Home audio - can ONE thing do what I'd like?

[annedonnelly]

I've never spent a lot of money on audio equipment. I don't think my hearing is so good that I can recognise good quality sound. However, I'd sooner buy a quality product if it's going to last longer than a cheap one.

If I'm at home there's music on from before I get up until I go to bed. Mainly radio but some CDs. I'm not interested in listening on the move or via headphones. I'm happy to buy CDs and not particularly interested in downloading or streaming music.

I have a mini Sony system with radio and 5 CD-changer. I like the facility to play CDs one after the other. I've a separate DAB radio because the Sony pre-dates DAB.

I'm happy with what I have except there are a couple of things I'd occasionally like to do:

* If I miss a radio program I'd sometimes like to listen to it later. I know I can do this on iplayer via my laptop but I've never bothered with that.

* Sometimes it would be nice to listen to music from my CDs in a more random fashion. I can do this on my phone but I don't want to listen on my phone.

I know that the latest systems let you link phones, tablets, etc. via Bluetooth, WiFi, and so on. But I don't want to do that. I don't like having lots of electrical gadgets lying around. I'd simply like one thing in the corner of the room. Preferably something that doesn't look like it should be on the flight deck of a spaceship.

Looking online there are lots of abbreviations that I don't understand and visiting a specialist shop is pretty daunting!

So, is there likely to be one thing that would do what I have currently - listen to FM/DAB radio, listen to multiple CDs - plus shuffle CDs tracks and listen again to radio programmes I've missed? I don't mind spending some time copying CDs onto a hard drive if that's what I need to do.

I know I sound like a dinosaur not wanting to embrace the latest technology but that's just the way I am

 

[swee'pea99]

 

[annedonnelly]

I'm not quite THAT much of a dinosaur @swee'pea99

 

[Fnaar]

I have a cheap bluetooth receiver plugged into my mini system ('line in' socket) and I just bluetooth radio or music (spotify) from my phone. Works a treat. the receiver was under a tenner.

 

[raleighnut]

Maybe one of these would fit the bill.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...co.uk/&usg=AFQjCNHOgEZ-cKropUyY3Xxr7qW919yRrw

 

[marcusjb]

If you are happy using your phone*, then this is often the best and easiest way to select and control what you are listening to.

As above, you can then use a bluetooth receiver, or something on your wireless network like an Apple Airport Express or Google Chromecast Audio linked into your existing system.

*this is on the assumption that you have a smartphone of some flavour!

 

[raleighnut]

[QUOTE 4039065, member: 259"]I didn't know those Brennan things could do lossless ripping, that's interesting. No Spotify Connect though, which would have been very good.[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't swap my HiFi for one (although it takes up most of one wall ) but for the features @annedonnelly asked for it seems to fit the bill.
Maybe the Dongle/internet connection would allow it to stream though.

 

[Markymark]

Pretty much anything that does more than play CDs will be controlled via phone/tablet etc.

Having control of podcast will require screens, keyboards etc. massively easier cheaper and nicer to control from your phone than have it in a box in the corner of the room.

 

[Over The Hill]

I would just like a radio that had a nice friendly presenter and some pleasant music in the morning.
Radio 2 has Chris Evans shouting like a hyperactive toddler every morning.
I only have the choice of two local commercial stations, each playing the same three adverts every 15 minutes.

Even on ipad I cannot find anything.

 

[jamin100]

I can do what your asking with a few gadgets...

1. All my CDs are stored on my computer in iTunes and this allows me to shuffle through all the songs randomly or create my own playlists

2. I have apple TVs (small black boxes) around the house where I can play the CDs back through either the TVs or the Bose soundbars attached to them

3. I have a Bose Bluetooth speaker that I can stream said CDs too from the computer via my phone. This is quite small and can go anywhere in the house

4. Radio can be streamed from the web to any of the above devices

5. All of the above can be streamed or controlled from my phone anywhere in the house.

It's a system that works very well but know it's not for everyone. I'm heavily invested in the apple ecosystem as between 5 of us there are 14 apple devices in the house.

 

[Markymark]

I would just like a radio that had a nice friendly presenter and some pleasant music in the morning.
Radio 2 has Chris Evans shouting like a hyperactive toddler every morning.
I only have the choice of two local commercial stations, each playing the same three adverts every 15 minutes.

Even on ipad I cannot find anything.

Spotify.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Check out fabbers recent budget hi-fi thread, might be something of interest in there, especially the orange Yamaha system what I buyed.

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/budget-hi-fi-question.190919/post-4026541

 

[threebikesmcginty]

[QUOTE 4040045, member: 259"]I've just realised it wasn't actually a joke [/QUOTE]

It's a feckin beaut.

 

[Houthakker]

I recently bought a Yamaha mini system from Richer sounds to replace my Sony where the CD player was skipping. DAB+ radio and CD player. Its only a single CD but has a USB port so you could stick all your cd's on that and use the random play function.Well chuffed with it so far, good quality sound.

 

[annedonnelly]

Thanks everyone. It looks like the Brennan thing would store lots of CDs but @Houthakker's Yamaha might be close to what I want. I'll take a look.