I need a HiFi system

[Enchanted]

Sorry its a bit long, but starting to panic and get desperate. The language has changed so much and its all going over my head.

Hubby used to be music mad before we had kids. Over the years the really nice system we had broke down and never got replaced. He even had a very bespoke system installed in his car at the time.

The only thing left is the Sansui SR-838 Turntable. Probably used 15 years ago the last time. I think the whole system was Sansui. We are talking 20 plus years ago the last time it worked fully. We also had Wharfedale speakers which stood on the floor, were wood based and huge. I was able to put big flower pots on top. We used to dismantle the system and take it to very large very well attended house parties, playing mostly Reggae, Disco, Funk and Blues.

What happened? Two demanding Kids and moving around the world a lot due to work. We are now settled, kids out the house. We have hundreds of vinyls we would like to listen to again and hundreds more of CD's and downloaded Ipod music. A couple of years ago I bought a Bose portable docking station to play music from the Ipod. But its just not the same even though the sound is not bad. It does the job when tinkering in the kitchen or in the office.

Hubbies 60th is coming up very soon and I would like to buy him a small system. I don't want anything too large, as space is limited in the living room.

My budget is £800.

I would like it to be able to do this:

Must have:

Connect turntable

Play CD

Play Ipod

FM Radio but better DAB

Would like:

I would like to be able to listen to Internet radio from worldwide stations.

Adding more speakers (perhaps wireless) to play in other rooms.

Remote control would be nice.

Being able to transfer the Vinyl into digital?

Needs to have a rich warm sound, good base. Don't like tinny.

I would prefer to buy a package but if buying separate components are better for the same price I don't mind.

I am lost about the speakers. There are so many choices. I would like Wharfedale again, but that's only because I don't know any better and things could have changed in the last 30 years.

I know that hubby would like to be able to rig up the speakers or the system to the TV to get better sound.

I have been reading online, I looked at some magazines. I went to the local PCWorld/Curries but not impressed with their offering, actually quite dismayed as to what they are offering. Not impressed with Bose either, plus cannot afford it.

Looked online to find a HiFi shop but absolutely none in my area!!!! I would have to do to North London which I cannot manage at this time.

So looking online I found these Denon's for around £500 to £900 but I just cannot see what the major differences are except for the speakers, colour of casing and number of buttons.

Maybe I should just buy the best in my budget or around £500 and then maybe buy a good system a few years down the line once mortgage free. LOL

Our music tastes haven't changed much, but we now like a lot of Jazz as we go to many Jazz concerts. This month I have been to 2 concerts, hubby 4 with his mates and we come home with many signed CD's.

My music tastes have changed a lot. I prefer more instrumentals, Saxophone, Drums and Guitar in particular. Love a good Orchestra. I also like Rock. Preferably no singing. So the system needs to be able to handle all sounds really. The only music we are not into is Hard Core Opera from the olden days.

So please help this poor lady out and give me some tips of what you think I should look out for. So confused. Don't want to get it massively wrong and disappointing hubby and myself.

 

[styles997]

Pop up your first half of postcode and people can reccomend things in your area. Richer sounds do some fine little all in one systems and often at clearance prices too. Wharefdale speakers are ok at your budget, you'd probably be looking at their 'diamond' series stuff. Denon and Marantz are good offerings and you would be asking a local shop for or searching eBay/gumtree for 'integrated' amps, preferably with streaming options so you have the Internet radio etc. Bluetooth or apple AirPlay to send your downloads to it, or just get a cheap £10 dock and plug it in the back.

If you're thinking of reviving the old TT, it'll most probably need some new bearing oil and a belt. At your budget is be inclined to wait before looking at a new TT and see if this buy rekindles your listening. Vinyl playback is the most fussy of the formats, so maybe best to not try and squeeze in amp,speakers and TT into a modest budget (my tuppence and not the case if you go second hand).

