Hello group,

I have begun taking an interest in audio equipment after years of pottering
along with my cheap 'n cheerful Aiwa hi-fi. I'm now looking to replace but
am confused by so many choices/opinions/functions on audio equipment. I
have a few questions for the group if you dont mind, beginning with:

After browsing through Argos to get a feel for what's available, prices etc.
I see that some systems appear to consist of seperate units. Are these true
seperates in the sense that you could connect these to other audio seperates
or add new equipment to these systems for future upgrades?

Examples of what I'm talking about are the Goodmans1980 & TechnicsSCHD350
models.

TIA.

Richard Blackwood wrote:

Hello group,

I have begun taking an interest in audio equipment after years of pottering
along with my cheap 'n cheerful Aiwa hi-fi. I'm now looking to replace but
am confused by so many choices/opinions/functions on audio equipment. I
have a few questions for the group if you dont mind, beginning with:

After browsing through Argos to get a feel for what's available, prices etc.
I see that some systems appear to consist of seperate units. Are these true
seperates in the sense that you could connect these to other audio seperates
or add new equipment to these systems for future upgrades?

Examples of what I'm talking about are the Goodmans1980 & TechnicsSCHD350
models.

If you want Hi-Fi, forget Goodmans, that's really low level budget
stuff.

Technics is good though, and is my favourite brand.

Forget Argos too, they sell mostly comercialised cheapy stuff. Try
looking at Richer Sounds first, they are great for beginners, and are
happy to advise you well (IME).

They do some good bargains too. I got a Yamaha 5x60w surround reciever a
couple of years ago at half price.

If you want some well made hi-fi for a good price, have a good look at
the Cambridge stuff, a nicer sounding amplifier you will not hear for
the money. For speakers, look for the JPW's, I have a pair of Sonatas,
and it'd take a lot more expense to get a better sound.

This is of course looking at the low end of hi-fi. If you stated your
budget levels it would help more.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Civic 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

"Andy Hewitt" wrote in message
t...
Richard Blackwood wrote:

Hello group,

I have begun taking an interest in audio equipment after years of
pottering
along with my cheap 'n cheerful Aiwa hi-fi. I'm now looking to replace
but
am confused by so many choices/opinions/functions on audio equipment. I
have a few questions for the group if you dont mind, beginning with:

After browsing through Argos to get a feel for what's available, prices
etc.
I see that some systems appear to consist of seperate units. Are these
true
seperates in the sense that you could connect these to other audio
seperates
or add new equipment to these systems for future upgrades?

Examples of what I'm talking about are the Goodmans1980 &
TechnicsSCHD350
models.

If you want Hi-Fi, forget Goodmans, that's really low level budget
stuff.

Technics is good though, and is my favourite brand.

Forget Argos too, they sell mostly comercialised cheapy stuff. Try
looking at Richer Sounds first, they are great for beginners, and are
happy to advise you well (IME).

They do some good bargains too. I got a Yamaha 5x60w surround reciever a
couple of years ago at half price.

If you want some well made hi-fi for a good price, have a good look at
the Cambridge stuff, a nicer sounding amplifier you will not hear for
the money. For speakers, look for the JPW's, I have a pair of Sonatas,
and it'd take a lot more expense to get a better sound.

This is of course looking at the low end of hi-fi. If you stated your
budget levels it would help more.

Thanks Andy,

I am not quite sure what will be 'enough' for me. I think £150 as a start
point, which would get me the Goodmans for example - 130watts, MP3, 5
speakers, 5.1 dolby digital decoder....I had considered that this might be
alright but would consider up to £400 if pushed.

There is so much info to wade through before making a decision!

Richard Blackwood wrote:

Snipped Text
This is of course looking at the low end of hi-fi. If you stated your
budget levels it would help more.

Thanks Andy,

I am not quite sure what will be 'enough' for me. I think £150 as a start
point, which would get me the Goodmans for example - 130watts, MP3, 5
speakers, 5.1 dolby digital decoder....I had considered that this might be
alright but would consider up to £400 if pushed.

There is so much info to wade through before making a decision!

There is indeed, and you'll get a lot of conflicting advice, and some
personal opinions.

Personally, I'd stick with the Aiwa rather than waste your money on the
Goodmans kit, it really is cheap and nasty stuff.

Maybet have a look on eBay for some second hand proper hi-fi. You'll
find loads of NAD amplifiers cheap, which would make a very good
starting point.

Go to www.richersounds.co.uk. On the first page of bargains you can make
a pretty good system for £260 - there's a Sony AV receiver, a Marantz CD
player and a pair of Mission speakers. Hard to go wrong there really.

There's a full Cambridge starter system for £200, and a Sony home cinema
system for £280 in their prepackaged systems.

