Old seperates VS new hi-fi system

[MG Lewis]

With around £200 budget I've been thinking of buying a new hi-fi
system like a Sony or Panasonic or going to richer sounds and trying
to pick up some bargain seperates from their Trade Counter section.

I keep hearing that seperates invariably offer better quality and it's
tempting to build up a system as and when I could afford to improve
it. However, I've read online somewhere that CD technology has
improved in the last couple of years for example, and perhaps other
aspects have too (amps and so on) and am now wondering whether a new
hi-fi system would sound just as good as seperates that may be several
years old in design.

I'd appreciate peoples thoughts and opinions on the old seperates v
new system choice.

[johnebravo836]

MG Lewis wrote:

> With around £200 budget I've been thinking of buying a new hi-fi
> system like a Sony or Panasonic or going to richer sounds and trying
> to pick up some bargain seperates from their Trade Counter section.
>
> I keep hearing that seperates invariably offer better quality and it's
> tempting to build up a system as and when I could afford to improve
> it. However, I've read online somewhere that CD technology has
> improved in the last couple of years for example, and perhaps other
> aspects have too (amps and so on) and am now wondering whether a new
> hi-fi system would sound just as good as seperates that may be several
> years old in design.
>
> I'd appreciate peoples thoughts and opinions on the old seperates v
> new system choice.

You probably should say what equipment you already have if you want more
specific recommendations for your situation. For example, maybe given
what you already have, you should spend the entire budget on speakers.
It's hard to say without knowing what you've got now . . .

[Robert Morein]

"MG Lewis" > wrote in message
om...
> With around £200 budget I've been thinking of buying a new hi-fi
> system like a Sony or Panasonic or going to richer sounds and trying
> to pick up some bargain seperates from their Trade Counter section.
>
> I keep hearing that seperates invariably offer better quality and it's
> tempting to build up a system as and when I could afford to improve
> it. However, I've read online somewhere that CD technology has
> improved in the last couple of years for example, and perhaps other
> aspects have too (amps and so on) and am now wondering whether a new
> hi-fi system would sound just as good as seperates that may be several
> years old in design.
>
> I'd appreciate peoples thoughts and opinions on the old seperates v
> new system choice.

Amplifiers have not improved in the past few years. They have gotten worse.
The technology is pretty stable, but the current products are not as good,
because the focus is on home theater, where a large number of channels must
be provided in limited space at limited cost.

The market for quality was at highest pitch between 1982 and 1993. During
that period, numerous manufacturers vied to produce the lowest distortion,
best sounding amplifiers as independent two channel packages, because people
were willing to pay the money. From 1994 on, there was a steady erosion of
interest.

There are many choices on the used shelf, and the vast majority of them,
excluding the inevitable junk, will exceed any new offerings by Sony or
Panasonic. These two manufacturers, BTW, are not comparable. Panasonic
competed years ago in the audiophile arena with their "Technics" line, but
no longer have a presence.

Sony continues to manufacture an enhanced line as the "ES" series. However,
there is a pretty wide variation in quality levels within that line. The
inexpensive offerings sound pretty inexpensive.

[[email protected]]

johnebravo836 wrote:
> You probably should say what equipment you already have if you want
more
> specific recommendations for your situation. For example, maybe given

> what you already have, you should spend the entire budget on
speakers.
> It's hard to say without knowing what you've got now . . .
I have an Aiwa NSX-320 system.

[johnebravo836]

> wrote in message
...
> johnebravo836 wrote:
> > You probably should say what equipment you already have if you want
> more
> > specific recommendations for your situation. For example, maybe given
>
> > what you already have, you should spend the entire budget on
> speakers.
> > It's hard to say without knowing what you've got now . . .
> I have an Aiwa NSX-320 system.

Is the £200 budget all you happen to have available now, or all you intend
to spend on an entire system? In other words, have you considered saving
more in the next couple of years so that you could buy additional components
later?

I take it that £200 works out to about $360 in Yankee dollars -- even
buying used, this would only get you an *extremely* modest system of
separate components, if that's the total you spend. (It would probably still
sound better than the Aiwa you have now, though). If you spend everything
you have now on speakers, though, you could get a reasonable pair of
speakers, I would think, and then you could replace the rest in a year or
two with a receiver and CD player, possibly buying used components then.

You may find that you won't get too many recommendations on this group,
though, because £200 or $360 is not much to spend on just a pair of
reasonably good speakers, much less an entire component system.

[Jacob Kramer]

wrote in message >...
> johnebravo836 wrote:
> > You probably should say what equipment you already have if you want
> more
> > specific recommendations for your situation. For example, maybe given
>
> > what you already have, you should spend the entire budget on
> speakers.
> > It's hard to say without knowing what you've got now . . .
> I have an Aiwa NSX-320 system.

