HiFi for beginners: What to recommend for a first time buyer?

[@EuphoricImpact]

First thing... I appreciate your contributions to the community. My first system recommendation is based on old school thinking. This is also what I recommended to several people. All young musicians. CD player...either a Marantz CD6007 or Emotiva Erc-4. Speakers-Paradigm Premier 200B, DALI Oberon 1 or the Q Acoustics 5010. Integrated amp-Emotiva Basx Ta1 or Ta2 or the Advanced Paris X-i75. This would be the core. I like full-size components. Solid design without excessive cost, with the ability to expand. Also I do not sell gear. So something I buy has to be tested or recommended by a fellow musician or music educator . A beginner could do worse. The first upgrade would be a dac. For this setup....either: FiiO K9-AKM, Holo Cyan 2 or Geshelli Labs J2 with Burson V7 Vivid op amps. The op amps can be a second upgrade. The original configuration is solid. I have tested these combinations.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

After working in the music industry for 35 years, I haven't met any young musicians who could afford that. 🙄

[@ChuckHeinze]

Well done Harley. I absolutely agree with going with the turntable.

[@PearlAcoustics]

😀🙏

[@oceanberrysawyer2860]

Thank you for this video! I've told myself since I was a kid that I would one day get a hi fi system and I'm at the point where I can get one! such perfect timing!

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Listen to EPOS speakers, I'm not sure what your budget is but they emotionally connect with music imo

[@RogierYou]

My niece is collecting vinyl and doesn't own a turn table. Is inspired by tube amps. She is her 1st year in college. We made a deal with her that we will buy her a pair of great speakers, tube amp and turn table (will put a streamer in as well) when she graduates.

[@filipviljamaasvensson]

Yes! The Quad S2 are spectacular for the money. They are still my speakers, having been able to level up with each upgrade in electronics and room treatment for 3,5 years now. (With the help of some tweaks like vibration dampening, super heavy stands, and weights on top for addes stiffness, bi-wiring with QED Silver cables etc...). Just today I upgraded my signal cables to Chord Shawline X. Cables not broken in yet, the sound reached a new level with the Quad S2. My electronics are now Cayin CS-88 tube amp, Denon DCD-1700ne CD-player, Denafrips Ares II DAC. And the sub is a REL T/5x. And a fully treated room. And loads of vibration control. These speakers, which I imported myself from UK, are still hanging in there, sounding better to my ears than almost everything I have heard in the shops so far. I think the secret sauce is the ribbon tweeter. A tip: Lean them backwards a little to better time-align the tweeter and the woofer!

[@jacquesvilleneuve754]

Harley, what a great idea from your part. Sharing the passion is all what it's all about, isn't it?! Interesting choices by the way.

[@PearlAcoustics]

🙏

[@TheDoctor-g6i]

Interesting video. Many buying their first hifi will want something compact as space is often limited and students, for example, may change accommodation fairly regularly. So i like the idea of building a proper hifi around a QUAD Vena. Nonetheless, for roughly the same price as the QUAD amp and speakers you could buy some Acoustic Energy AE1 Active loudspeakers,which are excellent, and have enough left over for the Wiim Uktra that Ajay mentioned - a very good streaming preamp and with the possibility of future expansion owing to its phono stage, digital imputs, e-ARC input and subwoofer output with pretty sophisticated bass management on board. That would be my recommendation if funds allowed.

[@markanthonyabarro6268]

Thank you so much! Me and my older brother enjoying watching your videos!

[@PearlAcoustics]

That is awesome! 👍

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

That’s a great idea , it’s nice to get someone started in Hifi , I get people up and running all the time , and I really enjoy it , usually a rega brio , planner 1 , Wiim pro streamer and wharfedale , 220 or 9.1 etc all for around £800 second hand

[@noturnleftunstoned72]

IMO, Schiit and JDS Labs are 2 of the most quality driven as well as 'beginner / intermediate / audiophile' friendly companies you can start in/recommend. Most of the pieces are also easy to navigate, tremendously well built, inexpensive and will have products to follow you along the way towards better and better quality as well as new needs as time passes. A starter can get a Modi Multibit / Magni Amp (or Vali tube Amp) and Fiio FT 1 Closed cans for $600. That's a very decent start if you ask me. Cheers.

