New hi-fi/stereo options advice.

gzoom

Welcome come to the confusing world of speakers and AV recievers. The watts output is a waste of time, many brands simply state the 'peak' output rather than the true output. Having a high watt number also doesn't = quality. The best speakers as the ones that can reproduce the smallest/quietest element without been loud or having a massive amount of bass.

What HiFi does simple reviews - Google is your best friend.

prowla

Watts is usually given as the RMS value, isn't it?.

I'd be inclined to take the earlier advice and go to Richer Sounds, if there's one nearby.

An alternative would be to buy used, but there is obviously a risk with that.

I've always liked the compact Denon systems.

With a larger budget (4x), I'd buy a Naim Mu-So (~£800) and rip the CDs to disk, along with a retro cassette deck which could go to the audio jack input.

Boohoo

Thanks for the input so far.

Watts is usually given as the RMS value, isn't it?.

I'd be inclined to take the earlier advice and go to Richer Sounds, if there's one nearby.

An alternative would be to buy used, but there is obviously a risk with that.

I've always liked the compact Denon systems.

With a larger budget (4x), I'd buy a Naim Mu-So (~£800) and rip the CDs to disk, along with a retro cassette deck which could go to the audio jack input.

He lives in Luton and the nearest Richer Sounds is Milton Keynes but about an hour drive away but he cant drive at the moment due to eye surgery. He was in Cambridge over the New Year and he forgot there is a store there also.
A lot of his cassettes you cant buy on cd's as are the same for his vinyl records. I will have to copy/convert them to mp3's and put them onto a usb stick for him 1 day but as I have said it is very time consuming.
He went to his local Currys the other day to look at some systems but the sales person was suggesting he goes for that system for £400 and then in the end it was nearly £1000 and he said thank you and left more confused than when he went in.

steviebabes

I was looking for a similar setup a few weeks ago and this was on my shortlist http://www.amazon.co.uk/SHARP-XL-DAB102BH-Component-Stereo-System/dp/B00OW0SKWE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452334546&sr=8-1&keywords=sharp+dab

In the end I bought a Denon D-M40DAB as I already had some good speakers and an active sub woofer. It doesn't have bluetooth either but I have a chromecast audio connected which as a much better option. The sound is excellent.

prowla

steviebabes wrote: »

I was looking for a similar setup a few weeks ago and this was on my shortlist http://www.amazon.co.uk/SHARP-XL-DAB102BH-Component-Stereo-System/dp/B00OW0SKWE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452334546&sr=8-1&keywords=sharp+dab

In the end I bought a Denon D-M40DAB as I already had some good speakers and an active sub woofer. It doesn't have bluetooth either but I have a chromecast audio connected which as a much better option. The sound is excellent.

Yes, that's the kind of Denon I meant.

And you make a good point about using your existing speakers.

That particular model has one pair of analogue inputs (but not tape out) which could be used for an add-on cassette player.

A record deck as well is pushing things, though.

Boohoo

Quote:
Originally Posted by steviebabes
I was looking for a similar setup a few weeks ago and this was on my shortlist http://www.amazon.co.uk/SHARP-XL-DAB102BH-Component-Stereo-System/dp/B00OW0SKWE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452334546&sr=8-1&keywords=sharp+dab

In the end I bought a Denon D-M40DAB as I already had some good speakers and an active sub woofer. It doesn't have bluetooth either but I have a chromecast audio connected which as a much better option. The sound is excellent.

Yes, that's the kind of Denon I meant.

And you make a good point about using your existing speakers.

That particular model has one pair of analogue inputs (but not tape out) which could be used for an add-on cassette player.

A record deck as well is pushing things, though.

I have looked at the Denon makes and they seem to be very good quality indeed. The unit doesn't come with speakers but there are for sale with speakers included for £320 or there abouts but that is over budget for him.
He has the Sony speakers but I don't want him to buy the Denon and then find out the speakers are no good.
After looking for hi fi system for him I noticed that you can now buy Bluetooth/wireless adaptors for hi fi's and stream to your hi fi system so I may get 1 for my system.

prowla

Boohoo wrote: »

I have looked at the Denon makes and they seem to be very good quality indeed. The unit doesn't come with speakers but there are for sale with speakers included for £320 or there abouts but that is over budget for him.
He has the Sony speakers but I don't want him to buy the Denon and then find out the speakers are no good.
After looking for hi fi system for him I noticed that you can now buy Bluetooth/wireless adaptors for hi fi's and stream to your hi fi system so I may get 1 for my system.

If his existing speakers are OK, then they'll still be fine with the Denon.