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Music systems, hifi, stereo, or whatever you choose to call them
T_C_E
Posts: 16,548
I have all my music stored on a Brennan but want to improve the quality when its played. Any suggestions as to a decent system to play it through?
Decent budget if the kit is reasonable quality and that doesnt include 30k B&O.
Thanks in advance.
Decent budget if the kit is reasonable quality and that doesnt include 30k B&O.
Thanks in advance.
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Comments
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If you're going high end you might want to tailor it towards the type of music you listen to.
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What format/bitrate ru storing your music in?0
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The back of a Brennan has a 3.5mm line out socket.
You can get high quality 3.5mm to twin phono interconnects to hook up to an amp and speakers . The choices out there are huge and there are many combinations to fit any budget from £150 to £15,000.
What is your budget for an amp and speakers? In my experience I find that British speakers and amps are the best.
Have a look at Cyrus for your amp and B+W for your speakers.
Look on e bay. Don't forget to budget for decent speaker cables and stands.0 -
Cheers Gents, I see what you mean PP about the range, 29k for a used B&O system!! Went to Richer Sounds in the end, got amp, CD player and speakers for 800quid. It'll suit my needs.0
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Surprised this thread hasn't been more active over the years; I would like some advice re hi-fi kit and I'm sure a fair few of you will be into this stuff.
I would not remotely call myself an audiophile and my system has aged because it does what I want it to; and now the age has caught up with it
It is
- Creek Evo amp from 2009
- Creek CD player, even older
- Audio Technica turntable, new
- Sonos Connect box,
- Pioneer analogue tuner from about 1989
- KEF Q35/2 speakers, vintage 2001
And the KEF speakers are what's caused the problem. Each one needs some simple cheap replacement, but KEF aren't supplying parts for these anymore. They tried to be helpful and put me in touch with their Dutch reps, but they confirmed, not repairable.
So I need new speakers, will happily make them KEFs but now I'm thinking about the amp, which also does the sound job well but is functionally a bit clunky, even the remote has never really worked. And the Sonos box annoys me, or the app does. So I am thinking about an amp upgrade which might also give me streaming capability so I can get shot of the Sonos box. I would very much like to buy British, and out here it looks like Cambridge Audio, Arcam and Rega are all on the market.
Would therefore appreciate any suggestions about what to go for. According to Perplexity AI the KEF Q750s would be a modern like for like speaker replacement, so the amp would need to match well with them.0 -
Can't advise on specific bits of kit but would advise spending any dosh on source first, amps second, speakers last. If the source can't present it the speakers can't deliver it. Decent interconnects and speaker cables should not be over looked. You could go and have a chat with Sevenoaks hifi or Billy Vee assuming they still have dedicated listening rooms or are even still going (such is the age of my kit !!)1
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The Yamaha RN series are fantastic amps, they come with streaming capabilities, dab, their own apps, have got a couple of them and won't be changing them for a long time.
Have you heard any Q acoustics range of speakers at all? Have a look at some of them if you get a chance, British and pair really well with the Yamahas0 -
Thanks both. I've been reading up on WhatHiFi webpages a bit and realised a couple of things. The KEF Q750s that the AI platform suggested are already 8 years on the market and have been superseded by Q7 Metas, and they are a bit pricey (for me, as an eternal entry-level listener). So I'm definitely interested in alternatives and WhatHiFi certainly love the Q Acoustics range. Aren't they American though, @ads ? The other one they like are Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i . I would like to read a review of them vs the KEFs. I was sad to realise that if I get new KEFs, they will not have been anywhere near Maidstone. My current ones did, I've still got the receipt. Loved explaining to Czech guests what KEF stands for and that they come from Charlton territory
@red10 . Yes, I get it, source is the key. Garbage in, garbage out. My listening habits have of course changed over the years. I started to buy and play vinyl again, and the turntable is new, so that's OK. I don't play CDs much, so my Creek CD player should do fine. The rest of the music in my life is coming from what now looks like a bizarre mix. I have my favourite Prague indie station on a lot- mainly as background - playing through my old analogue tuner. Quality wise the tuner isn't the problem so much as the station's transmitter arrangements. So it would make sense to play it digitally. Then I use the Sonos box and Tidal to stream on demand, and the functionality isn't great. So it seems to me that an amp/streamer combo is a good bet for me.