[@PearlAcoustics]

👍

[@kaykay3342]

I recently put together my first Hi-Fi system and listen primarily in a small room at low volumes. My setup includes KEF Q150 speakers, a Schiit Modi DAC, an Outlaw Model 950 in bypass stereo mode, and the original Musical Fidelity A1 amplifier. For my CD player, I’m using an original PlayStation 1.

[@s.daniel9224]

I also use the A1 and modi dac. I’m using q acoustics 3030i and a q acoustic sub. That A1 is special.

[@tamayaytam]

Nice setup.

[@fredgenius]

Love the Quad 405 @21:19 - 40 year-old technology and still relevant today.

[@garycasperson4106]

Well done! Great idea and well presented. This is actually a topic I think about fairly regularly. I am definitely entering a friend’s name, who has been a music lover their whole life, but through a variety of unfortunate life circumstances has never been able to afford anything more than the cheapest stuff from a thrift shop. I would also recommend a Rega P3, having used a previous iteration for many years before getting a Linn Sondek LP12. For those without records, I would recommend a KEF LSX-II. One of my friends took my recommendation and has been very happy with the KEF. I see many of my friends, who like music, not really getting a chance to enjoy it because they don’t realize how amazing an inexpensive system can be, i.e. for less than a short winter vacation to Mexico or Hawaii they could have great sound for decades or more.

[@PearlAcoustics]

🙏

[@ignicioperez4647]

Thanks so much Harley for this great and heart warming video. Much needed in these uncertain times! Although not a newbie to hi fi, I do still have a Planar 3 in my system (with Exact MM cartridge) so I was happy to see it as a component of one of the suggested systems (I plan to upgrade to a Planar 8 in the medium term). All the best for the New Year and looking forward to your upcoming videos. Kind regards, Ignacio

[@PearlAcoustics]

🙏

[@renezwart3201]

Great action/consideration!! Much appreciated and very well inspirit of the season, needed in the current situations worldwide. warm feeling! Cheers, Rene

[@lucam.1203]

a praiseworthy initiative! Where can you buy artistic panels like the one behind Mr AyaJ?

[@PearlAcoustics]

The panels are all from GIK

[@fivish]

In 1980 I spent £80 on a Sansui R50 and £260 on Spendor BC1's and £? on Technics SL22 with £? Ortofon cartridge. A great sounding system which I still use.

[@DPSingh-px4xu]

Forgive me if I twist this theme a wee bit by humbly relaying my experience of pursuing a system after starting out on this path 50 years ago...a " getting out system " if you will...for a decade or so I owned a big class A/B amp, with suitable floor standing speakers and at least two sources with a value of just under $10,000. CAD....circumstances forced a move and sensible reduction of material things unsuitable for my new much smaller abode...your youtube channel led me to Thomas & Stereo etc.....which introduced me to products I had never heard of that you and Thomas reviewed...so I ended up with a SMSL VMV A1 & Topping Pre 90 at prices I would not have imagined for this type of performance...I alerted my son to your channel as he is presently searching for a reasonably priced system I hope he see's this....lovely idea this video is. Thanks Harley

[@PearlAcoustics]

You’re very welcome! Lovely back story. Thanks for sharing!

[@jozefserf2024]

Great video but perhaps we should bear in mind that any loudspeaker that doesn't have bass below 40Hz is actually a filter. You will have to partner it with a sub. The Quad / Rega system looks like a good one.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for your appreciation and comment. In fact all loudspeakers are filters to a certain extent. To be fair, the majority of loudspeakers on the market, including floor standers, are not ‘flat’ at 40hz, even studio monitors, often roll off around that point. In general, and especially in the classical world there is very little information recorded under 40hz. It really is in movies that the subwoofer can kick in. Having said that, our Sibelius loudspeakers, in the right set up, can be flat at 38Hz.

[@JCP-Ghy]

Wonderful gesture, Harley. Happy New Year.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you!

