Home HiFi Advice Needed

[platinum52]

After some advice regarding home HiFi!

I've never had my own HiFi system before, I've always just had my PC linked to my TV and used that, and have a very decent set of headphones for clarity when I need it, but now the time has come to get a proper system as I'm in my own flat.

I have spent the past few hours rapidly going through different systems, starting at iPod docks like the Fatman ValveDock and progressing through to amp & speakers, like the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1s. Then I read a topic somewhere about the Diamonds being no good for bass music, so thought I would give in and ask for assistance.

I listen to all genres of music, from Johnny Cash to Modeselektor, though primarily it would be the latter, Techno, Dubstep, etc - so bass is a major factor.

As I previously stated, I would be playing the music either through my PC (although I gave my M-Audio sound card to someone I won't see again, is that a problem? Think I have an inbuilt Realtec card in this tower, currently use HDMI for sound to my TV) or through an iPod. So I guess I could plug in to an amp, then on to the speakers and control like that (side question; if I wanted it set up away from my PC is there wireless options without costing extra hundreds?). I'm not interested in CD/radio, unless it comes with no added expense!

I don't have a large budget but am willing to build it up over time. Doesn't need to be the greatest system in the world by any means, but I am fairly fussy when it comes to sound quality so don't want it cheap. Hopefully the Diamond 9.1s show the kind of level I am aiming at (if not a touch higher seeing as they seem to be the best rated budget gear), even if they won't be suitable for my musical taste.

[NRHc]

Hey!
Don't know much about hiFi systems,though I've had an Harman/Kardon amp with JVC speakers(old school ones) and they sound great..I've bought a seperate sub though(David D-box 302..sounds fucking great) and listening to bass music on this system is just great! So buy a kit with a decent amp and decent sub and you shall do fine

[vertx]

I also don't know a whole lot about hi-fi but here's my 2c.

The diamonds look real nice, the freq response chart shows a huge drop off after about 50hz but that's to be expected with that woofer size, if you do go with them add a sub into the mix and you'll be set on that low end (depending on room size) and yes, as above get a nice amp, that's paramount.

I manage to pick up some old hi-fi and a decent amp and I've been loving the sound, I don't have a spec sheet for them but they hit a low sub note F pretty nicely (around 50hz) without a sub so those Wharfdales might be good to go without a sub, which you can always add later.

Imo you don't really want wireless, and I don't see how you can have wireless passive speakers???

What I've got goes: mixer out/soundcard out > RCAs > Aux input on amp > Copper wire > Speakers

Hope some of that helps

[vishes]

Go here:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/

Best tip any1 could give you. Lots of people on that forum who got some serious knowledge of HiFi. They helped me pick my current system.
Good luck with it mate A decent system is of upmost importance.

[platinum52]

Cheers guys. I'll sign up to that forum now and see what they are saying, and vertx thanks for the advice. For someone who doesn't know much about HiFi's you have done well!

I was reading about watts/ohms and how the amp delivers to the speakers. If I was to go with the Wharfedale's which I think from memory were 100/6 would I need an amp that did 75/8 or something like that for maximum power, or do you never want to actually hit max watt?

[vertx]

Not 100% sure, google will probably help you out on this, but I think yes you want more ohms on the amp than the total of your speakers, cables and anything else causing impedance in the system.

On the wattage side of things I did some reading a while ago and basically you are safe within a certain range above or below what the loudspeakers are rated at but this can depend on the quality of the amp as often cheap amps can be overrated to sell more. Again do some searching through google and you should be sweet.