Let’s Go Buy A New Audio System!
Let’s Go Buy A New Audio System!
For years I lived in a tiny NYC apartment and used a small self contained shelf system, a Denon D-M41. For me the sound was perfect for what I needed. However, I recently moved out of NYC, bought a house, and have a lot more space. With that in mind, it’s time to update my audio system. Join me as I visit Audio Connection in Verona, NJ and get a brand new system and a new lease on my love of music!
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Good for low budget but why are putting the speakers on the floor. Also going to overheat the amp with something on top of it
I think they make specialty speaker "stands" that will just lift the speakers off the rug. For as many cds as you have, you’d probably enjoy a DJ-type cd player with 2 or more players and then you can really mix it up. Enjoy!
Those are some nice components you picked out, Brendon. NAD is top-line stuff. I now have a Rega turntable, which is my newest addition. It was to replace my old L&G turntable, where the bearing finally gave out on the platter, which was solid aluminum. I have an 80’s vintage Realistic receiver/amplifier and my old JVC double tape deck, plus a pair of Philips speakers. I play my CDs through my other system, that is hooked up to my television set-up. It has a powerful Yamaha power amp and a pair of Db speakers, which sound wonderful. And yes, that Trooper album is a "best-of" compilation. They were a big popular band from the west coast, back in the day, with numerous hits.
Dead wrong (your supposition "that it all comes down to the speakers"). Source is king. Garbage in, garbage out. By the way, the Fyne model you bought are wonderful, but you won’t believe how great they get with a better source.
Audio Connection is by far the best place to buy audio gear from in the northeast. Very knowledgeable with system matching (synergy). They also have something for every budget. John, the owner, is a great guy.
Definitely want a new audio system for my next place
Is there a way to convert old school jack- in the back speakers to wireless blu- tooth??
NAD Electronics is a brand name of an electronics firm whose products include home hi-fi amplifiers and related components. NAD is an abbreviation for New Acoustic Dimension. The company was founded in London, England, in 1972 by Dr. Martin L. Borish, an electrical engineer with a PhD in physics.
It needs to be mentioned (having sold audio for some years while in college/grad school) that it’s a great value even if the price is not internet based to pay alittle more for the support/live listening. I was understandably frustrated when I would have customers put me through my paces, take pictures and leave knowing they were going home to find an online dealer. Then, they would come back to me when they did not work as expected and be frustrated when I told them to seek help from the online dealer…..
Nice little system, i would have saved a few pennies on the streamer and used a Wiim pro plus, and saved a few more on the CD player and used a used one or a used DVD player and added an SMSL SU1 Dac
Then used the $ i saved to upgrade the amp and maybe speakers too, but they are some nice little speakers you got
Hi Brendon, Rob here from Ireland 🇮🇪. I visited manhattan last month and I used your recommendation to visit book off. I ended up buying 26 cds including some very rare finds that I could not source on the shelves in Ireland including albums by Rush, Boston and Foreigner. I am really enjoying your channel, so keep up the great work. 👍 I have a quick non-music related question – How do you sit on the floor like that and is it comfortable? I have tried it, and my legs just won’t fold that way, 😂 but it looks very comfortable. Thanks again. Rob.
Congratulations , enjoy.
Caution ⚠️ don’t stack the CD player on top of the integrated amplifier need to on the bottom or another shelf due to heat from the amp rising up. Nice system 👌 😊
Nice system-I note the total price you paid,it certainly wasn’t cheap-but I feel that I am a little “old school” in say the following-I am still surprised that you didn’t get or have a tuner,cassette deck or even a MD Deck(Minidisc)-these would’ve made your system complete !
Too me it boils down to subwoofers
NAD is excellent. Bluesound is good just a little over priced IMO. Now the Fyne Speakers I never heard, but get good reviews. I hope you do a follow up video on the NAD and Fyne’s
I enjoy your channel and enthusiasm for cd and music. Glad to see you make a sensible decision for your needs and space regarding equipment. You are very lucky to have a local audio store and knowledgeable staff.
Hope you liked your new system.
Fun video! I have that NAD amp in our guest bedroom. Big fan of the brand ever since I first experienced the classic NAD 3020 via a college roommate. I have the C 162 preamp/processor in the Doom Cave, with Crown XLS 1502 amp, and the updated D3020 V2 compact integrated in the bedroom. Bluesound is nice, but for streaming I saved some $ with the WiiM Pro Airplay 2, which I use to stream my 20,000+ album FLAC collection and Tidal in bedroom and guest room using ROON.
