Hi all,
my old stereo system is about 30 years now.It's from an company named Fisher with a receiver (2x100 W), separate FM radio and a turntable. Later I added a Technics SL PGA 500A CD player. This system is still working and sounding quite good besides of a jammed cassette deck, a broken equalizer display and a speaker repair.
I wish that nowadays system were that durable.
But now I would like to switch to a modern, better sounding sound system that can handle today's sources like streaming, Bluetooth etc.
System configuration
- Suitable for the living room (40 sqm (10m to 4m) with an open kitchen (about 15 sqm) at one of the long sides.
The speakers would be on the 4m side. I guess that this room is not ideal for a good hifi sound.
- Good sound on the coach, not only on a tiny "special" spot (as far as possible)
If possible special settings for differnt positions and hifi or movie, therefore...
- A sound improvement system like Dirac would be nice as I think this room is not very good for high end hifi.
- Good sound at lower volumes (wife, kids and neighbours...) and also at higher levels
- Streaming over Synology NAS, Spotify, Tidal,...
- Internet radio
- Bluetooth (input and output if possible)
- Smartphone App (iPhone and Android)
- LAN / WLAN
- Head phone access on front
- Access for turntable and CD player (I'd like to keep my old ones for costs reasons at the moment)
I have some old records (mainly from my Queen time).
But nowadays I mainly by CDs and use the EAC (Exact Audio Copy) to get high quality MP3 files.
Maybe I also convert them to better formats like FLAC,... ?
- USB access ?
- HDMI (see movies)
- Floorstanding loudspeakers
- No dependency on a cloud system which can be switched off in a few years !
- optional: recording possibility, e.g. to record the records to MP3 or FLAC and put them on the NAS for other players
System use
1. Mainly for playing music (rock, hard rock, blues, jazz,...) !
I'm thinking about using it for movies and maybe later a home cinema. But a good music sound is the most important for me.
2. Multi-Room: It would be nice to have the music in the living room at a lower volume while playing it in the kitchen at a high volume level
I only like to cook, clean up etc. with good and loud music.
3. Movies
- Play the sound of the video sources like Blueray, VDR (Linux video disk recorder PC, ( Nintendo Switch ) and the TV.
The all can be connected via HDMI. At the moment I use a 3,5mm jack socket cable for this and the sound is a
big improvement to the TV speakers.
- Optional: emphasize film dialogues
- Option to upgrade to a surround sound/home cinema later.
This may happen withhin the next years or never. My idea is to use the front speakers which are attached to the hifi amplifier.
Would it be possible over a Pre-Out signal of an AVR to the amplifier and other surround speakers could be handeled by the AVR system?
Or is this idea crazy?
Budget idea: 6 - 10T$ for the whole system including speakers
It could be a bit more if the improvement is that good. But this would inflict discussions with my wife.
I already bought a new PRS guitar this year.
This budget should include: Streaming system, amp(s), front speakers and multiroom speaker(s) for the kitchen
Included speaker budget: I was thinking about KEF R7, which cost about 3700$ at my location
and multiroom speaker(s): about 700$
Ideas so far after going to a local hifi store
- Main speakers: KEF R7 (or maybe the cheaper KEF R5)
- Multiroom speaker: Bluesound Pulse Mini or Bluesound Pulse Flex 2 (one or two)
Systems I though of until now:
1. AVR Setup: NAD T 778 with above speakers and maybe some later update to surround (or earlier if the budget is ok)
I would use the AVR setup if I get a very good hifi sound, but I fear I could regret it when I compare it to the following systems
2. NAD C658 + NAD C298 (+NAD MDC HDMI module ?)
3. NAD M33 (+NAD MDC HDMI module ?)
More expensive solution which would inflict some persuasion of my wife, but I guess it would be possible
4. Linn Majik DSM 4 - few inputs, no upgrades possible?
5. Linn Select More expensive, but options to upgrade with AVR functionality.
More expensive multi-room system speakers?
My tendency goes towards the NAD C658+C298 with above speakers. I could also go for the NAD M33 if it is worth the additional money.
I like the features NAD overs with Direc live room correction and Bluesound (streaming and multiroom)
The features of the NAT T778 are quite interesting for me. Do you think it provides a good hifi sound to be happy with it?
Unfortunately I wasn't able to here it in the store. But I can hear the NAD systems next time.
What do you think about these configurations?
Would there be better options?
