A guide to advanced hi-fi systems

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Although the guiding principles of hi-fi sound reproduction have remained unchanged in the last 50 years or so, the technology itself has come along in leaps and bounds in that time. Here is a guide to the most advanced hi-fi systems on the market today. If you are spending serious money on a hi fi system, it doesn’t make any sense to hook it up with cheap, flimsy cables, as this will degrade the quality of the whole system. For great deals on high quality [tp lang=”en” only=”y”]coaxial cable[/tp][tp not_in=”en”]coaxial cable[/tp] and other hi-fi components, visit the RS Components website.

Amplifiers

At the lower end of the price scale, there are a number of excellent options available to you, such as Yamaha’s award-winning A-S500 integrated amp (pictured below), and the Marantz PM 6004. Both are capable of excellent sound reproduction when paired with the right speakers, and both come in at under £500.

If you have a little more to spend, you might want to consider the Roksan K2, which combines great all-round sound quality with a distinctive mirrored fascia. If money is no object, then the Leema Tucana amplifier, which features a highly advanced remote control system that can be linked up with a range of equipment, could be worth a look – if you don’t mind spending £3,500 on one hi-fi component, that is.

Speakers

At the lower end of the price spectrum, the Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 speakers (pictured below) have a lot of fans, although they tend to work better with some amplifiers than others. The stand-mounted Wharfedale Diamonds are slightly cheaper, and give a good, balanced sound without imposing much of their own character.

If you are prepared to spend a bit more, the Tannoy Revolution DC6 T floor-standing speakers offer boutique sound quality at a mid-range price point. If you can afford to spend upwards of £2000 on a pair of floorstanding speakers, then theProac Response D18s are worth a look. While they look a little bit plain, the sound quality is nothing short of breathtaking. Alternatively, you might want to consider the ATC SCM40s, which are some of the most revealing high-end speakers on the market, but bear in mind that you will need a powerful amplifier to get the best out of them. For more information about how to match amplifiers to speakers, take a look at this page  on the Home Cinema Guide website.

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