Hi-fi amplifiers - what the deuce?

[Andrew_Culture]

The little micro system I have has crapped out. The CD player doesn't recognise CDs and the radio hasn't worked for about 8 years. So I looked online for a new system and oh boy have things changed since I last looked.

Before my current little system I always had a hodge-podge of Technics separates, I didn't really have the space for a huge stack of separates so I lent the amp and CD player to an old band mate (who sold them to buy weed, even although he knew they had great emotional value to me).

So I'm looking for help, here's what I need:

RCA plug inputs for Apple Airport Express
RCA plug inputs for Apple AV dock
RCA plug inputs and ground for record player
DAB radio (or Internet radio, whatever gets me BBC Radio4 and Radio6)
CD player
Enough grunt to power three pairs of speakers (via switching unit so it only needs a standard left and right speaker output)

I bought the last little system in a hurry and previous to that I haven't bought a hi-fi since I was about 15 years old, which was, er, some time ago!

Budget is likely around £300.

 

[slowmotion]

I have a Denon RCD-M38. It's a small amplifier/DAB radio/CD player with 30 watts a channel output. You can also plug an MP3 player in. There are two AUX inputs and an output for a subwoofer. It sounds really good to me and the unit itself costs about £180 if you shop around. Here's a review for a package with a pair of Denon speakers. It's almost certainly worthwhile just getting the unit and choosing some other speakers.
http://www.whathifi.com/review/denon-d-m38dab/user-reviews

 

[Profpointy]

how about a mission cyrus 2, ideally with its booster power supply PSX - should easily get one off fleaby fir £100 to £200. i bought mine new nearly 30 years ago and still great.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I have a Denon RCD-M38. It's a small amplifier/DAB radio/CD player with 30 watts a channel output. You can also plug an MP3 player in. There are two AUX inputs and an output for a subwoofer. It sounds really good to me and the unit itself costs about £180 if you shop around. Here's a review for a package with a pair of Denon speakers. It's almost certainly worthwhile just getting the unit and choosing some other speakers.
http://www.whathifi.com/review/denon-d-m38dab/user-reviews

I think that might actually be the updated version of what I have! Ta!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

how about a mission cyrus 2, ideally with its booster power supply PSX - should easily get one off fleaby fir £100 to £200. i bought mine new nearly 30 years ago and still great.

That is quite appealing but I'm not sure I have the space to then add a CD player and radio. I'm guessing you would somehow have to also add graphic equaliser? Those things stress me out!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Does anyone know much about phono preamps?

 

[Profpointy]

That is quite appealing but I'm not sure I have the space to then add a CD player and radio. I'm guessing you would somehow have to also add graphic equaliser? Those things stress me out!

cyrus isn't that big - side by side with psx the pair are same size as a standard anp

and you don't want a graphic equaliser - the cyrus doen't even have tone controls ase they're considered "a bad thing" in hi fi bore circles

 

[Andrew_Culture]

cyrus isn't that big - side by side with psx the pair are same size as a standard anp

and you don't want a graphic equaliser - the cyrus doen't even have tone controls ase they're considered "a bad thing" in hi fi bore circles

But I would still need to add a DAB radio and a CD player I guess?

 

[Dan B]

Don't you get internet radio on the airport express?

 

[Dan B]

Does anyone know much about phono preamps?

You can't use a record player with a standard line-level rca input: you need a preamp (which may or may not be builtin to the main amp, but if it has an input labelled 'phono' that shoudl do the trick). "RIAA equalisation" is what you're looking for.

 

[mattobrien]

@Andrew_Culture we need to speak. I have a lot of stereo equipment that is sadly not used. It is currently stacked on top of my hifi that is used, plus an array of speakers and stands stashed away.

It would be nice for it to go to a good home if it is suitable.

The kit I have (currently sitting unused) is;

Pre Amp: Rotel RC 971
Power Amp: Rotel RB 981
CD player: Arcam CD 72
Speakers: B&W DM 602 S2 (I think)
Speakers: B&W DM 600 S3
Speaker stands: Atacama of some decryption - they are filled with sand
Silver speaker wire, with banana plug
Decent interconnects

I don't think you would want / need both sets of speakers and really the system is better with the 602's. I only bought the 600's as I needed smaller speakers at the time and had no where to put the 602's in that set up.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Oh poo, I just hit 'buy' on this little amp http://www.richersounds.com/product/mini-hi-fi/denon/dm39/deno-dm39-sil

I don't think you and I have ever talked about music! When we eventually buy a house with a proper-sized study (rather than the pokey hole I have at the moment) building up separates again is high on my agenda.

I am in the market for some speakers though. I've sworn by my Bose shelf speakers for well over a decade but a pair of Mission M30i speakers that I just bought on Ebay seem to blow them away!

 

[mattobrien]

You are welcome to trial / test the different speakers that I have spare. My favourites are my floor standers, which are bi-amped. They are staying here with me though.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

You are welcome to trial / test the different speakers that I have spare. My favourites are my floor standers, which are bi-amped. They are staying here with me though.

Don't blame you. I don't have the facility to run bi-amp speakers anyway.

Are you looking to re-home any of the speakers?

 

[Profpointy]

But I would still need to add a DAB radio and a CD player I guess?

yes you would, but presumably you will also want to plug your tv audio into the stereo, and tv will have a radio mode (assuming you have tv and it's in same roomof course) . All my music is on my pc, so I don't have separate cd player.