MG Lewis wrote:

With around £200 budget I've been thinking of buying a new hi-fi
system like a Sony or Panasonic or going to richer sounds and trying
to pick up some bargain seperates from their Trade Counter section.

I keep hearing that seperates invariably offer better quality and it's
tempting to build up a system as and when I could afford to improve
it. However, I've read online somewhere that CD technology has
improved in the last couple of years for example, and perhaps other
aspects have too (amps and so on) and am now wondering whether a new
hi-fi system would sound just as good as seperates that may be several
years old in design.

I'd appreciate peoples thoughts and opinions on the old seperates v
new system choice.

You can't even get a decent new pair of speakers for £200.

I have a very nice pair of Rogers speakers from "Cash Converters"
and have seen some decent CD players and amps there.
eBay can also have some bargains.

Within your budget, all CD players and amps will sound the same
and the speakers will make the difference.

If you are in the Midlands, I have a pair of Mordaunt-Short MS3.40's
with stands you can have for 50 quid.
(Never been thrashed, full service history.)

--
Eiron.