[@markcarrington8565]

Hi Harley, that’s a heck of a first system for some lucky person! I do know what I’m doing so when my neighbour asked me to buy his daughter a system to take to college with a budget of £250, I knew it had to be used. I confess I couldn’t get it below £300 including the better amp and a new cartridge, however, the new owner is over the moon. What did I buy? Well I was lucky enough to find a mint Pioneer PL-112D turntable, which even had a new belt. I checked it over and made sure the bearing was in nice condition and lubricated before fitting a new Audio Technica VM95E cartridge. Plenty of upgrade options later if she wants to on that one. I also swapped the PSU components for new equivalents at the same time. For amplification I looked at Marantz and Pioneer options as they were within the original budget. However, on hooking them up, the sound was dull and lifeless. I was surprised as with a CD player they sounded fine. I put this down to the inadequate phono stages and so I sought permission to up the budget and found a NAD 3225PE, which I serviced, including increasing the main power caps. Finally, I added a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze BX1 speakers for their compact size and overall sound quality and some nice copper cables and interconnects. This was a fun exercise and the result is a system which should last for years and which will retain its value should the owner decide to swap out the components for better ones at any point in the future. I hope the winner of your starter system realises just how lucky they are. 😊

[@PearlAcoustics]

👍🙏

[@s.daniel9224]

I think Schiit is a great starting point. Very affordable and you can grow as your budget and interest grows.

[@Linux_Lucy]

Yes, if U live in the USA. Availability ( if U can get them at all ? ) and prices elsewhere are just ... Trash ! Schiit - U need to get your European Dealer Network .. SORTED ! !

[@phfen]

Is there any other supplier on YT that is capable of recommending products that are not its own (here speakers) ? Very interesting talk Harley and Jay.

[@PearlAcoustics]

🙏

[@JanPippel]

I recommended to a friend a realy budget system…mostly to replace their bt boombox. Wiim Amp + a pair of Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk.ll. It’s a fun little system to enjoy music with super easy handling.

[@DouweBuruma]

How nice to give away a HiFi system. My first ’real’ HiFi system was a TEAC vrds-10 cd player, a Naim Nait 2 amplifier and an old pair of Hans Baan Hb1 speakers. I also had a Dual turntable, which model and cartridge I don’t know.

[@marklloyd4153]

I love your thinking . I know someone that lives in an old dilapidated RV with no hear . All franks entertainment comes from his phone . I met him at a Waffle House in Florida open 24 hrs . He works at McDonalds during the day , Waffle House is next door and he lives in a rundown RV ( caravan ) park . I go in 2 times a week to c Lucy and Andrew that work there and have a grilled cheese , or a bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich. We sit at 12 o clock to 2 or 4 in the morning and talk about music . He’s never had anything like a stereo and seems to just scrape by . If I knew anyone that could use a stereo would be him . Maybe someone else knows someone more deserving I don’t know . I’ve been typing along not watching your video and now have to go back and watch it with full attention . New subscriber now because I like that you think of others . Happy New Year 🎉

[@PearlAcoustics]

A lovely nomination and very kind appreciation. 🙏 you will need to nominate via the form in the link, however. Enjoy the rest of the video.

[@gg0297]

Killer setup [Quad Vena + S2 [stellar speakers)] ! I cannot recommend myself for the giveaway and I do not have a nomination, but I had to comment. Good luck and enjoy music to who'll win! 🎶

[@PearlAcoustics]

🙏

[@middleearthltd]

If I were starting over today I would simplify my system Marantz M1 $1,000 USD which is a digital amplifier, love this digital technology, which has a streamer and an all in one solution and is Made In Japan Wharfedale Linton Heritage $1,500 USD with stands and you can get by without a subwoofer Rega Planar 3 $1,200 USD Rega Fono Mini A2D MK2 $200 USD Incredible system for $3,900 Good on you for doing this for someone starting out

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks!

[@benjaminqilafku5714]

3900$ is well beyond budget for 98% of youngsters.

