Advice for beginner

[SlimlShady]

Hello everyone.
After all I would like to congratulate everyone who contributes to this forum, even as a begginer I can spend hours reading and learning.
I want to buy a "setup" to my living room, I mostly listen to music (CD and spotify) at medium level and I wanna use it as home theater also. My budget is 800/900 euros, and I'm currently living in France.

Hope you can help me, thanks in advance

 

[voodooless]

What do you already have? Do you want surround for your HT? Do you need Blu-ray?

 

[SlimlShady]

I have the Denon D-M41DAB, but I'll use it in another room. I would like to play directly from the TV and I have no need for surround.

 

[voodooless]

So basically you have nothing. For CD’s you’ll need a CD player. Anything halfway decent that does not skip will probably do. Some second hand unit will save some money for speakers. Make sure it has digital out. That leaves pre-amp, DAC and speakers. Here you can go various ways, buy separate components, or look for an active speaker system with volume control and digital input.

Since you are in France, check out: https://www.audiophonics.fr/

Or these JBL’s: https://www.jbl.com/studio-monitors/306PMKII-.html couple with a cheap DAC like topping E30, and a CD player and you have a complete system to start with. Also reviewed here: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-306p-mk-ii-review-studio-monitor.18505/

 

[abdo123]

Since you're in France, I would go with the Revel Focal Aria 906 (French company).

Loxje A30 for amplification, volume control and DAC.

Raspberry pi 4 (for streaming) feeding the Loxje over USB.

 

[Helicopter]

Since you're in France, I would go with the Revel Focal Aria 906 (French company).

Loxje A30 for amplification, volume control and DAC.

Raspberry pi 4 (for streaming) feeding the Loxje over USB.

^This. Focal Aria 906 or Chora 806 and Loxjie A30.

I am running Arias with an A30 and they are great.

 

[HiFidFan]

Since you're in France, I would go with the Revel Focal Aria 906 (French company).

Loxje A30 for amplification, volume control and DAC.

Raspberry pi 4 (for streaming) feeding the Loxje over USB.

I really like this recommendation. Except it blows the OP's budget.

 

[abdo123]

^This. Focal Aria 906 or Chora 806 and Loxjie A30.

I am running Arias with an A30 and they are great.

the flat silky smooth response to 1000 Hz is honestly incredible at that price point.

 

[HiFidFan]

^This. Focal Aria 906 or Chora 806 and Loxjie A30.

I am running Arias with an A30 and they are great.

Aren't the Focals like $2k / pair?

 

[abdo123]

Aren't the Focals like $2k / pair?

A local shop in Brussels where i live sells them for 750 euro a pair.

https://www.amplitude.be/produit/enceintes-focal-aria-906/

probably a little bit cheaper in the country of origin.

 

[HiFidFan]

A local shop in Brussels where i live sells them for 750 euro a pair.

https://www.amplitude.be/produit/enceintes-focal-aria-906/

probably a little bit cheaper in the country of origin.

Ah. Thanks. I wish they were that low here!

 

[Wes]

you could rip your CDs onto your computer and play from there

 

[SlimlShady]

Thanks for all the replies.
The options you gave me till now are something like this:

- 2x JBL 306p Mkii ~ 330 Eur
- Topping E30 ~ 130 Eur
- CD player (really don't know which to chose)

or

- Focal Aria 906 ~ 800 Eur
- Loxjie A30 ~ 160 Eur (never in stock)
- Raspberry pi 4 ~ 100 Eur

My questions are: should I make an effort and try to invest in a setup like the second, will the difference be noticeable? Is there an equivalent alternative to the Loxjie?
Unfortunately I can only try the focal one's at a close dealer, jbl's are not very common in here.

 

[voodooless]

While the speakers might be better, the amp is quite a bit less powerful. That might impact dynamics. On the other hand, you could leave that for a future upgrade.

 

[abdo123]

Thanks for all the replies.
The options you gave me till now are something like this:

- 2x JBL 306p Mkii ~ 330 Eur
- Topping E30 ~ 130 Eur
- CD player (really don't know which to chose)

or

- Focal Aria 906 ~ 800 Eur
- Loxjie A30 ~ 160 Eur (never in stock)
- Raspberry pi 4 ~ 100 Eur

My questions are: should I make an effort and try to invest in a setup like the second, will the difference be noticeable? Is there an equivalent alternative to the Loxjie?
Unfortunately I can only try the focal one's at a close dealer, jbl's are not very common in here.

The Loxje should be in stock in April, based on their website.

I would invest 90% of my budget on speakers. As long as the other 10% is well spent.

 

[Helicopter]

Are you using BT for Spotify, an analog connection, or a digital one?

Is the audio out of the TV Toslink or does it have RCA analog outputs?

Just thinking whether SMSL SA300 or Yamaha RS 202 might be alternatives to the Loxjie.

 

[SlimlShady]

Are you using BT for Spotify, an analog connection, or a digital one?

Is the audio out of the TV Toslink or does it have RCA analog outputs?

Just thinking whether SMSL SA300 or Yamaha RS 202 might be alternatives to the Loxjie.

Spotify over BT or Wi-Fi and TV over Toslink

 

[SlimlShady]

The Loxje should be in stock in April, based on their website.

I would invest 90% of my budget on speakers. As long as the other 10% is well spent.

Are the Focal one's a good buy for the money? I read the great review, just wondering if there would be something similar.

 

[digitalfrost]

OP, this page has a lot of Focal speakers. https://www.homecinesolutions.fr/g/664-enceintes-focal-gamme-aria

I suggest you request their "confidential price".

 

[abdo123]

Are the Focal one's a good buy for the money? I read the great review, just wondering if there would be something similar.

The Elac Debut reference 62 and the other Revel speakers measured on this forums are really good alternatives. But personally i would get the Focal aria 906 even if i had to squeeze or wait a bit.