I am thinking of spending some money on a good sound system for watching movies and listening to music. Not the generic brands like Sony, Panasonic, but something higher end.
Could anyone here knowledgeable in audio stuffs please recommend me 1 or 2 good audio shops that are trustworthy? You know, like how we've got the usual few photo shops we go to for our camera gear? Cos I'm a noob in audio matters.... :embrass:
I read that if the speakers or set up on done correctly according to the room layout, then the sound quality may not be optimal. So that's why need a good audio shop that can advise me and maybe help me set up the sound system if I buy it.
Many thanks!! Appreciate any recommendation!
audio shop is entirely different from camera shop. in camera shop, they carry almost similar brand of cameras. most importantly, they are usually stand alone items (Hifi need matching of various component). there could be trustworthy shop in selling camera but i would not say trust-worthy audio shop. there is no 'something higher end' in audio. budget / entry level/ mid-hifi / highend end?
budget like cambridge audio with amplifier and CDP etc
entry level like rotel, marantz, rega brio, etc
mid hifi like rega , naim nait (wide range to high end)
high end like ....
BTW, how do you define high end?
why not tell us your budget instead. most crucial component is the speaker and amplification. you mentioned 'watching movies and listening to music'. watching movies need high power or current amplification to produce the impact of the scenario. you should take the Home theater route cause you might need center speaker, sub-woofer etc.
music listening is easier but the choice of speaker is still crucial. high-efficiency speaker need easier amplification. system matching between speaker and amplifier is crucial and it determine the characteristic of the whole system.
rough guide
Harbeth C7es3 (C7es2 older model) are have easy speaker loading, good for both 'watching movies and listening to music'. get a Naim nait 5i and CD5i and you have a mid to high-end system. this system when new need S$8K. used price would be S$5K. this system has warmth feeling of the harbeth, and PRAT factor of the Naim.
Proac floorstander with Densen system, also ard S$8k (entry level component). Living Voice model Auditorium with Lavardin IS is about $11K new. remember, dont go for the low ohm, difficult-to-drive like TOTEM. you will have pain in matching them. pain as in paying $$$ for the amplifier. there are many system / brand. tell them your budget your music genre and there will be full of recommendation.
lastly rotel and rega brand> asia sound Mr lim, nice uncle who teaches you how to save money.
oh, i didn't do any room treament. and room layout placement is easy. speaker should always stay away from corner and back wall. this is to let the speaker to 'breath'. if room is tight, go for the front firing type speaker like the harbeth C7es3. room damping with furniture bookself bed pillow curtain etc. always tackle the first point of reflection from the speaker.
last but not least, audio is a deep hole, can suck you in financially and better to avoid it in the first place.