[@cunawarit]

This is a fantastic video! My first system was a NAD 310 paired with a couple of bookshelf speakers-likely Wharfedales-and for a CD player, I used a Samsung DVD player. If I were a student starting out today, I’d go for a pair of active studio monitors like the Yamaha HS5s, a WiiM or Raspberry Pi running Volumio, and an affordable DAC such as the AIYIMA DAC A5 Pro (or a FOSI audio equivalent). This setup would be excellent for both music and movies. Add a great pair of affordable headphones, like the Fidelio X2HR, and you’d have a versatile system-perfect for enjoying loud sound during the day and quiet listening at night in a shared house without disturbing anyone. For other sources I would simply get an affordable CD player with Toslink so I can connect it to the DAC. This is in fact very similar to my setup right now.

[@jamescarter9973]

My second iteration was a 3010 with Wharfedale diamonds + a Philips CD player and Technics SL5 linear tracking turntable. Used that system for many years and the only upgrade I ever did to that was better wires. Better wires make a lot of difference.

[@noturnleftunstoned72]

At least in North America, every teenager and early college kids all started on the all-in-one portable systems with a CD player, two cassettes, a tuner, 2 powerful little speakers and sometimes a woofer. Preferably by Sony / Aiwa / Toshiba / JVC or Denon for the big $$. They were actually very good. Powerful and mixed tapes for days. From the mid/late 80's through the 90's I would say 70% of kids bought these unless you were lucky enough to find good used or an uncle gave you second hand pieces. Why waste valuable money you hardly have as a teen / early 20's on individual expensive pieces if you are simply renting a room or have roommates etc...

[@osbert43]

What another great video!! I too have the same Quad 405 as you do as my every day amp (if I don’t have time to power up my Radford, or Quad ll’s. My suggestion for folks getting into this passion is used gear… recycle and reuse! I do believe your Quad pre is from the 90’s not the 80’s….

[@Kenny-Somafunk]

For Christmas I bought my best mates son (he’s 16) a Wiim Ultra streamer, Kanto Ora active monitors and desk stands and an Audio Technica AT-LP70XBT Automatic turntable, A 16yr old wants ease of use from a phone to control everything and his Xbox/TV will connect to the Ultra and the Kanto Ora desk monitors are fantastic sounding. His 17th birthday is in May so he’ll be getting the Kanto sub 8 subwoofer.

[@andrewsimpson4786]

Kudos to the companies involved, and yourself Harley. I've had pretty much the same Michell Gyrodec/Musical Fidelity 'house music' system for 30 odd years now, longevity is is a good point, but I spent a decade with the Rega P2 before that and they are even better than before, esp. the P3. Nowadays the D class type amps/phono stages etc are cheap as chips and seem to measure/sound good enough for all but those that adopt it as a hobby and strive for those last percentiles. My speakers are getting sibilant though, and I'm eyeing the Sibelius - and yes, I know patience is needed now...! I hope the 'winners' here enjoy the precious gift, for as Nietzsche said, '“without music life would be a mistake" :)

[@harrisarp3841]

Thank you!!!Happy and healthy New Year!!!!

[@barneyrubble9309]

Id be suggesting a lyngdorf 1120 plus some stand mounts of choice. It covers streaming and room correction and a pair of subs can be added at a later date as funds allow. Around 2k gets you a fabulous system that still allows an upgrade path if you wanted.

[@osliverpool]

That Rega/Quad/Quad system would take some beating - terrific stuff, and a lovely gift for someone who deserves it.

[@antoniojosedesa2695]

Thank you so much for your presentation. I'm planning to have my first hifi system soon. Of course in Brazil its a little difficult to shop all the components that you'd recommended but I'll try. Best wishes for 2025.

[@PearlAcoustics]

You’re very welcome. If you can’t find what I recommend, it’s not the end of the world. There’s so many ways of solving this challenge. Enjoy!

[@connorduke4619]

Great action! I would go for Teac VRDS-701T CD transport, Denafrips Pontus 15th dac, Marantz Model 50 amplifier and Dynaudio Evoke 10 loudspeakers.