Money saved there could go toward a nice set of tower speakers. I’m a big advocate for towers, because for the same footprint you get more power and range in Hz for barely any more $ after you’ve bought stands. I have Wharfedale, Rega and Zu Audio. The Zu Dirty Weekend II were the most recent purchase, though it’s already been four years. I’m very happy with ’em, but first choice would have been Mission QX-5, but couldn’t get them shipped from UK affordably. For those on a budget, Danish company Jamo has great affordable options.
Nice. I have purchased stuff in the past at Audio Connection. Now you need a good turntable as well!!!
Jesus Christ, Brendon. You can’t have your listening setup positioned like that! Speakers on floor. Here are some negative things: tiny corner, too narrow distance between speakers.
Find a place in the room where it is symmetrical. Speakers wider apart and face them towards you in about 30 degrees angle. Instead of $299 stands, get some "free"/cheap leca and use a thick book on top of it and place your speaker on top, or use some furniture rubber to protect speaker from leca. I guess you weren’t planning on having them on the floor?
I like your Nads.
Congrats on your new system. Such fun to first listen to something new. It is like all your music is brand new.
Nice!
Cool system, Brendon. So envious of your purchase. Haven’t found the time to find a nice stereo system for my music. I’d rather buy locally via a small local business instead of through a major store chain in a larger city. The owner took great care of wrapping up your speakers, and that’s the beauty of buying from a privately owned shop versus the major store chains. Looks like he gave you a great deal on everything, too. I need to find a place like this in my neck of the woods.
I own Trooper’s Hot Shots on CD. Good compilation, but the band should have waited to put it out after 1979’s Flying Colours which features their biggest local/native hit to date "Janine" (which was not a hit here in the States.) They didn’t do that, though. Hot Shots charted and sold very well in the band’s native Canada. One of the biggest selling Greatest Hits/Best Of compilation albums of all time in Canada. I think it has sold close to 3M copies to date.
Well, this question is going to sound rather elemental in light of the, one imagines, many technical questions you will receive pertaining to this topic, but at what point does a music enthusiast decide the time is right to change/upgrade an existing, ostensibly satisfactory, hi-fi system?
Really enjoyed this one and going through the purchasing experience. I’m keep on investing in some nice separates.
I’m a newish subscriber and have started going through the videos with you and Anthony (YT suggested the one around owning a record store, and I’ve been hooked ever since haha).
All the best.
Ed
A little late to the party,but, exciting stuff when the new system comes home. Enjoy.
That little NAD c316 is an vary musical is incredible preformer
For Its price is yours the v2 version vary good phono preamp in the v2 version
Don’t ýou have the super de luxe Jeff Wayne’s – War of the world’s 6 CD with one DVD BOX
keep the boxes!!!
I have the Fyne Audio F500s and they are incredible (to my ears anyway). Enjoy!
That is one of the best companies there is Enjoy it
Hi, brendon I enjoyed your topic, about purchasing your sound system.Every true rocker! Needs a good system.Hint my speakers are martin logan motion2 & 2 stereo bowers & wilkens book shelf speakers know outstanding clarity higher sensitivity 92, NOT TOO BOOMY, GREAT DYNAMIC RANGE .SILKY HIGHS .LOTS OF TREBLE & MIDS FOR ROCK N METAL MUSIC, LOVE THE TEXTURE SOUNDS OF ACOUSTIC GUITARS, & ELECTRIC GUITARS!❤❤I LISTEN MY ROCK MUSIC IN HIGH PASS, EQ, UP THE MIDS ,TURN UP THE TREBLE!! ..GREAT JOB BRENDON KEEP ROCKN’…
Congratulations on your new system. I appreciate you purchasing from a brick & mortar audio store. And that one appeared to be very old school in nature. Dig it!
That guy did you right on everything IMHO. I’m big into audio myself, and have a huge collection of gear. I’m the type that likes to learn everything about whatever it is I’m into. And because I’m frugal. I do it all myself. No dealers, because they cost more.
And I really want to know how everything works myself anyways. He made you cables exactly the way I do it myself. He sold you great components too. You really couldn’t have done any better on your own, or anywhere else.
That amp is about the only class AB amp (all others are class D) that NAD still makes, and is considered by many to be a reference for that level of gear. Including The Audiophiliac himself. Steve Guttenburg. Who is one of the best known reviewers of HiFi gear in YouTube.