Minisystems have one big advantage which is they are portable. So if
you're moving around a lot you might consider one. Other than that I
would think separates are always better, even if only because it's
easy to replace one piece that's broken. The CD player in your
minisystem breaks, what do you do?

With $360 it's going to be tough, but you can probably find some
decent speakers on eBay for less than $150, and a used two-channel
receiver for $150. I bought a pair of Energy Pro .5s a few years ago
for $100 and they're pretty good. I'm sure there are newer speakers
in the low-end price range now. NHT Superzeros I'm sure will be
better than minisystem speakers. Then you can either use the rest on
a portable CD player, or, if you shave $50 off the other prices, eke
out a new or open-box component CD player or DVD player for about
$100.

[Andy Katz]

On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 21:52:14 -0400, "johnebravo836"
> wrote:

> wrote in message
...

>> I have an Aiwa NSX-320 system.
>
>Is the £200 budget all you happen to have available now, or all you intend
>to spend on an entire system? In other words, have you considered saving
>more in the next couple of years so that you could buy additional components
>later?

I certainly agree with the above.

But here's what happened to me.

I had modest but carefully selected stereo, Yamaha receiver, Boston
Acoustics, JVC cassette purchased in the early 80s. It was stolen
about ten years ago, and circumstances didn't permit me to listen to
music very often since. About five years ago I got an Aiwa mini system
(similar I believe to the 320). A few months I decided to upgrade by
replacing the speakers. My budget was about the same as the OP's. I
was looking at Polk Audio RIi6s (or 4s if I couldn't get the price on
the 6s), when I realized the Aiwa wasn't upgradeable. The speakers
connect using a separate high and low range wire, the former using a
RCA connector, the latter a conventional wire connector.

So I perused ebay for a used receiver. I found someone in Brooklyn
selling an Onkyo TX #??? (45 wpc). Because he was local, I saved
shipping and picked it up myself. While I was there he showed me some
Jensen slightly larger than bookshelf speakers he was also selling. I
didn't even know Jensen made home speakers. These didn't weigh
anything, but they sounded good in the small room. Then he mentioned
upgrading to a multidisc player and would I like his barely used
Zenith DVD?

So I took home all three for $120.00 US (plus $15.00 for the car;-).

They were a distinct improvement in the room, 12 x 20, where I set
them up.

Then I found a pair of Bose single-cube acoustimass speakers brand
new for $100 on ebay. Shortly after that, I added a used passive
subwoofer for 60.00 (free shipping!!!!).

Total cost, with 14 gauge speaker wire, $300.00 US.

Now I know Bose isn't well thought of here, and when I run the
acoustimass only, there's a tinny sound--I'd keep the checking the sub
for loose connections only the cubes won't play if it doesn't. But I
think the Jensens fill in nicely for the Bose, and the cubes add some
needed highs.

I wouldn't call any of this hi fi, but it's a system I can and will
expand. It's a start.

Though I agree with other readers, if the ob can upgrade speakers on
the Aiwa, that might be the place to start. I still like the Polk
Audio RTs for $300 or so. They're attractive as well as having a
decent presence for a bookshelf size speaker. But there are also
plenty of used ones available.

Andy Katz

[Andy Katz]

On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 23:10:19 -0400, George M. Middius
> wrote:


>Andy Katz said:
>
>> I had modest but carefully selected stereo, Yamaha receiver, Boston
>> Acoustics, JVC cassette purchased in the early 80s. It was stolen
>> about ten years ago, and circumstances didn't permit me to listen to
>> music very often since.
>
>Instead of spending more money on another cheap stereo for another crack
>addict to steal, give some money to your local fire department.

My bad, Mr. Middius, I thought I was posting to rec.audio.opinion, not
rec.audio.high-end ...

Oh, I *did* post to rao!

The op wanted to know how to maximize value for his 2 Cs. What I
suggested is one way. If you feel he's unworthy to listen to
stereophonic music because he doesn't have six figures to put into a
system take it up with him. Don't snipe at me.

Meanwhile excuse me while I cash in my son's college fund to placate
the high fi snobs on usenet;-)

Andy Katz
************************************************** *************
Being lied to so billionaires can wage war for profits
while indebting taxpayers for generations to come, now
that's just a tad bit bigger than not admitting you like
the big moist-moist lips of chunky trollops on your pecker.

Paghat, the Rat Girl

[paul packer]

>Meanwhile excuse me while I cash in my son's college fund to placate
>the high fi snobs on usenet;-)


Trust me, they're not worth it.