System 1: Up to $1,500
A bargain set-up that’s packing a lot of
quality – this combo is the perfect way to rekindle your love for Hi-Fi
System 2: $1,501.5 - $3,000
Up the stakes in price and tech with this
elegant streaming system offering muscle, flair and sophistication
System 3: $3,001.5 - $6,000
A formidable and feature-laden high-end
set-up to thrill the most modern music lovers and hi-fi traditionalists
System 4: $6,001.5 - $9,000
This tremendous trio will satisfy the
demands of the most hardened critic with a sound to truly savor
Careful
component matching can produce a budget system that sounds a million dollars
Up to $1,500
Careful component matching can produce a
budget system that sounds a million dollars
Marantz CD6004: $465 (Ratings: 5/5)
Rotel RA-10: $525 (Ratings: 5/5)
Q Acoustics 2020i: $217.5 (Ratings: 5/5)
Just because you’re in the market for a
budget system doesn’t mean you should have to make any sacrifices regarding
sound quality. The only sacrifice you must make in our first set-up is
foregoing remote control for Rotel’s RA-10 stereo amp – you can’t even buy one
as an optional extra.
Marantz
CD6004: $465
That’s a small price to pay for the level
sonic brilliance produced by this recently crowned Award-winner. Available in
black, as well as the silver finish pictured here, the Rotel is well specified
too, and includes a headphone socket, moving magnet Phono stage and twin
speaker outputs.
Instead of the Rotel, it would have been an
easy option to go for Marantz’s PM6004, especially as we’re using the company’s
matching CD6004 CD player as our source. The CD6004 has dominated this price
point for the past couple of years – we’ve yet to come across a machine that
offers an equivalent level of performance for this kind of money. But, while
the set-up would have been more than capable with two Marantzes in tow, the
extra richness and warmness of the Marantz pairing robs the Q Acoustics 2020is
of some of their vibrancy. These excellent speakers look like they deserve a
more expensive price tag, and the sound quality on offer just makes them
ridiculously good value.
Rotel
RA-10: $525
Strings sound natural and emotive on
Elgar’s Enigma Variations, which ebbs and flows beautifully thanks to the
system’s impeccable timing
And the 2020 is pump out a hugely
impressive amount of bass. Spin Darke’s Take Care and the system follows the
bass line with fantastic enthusiasm, highlighting the changes in weight and
depth with impressive ease. The scale of the different bass notes is
communicated in crystal-clear fashion, while vocals sound expressive and
refined.
For stands, we’d suggest partnering with a
budget set, such as Atacama’s Nexus 6 ($75). The 2020 is are quite deep, which
means you could find it a squeeze placing them on a bookshelf (not that we’d
recommend a bookshelf as the ideal place to set a pair of speakers).
Honest transparency
Switch to a recording of Stevie Wonder’s
Foe Once In My Life and the system shows its transparency. There’s a purity and
honesty to the track as opposed to the more slickly produced Drake. The
harmonica solo can grate the listener into submission on lesser systems, but
the Marantz et al ride the crest of this high-pitched wave with poise.
Q
Acoustics 2020i: $217.5
Classical music is handled in a similarly
accomplished vein. Elgar’s Enigma Variations ebbs and flows beautifully thanks
to the system’s impeccable timing. Strings sound natural and emotive never
coarse, communicating with the listener from the delicate start to the rousing
finish.
If you’re new to Hi-Fi simply recapturing a
lost enthusiasm, them this system is a wonderful place to start.
Total system price: $1,207.5
Or try these…
Audioquest DragonFly: $322.5 (Ratings:
5/5)
You don’t have to use a music streamer to
free music stored on a computer hard drive. Hook up this super-portable
DragonFly DAC to one of your PC or Mac’s USB sockets and use a 3.5mm-to-stereo
RCA cable to connect it to a spare stereo input on the amplifier. The DragonFly
has created a bit of a buzz: music sounds detailed, informative and
entertaining. And, given its name, it’s fitting that it also sounds nimble.
Audioquest
DragonFly: $322.5
Marantz NA7004: $645 (Ratings: 5/5)
If you do want a streamer you can always
swap the CD6004 for Marant’s NA7004. Its blend of features and performance is
spot on for the money. It allows for streaming from a hard drive, as well as
internet radio and streaming services such as Last.fm. There’s AirPlay
functionality for iOS-equipped devices too. Sonically, the NA7004 serves up the
same entertaining sound as the CD player, so you don’t have to worry about
unbalancing the rest of the system.
Marantz
NA7004: $645
Rega RP1: $345 (Ratings: 5/5)
The vinyl revival continues in earnest, so
it’s only right that we provide an option for those wanting to use a turntable.
Rega’s pedigree at higher prices is unquestionable, but even at the budget
level the company maintains high standards of sound quality. The RP1 has always
excelled in terms of detail levels, dynamics and timing, but the recent
addition of the company’s new Carbon Cartidge has made the argument for buying
it even stronger.
Rega
RP1: $345
Q Acoustics 2050i: $630 (Ratings: 5/5)
Any floor-standing speaker is going to
create greater bass weight and scale than a Standmounter. At this price point
there are a fair few that have the weight but are lacking in control. If you
want a floor-stander, stick with Q Acoustics and do for the 2050is. They
maintain the easy-going character of the smaller speakers, but successfully
magnify bass weight and create a greater sense of scale.
Q
Acoustics 2050i: $630