The “BEE” in the name stands for Bjørn Erik Edvardsen. He’s the engineer that designed the unique design that NAD uses. AKA “Powerdrive”. This means that although your amp is only rated for 40 watts RMS.
It has much more headroom than other amps that don’t have that. So it will peak at 100 watts. Where as a regular 40 watt amp might peak at 50 watts, or so. And will sound like a more powerful amp to you, because it basically is.
Your speakers are from Fyne, and that company was started by engineers from Tannoy a few years ago. Which I’m 99% sure is the oldest loud speaker company that’s still in business. They make some Uber high end stuff too. And also have a unique design to them. They’re famous for their Dual Concentric Compression Technology.
Which is a fancy way of saying coaxial drivers that have a compression/horn type tweeter in the middle of the woofer. And even their vintage stuff goes for big dollars. And it’s still considered by many to be top notch, even when compared to current technology.
And Fyne itself has gotten many rave reviews, and also makes some really high end speakers themselves. So they should be a decent, if not great match for the amp.
And while I don’t know much about your CD player. I’m sure it’s a good sounding one. And since you mentioned it was light. I recommend trying to put some weight on it. To get rid of any resonances caused by the thin metal, and the spinning platter.
A brick, and a bowl of sand/lead shot. That sort of thing. Just not too heavy. Think 5 pounds, or so. And the steamer you bought. Is actually like the 3rd iteration on that unit. And probably the best selling streamer today.
The great part of that is the software, and the performance per dollar. It’s designed for a music lover like yourself, and not for Uber transparency. Or for serious HiFi either. IOW it’s not a clinical sounding piece. And sounds really good to the majority of people.
As for the stands. I would be careful on that one. You say you listen on the floor. If that’s so. You don’t want them too high either. You’ve got bear in mind that speakers usually gain bass when near any boundary (floor, wall, ceiling).
So while getting them up, and out in the room will make them sound clearer, and more open. It will also reduce what little bass you have with them. Also speakers are designed to be listened to at ear level. Not above, nor below. So here’s my recommendation.
Start by figuring out where you want them placed. And set up something to get them there. Using whatever you can. A stack of books maybe? Or CD cases even. Just temporarily, to listen.
Then go ahead and experiment with them. Moving them, up, down, left, right, and toeing them in/out will all change the sound. Find the best sound you can. Then go get whatever will get them there. But remember that even a wide stand will make the bass stronger, as it will act as a boundary.
So find something with a bass about get same dimensions as the bottom/top of the speakers. And what’s below that base shouldn’t be too big either. Think normal speaker stand type shape.
And just so you’re aware. There is a future upgrade path in the form of a standalone DAC (digital to analog converter). They make some in your price range that will vastly improve the sound of both the CD player (assuming it has a digital output), and your streamer. Look up “Topping E70 Velvet” to get an idea of a nice one in your range.
Either way. You’ve done great. That guy was great that you bought it from. And you should get years of enjoyment from your investment. Enjoy the music. ✌️
Cool video
😊
Naim Audio /Cyrus combo ❤
My hifi is 20k GBP
Don’t have crap in Hawaii
Next phase two will be to order a pair of the smaller REL subwoofers and the system will take a huge jump in imaging and overall balance !
Nothing like unwrapping new gear, the smell alone is perfume…..
I ordered the same NAD C538 CD Player today – thanks Brendon. Love your channel.
Nice! I have the NAD C538 CD player. It has a great sound. The buttons on mine are a bit touchy. I do a quick press. If you hold the button too long it can freeze the player. If that happens to you, you must unplug the CD player to reset it. I just had to practice to get it right. Hopefully your model has updated firmware. I use mine every day!
NAD, plain old junk. Buy a proper hi-fi system next time.
Congratulations Brendon on your new audio system!! NAD products are well known to the audiophile community and well respected I might add. I know the joy and excitement of opening boxes to new pieces of audio equipment so I share those feelings with you!! ENJOY!!!
New Acoustic Dimensions.
Thanks for sharing! Thanks for buying local B&M.
Isn’t it great!
Of all the things that happen in life we can always remember out systems we buy along the way as some of the happiest days of our life!
Too cool right!
Great post!
I could shop all day at second hand stereo shops….its just that my wallet can’t 😂
What mic are you using it sounds good on headphones.
one does not simply buy a brand new stereo system. The journey is bit by bit. Up-grading slowly over years. It’s like you don’t go out and buy a watch collection in one afternoon. But I also understand just needing a stereo – Enjoy my friend-