[@benjaminqilafku5714]

A laudable initiative from the Pearl Acoustic front man whom I find such a sweet hearted gentleman! But I will differ from his choice because of ; 1 Too expensive for young person who approaches the hobby. 2. Too much real estate and too many components to move around! 3. Setting up the turntable isn't the most straightforward thing to muster! Even Steve Gootenberg more than 50 years in business candidly admitted that he couldn't set up properly his own turntable and had somebody else to do the thing. 4. Records may be very expensive for a student. My suggestion would be with a decent headset and headphone amplifier that is easily manageable and suitable for a dorm room where you possibly share the place with others! If you have your proper room or in domestic situation my advice would be streaming, powered speakers with a sub out and a cheap sub from reputable brands with a budget as low as under 1k. Triangle, Klipch, Argon, Q Acoustic offer some interesting powered speakers and Klipch, Polk, Wharfedale, Elac good subs for the buck! My 2 cent anyway!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for your kind appreciation and contribution to the topic

[@zano978]

for my first hifi I go for : naim nait 5si-rega planar3-proac tablette 10

[@JG-gg9wk]

That's a sweet system

[@rotaks1]

Harley, a question related to your usual content: Considering that most studio recordings involve close-mic techniques, isolation booths for instruments, and often the layering of vocals and instruments recorded in completely different studios or sessions, how do you think the concept of 'soundstage' comes into play when evaluating such recordings? Is it reasonable to expect a coherent sense of spatiality in studio productions, or is soundstage more relevant to live or minimally mixed recordings?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi thanks for your question. In the situation you describe, the engineers record each instrument in separate tracks, sometimes on multiple tracks (like a set of drums, for example). When they have all the instruments recorded (I am over simplifying a little here), the mixing engineer decides where he or she will place each instrument in the recording, thereby creating the stereo soundstage. For example, if they pan the vocal in the exact middle, by having exactly the same amount from the left and right channel, we hear the singer as if they are in front of us. Then if they decide to put the guitar solo slightly to the right of the singer, then they pan the guitar track slightly to the right. In this way they bring in all the instruments and pan them to create their soundstage exactly how they want. Then they add echo etc, to each track to create effects and the mastering engineer then gives the overall collection of songs a combined soundscape. I hope this makes sense?

[@FMN024]

When I had to recommend an entry sistem for a music director I realised that making a recommendation based exclusively on brands was not a good idea . It was a gift made by the members of his amateur choir and they had a tidy budget . After visiting several audio shops with two of the members involved in the gift project I realised that the best thing to do was to choose the streamer/amplifier + loudspeakers from the shop with the best services available in terms of friendliness, knowledge and guarantee policy even if other shops had some more established brands but with some less competitive services.

[@andreas5153]

Great recommendations! Was that a Quad 66 CD player in your house? I just got one, and it sounds so good with my Quad 303.

[@matytinman]

Quad Vena II uses two LM3886 chipamps, one per channel -> it is better to use speakers with real impedance closer to 8 Ohms than 4 Ohms -> it is best to use speakers whose measurements we know. In this case, the impedance and phase curves. Delivering about 53 watts at 8 Ohms, speakers with 87 dB sensitivity if we are going to listen to very good recordings with a large dynamic range (DR). ASR: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Review (Speaker) -> min 4 Ohms at 200 Hz. 88 dB -> true 85 dB!!! To listen to current commercial music, so poorly recorded and with DR < or

[@tamayaytam]

Useful info

[@B2video]

The wiim pro, wharefdale speakers are good starting points but i would suggest an amp like the Rotel A8, Cambridge axa 25 Yamaha AS series or even Denon PMA600. Proper amps with lots of inputs. SMSL is the only product brand I have had fail on me twice. Not all of these amps above have digital inputs but the line out on the wiim pro is good enough if you don't want the expense of a DAC at the start.

[@PearlAcoustics]

👍

[@pierskure4505]

I gathered one needs to nominate a recipient, in which case my 21 year old daughter currently using the 25 year old JVC micro HiFi. My advice to encourage youngsters is to start with decent active speaker. Klipsch Fives or Sevens with a WIIM mini connected via optical. Doubles as TV sound and has phono input and sub out for expansion. Easier way to get young people off portables and sound bars.