Buying new gives you warranty and peace of mind for returns, buying used gives better VFM. Places like Richer Sounds offer fantastic returns schemes and you can return within 4 weeks IIRC with absolutely no questions.

Sorry if some of this seems like teaching you to suck eggs, but just trying to offer best of information. Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[styles997]

You can't go far wrong with this btw: http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?124283-Arcam-Solo-Quad-21L-amp-Audica-sub

 

[nick dartmoor]

There must be some nearby (SE London) Wammers, who can help with this. I'd be very surprised if there isn't a decent hi-fi shop, or dealer, down that neck of the woods.

Don't panic, anyway! You can definitely get what you want, within your budget. How soon is his birthday?

 

[Cambs12]

The Arcam is sold i believe(my father-in-law is dealing direct with the buyer),but agreed that it would seem to fir the bill.I was going to say a Muso until i re-read and noticed cd replay was required.At the price the Arcam sold for it would leave a lot towards a good pair of speakers.

 

[styles997]

Don't dismiss using existing BluRay for CD playback. If it's connected to wifi chances are you can use that for streaming from your phone/computer as well

 

[dudywoxer]

Hi, welcome to the mad house, if you value your sanity keep your old man well away from us.

The obvious suggestion is to look second hand, but time constraints may prevent that.

Do you think your new system would/could be connected to your computers.

Give us a rough idea of where you live, it will help us point you in the right direction.

Have a look at peter tyson on line, they put some interesting bits and pieces together. You may find that if connection to your computer system is possible a yamaha network receiver and cd player, plus some q accoustics or Wharfedale speakers give most of what you want

 

[Testure]

Not sure if these are not to far away

Use to pop into into Musical Images in Beckenham, when my mate use to live there.

Also there is a Sevenoaks in Bromley

 

[rockmeister]

The Denon systems are very good as a start point. You normally get an amp, a radio (DAB probably) tuner and a CD player, + the socket you need to plug in an iPod or etc. I use just such a machine and with good speakers, it will sound great. . To connect the Sansui you may have to buy 1 more box, but check at Richer sounds.... R.S sounds a bit 'budget' but they are in fact very friendly and helpful. There's a store in Bromley, Croydon and SE1. Your problem is probably that you won't easily replicate the big warm sound of the Wharfedales on budget unless you buy used (I owned big W's back in the day and remember that sound very clearly...modern small wharfdales do NOT sound like that!). I'd go to RS if I were you, ask to have the Denon DM40 as the basis of the system, and see what they suggest for connecting the sansui and buying speakers on budget.

The obvious option will be small speakers like the wharfdale diamonds and with an added subwoofer for that warm full bass sound. Not only can you hide that behind the sofa, but when you run the TV sound through the denon (as I do, it's easy, just 1 wire) films come alive with great stereo and full bass.

Good luck anyway!

 

[brucer2]

This was in another thread. Does a lot for the money.

Bought this on Sunday

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...np-cd-h750-blk

2 x 40w

Phono, 2 x line, coax, 2x usb (one on front for iPhone, one on back for computer or NAS), optical, airplay, internet radio, network card

Separate CD with digital out

All very well finished and 2 remote controls

£200 all in

 

[notevenclose]

If you're thinking of reviving the old TT, it'll most probably need some new bearing oil and a belt.

Possibly easier said than done, the 838's a direct drive and quite a decent one in its day...

At your budget is be inclined to wait before looking at a new TT and see if this buy rekindles your listening. Vinyl playback is the most fussy of the formats, so maybe best to not try and squeeze in amp,speakers and TT into a modest budget (my tuppence and not the case if you go second hand).

Buying new gives you warranty and peace of mind for returns, buying used gives better VFM. Places like Richer Sounds offer fantastic returns schemes and you can return within 4 weeks IIRC with absolutely no questions.

By the sounds of it, you had a pretty decent system at the time. Sansui equipment of that era was arguably the best mainstream product range Japan plc had to offer, and easily stood comparison with the better UK/European brands.

