Newbie Intros

[DigitalScotsman]

Nothing wrong with a Devialet 250 .
I wouldn’t be ashamed to own one .. exceptional quality ..only ever heard one ..and that was while having a weekend in Paris

It’s been fantastic and it’s hands-down still one of the very best integrated options on the market if you value clean and fast over dark and musical.

A good friend is trying to tempt me with a Mcintosh. It’s working

 

[Clarky]

Hi all, a newbie here on the forums. I’ve just recently got back into listening to music (with more intent) and collecting vinyl. I bought a Marantz PM6010 amp and a Marantz CD6000 paired with some Eltax floor-standers with my first pay packet 20 odd years ago. Sounded incredible to my teenage ears in my bedroom. Added a project turntable later on and started collecting vinyl here and there but life got busy and I just turned to a small Sonos system for ease of use. Anyway, after digging out my old equipment and vinyl i'm well and truly hooked again and I want to slowly build up a new & improved system.

 

[Lurch]

Hi and welcome Clarky, your in a good place here, and have no fear about upgrading, we LUUURVE spending other people money 🤑😂😂😂

 

[bigrod]

Welcome Clarky

 

[Maverick]

Welcome Clarky, do put the annual wam show in your diary. Chance to listen to dozens of different systems of all flavours / budgets / age.
Will also be a bring and buy sale and you might pick up something nice.

 

[Springroll]

Hi all, newbie to this forum though had few deals in Classifieds already. Great forum for sharing among HiFi and music enthusiasts.

Had been using QUAD and Sonus Faber Minima Amator for over 20 years. Could listen to their musical playback day and night without fatigue. after moving to UK 1.5 years ago, thought it's time to have a change. Had audited several components for upgrade then. And now settled down to Vitus RI-101 int amp, Marantz ND8006, and Audio Physic Virgo 25 speakers. Source is CAS with NAS for high-res audio files. Also have a Marantz SR7009 and surround speakers/subwoofer for movie. Enjoy the current set up quite much. : )

Recently bought a pair of Siltech 330l speaker cables from WAM member Simon. Am looking for used Siltech 550l/770l jumpers.

Hope can have more sharing here thereafter. Cheers.

 

[Lurch]

Hi and welcome.

 

[RafaFed]

Hi all - another Wigwam newbie getting back into hifi.

I have to admit I'm finding the options of starting a system from scratch overwhelming... All I know is the source will be purely streaming (likely Tidal) and the room is 6.86m x 5.15m (with high ceilings).

I'm not sure whether to go the active route or passive. Do I try a direct to consumer manufacturer or the standard retail brands? Budget is £5k max but happy to go cheaper.

Any advice very welcome. Maybe I should just try and home demo as much kit as possible...

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

Hi all - another Wigwam newbie getting back into hifi.

I have to admit I'm finding the options of starting a system from scratch overwhelming... All I know is the source will be purely streaming (likely Tidal) and the room is 6.86m x 5.15m (with high ceilings).

I'm not sure whether to go the active route or passive. Do I try a direct to consumer manufacturer or the standard retail brands? Budget is £5k max but happy to go cheaper.

Any advice very welcome. Maybe I should just try and home demo as much kit as possible...

AyUp! I don't think I can help you with streaming but Welcome anyway

 

[Lurch]

Hi all - another Wigwam newbie getting back into hifi.

I have to admit I'm finding the options of starting a system from scratch overwhelming... All I know is the source will be purely streaming (likely Tidal) and the room is 6.86m x 5.15m (with high ceilings).

I'm not sure whether to go the active route or passive. Do I try a direct to consumer manufacturer or the standard retail brands? Budget is £5k max but happy to go cheaper.

Any advice very welcome. Maybe I should just try and home demo as much kit as possible...

Hi and welcome to the nuthouse.
As to where to go kit wise I would suggest starting a new thread along the lines of "starting afresh, what to do?" as your opening post above will get lost in the mix.
You'll get plenty of replies as we LUUURVE spending other people's money. 🤑😂
Don't forget to make use of the classifieds (here & other forums) for well loved used kit that will make your £5k go further.

 

[Maverick]

Hi all, newbie to this forum though had few deals in Classifieds already. Great forum for sharing among HiFi and music enthusiasts.

welcome both!

Hi all - another Wigwam newbie getting back into hifi.