[@markorchard2272]

First system: Marantz PM/CD 6007 DALI Spektor 2.

[@carminedesanto6746]

Great touch of giving for this Christmas Season 🥂. For a donation ..maybe a high school (British equivalent) that still has a music programe ..and offer the next generation a glimpse of what’s possible with good sound ,in a great space and music to open their minds and expose them to a larger universe Best of the holiday season to you and yours.

[@PearlAcoustics]

That's a great idea!

[@m_sherzod]

Thanks for such an opportunity before the new year. 👍👏 Is it okay to submit for both the links? 😅

[@PearlAcoustics]

Yes of course! Good luck!

[@SuperMcgenius]

AJ, sorry you missed the mark for a first system. You want two speakers with bass and one box. Something like a pair of Elac’s with 6” woofers and a Cambridge, audio, or the like integrated with dac . Simple with decent looks. Maybe a U turn table.

[@arunaryan1983]

Happy new year 🎉

[@mbvx7]

Not sure I can beat the Quad system. I would go Marantz M1 streamer, preamp/amp all in one, $999 and Sonus faber Lumina 2 at $1299. $2298 (could go Lumina 1 to cut $300 off) 2nd system: Naim CI-Uniti 102 $1499, KEF Q3 Meta $799. $2298 Later add a REL T-Zero to any of these for a little more bass. Did not include turntable because albums are super expensive now and streaming is cheaper and easier.

[@Genny-Zee]

Hi Fi Way by You Am I, I recommend you listen to that album and do a video on it - it turns 30 this year.

[@avro66]

some of the class D amplifiers have op amps that can be swapped out for a better sound, flavour of sound, so thats a option i have the QUAD vena II myself,excellent choice .great video as usual .

[@PearlAcoustics]

🙏

[@SuperMcgenius]

Harley, your pick is good.

[@PearlAcoustics]

🙏

[@Markymarkvinylnut]

Very first thing to consider before choosing, buying anything... what size is the listening space? What room treatment is needed? and what type of house do you live in? flat? Terrace? Detached? Then you can choose your kit accordingly.

[@russellparker4568]

It’s a good system, the only issue I had was theres no speaker stands, it makes you wonder how it’s going to be set up on the other end. If the speakers get plonked on a table with the TT then it’s gonna be pretty disappointing. I think a floor stander might have been a better choice but hey ho, it is what it is, still a decent first system. Did you get chance to hear the Quads? I find them to be a bit of a marmite speaker, they do some things well and others quite badly. The port design is poor for how low they are rated, I’ve never heard any speaker port chuff as bad as the ones on the S2’s.

[@eCommencal]

Just bought: WiiM Ultra Streamer, Marantz PM6007 Amp. ELAC Debut 3-63bk Speakers £1,003 (Chord cables extra). I think that a basic setup but still quality that will last awhile before upgrading. 6

[@eCommencal]

Harley, if you do have a small system to gift may I recommend my local Lawn Bowls Club. Senior citizens who run a winter social program to keep the members together where music would be a great addition to their offering.

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

Brilliant and thoughtfull choice ! As well as a superb service and respect for the heritage of the brand to be maintained ...... Whatevr a system , .it should not rerlay ontech performance but on the capability tounderstand music and incite to discover by this quality a lot of new music and recordings , even those of witch you thought to be without interest or bland sounding on many systems ...first experience is important for every aspect in humans lifec ..........music is one of them .

[@PearlAcoustics]

🙏

[@joegoodsell]

WiiM streamer, Cambridge audio amp, q acoustics perhaps. Or Buchardt active speakers

[@johanposdijk5333]

Buchardts are amazing. Speakers, aftersales and service alike.

[@matytinman]

Stereophile: Quad S-2 loudspeaker Measurements -> min 4 Ohms at 200 Hz. 87 dB. OK with Quad Vena II + good recordings with DR > 12 dB.

[@tamayaytam]

I have a pair. Listen before you buy.

