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Hi-Fi purchasing Guide Main Page

If you wish to get a STEREO ONLY system (just for CD replay) you'll need..

• Audio Source- CD, CD-R, Minidisc, SACD, Tape, DAT, Tuner, Vinyl. Spend £300 minimum per item.
• Amplification - Stereo integrated amplifier, or a Pre-amplifier & a stereo power amp, £300 minimum for amp.
• Speakers- One pair of speakers, speaker stands if you get standmounter speakers. £300 minimum
• Speaker cable, Banana plugs & connectors on the amp side.
• Phono cables, one pair per source.
• Rack

If you wish to go into Home Cinema, you will need the following..

• AV amp, i.e., Yamaha DSP-A1, Onkyo TX-DS575X or the Onkyo Integra. These have all the amplifiers you need. They have Dolby Pro-Logic & Dolby Digital processing, DTS, stereo DAC, plenty of inputs/outputs. The more expensive ones have THX as well. Decent AV amps start at £450. Also look at Harmon/Kardon

or

• Pre-amp/Processor with Dolby Pro-Logic, Dolby Digital & DTS processing (i.e., Proceed AVP, Parasound, Lexicon) & variety of poweramps to a total of 5. Extra phono cables required. This is the more expensive option, but a MUCH higher quality sound, with a lower noise floor versus the AV amp setup is achieved. It is also more upgradeable than the 1st, as you can spend mega bucks on a 5 channel power amp, Rotel RB-1095- 200W x 5 (much better amp section than typical £600 av amp) and keep this for years. You would be able to replace JUST the processor as/when required.

then the following..

• Video & Audio Source- DVD, Personal DVD, DVD-RW, DVD-Audio, Laserdisc, VHS, PC. Spend £300 minimum per item.
• Stereo front pair speakers. Get a hefty set of fronts for Home Theatre, if possible, personally I don't like satellite/subwoofer configurations- I prefer medium/large speakers & sub.
• Centre speaker.
• Try to keep the front three speakers from the same manufacturer/range, if possible. This will help sound staging
• Rears. For AV use, buy a pair of Bipole, Dipole, or Tripole speakers. Avoid standard speakers
• Display. Get a Widescreen - TV,ceiling projector or plasma if you can afford it.
• Acttive Subwoofer. This can be bought anytime. You will need one. Buy a decent one (Don't skimp!)
• More Speaker cable, due to more speakers. Get cheaper cables for rears (longer lengths required) than the front & center.
• Phono cables & a digital cable for the DVD-to-amp/processor audio feed, coaxial is preferred over optical.
• S-Video or Scart cables- one extra if you want to pass the DVD video signal thru the AV amp/processor for on-screen menus- although this might result in signal loss- try to run it straight to the TV.
• Multiway power block, get the one with the most amount of plugs. Argos have a 8-way.
• (Sturdy) Rack. Put the AV/poweramps at the bottom (heaviest items)

Another solution you could choose from is a complete source/amp/speaker system and top-end Meridian package. 

For speaker packages only:- M&K 150THX, M&K 5000THX, M&K S-125, M&K S-85, and a couple of speaker packages

Avoid Bose speakers, they are overpriced and have poor performance.

Also don't get Flat speakers, unless the other half moans! Reason why I say spend £300 per item is from my own listening. When I've listened to a £150 per item, CD/amp/speaker combo, I really don't think much of the finished sound that is compared to one for a little bit more. Ok, spending £2000 per item will result in extra quality, but most people would really just get a system worth £1000.