Looking for some audio system advice please

[DarrenSV650S]

My dad is thinking of a new audio system but isn't very sure what to go for. He is looking to play mostly CD's but also wants to play his old records now and then.

He was looking at a USB turntable but I was saying that because it was converting the sound to digital, it will take away the sound quality that you get with normal record players.

He was also looking at an all-in-one unit from argos like this, but I thought the systems with separate units were better quality. Is that right?

He is saying he wants a nice compact system that doesn't take up much space so maybe if it was a set of separate systems that came with a stand.

But basically we don't really know what is good quality or not. Can anyone help?

All depends on how much money you want to spend i guess?
And what kind of quality the listener will actually recognise. The Goodmans system wouldn't have great sound quality as the speakers and drivers would be fairly cheap, as with the turntable hardware like the needles, but for the price and the features it's not so bad.
Sony do pretty good compact CD and radio systems, but alot wont come with turntables...USB turntables are good if you want to transfer your music to a computer, the quality would be alright too, it would just roll off some higher frequencies and destroy that all around warm record sound!
If you start looking into seperate units prices will be higher, but you can get some very good quality amps and speakers...
How much are looking at spending?
Keith

[DarrenSV650S]

I've asked him and he says £150 or maybe £200. The reason he wants a compact one rather than a few separate units is because he would also have to buy a stand for the separate units to go on.

Something like this would be pretty decent, would also leave a bit of cash for a turntable...
http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/produ...oduct_id=14215

Denon do really decent systems, but you'd be looking at paying 200+
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/2336

[tigersaw]

I bought a jukebox, plays all my 45's just fine.

[tigersaw]

Originally Posted by cb5_keith

Something like this would be pretty decent, would also leave a bit of cash for a turntable...
http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/produ...oduct_id=14215

Denon do really decent systems, but you'd be looking at paying 200+
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/2336

Sony? Bluuuurgh.Denon - now you are talking.

Got this old denon cd player...
...things tend to get passed down in our family...

[tigersaw]

I use this for my vinyl

i want one!

I personally think that all in one systems are rubbish but i have spent a long time and a lot of money building my hifi. I would say go for separates and dont even think about a turntable yet.

If i was limited to 200 i would go second hand but im guessing he doesnt really want that so its a matter of getting a decentish amp and speakers and a cheep as chips cd player

I would go with the Marantz PM4001 as an amp for £100 - http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...id=MARA-PM4001

Solid build quality and it has 2 sets of speaker outputs which is always nice to have and much more importantly it has a proper in built phono amp which is really important if you want a turntable.

Eltax SYMPHONY 6.4 Oak as speakers for £80 - http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...-SYMPH-6.4-OAK

I use an eltax sumphony series center speaker in my surround sound system and think its a great speaker for the price. I got my brother a set of the eltax liberties which are an old model which is the range lower than this one and they are well built solid and heavy which is what you want from a speaker. I would say to stay away from the eltax concept series as they are just too cheep.

As for a cd player I would simply hook a dvd player up to it and use that to play cds back and pick up a cheep record deck off ebay. Any separate record deck, even a £10 one from the 80s, will sound as good as the one on that argos system and you can pick one up for next to nothing off ebay.

Using a dvd player for cds means when he watches dvds in his front room the sound will come out of the hifi and sound so much better than his tv. You will not believe how rubbish the speakers in tvs are.

Remeber that you will need to buy speaker wire on top of that which is cheepest from maplins and their basic stereo speaker wire will be fine, you dont need £10/m cabling - Maplins product number XS47B at a cost of 69p per meter and will also probably need an rca phono lead (one with a red and a white plug on either end)

I will guaranty that the set up ive suggested will sound a lot bet than that big plastic monstrosity from argos and it will last a good 20 years rather than the 2 that the all in one will. There may be some stuff out there that is slightly better value but the one thing i would really suggest is to take a trip to your nearest richer sounds when its nice and quiet and have a chat with the boss and have a listen to what is availiable.

I know its a lot to read but hopefully it makes some sort of sence and helps you out