[@goodsound4756]

If someone asked me for advice for a first system, I would ask them about their budget and then, I will try to find out if they prefer a warm/neutral/analytical presentation. Only thenI I would go for specific brands. And for a beginner I probably would choose an all in one system like the Cambridge EVO, so a new owner would not have to deal a lot with interconnects and other cables.

[@ljubisaspasic5846]

I like all your videos, thank you for that. I would like to suggest something regarding your Sibelius speakers. The reason I am not considering your speakers and I sow few people were complaing, is they are too tall. I am wandering if the "Sibelius S" (short) can be design with the same volume and technology/spec but with the tweeter no more than 90 cm from the ground. Does this approach will lead to the same sound? Thank you.

[@stenstensen3522]

I will suggest: Tangent PreAmp and Kali Audio IN-5 studio monitors. Only about 1000 euro in total.

[@stevenelliott5403]

That's one hell of a beginners system, I was think about £2000 max

[@proper90s43]

I'd buy a used Bluesound Node as a streamer. Cheaper. SMSL would be ok and probably Q Acoustics speakers. Lot less than 800 Euros and award winning.

[@pimvanvliet2812]

Another great video by Harley and 'mini Harley'. I would probably go in the direction on Ajay. As for speakers, some of the Emotive speakers, alt ought the Wharfdale's look interesting too.

[@rotaks1]

I bought the Fos stereo V3 based on Tarun from A British Audiophile who gave it a 'outstanding' rating. I love it! Its hard to belive such sound can come from such a small affordable footprint!

[@tamayaytam]

I went the same path. I suggest you buy a 1969 jlh clone. If you can't build one which is fairly easy. Then you will throw away class d thingy.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

​@@tamayaytam Is that the Gold one?

[@tamayaytam]

​​@@crazyprayingmantis5596 the one reviewed on this channel. Search youtube for Iam Mad. Guy has reviewed the amp. He has very precise insights. I built mine from a kit.

[@remiwjuniski1808]

Hm…I would personally go rega io, focal chora 806 speaker , and an Octavio stream or a wiim pro plus ;)

[@LDN_BOX]

For a beginner: Naim Mu-so Qb, all in one system at a fair enough price

[@jimsimon5706]

Why suggest speakers with no bass? I mean, you wouldn't recommend a speaker that has no top end, or midrange. Your London friend did say that at some point the person who bought his recommended system might, at a later date, want more "oomph" I think he said, but why not have something from the start which might at least play the music? TDL used to do it for not much money - don't know who does offer bass new at the moment, but I hope someone does! -6db @ 45Hz or something (I haven't looked up the specs so this might be off, but the point is there) is very light when it comes to ambient acoustic bass.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi, thanks for your comment. But this is exactly why I chose the Quad S2, they are -6db at 37Hz, which is rather low

[@jimsimon5706]

@ My apologies as you've clearly put together a nice full system, but my thoughts were more about the sofa session with your London colleague during which he acknowledged that more bass might be a good idea. However, a -6dB point is, I suggest, less useful than seeing where the in-room roll off begins and one wouldn't accept a -6dB failing anywhere else in the audible spectrum. But, yes, I apologise for interfering in a very worthy and generous gesture. Any initiative that provides a new listener with genuine hi-fi is to be commended. Not many, young or old, realise what music in the home can be like. You'll be giving someone, probably more than one person, a lifetime's awareness they can go on to enjoy for decades.

[@PearlAcoustics]

@ Hi Jim, apology accepted. Thanks for your reply, I see where you’re coming from and thank you for your generous support of what we are doing here. Best wishes for 2025!

[@tamayaytam]

​@@PearlAcoustics this bass thing is it good thing i don't know. I had monitor audio bronze 2 speakers. For the bass need i bought quad s2 since they have good reviews. I needed time to adjust. Because it seemed to me heavy bass veiled some of midrange. It felt not detailed for some time.

[@gerlachsieders4578]

If you want bass on a budget, how about the Criton 1tdx, a DIY by CSS Audio, these are beasts...

