Home Hi Fi

[mikeb]

Richer Sounds are large scale box shifters. They have good prices on what they have in stock (although very often you find they only have the ex-demo ones left). But I really wouldn't trust their sales people. Most of them aren't that knowledgeable, and only regurgitate the usual speil (which isn't always right). They try to steer you in the direction of kit that they are trying to shift lots of.

Definitely go for separates, as long as you match them fairly well (sound wise) they will sound far better than an all in one job.

Technics and Sony kit is usually a fairly safe bet (Technics stuff usually sounds warm/soft). Cambridge and Arcam stuff is getting closer to real Hi-Fi, and (I am guessing) about the top end of your budget. Kef, Mission and Mordaunt Short Speakers are also generally quite good.

The real top end stuff is mostly names you've probably never heard of (and never want to when you see the prices). A good, honest magazine is Hi-Fi World, but it is generally aimed at real high and classic equipment. I guess What Hi-Fi? would be more appropriate for the kit you are considering. There are usually plenty of reviews of equipment on the internet, just google a specific model +review, and you will get plenty of honest opinions on kit.

[jaxx]

i found richer sounds to be an 'upmarket version of dixons' agreeing with mikeb

have a look in your local yellow pages and find your local hi-fi independant specialist

the one i used, nothing was too much trouble, in fact their shop is just a converted house and the 'living room' is converted to the ultimate and acoustic perfect AV room

you can book room time and theyll swap and change different Amps, CDs etc etc.. so you can listen to them all and make a personal taste choice, they were even kind enough to allow my old man to listen to a £6,000 Pink Triangle LP Player, which you have to rebalance the turntable on everytime you move it!

theyll more than likely always have the kettle on

support these guys i say! its places like richer sounds tha do them out of business and its a much more 'personal' and extremely proffesional service

[Boro Sera]

'living room' is converted to the ultimate and acoustic perfect AV room

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I hate places like that. I'd be keen to know what something sounds like in MY front room, not some acoustically engineered showroom.

( then again, TalkSport and the Boro Match Commentary don't really tax the acoustics much )

[Karma Supra]

I've only heard good things about Richer Sounds. They're very helpful and don't push you into buying things you don't need. Plus they've nearly always got some sort of deal on

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The seemed very keen to push me into buying "arcam" gear....

I noticed "arcam " deals everywhere... and their listening room was all set up with....... Arcam gear...

I personally though it seemed poorly constructed, and seemed to have far to many flashy bits with screens and LEDS....

Apart from that, if you know what you want, they are excelent!!! I bought about half my gear from there.... I also reccomend Audio T.....

[chrisb]

Richer sounds have some realy good deals, check there website out!

I have a Yamaha DSP A1 which was the absolute daddy of an amp a few years back running 7 channels, you can pick them up on eBay quite cheap now!

Speaker wise i have kefs allround which are very good!

CB

[knightrider]

not looked into hifi for a while due to getin an earful as it is with my what must be 7yr old now, sony separates an mission 2 way Speakers,

but when i move out we'll the nighbours will hate me, fr now ill stick with car audio nakamichi anyone?