Any HI-FI Buffs on here ?? I need some advice.

[Dave7]

I have what was a reasonably good "separates" system. Its Techniques and is perhaps 20 years old (it was one of their better ones at the time).
I have an amplifier, tuner, CD player and record deck
My speakers are Heybrook HB1's and would (I am told) cost a lot to get as good nowadays.
The amplifier is on the way out........can't get it repaired.
The CD player is also giving some problems.
Physically it is a BIG system
As an old fart I don't go for too much new technology but I am informed that what people tend to do now is........
stream music to a device and play it through those blue tooth speakers (don't know the name).
My questions are................
1) if I go for the streaming & blue tooth speakers thingies.........can I get a really good sound ?
2) How would I play my CDs & vinyls ?
3) Can I get a new compact system that is GOOD (I don't want a cheap tinny sound.
Any other thoughts from those 'in the know' would be appreciated.

 

[Oldfentiger]

I don't feel qualified to answer your question, however I used to be a hifi enthusiast.
I spent rather too much building my system, until realisation dawned that I was listening to my system rather than listening to music.

Nowadays as a hearing aid user, spending anything more than a few quid on music playing kit seems a bit of a waste.

Pardon?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Get some decent separates, doesn't have to cost a fortune, check Richer Sounds or similar, get a pro-ject turntable, they're inexpensive and sound great. Forget all that bluetooth streaming nonsense, it's for kids.

 

[John the Monkey]

Get some decent separates, doesn't have to cost a fortune, check Richer Sounds or similar, get a pro-ject turntable, they're inexpensive and sound great. Forget all that bluetooth streaming nonsense, it's for kids.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

You know...

 

[stephec]

Where's that Not the Nine O'clock News sketch when you need it?

 

[Markymark]

Where's that Not the Nine O'clock News sketch when you need it?

On a VHS tape in the attic.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

On a VHS tape in the attic.

Betamax.

 

[Dave7]

I don't feel qualified to answer your question, however I used to be a hifi enthusiast.
I spent rather too much building my system, until realisation dawned that I was listening to my system rather than listening to music.

Nowadays as a hearing aid user, spending anything more than a few quid on music playing kit seems a bit of a waste.

Pardon?

There is a lot of truth in those statements. I also use a hearing aid (occasionally) so do not need top quality HIFI

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I have what was a reasonably good "separates" system. Its Techniques and is perhaps 20 years old (it was one of their better ones at the time).
I have an amplifier, tuner, CD player and record deck
My speakers are Heybrook HB1's and would (I am told) cost a lot to get as good nowadays.
The amplifier is on the way out........can't get it repaired.
The CD player is also giving some problems.
Physically it is a BIG system
As an old fart I don't go for too much new technology but I am informed that what people tend to do now is........
stream music to a device and play it through those blue tooth speakers (don't know the name).
My questions are................
1) if I go for the streaming & blue tooth speakers thingies.........can I get a really good sound ?
2) How would I play my CDs & vinyls ?
3) Can I get a new compact system that is GOOD (I don't want a cheap tinny sound.
Any other thoughts from those 'in the know' would be appreciated.

About 4 years ago I went from my HiFi which was an Arcam Alpha 7 Amp with a Marantz Special Edition CD player and B&W DM601 S1 Spreakers which are all around 17 - 20 years old to a small Denon all in one amp (M38 from Richer Sounds) with cd & DAB Radio coupled with my B&W speakers, then I ripped all my CD's to MP3 & put them on a NAS drive so I could stream them, but last year I decided I just like the sound of my HiFi and CD's much better. So got I it back out of the loft, but then I decided I wanted digital inputs & the option to stream from my phone or PC to the HiFi if I wanted to & the Arcam has no digital or bluetooth inputs so I booked the demo room at Richer Sounds for a couple of hours and took my speakers along and tried out a few amps. In the end went for a Cambridge CXA60 amp that also has digital inputs & a bluetooth input & now I am happy with it all. I also picked up a newer pair of B&W's from ebay and although they were nice I just prefer my 20 year old B&W DM601 S1 speakers so I sold newer ones on and I have stuck with the old ones. I also have a Dual record deck but I haven't used it in 20 years maybe I will drag that out of the loft one day.

 

[Bazzer]

A chap I used to work with enjoyed his music and loved his Sonos.
I thought about that route a couple of years ago but decided to stick with upgrading what was an old system. Marantz amp, Marantz CD player, Dali speakers and Project turntable. Also have an old but fine fettle Nakamichi tape deck. Allows me to play all the media I have. Amp also gives me flexibility to expand to downloads if necessary.
I went to Richer Sounds. Staff there very helpful and their sound room was really useful.

 

[raleighnut]

Depends on how much you want to spend, IMO separates will always sound better than a 'compact.system' so I'd look at replacing the Amp and CD.
You either need an amp with a phono input or a 'phono to line' box for the turntable to work but that's about it.
I'd keep the Heybrooks as well unless they're getting a bit 'tired'.

 

[swee'pea99]

You have by all accounts a classic pair of speakers. That's a damn good place to start!

Ebay is your friend. Hifi is exactly the kind of thing you can get for silly low prices - people are always upgrading. If you wanted to keep it simple, you could guarantee yourself excellent sound with something like this - and that's your CDs sorted too. If you want to play your records, life gets a little more complicated - you'd need an amp with phono inputs, and good turntables/cartridges are trickier to find than amps - but worth the effort, IMHO, if you're seriously into listening to music.

Ebay, Google, patience. But yes, you can get great sound for not too much money, if you do your homework.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Arcam Alpha 7 Amp

Snap

 

[raleighnut]

About 4 years ago I went from my HiFi which was an Arcam Alpha 7 Amp with a Marantz Special Edition CD player and B&W DM601 S1 Spreakers which are all around 17 - 20 years old to a small Denon all in one amp (M38 from Richer Sounds) with cd & DAB Radio coupled with my B&W speakers, then I ripped all my CD's to MP3 & put them on a NAS drive so I could stream them, but last year I decided I just like the sound of my HiFi and CD's much better. So got I it back out of the loft, but then I decided I wanted digital inputs & the option to stream from my phone or PC to the HiFi if I wanted to & the Arcam has no digital or bluetooth inputs so I booked the demo room at Richer Sounds for a couple of hours and took my speakers along and tried out a few amps. In the end went for a Cambridge CXA60 amp that also has digital inputs & a bluetooth input & now I am happy with it all. I also picked up a newer pair of B&W's from ebay and although they were nice I just prefer my 20 year old B&W DM601 S1 speakers so I sold newer ones on and I have stuck with the old ones. I also have a Dual record deck but I haven't used it in 20 years maybe I will drag that out of the loft one day.

I'd have added a DAC and stuck with the Arcam.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/dacs/cambridge-audio/dacmagic-100/camb-dac-mag-100-blk