new mini systems

Denon seem to have had some good press at the moment.

Seconded on the Denon - I've recommended these to a few people who don't want to go down the separates route and always been impressed by how they sound, and by the lack of chavvy flashing lights that so many things in this price-range seem to come with. Spend some extra money and the job should be done with change from your budget. Richer Sounds sometimes have various Denon systems around, though none when I looked earlier.

S

I've always heard good things about the Denon "all in ones". The few Denon seperates I have owned over the years always seemed better than the average.

Howard

How about this for the midi:

http://www.play.com/play247.asp?pa=srmr&page=title&r=ELEC&title=857650

as it gives plenty of connection options and will also double as a home movie centrepiece, plus whatever speakers you fancy upto £350.00?

As Steve says Richer Sounds are worth a look as they tend to have the micro systems from Denon, Onkyo and Teac at good prices.

Paul

Thanks for the feed back everybody!

I've just been to my local comet, currys, and was not impressed at all.
I saw they had a bottom of range denon d-m33 £300? but that was it on the denon front.

i am certainly going to visit my local audio t and richer sounds to look for something more substantial, A denon 201sa catches my eye, i hope the sound catches my ears.
Wil keep you posted.
once again,cheers all!

steve.

Stephen,

I would highly recommend the Denon DM31 but not its successor the DM33. The hifi comic (What Hi Fi) does have some recommendations along those lines which might be worth checking out.
Going a bit over budget I'd suggest either a Linn Classik or the new Audio Analogue Enigma but you'd be looking at the thick end of a grand with speakers.

Have you considered the Denon S101 home cinema 2.1 kit? Empire has it for just over £600 and if your partner is into movies this might be an idea.
Regards
Josh

Linn Classik would be my suggestion - you may be able to find one in the sales or an ex-demo model that doesn't break the budget too much.

hi all,

Just been to audio t to see what is available.
Done some demos, ended going for a an arcam solo and focal- jm lab chorus 705s speakers this brings the budget way past the £600 to £1063 straight away she was on the more expensive is better defence. My partners decision was the arcam, but i cant help feeling that at this sort of money maybe seperates is superior. We are talking rega money here!

any comments would be........

regards (A Westham fan living in pompey)

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Tate:
straight away she was on the more expensive is better defence.

Mick would be proud

S.

hi,

The arcam solo was streets ahead of the linn classik, im amased what can be achieved from a one box soloution with a nice pair of speakers.

we settled for the jm labs, much more open than, monitor audio,missions,acoustic energy ect.. and very good for the money.
Don't get me wrong - if budget wasnt an issue then i would of gone for an n-vi with n/sats even though the n-vi is not at my dealers yet.
The arcam was way off budget, but my partner seems very happy with it, simple to use,slim and discrete,powerful good quality sound, and without trying to sound sexist suits a woman right down to the ground with its simplicity.

A great purchase!

cheers, steve.

Went to my home afterwards and listened to my setup, and this definitely confirmed who is wearing the trousers when it comes to hi quality playback through a system, obviously different league.

But hey... at least everyone i know is becoming more musical in their old age.

Enjoy the music, and sod the bloody smilies!

Steve,
Could you tell us what the Solo did when compared to the Classik that sold you? Does it have the Arcam mid-forwardness (which is good or not depending on your taste...).

Thanks so much
Moss

hi moss,

I found the arcam has more refinement,better dynamics, more exciting deeper nicer bass, with a nice balanced mid & treble.(non-fatigue listen with excitement)
Easy to use, better ergonomics and more modern, compared to the classik( i do like the classik)but not as much.
Also the added bonus of dab radio and ipod socket, plenty of power and verstile with most speakers.
I personally prefered it much more over the linn classic.
A fit and forget solution, prefect for our requirments.

The solo is a good product no question.(very understated)IMHO.
Ive never liked arcam from old though.

The arcam was the choice of my partner, and im in complete agreement with her choosing the arcam over the linn.

regards.

Thanks Steve,
The Solo sounds like an excellent choice.
Happy listening!
Moss

I bought a Denon M-30 which came with small blonde Mission speakers a couple of years back and I really like it. It was whathifi's highest recommended mini-system. It cost me approx. $400 US. I previewed it and what's number two system, whose name escapes me, and the Denon was head and shoulders the better sounding system. The dealer said that the Denon paired with a small B&W speaker for another $300 US would be out of this world. Too rich for me as a secondary, sometimes system. Btw, you may want to upgrade the speaker wiring though you'll have to use micro-pins if you do.

hi,

I can confirm - An arcam solo, jm lab 705s, with naca5, naim plugs is superb value for money and produces an excellent seperates quality sound. (strongly recommended)

cheers.

hi,

Got rid of the jm labs horrible treble! (forget my views above) metal domes have never ever floated my boat.

Replaced the speakers with rega r3s "WOW"! what a difference.
These baby rega floorstanders are absolutely superb, what a fantastic surprise they work brilliant with the solo naca5 naim plugs.

My misses is actually air guitaring and doing the pogo dance trying to kiss me in the process!

i auditioned alot of speakers today and for the money nothing came close to the rega r3s, they really are special. Thanks rega!

regards

In my view invert designs are much better than conventional designs.
This is definitely why i have kept my credos.

I forgot to mention - a big thankyou to justin & wayne for their impeccable services and good quality advice, i can whole heartedly recommend audio t in portsmouth to anyone with full confidence.

cheers, steve