David Lock

We have moved recently and our old and trusty Sony system is just too big to use in a smallish lounge. So I want to spend up to £200 max on a basic music system that is not too big but does sound reasonable. Not after anything fancy I just need a CD player (multi disc preferred) and a facility to plug a deck in. Don't really need a radio (no DAB where we are are) and not fussed about a tape deck. Need a headphone jack connection.

I did buy one of those mini things some while back but was disappointed with the sound quality, perhaps speaker design has improved? A couple of glasses of wine and I do like to stick on Widor's Toccata at a decent volume which is a good test for any system, especially the base

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKejfYzB3ak

Suggestions?

Cheers, d

Myles

iTrader: (40)

Denon do very good mini systems, and will probably change your mind on them!!

Jamz3k

If you already have speakers, go for the Denon DM38DAB, without a doubt the best £200 you can spend on a microsystem.

David Lock

Thanks guys - I'll have a look at the Denon stuff then. Thing is my cuurent old speakers are a bit on the roomy size as well so will have to get some smaller ones. But I equate small speakers with poor sound quality but perhaps I am wrong about this with modern speakers? d

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Wrong to a point; Small speaker shouldn't be low quality. But what they tend to be is thin on bass and deep vocals. Requiring subwoofers to boost the low frequencies.

Biggest issue with subs is getting them to integrate in the room properly due to its positioning and boundry loading effects. In some rooms it'll work well, some it won't.

I'm not a fan of small mini bookshelf speakers, this was reinforced when I recently bought a Tanoy HTS101 system for the telly and people on AV forums were bragging how good they were when using just two of them for audio music with one person being 'blown away' by them....I disagreed on that claim. Good, but no substitute for a proper set of floorstanders.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Before getting some proper speakers I used a a pair of Kef KHT2005's on stands...

dunx

P.S. XQ20's now, WoW !

David Lock

Thanks Ali, that's largely my thinking too. I guess I'll have to compromise and get a pair of slightly smaller floor standing ones. Trouble is I'm out in the stick and difficult to get to a recent audio shop. Having said that the appliance shop in my village has a second hand Aiwa unit and I have been pleased with an Aiwa I had before so I might chance my arm.

I was chatting to a builder who siad you could now get speakers that were somehow installed hidden behind plasterboard on the walls. So what's that all about?

d

Jamz3k

David, if you can use your speakers along with the likes of the Denon in the meantime and possiblely upgrade the speakers at a later date, I would consider both these speakers.

Monitor Audio BX-1(if they absolutely must be small)
http://www.monitoraudio.co.uk/products/bronze-bx/bx1/

Or their bigger brother BX-2
http://www.monitoraudio.co.uk/products/bronze-bx/bx2/

You'll find these speakers ranging from £180 - £220 and work very well on the Denon DM38.

jods

Bowers and Wilkins XT4's - Check em out

warrtster

iTrader: (5)

Hi David,
This is more expensive but very good
Steve

Jamz3k

I have sold this unit before, I'd buy the Denon over it every single time. I actually thought it sounded pretty dull.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Agree with Denon,but for speakers try Dali,Dynaudio(yes expensive,but sound is so amazing) or used good Yamaha Studio Monitors or even some Tannoy .



Jura

what would scooby do

B&W

End of...

David Lock

Thanks chaps, I am going to have to find a half decent audio place bearing in mind your suggestions. But I must try and stay roughly in budget. Cheers, David

what would scooby do

Just make sure you don't get suckered into Bose - they are very much like apple products..