 

[Maverick]

you could do worse than attend the Wam show in October - chance to hear a wide variety of gear

@RafaFed personally I'd still go basically down the route I wend down. Look for a 2nd hand (nowadays) ZENmini, this is a Roon core but their own interface launched last year is VERY good indeed and sounds good, HOWEVER doesn't unfold MQA. Manufacturer support they offer is first class.

A decent DAC, again check for Roon certification if you want MQA from Tidal.
Should leave ££ for some speakers and matching amp although starting from scratch active would be very temping.

Above your budget I know (but as we always do, like to overspend) KEF LS60 Wireless are mighty impressive for the money. Read up on them and try to hear them, find out which shows they will be at if no dealer near you.

If you wish to hear my system which is different and you can travel, my coffee machine is always on. I'm middle of the M62 and will also be at our show.
PM if interested.

 

[RafaFed]

What a nice welcome 😀 thanks guys.

I was thinking about giving the Bristol hifi show a go although I know systems are heavily room dependent. I'm right down on the south coast so the Wigwam show is a fair old distance. @Maverick thank you very much for the kind offer to listen to your kit in any case.

The Kef LS60 Wireless are on my radar; it would just mean less money to spend on the tv which isn't the end of the world. The Kef's then led me on to the Buchardt A700 which also have very good reviews (and I think I prefer the look of over the Kef's). I believe Buchardt run a direct to consumer business model so may present better value than the Kef's too? I like the idea of an all in one system as it reduce the likelihood of box swapping in my future (I know for some that is where the fun lies...). Also the DSP/EQ part could be the way to go (haven't Meridian been doing this for years?) My concern is if one part fails and needing to return or worse, replace the entire piece of kit. I could see the streamer part being outdated in a few years time.

Anyway plenty for me to think about. I'm in the process of moving so until I'm in I won't be able to buy anything / demo anything in situ.

Thanks again!

 

[Maverick]

If KEF are at Bristol you should defo go and listen.

The gear that is computer architecture based is more likely to be subject to regular updates. My ZENmini OS has had many updates.

You mention Meridian, I used to have multiple Meridian boxes but once Chris Coaster closed down his repair business after sales support options were very limited as the manufacturer doesn't seem interested - unlike, say. Quad.

DO try and get to the show, plenty of the south coast posse exhibit or visit. Good accommodation options nearby.

kind regards,
Paul

 

[Tony_J]

DO try and get to the show, plenty of the south coast posse exhibit or visit.

This. There are often opportunities to share transport which may help with the distance.

 

[Lurch]

What a nice welcome 😀 thanks guys.

I was thinking about giving the Bristol hifi show a go although I know systems are heavily room dependent. I'm right down on the south coast so the Wigwam show is a fair old distance.

If your free next Sunday then I have one of my South Coast bake offs and you'd be more than welcome to come and meet some of the South Coast posse.
https://www.hifiwigwam.com/threads/...th-coast-bo-sunday-february-12th-po19.114940/
Just make a comment on the thread so I know to expect you and add you to list of newbies who need address details.

 

[RafaFed]

Thank you @Lurch - very kind! I'm tied up most weekends but I will try and get to a show soon! In the meantime I will keep an eye on reviews and this forum 😀

 

[The Great Soprendo]

Another newbie here. Have had a reasonable interest in hifi for years which ebbed and flowed according to finances and other priorities, having bought my first decent bit of kit in 1991 (Linn Basik/Akito) with my student grant cheque, coupled it with some old hand-me-down amp/speakers and then upgraded bits and bobs over the years (adding a cheap DAC and Google Chromecast Audio most recently, to bring things a little up to date). Otherwise still basically living in the 90s (like a fair bit of my musical taste...) with a beloved Arcam Delta 290/290P combo at the heart of things (treated the 290 to a full service recently...what a difference and now no noisy input selectors!) and the Linn TT still leading the line (with a couple of recent improvements too, thanks to Audio Origami).

After reading numerous threads on here I decided to take the plunge and join.

 

[Lurch]

Hi and welcome to the madhouse TGS, where abouts in the country are you?
Its worth filling out your profile with real name, location and kit. This makes it easier for peeps to offer assistance should you ask, also clear your diary for the show in October, its a brill day out with 30+ of us nutters dragging our kit from home to show off.

 

[Maverick]

Welcome to the best, most social forum. We are UK based and as John rightly says the show is a MUST for any hifi nUt, Looking like a big one this year, hopefully 40 systems on show and the best craic known to man.

Also bakes off happen all over in between, get along and meet us, we don‘t bite. Mention bringing cake and you’ll be invited. Wammers like cake