Want new hi fi stereo system - advice needed

zuzuspetals

I bought the samsung p2 mp3 player four years back, stupidly thinking that you could buy docks for any mp3 player. Obviously I've realised that everything is geared up for ipods! So I've been meaning to buy a mini hi fi for years and would like something that could link up to my mp3 player because most of my music is on there rather than on CDs, and I don't want the mess of having loads of CDs around the place.

I was in PC world earlier and the guy was talking about an aux input for my p2 to work with a stereo and I asked him if I'd need a special cable for my mp3 player to work for that but he didn't know!!

I don't really understand it all. What kind of features should I be looking for? I remember looking at a sony giga juke a few years ago and liked the idea that you could store and browse your music on there, but I don't think you can buy them any more.

I wouldn't be looking to spend any more than £150 tops.

closed

you could plug it into the tv

aux input is just like a headphone cable, possibly with 2 phono connectors on the end, depending on the input on whatever you buy

you can use a generic docking station (that doesn't actually dock), provided you don't mind loose wires everywhere.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/E-volve-Vibe-Dock-portable-speaker-compatible/dp/B000UTL4G0

grizzly1911

Would something like this do?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/GTMax-Charger-Cable-iRiver-Samsung/dp/B004HHL9WK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1354314348&sr=8-6

I use a Samsung Toc Lite phone as my MP3 player, with an 8Gb MicroSD card. The phone doesn't have a standard earphone socket the power input socket doubles up as the output. I have to use an adaptor to allow me to plug my earphone in or a 3.5mm jack to provide output to my mini speakers.

I use a sync cable similar to this with a male USB to connect to my PC and also to my HiFi.

I am lucky to have a Denon but a number of popular hifis now come with USB input. It will also accept a USB/Flash drive too.



The good thing about using the USB cable over a standard 3.5mm jack is that it allows the digital signal to be used rather than having it converted to anologue first. It also allows me to use the hifi remote to scroll through the music on the hifi rather than use the MP3.

If you stick with just using a 3.5mm jack from your normal earphone socket you could use one of these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Stereo-Plug-Mtrs-Gold/dp/B0007OC94E/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1354315146&sr=1-2

Straight into the aux in socket

or one of these into the phono sockets(if it has them)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-stereo-Phono-Sockets-length/dp/B000Q8KSS0/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1354315308&sr=1-1-spell

Rather than a hifi have you consider some active speakers. these are an example (only chose these because my son has them)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speedlink-SL-8209-SBK-Vivo-Subwoofer-System/dp/B002VV9NZO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1354315390&sr=1-1

Sample hifi with 3.5mm aux input

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-CMTEH15B-All-Audio-System/dp/tech-data/B003L5DVWA/ref=de_a_smtd

Sample hifi with USB input

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SC-AKX14EB-K-250W-System-Playback/dp/B007RTY4R2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1354315925&sr=1-2

Other hifis are available.;)

Mr_Toad

A friend of mine has just bought a Sonos system. It's modular and wireless so you can expand as you wish.

http://www.sonos.com/

She bought a single Sonos 3 unit and it's superb, excellent sound quality for MP3. It can be controlled via PC or an app on your phone or tablet.

It links to your media library on the PC, Windows Media Player, iTunes etc. as well as having access to internet radio.

Using your PC media library means that your PC has to be on to access the music but if you have a NAS device holding your music then the PC isn't needed.

almillar

As others have said, if your MP3 player can just be a USB stick, get a stereo that you can plug USB sticks into. This will allow you to CONTROL the music from the HiFi you buy, incuding the remote control if it has one, whereas using an AUX input will only allow you to LISTEN and you'll still have to fiddle around with the MP3 player to change tracks etc.