First time system - advice please :)

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syva

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Hey hey,

I made a similar post earlier this year but never got around to finally purchasing anything. However, i'm now thinking of getting myself a christmas present :)

I'm looking to create my first system involving a pair of bookshelf speakers, integrated amp and a single cd player. The system is for a bedroom (floor plan below post [ http://www.andrewdust.com/room.png ] ) and my budget is around £1000.

After doing some reading and research I've come up with this potential setup:

Speakers: Epos M12i | Amp: Marantz PM7001 | CD Player: Marantz CD6002

I also considered B&W 685 speakers and Rotel RA-04 amp.

What do you guys think? Any blatant problems, better suggestions, etc. Should I be spending more or less money on one particular component at the expense of another? Other than speaker cables and stands, are there any other vital accessories I will need to purchase?

Merry Christmas,
Andy.

room.png
 
Andy, personally, you have an excellent budget to get yourself an excellent sounding system. There are a few decisions that will help you find the ideal set up:

1. Do you want an all in one amp i.e. intergrated or would you be happy to consider a pre/psu/power set up

2. Do you have any preference of floorstanders or bookshelf, as you only mentioned bookshelf in yor thread. Your rooms looks like it coudl easily accomodate floor standers.

3. Do you have a good hifi dealer close to you.

4. Would you buy 2nd hand, or do you want new only?

5. Are you prepared to do some furniture moving within your room. Thinking that the bed could go in the opposite corner and give you an excellent symetrical room to house your equipment and speakers.

6. Spend lots of time demoing equipment first, before you spend any of your money.


You may want to try and keep a quarter to a third of your budget on stands, racks, interconnects, spike shoes etc etc. This will make a huge difference, as spending your money on equipment with no decent interconnects, will leave you fuming and IMHO a waste of time.

Some gear to experiment with would be:

Exposure Amps

New Nad C315bbe, excellent intergrated amp.

Rogers speakers

Monitor audio

Rotel

Naim

Linn


Remember that all the advice you receive here, is only superficial as it will be your ears that have the final say in regards to what you do and do ot like.


Hope it has helped and finally I would definatelt take the 2nd hand option, you get soooooooo much more for your money.
 
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Hi +welcome.

If it was me.....

I would have the speakers firing down the room from the right.

I would move the chest in the corner...over to the left.....give more room for the speakers.

A couple of extra thoughts you may or may not have thought of


1) try to get spiked stands and get the spikes through the carpet to whatever is underneath. It doesn't harm the carpet.

2) try to get your kit housed onto a purpose built rack......yes they can be dear......or make one yourself for (far) less.

3) I don't know the kit but it looks ok.

Decide if yoiu want a squeeze box or cd player.

For me, there is so much good stuff 2nd hand there is really no need for a squeeze box....I have no issue with changing a cd and you can only play one at a time anyway. That just me though, you decide.

4) TRY different cables.

See what you think.

This is a contentious subject with some swearing blind they can't/don't do anything.

Some (eg me )say they do.



Hope this helps



David
 
The equipment you mention sounds a good choice....epos speakers have a lot of supporters.

+marantz do good players which are very tweakable, if you want to go down that avenue.

I have taken a punt on second hand equipment ( without listening first) many a time and its usually come off well. listenon good too though.

If it was me i'd avoid N**m.

Been there done that.





"You may want to try and keep a quarter to a third of your budget on stands, racks, interconnects, spike shoes etc etc. This will make a huge difference, as spending your money on equipment with no decent interconnects, will leave you fuming and IMHO a waste of time."



I'm glad some one else said this not me.
 
If it was me... I would never buy new. Mainstream speakers, amps and CDPs are quite reliable, and ebay offers a great range within this price, you just need to decide what to buy and have some patience. A used newish Rega CDP, an older classic Exposure integrated like Super XX and a pair of compact 2 way speakers - from Neat to Epos to Rega plus some simple cables would make a cracking system. Spending 1,000 on a new equipment you will end up with some way too prosaic staff. And the moment you will have switched it on it all becomes used anyway. And a lesser quality used. Think about it. Just go for a very good condition used staff. My advice anyway. I know it is a bit difficult for a beginner, who always prefers "safer" new stuff. But it becomes much easier with years :-)
Do not subscribe to the theory of the huge importance of interconnects, mains cables and support. It will all become more important when you climb up the ladder. With a 1,000 system simple things such as the positioning of your speakers is much more important than interconnects and supports and racks and platforms... Any solid wooden furniture would make a good rack for a start. Just invest most of your money in the highest quality components you can find, provided they match well. You will have plenty of time then to decide whether you weant to listen to the music - then you are a happy bunny. Or to your hi-fi. In which case you are welcome back here, where you will learn it all about cables, cones, spikes, separates, magic pencils, silver solder and Black Gates to the road to Audio Heaven :-)

Having said that... mmm.. do try different cables :-)
 