I'll note the Yamaha tip; but I'd really like to buy British, so last night I was looking at the Cambridge Audio Evo 150. Any thoughts?0 -
Can't really advise on specific HI FI equipment, I use pro audio stuff at home because it's what I have access to (comparatively the prices aren't inflated like "Home Audio" is and the equipment is designed for touring so is bullet proof), Crown power amp, Genelec monitor speakers and sub, Technics turntables, FYI, It's overkill but It's what I know.
Yamaha speakers are very good but some feel they sound a bit harsh, they have a lot of high end detail, but don't go mad and get NS10's!
Don't skimp on output, it's better to be running a loud amp at low volume than a lower output one at full volume, and don't fall for the myths about interconnects and the gold connectors and silver wire its all BS, just get something with oxygen free copper and genuine Neutrik or Amphenol connectors and you'll be fine.2 -
the q acoustics are a chelmsford company, I think. Have got the 3030i in the upstairs room and they are really powerful for bookshelf speakers, have the 3050i floorstanders downstairs and again, theyre brilliant, think theyve updated the models to the 50 range, or concept range now, cant remember.0
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Sponsored links:
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I was quite happy with this bad boy back in the 90's3 -
Loving the retro @Elthamaddick
I didnt mention for a preamp I use, i use a DJ mixer, Turntable on one channel, Audio interface (soundcard) from macbook pro M4 on another, which I use for streaming, anything digital, don't know if you've considered this way @PragueAddick, it could be a versatile way of doing it? plus point is you can then record audio also, from vinyl or whatever.
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Definitely would recommend Q Acoustics speakers (yes, they are British), always found them very good value for money. I currently have their 3000 series speakers (can't remember which ones off the top of my head, think maybe 3020i's) paired with their Q B12 sub. Have the same model audio-technica turntable connected to the amp (Denon) as the pic above from EugenesAxe funnily enough.2
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I bought one of thesehttps://www.bluesound.com/gbr/stereo-components last year. A Bluesound Powernode in white, its a streamer with built in amp. Plenty of umph to power my Acoustic Energy speakers. I've also got an Eversolo streamer which I actually like better as it has a really nice front panel interface. (2 streamers for 2 rooms).
Not that it would be of any interest to anyone but it excites me, yesterday I took delivery of my brand new Emotiva 11 channel power amp. for my AV system. Its an upgrade to my existing receiver which I'll be using as a processor now. It weighs 23kg and has 11 LEDs that change from red to blue, and thats it on the front panel.
I'd like to buy British as our Hi-Fi is real quality but its bloody expensive like most western Hi-Fi it leans to the higher end of the market. The above, ones Canadian, ones Chinese, ones British and the other is American. They are all designed in there respective countries but they are all made in the far east. And I think that goes with all my stuff right down to my Nakamichi banana plugs.1 -
Thanks @charltonkeston your Bluesound Powernode is mentioned by ChatGPT as an alternative to the Cambridge EVO. I'll take a look.
It's sad but inevitable I guess that most of the gear will be made in China (although I read that Wharfedale have returned some of their production home. But I like to think I've bought some British design skills - and there is virtually nothing else I can see in the house that I can say that about...oh, actually the Denby crockery...0 -
Very disappointing to hear about KEFs no longer made here (mine are from 2004 so who knows how long they've got). Are they effectively Chinese, then?
Thought that decentish speakers was one thing you stood a chance of buying British1 -
KEFs have largely been manufactured in China since the mid-90s, except for a handful of expensive top end models. Pretty much all British speaker brands outsourced their manufacturing to China decades ago.0
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Going back to the OP, is a Brennan any good?0
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Hmm, in that case worth bearing in mind that like mine they are regarded as "legacy" and no longer support them with spares. What I needed are so mundane, and don't actually affect the sound. but they just couldn't supply the replacements. Hopefully yours continue to function just fine.redlanered said:Very disappointing to hear about KEFs no longer made here (mine are from 2004 so who knows how long they've got). Are they effectively Chinese, then?