As I think you're already discovering, modern budget kit typically won't offer the kind of sound you remember having and may prove disappointing in absolute terms. There's an element of fashion at work too, many modern manufacturers produce kit which gives a lot of 'detail' but no real 'body' to the sound because they think that's what the punters want.

The technology's moved on, but not always for the better. There are companies producing kit of a comparable (at least) standard to what you had, but probably at a somewhat higher budget than you might have in mind.

I'd suggest the 838's definitely worth keeping, perhaps with a new stylus/cartridge. Personally I'd probably look to spend the budget on a decent amp and speakers, either new or S/H, and forego the bells, whistles and wireless music meantime until you see if the music bug bites again.

It occurs to me that something like the iFi integrated system might do the job, albeit it's virtually double your budget.

http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/ifi-audio-retro-complete-system/

It has the phono stage required for your turntable (once standard, but usually omitted these days) and a very capable DAC, so it'll handle music from a computer or iPod.

If you go second hand, something like an Arcam A85 amp would be a solid foundation and of appropriate quality for the 838. Typically £300, but make sure it's got the optional phono stage fitted. That'll drive most speakers.

CD players are the easy bit either way, you can buy plenty which will do the job relatively cheaply, or any basic CD/DVD player connected to the iFi's DAC should sound pretty good.

I confess for radio I'd say buy a decent portable to be honest, addresses the multi-room thing perfectly - just pick it up and take it with you – whatever will they think of next?

You might be best to get hubby involved even if it means spoiling the surprise, visit a few dealers and gauge what you can get at different price levels. Be a shame to blow the budget on something 'convenient' which won't offer much long term satisfaction.

 

[styles997]

Sorry, I misread the OP and thought you were after a TT as well. Just looked up the 338, nice bit of kit that

 

[ssfas]

This was in another thread. Does a lot for the money.Bought this on Sunday

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...np-cd-h750-blk

2 x 40w

Phono, 2 x line, coax, 2x usb (one on front for iPhone, one on back for computer or NAS), optical, airplay, internet radio, network card

Separate CD with digital out

All very well finished and 2 remote controls

£200 all in

That was me.

It's here.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/mini-hi-fi/teac/np-h750-cd-h750-blk/teac-np-cd-h750-blk

Bloody marvellous for the price, I paid £200, was £800 or £900 a year ago.

Does everything you want. You can plug in the turntable.

I would use a computer or small USB hard disc source, you can plug your iPod into the front of either unit.

I would use it with a pair of vintage speakers if possible, better than new ones for £200.

When connected to the internet, I would also get a Sonos box to use around the house.

The CD unit can be used, for example, as an iPod bedside headphone amp or with a pair of active speakers.

 

[skaface]

Hi,]PM sent.

 

[Enchanted]

Thank you very much for the replies and messages.

I have lots to read and look at with all those links. It has helped already make things clearer and narrow it down. I think I will go with a new system and buy separate speakers.

We live in SE28 and the birthday is mid October.

I am in Beckenham every Wednesday. So will have a look at that shop in Beckenham.

Thanks about the info about those speakers. We had the Wharfendales repaired twice because I think I blew them. Or maybe they just could not handle all the moving about we did.

I was kind of hinting that it would be nice to play the turntable again. But hubby was a bit off, saying he could get the music online. That is true, but we have a few records that I dont think you can get online. I have not checked but he has some gems from the 70's I have not come across which he bought in his travels abroad and some bootlegs from Jamaica that were quite old already when he bought them. Ignoring his comment I still want to be able to rig up the turntable to the new system. I said to him lets sell it then, but response was "are you crazy!?!" so I guess he still wants to keep it and use it one day. I have not kept it and dusted it etc for 20 years and then not use it one day soon.

Depending on what I will buy I may need a new stereo cabinet. I still have the old one made of solid wood, open back shelves and glass door. Its being misused as a book storage space.

So thanks again. I will be back if I have any more questions and also once I have bought the kit and given my verdict.