Dear pradski,
I hope you will be satisfied with your purchase. But if you are a critical listener, then you would be disappointed. I know this advice comes a little bit late as I am a new comer to the forum myself, nevertheless, i thought you should know this.
There are a few thumb rules to buying any kind of audio equipment.
1. The most important: Music is an intensely personal medium. It is not just bits of data to be decoded and relayed, instead it??s human, touching, evocative and, above all, emotional. That??s why each of us reacts to it in different ways, both in terms of musical taste and sonic preference. That??s why there??s no such thing as the ??wrong?? kind of music for hi-fi listening. If you like it, then it??s right. Simple. No matter what the equipment.
2. The first and most crucial element is deciding on a budget. That is essentially a personal issue but be aware that certain other factors should be considered when deciding how much you should spend and what you should spend it on. For example, your room has a fundamental impact on the type of system you should get. Larger rooms tend to require larger loudspeakers, which in turn merit better amplification to deliver satisfactory results. Similarly, if your listening space is small, you could find that larger speakers are simply inappropriate for your needs. Specialist audio magazines and independent reviews can be an invaluable source of advice here, but you should also try to be as realistic as possible about your needs.
Before you begin any in-depth research, the first step is to list the music sources you would like to listen to. This will fundamentally impact the performance and balance of the hi-fi system you plan to build. If you opt for fewer source components, you'll be able to spend more of your available budget on each element, thus ensuring better performance for your money. Opting for a system that includes a record player, a CD player and a radio inevitably means splitting your total source component budget three ways, which in turn means less chance of high-quality results. Unless, of course, you can afford to lavish equal sums on premium components straight away. If, on the other hand, you're prepared to build your system in gradual stages you stand a better chance of creating a set-up that has solid sonic foundations.
To that end, consider investing about one-third of your budget on your principal source, which for most music lovers will probably be a CD player.
The next key element in your system is amplification and this also involves some forethought. If you plan to listen at high volumes in a large room, possibly via some of our larger floorstanding speakers, it's sensible to budget for an amplifier with ample reserves of power. Unfortunately, power is one of the most commonly misunderstood measures of quality in hi-fi, and watts while important do not dictate performance alone. For example, a fine budget hi-fi amplifier, with a mere 40 watts of output per channel, is easily capable of very substantial volume levels with most of the speakers. If, however, you want to use some of the larger designs, you'll have to plan for better-quality hence, more expensive, amplification.
Again, around one-third of your available budget should be invested in amplification.
That leaves loudspeakers, again a broad one third rule of budgeting applies. You've more choice over design in this category than in any other, loudspeakers are available in sizes both large and small, with aesthetics both traditional and modern. In general, larger speakers produce bigger, deeper sounds than their smaller siblings.
But if you opt for high-performance compact designs, that delineation is less clear-cut. Speakers of this quality can produce bass levels that simulate many larger, less alternatives, especially for rooms where space is at a premium.
3. The basic points are these: while judging a product on its brand name the quality of the demonstration or even on the strengths of reviews, can be a useful way to narrow down your options, in the end, only you can decide whether the equipment is right for you. That's partially because personal preferences have a huge part to play in the listening experience, but it's also because hi-fi components interact with each other in a remarkably organic way. Combine three well-reviewed components in a system that should, in theory, be fantastic and you could well find that the results disappoint. Ancillary components, such as interconnects, cables and speaker placement, can make a difference in this regard, but it's the intrinsic sonic properties of each core component that have the biggest impact.
While the best way to judge if a system will meet your needs is to hear it correctly set-up in a dedicated listening environment, always be mindful of the size of your own listening space before buying. And always insist on being able to listen using your own music at the sort of volume you are likely to use at home and with components which you have short-listed.
This text is drafted from B&Ws buying advice.
