Hi fi system and forums

[SuperJohnG]

Posted the below on AVForums there which I used years ago extensively but their forums just seem a bit rubbish with no community these days. Where are the good UK hi fi forums now?

 

Also if anyone has any input in the below it would be helpful: 

 

I have a large vaulted area which is a kitchen and open plan living area, I'd like to add a speaker system here preferably wall/ roof mounted which would fill the space well and be loud and of good quality but doesn't need to be audiophile perfect.

It also extends out to a canopy covered area which will be outdoor bbq, seating area etc.

We only stream music these days (I hear some of you cringe) we have some cds but can't see us ever getting them out apart form nostalgic reasons.

Hence I was looking for some input on an amp and speakers and what things I should be thinking about. We have other rooms and may extend the system but multi room is not hugely important.

What is important is ease of use, it must be able to go loud, loud enough that I'm scared to take it to max volume but still be clear.

Likely I want to turn on my phone,.hit Spotify,.select.a track and then jack the volume up and enjoy..the ability to turn on zones or not would be helpful..so to include outside.

Preference is a separate amp and wired speakers. I know sonos might tick the box here but I do t know why I just don't but into it and the ability to do what I want and get it loud. A simple set up is.ok.

To add we.will have a TV in that room and adding a soundbar that can be incorporated would be good.

Midrange and some good bass also essential.

I'm thinking I'm asking a lot in a simple system which requires more thought but any advice appreciated.

[ProDave]

My own system is an old, 1980's audio system that just happens to have remote control.  So it sits in a cupboard out of sight, never needing to be visited unless you do want to put a CD in to play.

 

It spends most of it's time playing music via the Pi Music Box that can stream internet radio and all the usual spotify type services, or play music files stored on it's own memory card.  you can control the music box from your phone or computer.

 

If you want to play music that is on your phone then HiFi Cast will do that and the Pi Music box accepts streamed audio from that.

 

When it comes to speakers, my big floor standers in the living room and a smaller wall hung pair in the kitchen / diner and another wall hung pair in the sun room.

[nod]

A couple of years ago I worked on a very large house overlooking lake Windermere 

He had 600x600 speakers set in the ceilings We simply plastered over them 

Super cool idea and worked a treat 

[Makeitstop]

Dont even know if it still exists, but hifiwigwam used to be outstanding.

 

Years ago, it was full of regulars and had a community feel about it. If that is still running, it may be worth a look.

 

I doubt it's anything like it once was, but if its active still, I'd bet there will be advice to be had there.

[SuperJohnG]

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

When it comes to speakers, my big floor standers in the living room and a smaller wall hung pair in the kitchen / diner and another wall hung pair in the sun room

I'd love a big set of floor standers for the lounge, hopefully budget allows at the end! 

 

20 minutes ago, Makeitstop said:

Dont even know if it still exists, but hifiwigwam used to be outstanding

Had a wee check still up and running thanks! 

[pudding]

Got a link to the avf page? Also what budget? 

[Temp]

Slightly OT..

 

I recently built a small amp with my son using one of these boards...

https://www.tinyosshop.com/tsa7800b

 

At normal listening volumes the sound quality is pretty impressive. Well at least I was impressed. The specs suggest a lot of distortion exists at max power but that's way more than he will use it for. We went with that board so my son could play around with DSP. The board supports the SigmaStudio app for PC allowing him to experiment with digital filters. It's got Bluetooth and stereo phono input and 2+1 outputs. Currently connected to some old Creative speakers from a retired PC sound system and a bass speaker he designed himself on work experience last summer.  We used a totally inappropriate switch mode power supply but seems to work fine. 

 

He's studying Acoustical Engineering and currently trying to find an industrial placement where he can do some design/DSP/Python/C++. Most of the companies offering places seem to specialise in Environmental monitoring.

[SuperJohnG]

53 minutes ago, pudding said:

Got a link to the avf page? Also what budget? 

 

Budget. I don't know...3k? Maybe 5k. I'm easily talked into buying quality for a long term view. 

[Dan F]

Also look at Bluesound.  Bit more expensive than Sonos, but audiophiles are impressed by Bluesound but critical of Sonos.  We're using Bluesound Powernode in the kitchern and living room (larger spaces) and Loxone Audioserver for things like bedrooms which is cheaper.

 

Speakers are a minefield.  We're using DALI (https://www.dali-speakers.com/uk/) after a couple of companies locally both recommended them.  They have a good range from fairly decently priced to high-end.

[markharro]

https://pinkfishmedia.net/forum/ is a good audio forum. I am trying to decide on my own audio requirements for our new house. I'm lucky that I already have a separate garden office hifi den but I would like to instal something half decent in the house. Like you, we will have a double height kitchen/dining/living room. Ideally I would like to plonk an amplifier in our plant room and then probably use my Innuos Zen as the main source as I can control it via its App on my phone. The only issue with this is how to control the volume as the Innuos Sense App doesnt let you do that I think. This may dictate having to bring the amp into the main living space so I can get line of sight with its remote control.

For speakers I was thinking about floor standers but I think they will get in the way. I may get a decent pair of bookshelf speakers and wall mount them.

The other option is to use flush mounted ceiling speakers but I am not sure the audio quality would satisfy me.

I am also trying to decide about audio in the bathroom - this would be via ceiling speakers but here the issue is the source and volume control - I may have to look into raspberry pi media servers and work out if I can use that as a streaming source and control content and volume from a phone app. Something like an Apple homepod probably makes more sense for hands free but there is the issue of how you use that in a bathroom and being too miserly to pay for the Apple music content.