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Nomoretweaks said:
If it was me... I would never buy new. Mainstream speakers, amps and CDPs are quite reliable, and ebay offers a great range within this price, you just need to decide what to buy and have some patience. A used newish Rega CDP, an older classic Exposure integrated like Super XX and a pair of compact 2 way speakers - from Neat to Epos to Rega plus some simple cables would make a cracking system. Spending 1,000 on a new equipment you will end up with some way too prosaic staff. And the moment you will have switched it on it all becomes used anyway. And a lesser quality used. Think about it. Just go for a very good condition used staff. My advice anyway. I know it is a bit difficult for a beginner, who always prefers "safer" new stuff. But it becomes much easier with years :-)
Do not subscribe to the theory of the huge importance of interconnects, mains cables and support. It will all become more important when you climb up the ladder. With a 1,000 system simple things such as the positioning of your speakers is much more important than interconnects and supports and racks and platforms... Any solid wooden furniture would make a good rack for a start. Just invest most of your money in the highest quality components you can find, provided they match well. You will have plenty of time then to decide whether you weant to listen to the music - then you are a happy bunny. Or to your hi-fi. In which case you are welcome back here, where you will learn it all about cables, cones, spikes, separates, magic pencils, silver solder and Black Gates to the road to Audio Heaven :-)

Having said that... mmm.. do try different cables :-)
Click to expand...



I think thats the point here.

Try stuff see what you think.

Cones /spikes come under the heading of suject known as vibration magement.....or microphany (yes i always forget how to spell it...someone will tell me)

A fascinating subject if physics interests you....and an enormous one....with enormous sonic potential (imo).

AS NMT says egt your speaker set up right, initially; then I woiuld certainly devote attention to equip supports (if it was me).
 
If I may add, someone on here was selling an Exposure CD player for not a lot, check the classifieds.

That would form the basis of any 'damn fine system'
 
Levi_501 said:
If I may add, someone on here was selling an Exposure CD player for not a lot, check the classifieds.

That would form the basis of any 'damn fine system'
Click to expand...

Yes, and to make it more confusing - Exposure CDPs are surprisingly VERY GOOD transports for you future hi-end DAC. :MILD: They must have done its digital output really well. A rare feast for a conventional CDP.
 
Syva..

for £1000, double or triple your listening pleasure by buying from the *used* market, find a dealer (or two) near you that sells such items and spend some time listening to different setups. Having a good selection of hifi mags (through the years) is also helpful, reviews, pricing etc will give you some idea of what and what not to look for, though be careful, it's a black art where favoritism and free gifts can take the ear to a different level, though a quick net search or better still, your *own* ear will sort the wheat from the chaff, your own ear being the true test and not a Generalization... :)

Good Luck.
 
Levi_501 said:
If I may add, someone on here was selling an Exposure CD player for not a lot, check the classifieds.

That would form the basis of any 'damn fine system'
Click to expand...


I think youi'd be alright with the exposure amp.

I heared+read good things about it.
 
Spicas right...it is a black art, no question about it.

Keep an eye on e bay....see whats around.

Don't forget if you take a punt on something....and you don't like.......stick it back on again.

Have you had a look at the audio review forum?

Agreed try to get to hear a few systems.
 
Just wondering, syva, how your getting on?

you've has a few responses to your enquiry and as usual, there has been a degree of difference of opinion.

Are you completely confused or ahve some ideas?
 
An excellent way to get a good hifi for cheap is to look into stolen goods. I've found that befriending local teenagers who have a clear drug addiction to be the best source.

It might also be wise to research which members on here have decent kit and then get their addresses under some disguise of wanting to demo their system. After this pass it onto the thieves and you'll be enjoying a nice system in no time.
 
ShinOBIWAN said:
An excellent way to get a good hifi for cheap is to look into stolen goods. I've found that befriending local teenagers who have a clear drug addiction to be the best source.

It might also be wise to research which members on here have decent kit and then get their addresses under some disguise of wanting to demo their system. After this pass it onto the thieves and you'll be enjoying a nice system in no time.
Click to expand...

I don't know if this is meant to be a joke but as a victim of burglary, I don't find anything remotely funny about this post.:(

I realise that this is one of the potential dangers of hosting a bake off.
 
Dev said:
I don't know if this is meant to be a joke but as a victim of burglary, I don't find anything remotely funny about this post.:(

I realise that this is one of the potential dangers of hosting a bake off.
Click to expand...

Meant as a joke for sure. I was inwardly smiling at the time of typing it but I can see how its like someone poking an open wound.

Poor taste, I understand.
 
hey, just how I'd go about it myself -

If you're a CD only man, why not rip it all onto the hard-drive of a PC, and then use that as your source?

Your 1k only has to be split 2 ways now, meaning a better amp and better speakers.

..or you could buy a 1k pair of active speakers (with amps in)
 

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