will have a more than decent sound. Probably the best advice you will have is “ lisen to the system before you buy”

Normally if you go with Japanese brands you will get some good sound, specs and very well featured units. However if you move to more hi fi brands  you can find less featured products but they offer you better sound quality.

The market currently offers streaming solutions, like Taidal, Spotify, etc.. if you plan on using that you could start with a ieast soundstream or similar plus amplifier and speaker solution, and then progress has you see fit.

The Marantz is a good starting point but also check the NAD C316BEE and Cambridge audio AXA35, they are all amps that play differently.

For speakers try the Dali Zensor 1 used or new or the Elac Debut B5.2.

Finally, buy some good cables and if there is money some decoupling devices live the isoacustic Oreo bronz

Hope it helps

Filipe

Samhud

Maybe consider AVI active speakers if you intend to use your phone as the main source, the ADM9.1 are really well reviewed

dogfonos

Ideally, the speakers should be chosen to suit the room size, although there is quite a bit of leeway.

You may hear a speaker you really like when demo'd in a small room but when you get it home and set it up in a larger room, the sound might be underwhelming, wimpy, lacking drama. Likewise, too-large a speaker in too-small a room will not sound good as it will swamp the room with excessive bass.

With a £800 budget, I'd be looking at a system based around a streaming pre-amplifier and active speakers:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                MusicCast WXC-50 - Overview - Yamaha - UK and Ireland                                                                                                        The WXC-50 is a new-concept audio component that goes beyond conventional audio thinking. It let you access a wide variety of audio content such as music from streaming services or stored on a smartphone, and enjoy high quality sound and style thanks to the ability to network with Yamaha’s...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                uk.yamaha.com                                                                               
...coupled with active studio monitors of suitable size such as:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                KRK Rokit RP7 G4                                                                                                        Active Studio Monitor  Equipped with: 6.5" Glass aramid woofer and 1" glass aramid tweeter, Power: 145 Watts - 48 Watts tweeter, 97 Watts woofer, Bi-amped Class-D amplifier, Frequency response: 42 - 40000 Hz, Max. SPL: 110 dB SPL, Integrated...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.thomann.de                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Adam T7V                                                                                                        Active near field monitor  Equipment: 7 "woofer and 1.9" U-ART ribbon tweeter, 2x Class-D amplifier: 50W RMS woofer, 20W RMS tweeter, Frequency range: 39 - 25000 Hz, Crossover frequency: 2.6 kHz, Maximum level: 110 dB (1m / pair), Back bass reflex...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.thomann.de                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Focal Alpha 65                                                                                                        Active Studio Monitor  With room correction EQ, 6.5" Polyglass subwoofer - 70 W, class AB, 1" Inverted aluminium dome tweeter - 35 W, class AB, Frequency range: 40 - 22,000 Hz, Maximum peak SPL @ 1 m: 106 dB, Inputs: Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.thomann.de                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Yamaha HS 8 W                                                                                                        2-Way active nearfield monitor  8" Cone woofer (75 W), 1" Dome tweeter (45 W), 120 W Bi-Amp, Bass-Reflex System, Frequency response: 38 Hz - 30 kHz, Balanced XLR input, Balanced 6.3 mm jack input, Input levels adjustable, Room control and high trim...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.thomann.de                                                                               
and many, many others that are too numerous to mention.

Studio monitors are usually demo'd by suppliers of professional music equipment, like PMT in Bristol. Pro music gear is usually better value for money than traditional hifi so for any given budget, you normally get better sound quality, IME.

BlueWizard

I'm using an ancient computer now as my main computer crapped out on me. This computer will not access PeterTyson.co.uk, but PeterTyson has some excellent package deals on the Yamaha RN602 Network Receiver and various speakers. Most well under your budget, and with bigger better speakers than the Q Acoustic 3020, though be aware that the 3020 are fine speakers, I have them on my computer.

If you want bookshelf speakers, definitely consider the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 with 6.5" bass drivers priced at about (best guess) £280/pr. Though look though all the packages at PeterTyson. I think if you search "Yamaha R-N602 Network Receiver" you'll see both the amp and the packages.

Pre-Amplifier - Just the Controls and Inputs but without Power Amps

Power Amp - Just the  power section of an amp with no controls and only one input.

Integrated Amplifier - both a Pre-Amp and a Power-Amp built into one unit.

Receiver - Radio, Pre-Amp, Power-Amp all built into one unit.

Network Receiver - Radio, Pre-Amp, Power-Amp, and Network Streaming built into one unit.

AV Receiver - A receiver  made specifically for watching movies, though it also plays music, but it has 5 or more channels supporting Surround Sound. As well as many other features including Network Streaming.

Any of the Amp/Receivers may or may not have a DAC (digital to analog converter) that is most often used for connecting TV Audio to a Stereo Amp/Receiver for movie/TV watching.

The Yamaha RN602 Network Receiver has AM/FM and 80w/ch. It supports Network Streaming from local storage or from the Internet though both Internet Radio and Streaming Services like Spotify. It also has a DAC with 2xOptical inputs, and 2x Coaxial Inputs, as well as a USB Media port on the front. In addition, it has a Phono In, and Sub-Out. These are typically between £320 and about £350 plus whatever you choose for speakers.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                MusicCast R-N602 - Overview - Yamaha - UK and Ireland                                                                                                        High sound quality Network HiFi Receiver with support for DSD 5.6MHz reproduction. Compatible with MusicCast and packed with network functions. Unlimited enjoyment of many different sound sources, including hi-res sources, smartphones and streaming services.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                uk.yamaha.com                                                                               
You would be hard pressed to get more for your money than the RN602.

Steve/bluewizard