Many thanks for your advice (and sorry for the long text),
Michael
my old stereo system is about 30 years now.It's from an company named Fisher with a receiver (2x100 W), separate FM radio and a turntable. Later I added a Technics SL PGA 500A CD player. This system is still working and sounding quite good besides of a jammed cassette deck, a broken equalizer display and a speaker repair.
I wish that nowadays system were that durable.
But now I would like to switch to a modern, better sounding sound system that can handle today's sources like streaming, Bluetooth etc.
System configuration
- Suitable for the living room (40 sqm (10m to 4m) with an open kitchen (about 15 sqm) at one of the long sides.
The speakers would be on the 4m side. I guess that this room is not ideal for a good hifi sound.
- Good sound on the coach, not only on a tiny "special" spot (as far as possible)
If possible special settings for differnt positions and hifi or movie, therefore...
- A sound improvement system like Dirac would be nice as I think this room is not very good for high end hifi.
- Good sound at lower volumes (wife, kids and neighbours...) and also at higher levels
- Streaming over Synology NAS, Spotify, Tidal,...
- Internet radio
- Bluetooth (input and output if possible)
- Smartphone App (iPhone and Android)
- LAN / WLAN
- Head phone access on front
- Access for turntable and CD player (I'd like to keep my old ones for costs reasons at the moment)
I have some old records (mainly from my Queen time).
But nowadays I mainly by CDs and use the EAC (Exact Audio Copy) to get high quality MP3 files.
Maybe I also convert them to better formats like FLAC,... ?
- USB access ?
- HDMI (see movies)
- Floorstanding loudspeakers
- No dependency on a cloud system which can be switched off in a few years !
- optional: recording possibility, e.g. to record the records to MP3 or FLAC and put them on the NAS for other players
System use
1. Mainly for playing music (rock, hard rock, blues, jazz,...) !
I'm thinking about using it for movies and maybe later a home cinema. But a good music sound is the most important for me.
2. Multi-Room: It would be nice to have the music in the living room at a lower volume while playing it in the kitchen at a high volume level
I only like to cook, clean up etc. with good and loud music.
3. Movies
- Play the sound of the video sources like Blueray, VDR (Linux video disk recorder PC, ( Nintendo Switch ) and the TV.
The all can be connected via HDMI. At the moment I use a 3,5mm jack socket cable for this and the sound is a
big improvement to the TV speakers.
- Optional: emphasize film dialogues
- Option to upgrade to a surround sound/home cinema later.
This may happen withhin the next years or never. My idea is to use the front speakers which are attached to the hifi amplifier.
Would it be possible over a Pre-Out signal of an AVR to the amplifier and other surround speakers could be handeled by the AVR system?
Or is this idea crazy?
Budget idea: 6 - 10T$ for the whole system including speakers
It could be a bit more if the improvement is that good. But this would inflict discussions with my wife.
I already bought a new PRS guitar this year.
This budget should include: Streaming system, amp(s), front speakers and multiroom speaker(s) for the kitchen
Included speaker budget: I was thinking about KEF R7, which cost about 3700$ at my location
and multiroom speaker(s): about 700$
Ideas so far after going to a local hifi store
- Main speakers: KEF R7 (or maybe the cheaper KEF R5)
- Multiroom speaker: Bluesound Pulse Mini or Bluesound Pulse Flex 2 (one or two)
Systems I though of until now:
1. AVR Setup: NAD T 778 with above speakers and maybe some later update to surround (or earlier if the budget is ok)
I would use the AVR setup if I get a very good hifi sound, but I fear I could regret it when I compare it to the following systems
2. NAD C658 + NAD C298 (+NAD MDC HDMI module ?)
3. NAD M33 (+NAD MDC HDMI module ?)
More expensive solution which would inflict some persuasion of my wife, but I guess it would be possible
4. Linn Majik DSM 4 - few inputs, no upgrades possible?
5. Linn Select More expensive, but options to upgrade with AVR functionality.
More expensive multi-room system speakers?
My tendency goes towards the NAD C658+C298 with above speakers. I could also go for the NAD M33 if it is worth the additional money.
I like the features NAD overs with Direc live room correction and Bluesound (streaming and multiroom)
The features of the NAT T778 are quite interesting for me. Do you think it provides a good hifi sound to be happy with it?
Unfortunately I wasn't able to here it in the store. But I can hear the NAD systems next time.
What do you think about these configurations?
Would there be better options?
Many thanks for your advice (and sorry for the long text),
Michael
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