Advice For a Complete Newbie?

[firebus154]

Hi, thanks for having me here guys. I've been browsing the forums for a while and have been convinced that I should try to set up my own hi-fi system.
That's really where my knowledge ends.

I have gotten rather bored with the poor quality of my current ipod dock speakers (gear 4 house party)

All my music is on my laptop, being either 320kbps MP3 (i know it's not perfect) with a few FLAC albums. I have a macbook pro - no optical output or anything. Only usb, firewire, and the 3.5mm

How would, for example, The Bose companion II speakers compare to an entry level Hi-Fi system? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Companion®-...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332030334&sr=1-1 - my friend has a pair and they sound much better than mine

My question is: What do I need to begin?

To play music from my laptop I am under the impression I need to have:

- A DAC? for good quality audio transfer? or could i just use the 3.5mm jack in my laptop?

- An Amplifier

- And some speakers

- also quaility wires?

Is there anything else I need?


my budget it between 200-300

I've read good reviews about the wharfdale diamond 9.1 and the acoustic q 2020i -are they good for an entry level set up?
Wharfdale: http://www.amazon.co.uk/WHARFEDALE-...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332030192&sr=1-1

Acoustic Q: Q ACOUSTICS 2020i SPEAKERS (PAIR) (WALNUT): Amazon.co.uk: Electronics


in terms of the amplifier - a richer sounds shop down the road for me is selling a cambridge audio topaz a1 for 80 CAMBRIDGE AUDIO TOPAZ AM1 Stereo Amplifier: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics - are there any other good entry level amps?

Do I then need a DAC? basically how do i then connect my laptop to the amp?

Sorry about my complete lack of knowledge

Thanks a lot

 

[docd]

Hi, thanks for having me here guys. I've been browsing the forums for a while and have been convinced that I should try to set up my own hi-fi system.
That's really where my knowledge ends.

I have gotten rather bored with the poor quality of my current ipod dock speakers (gear 4 house party)

All my music is on my laptop, being either 320kbps MP3 (i know it's not perfect) with a few FLAC albums. I have a macbook pro - no optical output or anything. Only usb, firewire, and the 3.5mm

How would, for example, The Bose companion II speakers compare to an entry level Hi-Fi system? Companion 2 multimedia speaker system: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics - my friend has a pair and they sound much better than mine

My question is: What do I need to begin?

To play music from my laptop I am under the impression I need to have:

- A DAC? for good quality audio transfer? or could i just use the 3.5mm jack in my laptop?

- An Amplifier

- And some speakers

- also quaility wires?

Is there anything else I need?


my budget it between 200-300

I've read good reviews about the wharfdale diamond 9.1 and the acoustic q 2020i -are they good for an entry level set up?
Wharfdale: WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 9.1 SPEAKERS BLACK: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Acoustic Q: Q ACOUSTICS 2020i SPEAKERS (PAIR) (WALNUT): Amazon.co.uk: Electronics


in terms of the amplifier - a richer sounds shop down the road for me is selling a cambridge audio topaz a1 for 80 CAMBRIDGE AUDIO TOPAZ AM1 Stereo Amplifier: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics - are there any other good entry level amps?

Do I then need a DAC? basically how do i then connect my laptop to the amp?

Sorry about my complete lack of knowledge

Thanks a lot

Hi
you need a good DAC like Chordette Gem which you can connect thru USB.
Chord Electronics Chordette Gem review from the experts at whathifi.com.
You will still need a good amp and speakers. You can try the cambridge audio Topaz and and add these speakers Roth Oli 10 review from the experts at whathifi.com. It may push your budget to around 450GBP but youd get decent sound. Hope this helps

 

[spirovious]

Welcome to HFV.

Now for total said budget,you may not get best things.Yes you can get a good usb DAC or a soundcard for that price(200-300).May DAC madic,arcam rDAC of your choice.
DIY dac can be chip option.

You can also consider getting a cambridge audio amp & speakers as a budget system.
Marantz & Q acoustic can be another good combo.

You need to increase Budget.Initially for tight budget,you can also think DAC with headphone out & get good Headphone.

 

[yuvaraki]

Hi,

i would say dont bother with very high-end cables for now. cables from bandridge or prolink(reliance digital and croma) should be cheap and fine for now.

coming to amp, look at FiiO A1 Digital Desktop Audio Amplifier: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics


for speakers, look at wharfdales you mentioned and diamond 10 series

for DAC, cheap but well-rated one for now should do gud, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiio-E10-US...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332707174&sr=1-2


research abt all the above and am sure you will read abt few comparisions abt similarly prices products n then ull have more options to decide frm!

all the ones mentioned above are by means in synergy(or may they are i jus donno ) but i wanted to give u basic idea for u to start ur research

if u ask me abt which ones i wud prioritise now, i wud buy a decent dac and gud speakers and amp right now.

later when i want to upgrade, ill first get a better dac and then upgrade amp and speakers much later, hope this helps!

any expert views on my comments above are appreciated!!