[@dennis3779]

The fosi seems to be a burn out type. The cheapest class A amp that can be used on the Fosi 3 pre amp dac or Ultra Streamer pre out is the a1 clone poweramp and if you buy two you can vertical bi amp speakers which have bi amp function if using a Y jumper cinch cable from the pre amp to the amp. Then there are some cheaper tube amps like RFTLYS and Musishare and then the smsl vmv a1 amp and FX10H SE tube amp. The Arcam sa10 and Audiolab 6000 and MF M3Si and Rotel and Rega amps etc. are not really Class A. The first upgrade dac is probably the xduoo ta22 or Mojo 2 followed by the Enyo dac and then the Powerdac BX dac and then the AN 0.1 dac 🤔 The Triangle Titus are also the best cheap speakers and then the Lumina Also the Kef LSX 2 or Triangle and also the Mu So 2 all in one but if you want bigger stereo you have to be technical to add some stereo mid hi speakers that have no filters to the Mu So 2 which have the same impedance or move the inbuilt mid hi speakers to something external somehow 🤔

[@s.daniel9224]

Q acoustics 3030i are remarkable for $500.

[@tamayaytam]

My suggestion is smsl vmv a1, or better jlh 1969 class a amplifier. Smsl su 1 dac akm chip is different to me. Or topping e30 ii with remote and preamp built in. I don't like class d.

[@Linux_Lucy]

Erm, .. Wow, 800 Pound Speakers for a 'Beginner' Hi-Fi Sytem ! REEEEALLY ? Way Too Expensive. Your Friend recommended a Bright sounding speaker paired with another Bight, Class D Amp ! Not a Good Match ... I'd go for the Superb 'Under 300 Notes' Acoustic Energy AE100-2's. A more Neutral / Warm speaker. A much better 'pairing' for 'any' Cheap Class D Amplifier. And yes, the Quad S2 speakers are excellent, but, still not 'quite' what I'd call 'Beginner System' Price wise ! ! .... My own Quad 34 / FM4 / 306 & Quad ii Valve Mono Blocks are still going strong. Also own the Brill Artera Pre-Amp. Reference the Vena ii 'Play' .... Sadly it uses the JUNK ( Unfit for purpose ) DTS Play-Fi Streaming APP ! There are Hundreds ( Thousands ) of Utoob Video's also saying the DTS App is Rubbish. Yes, it ''Streams'' but, the UI and usability are Garbage ! ... I'd suggest buying the 'Standard' Vena ii Amp and then Adding the Superb Wiim Mini Streamer. An absolute 'Steal' at 80 Euro's / Pounds .... And the APP is one of the Best out there ... Nice Video. Have a good New Year.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for your comment and contribution to the topic.

[@tomoxfford]

I nearly bought a pair of those V3s yesterday but discovered from a couple of proper reviewers they can get incredibly hot & burn out, even at moderate volumes. Make sure you include the warranty documents when posting out to the lucky recipient…!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for sharing

[@anltiryakiler7050]

I really dont know. I tried somewhere Sonus Faber venere 2.5 + 3000 euro french made power amp wich have tube pre. No-Fi Terrible experience.

[@jumpingwhale]

a pair of acoustic energy ae 100 mark 2 are cheaper and very good 420€ i think it kicks the sonus fabers ass

[@JG-gg9wk]

That's nice if your looking to help ONE individual, perhaps arranging for these companies to offer a discounted price of these products for your listeners would have been nice also. But for the lucky who submitted the saddest story good for you. for the rest of us maybe next time,

[@musicfromthegroove]

For beginners this is way too expensive.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

I try to discourage people from getting into this audio madness, its an illness without a cure imo. Just buy your plastic JBL Bluetooth speaker and enjoy your Taylor Swift in blissfull ignorance Youll be a lot richer and a lot happier ☺️

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for your comment. I think hifi is a bit like alcohol… the majority of people go out and buy a system and that’s that. A small percentage get addicted to the gear and spend. Any years searching for perfection, or simply just get bored and enjoy the kick new gear brings.

[@philholmes4183]

How boring can it get I nearly fell asleep