Thought that decentish speakers was one thing you stood a chance of buying British
The KEF Wiki page asserts that "KEF continues to develop and manufacture its products in Maidstone." however the page carries Wiki warnings. The preceding sentence is more relevant :" In 1992, the Hong Kong–based Gold Peak Group acquired KEF; and GP Acoustics, a member of Gold Peak, became the owner of the company"- long before you and I bought our speakers, which was a bit hard for me to stomach when i first read that. But if they really do still have a presence in Maidstone, that's something, I suppose. And I'm pretty sure that most of the German brand gear in my house that I put so much faith in, have also actually been put together in the Far East.0 -
Apropos achieving surround sound2 -
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I Had the old JB7 i brought new , i had no end of issues with , corrupt hard drive , skipping tracks when ripping , then finally it all gave up , error code . 900 Albums on that hard drive , gone cannot be retrieved . Not sure what the new units are like .iainment said:Going back to the OP, is a Brennan any good?0 -
If you work in Dixons you must know what Apropos meansPelling1993 said:
Apropos achieving surround sound1 -
Sadly, Denby have just appointed Administrators. So two hundred years of history on the brink...PragueAddick said:Thanks @charltonkeston your Bluesound Powernode is mentioned by ChatGPT as an alternative to the Cambridge EVO. I'll take a look.
It's sad but inevitable I guess that most of the gear will be made in China (although I read that Wharfedale have returned some of their production home. But I like to think I've bought some British design skills - and there is virtually nothing else I can see in the house that I can say that about...oh, actually the Denby crockery...
(I'm no help on the music - all I know is that the system in the house is about 1150w down on the system in the car. lol)1 -
Peak or RMS tho? peak is just numbers used for marketing.cafcfan said:
Sadly, Denby have just appointed Administrators. So two hundred years of history on the brink...PragueAddick said:Thanks @charltonkeston your Bluesound Powernode is mentioned by ChatGPT as an alternative to the Cambridge EVO. I'll take a look.
It's sad but inevitable I guess that most of the gear will be made in China (although I read that Wharfedale have returned some of their production home. But I like to think I've bought some British design skills - and there is virtually nothing else I can see in the house that I can say that about...oh, actually the Denby crockery...
(I'm no help on the music - all I know is that the system in the house is about 1150w down on the system in the car. lol)0 -
PragueAddick, have you ever considered making your own? If you go down that route you get exactly the quality sound you are looking for. Nice hobby to do if you like that sort of thing.PragueAddick said:
Hmm, in that case worth bearing in mind that like mine they are regarded as "legacy" and no longer support them with spares. What I needed are so mundane, and don't actually affect the sound. but they just couldn't supply the replacements. Hopefully yours continue to function just fine.redlanered said:Very disappointing to hear about KEFs no longer made here (mine are from 2004 so who knows how long they've got). Are they effectively Chinese, then?
Thought that decentish speakers was one thing you stood a chance of buying British
The KEF Wiki page asserts that "KEF continues to develop and manufacture its products in Maidstone." however the page carries Wiki warnings. The preceding sentence is more relevant :" In 1992, the Hong Kong–based Gold Peak Group acquired KEF; and GP Acoustics, a member of Gold Peak, became the owner of the company"- long before you and I bought our speakers, which was a bit hard for me to stomach when i first read that. But if they really do still have a presence in Maidstone, that's something, I suppose. And I'm pretty sure that most of the German brand gear in my house that I put so much faith in, have also actually been put together in the Far East.
Obviously we all have different abilities and its the cabinets you will always be looking at rather than listening to, its the finish on them thats as much as important as the sound. So may be if your DIY skills are up to making box you would find it quite easy. There is a mass of these kits and designs out there on the web. You can spec better quality components i.e. drives, crossovers box construction. One of my colleagues had a pair of Rogers and he said he was so disappointed when he looked inside. Manufacturers have to meet a price point but DIYers don't, its absolutely shocking the crap parts manufacturers use with the exception of the likes of ATC at that end of the market. The floor standers behind my effort cost me about £1500 10 years ago, the price was mostly in the looks I think.
Below is one of a pair of speakers I made for my sons computer, (I also made a matching sub). The veneer was a bit of a mistake, Zebrano, a bit too busy but I had a few leaves. The drives are Fostex also the tweeters. I used Mundorf components for the crossovers, (I can't do neat wiring), with an attenuator from somewhere for a bit of adjustment. I also made grills which are held on with magnets hidden under the veneer.
They sound better than decent but I admit are not exactly lookers. If they were for myself I would have made a better choice veneer and possibly put rads on the edges. But they were just for my son to have in his office and he's happy with them.
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