Have a good browse around in each sub-section too. There's lots of
choice there, good brand names - a Denon Amplifer at £99, a Cambridge CD
player for £70, and Mordaunt-Short speakers at £100.

All of this stuff is considered hi-fi, and will get you a good leg up in
the hi-fi market.

I'd go to a store though and have a good talk to the staff, I always
found them helpful and knowledgeable. They won't try to flog you what
you don't need either.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Civic 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

"Andy Hewitt" wrote in message
news:1gjwyw0.15slh6f1hkwcsiN%

Go to www.richersounds.co.uk. On the first page of bargains you can make
a pretty good system for £260 - there's a Sony AV receiver, a Marantz CD
player and a pair of Mission speakers. Hard to go wrong there really.


Years ago (1981 I think) Richer Sounds had just one store somewhere near
Waterloo Station if memory serves me correctly. I bought a Toshiba power amp
(to use with a Quad 33 pre amp), a pair of LS3/5a lookalike speakers and an
Aiwa tuner at what was then a good price. A little later I added one of the
first Marantz CD players, the top loading gold coloured one, and that system
served me well for quite a long time. I have just looked at the web site and
am amazed at how the company has grown!

D.

Dersu wrote:

"Andy Hewitt" wrote in message
news:1gjwyw0.15slh6f1hkwcsiN%

Go to www.richersounds.co.uk. On the first page of bargains you can make
a pretty good system for £260 - there's a Sony AV receiver, a Marantz CD
player and a pair of Mission speakers. Hard to go wrong there really.


Years ago (1981 I think) Richer Sounds had just one store somewhere near
Waterloo Station if memory serves me correctly. I bought a Toshiba power amp
(to use with a Quad 33 pre amp), a pair of LS3/5a lookalike speakers and an
Aiwa tuner at what was then a good price. A little later I added one of the
first Marantz CD players, the top loading gold coloured one, and that system
served me well for quite a long time. I have just looked at the web site and
am amazed at how the company has grown!

Yes, I've been lucky enough to have lived in Hertfordshire until,
recently, and on the doorstep of the Watford branch. I have never been
anything less than impressed with their service.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Civic 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

Dersu wrote:
"Andy Hewitt" wrote in message
news:1gjwyw0.15slh6f1hkwcsiN%

Go to www.richersounds.co.uk. On the first page of bargains you can make
a pretty good system for £260 - there's a Sony AV receiver, a Marantz CD
player and a pair of Mission speakers. Hard to go wrong there really.



Years ago (1981 I think) Richer Sounds had just one store somewhere near
Waterloo Station if memory serves me correctly. I bought a Toshiba power amp
(to use with a Quad 33 pre amp), a pair of LS3/5a lookalike speakers and an
Aiwa tuner at what was then a good price. A little later I added one of the
first Marantz CD players, the top loading gold coloured one, and that system
served me well for quite a long time. I have just looked at the web site and
am amazed at how the company has grown!

D.



I bought a Cambridge amp and Mission speakers from them for a total of
£150 and they sound superb IMHO.

Ian

On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 09:13:38 +1200, "Dersu"
wrote:


"Andy Hewitt" wrote in message
news:1gjwyw0.15slh6f1hkwcsiN%

Go to www.richersounds.co.uk. On the first page of bargains you can make
a pretty good system for £260 - there's a Sony AV receiver, a Marantz CD
player and a pair of Mission speakers. Hard to go wrong there really.


Years ago (1981 I think) Richer Sounds had just one store somewhere near
Waterloo Station if memory serves me correctly. I bought a Toshiba power amp
(to use with a Quad 33 pre amp), a pair of LS3/5a lookalike speakers and an
Aiwa tuner at what was then a good price. A little later I added one of the
first Marantz CD players, the top loading gold coloured one, and that system
served me well for quite a long time. I have just looked at the web site and
am amazed at how the company has grown!

Interesting coincidence. About the same time, I had a Quad 33/303, the
superb Aiwa AT9700 tuner, and the same Marantz CD-63!
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Andy Hewitt wrote:
If you want some well made hi-fi for a good price, have a good look at
the Cambridge stuff, a nicer sounding amplifier you will not hear for
the money. For speakers, look for the JPW's, I have a pair of Sonatas,
and it'd take a lot more expense to get a better sound.

As an entry level amplifier, I'd go for the latest rendition of the PMA-250
over an A1 Mk3. My PMA-250SE drives a pair of Sony SS86 in the computer
room. The rest of the stack in here is a TU-260 Mk 2, a DCD-655 (which is
seldom used), a VideoLogic DRX-601E DAB tuner, and a PC with an Echo Gina
sound card.

It's also advisable to keep an eye out on eBay -- you can occasionally get a
quality set of components for a hundred pounds or so.

--
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