Our Hi Fi Buying Guide offers complete buying advice for anyone in the market for a new hi-fi system, whether they happen to be novice or expert. Hopefully you’ll hear what you need!

Hi-Fi Buying Tips

Before you begin looking for a new audio system, there are a few things you need to decide on. Audio systems can get very expensive, but no matter what you spend, we really recommend doing the right kind of research to make sure you get the best for your money.

Budget

Always work out the maximum amount you can spend before starting your search. Once you know your absolute limit, you can start identifying your key requirements much quicker and the search for a new hi-fi system will become much quicker.

Uses

What do you want from your hi-fi system? Most will come equipped with a radio and CD player and you can expect a tape deck or mini-disc player if you buy a slightly older-style stereo or an mp3 player/iPod docking slot from a more modern system.

You could be looking for a cheaper alternative to an expensive home cinema set-ups, in which case you’ll need to make sure you get auxiliary ports that can plug into a TV or DVD player.

Sound Quality

Perhaps the most important thing to look – or listen – out for in a Hi-Fi system is the sound quality: how good your amp and speakers are and how well they work together. A signal from a sound source – such as a CD player – will be received and amplified by the amplifier, which then routes the signal to the speakers, creating audio.

You may think that a high wattage is an indicator of sound quality, but quality is far more important; a 50 watt amp is more than enough to drive the vast majority of home speakers.

Audio File Quality

Also watch out for poor quality rips and  audio files; they are no match for a good vinyl pressing, or even a CD, so make sure you are listening on at least a 320kbps version, WAV file or FLACC, for example. You may not notice on small, cheap stereos, but larger hi-fis will pick up the differences  -and there’s no point in buying an expensive set-up if you are only playing poor quality audio.

Ask For A Demo

Don’t be afraid to head to your local hi-fi retailer with your favourite CD and ask for a demo. Take your time and listen out for ‘tonal balance’ – or how the different frequencies work together.

The bass should be clear, deep and offer a punchiness you can almost feel; the mid-range should sing, not squawk; and the treble should be crisp and undistorted – but the main thing is, they should all work together without one or two overpowering the others.

Hi-Fi Buying Advice: Types

There are various types of hi-fi set-up you can buy and what you eventually plump for depends very much on the plans you have for it. Smaller units may suffer from poorer sound quality, but if you only intend to keep it in the kitchen for listening to the radio, is that a problem? Probably not. Here’s what to look for….

Separates

You can pick up hi-fi components as individual units, so if you want/need a CD player, radio, turntable, speakers or amp, then you can buy them separately.

A hi-fi system made up of separates can be built up over time and are generally more expensive than other hi-fi systems, but they also tend to be of better quality than other styles, making them popular with audiophiles.

Midi

Midi Hi-Fis also offer excellent sound quality – if you splash out on a more expensive model. Some Midi systems actually look like separates but are sold as single units, with one remote control.

As a general rule, smaller midi systems will be quieter and offer less sound quality than larger midi set-ups; but there are obviously exceptions – always check out user reviews for a more rounded look at pros and cons of each system you are considering.

Mini Systems

Mini hi-fis won’t give you a great deal of volume – as the name suggests, they are small units which take up very little room and are great for kitchens and bedrooms.

Sound quality of mini systems is generally OK for background music or the radio, but they don’t give you as high quality an audio experience as, say, hi-fi separates or a midi system.

Micro Systems

Micro hi-fi systems have recently been threatened by the emergence of mp3 player docking stations and are best for bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

In general, sound quality won’t be that great for listening to music, but will be good enough for radio, for example. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but they will be high-end models which will cost a great deal.

Hi-Fi Buying Advice: Features

Contemporary hi-fi systems seem to have more and more features added to them each year. Here are some of the key features and equipment you can expect to find on your shiny new hi-fi….

CD Player

A CD player is still a standard feature on any hi-fi system, despite sales of the format being badly affected by the advent of mp3s and other digital audio file formats.

CD-R/RW Discs

CD-R – or CD-Recordable – discs let you ‘burn’ a CD from a music file on your PC, or record from another CD on a CD recorder. Most CD-Rs will play  on standard CD players. CD-RW – or CD-Rewriteable – discs are the same, but can be recorded on several times. However, not every CD-RW will work in every CD player – ensure you read your stereo’s manual to make sure you use the correct discs..

Audio File CD

There are many different kinds of audio file (see our file format page for the full rundown) and they are advantageous because they are compressed, meaning you can expect near-CD sound quality using far less space than a normal CD. For example, a typical CD can play around 74 minutes of music, but compressed audio files such as mp3 can hold 10 times that. Not available on every hi-fi system.

DVD

If you can find a hi-fi with DVD playback, you will be able to hook up your system to your TV and watch films in surround sound – a cheaper option, perhaps, than buying an expensive home cinema set-up, for example.

DAB Radio

DAB – Digital Audio Broadcasting – radio is becoming standard on contemporary hi-fi systems, which typically used to offer FM/AM radio receivers. DAB radio gives you loads more channels, is far clearer and can also offer CD quality sound.

Wi-Fi Hi-Fi

Wireless Fidelity enables you to use your hi-fi as a central hub to connect compatible devices such as speakers and music centres, by using radio waves to transmit signals.  Brilliant for playing your music in different rooms around your home.

Internet Radio

Internet radios connect piggy back on your normal broadband connection, normally via a wireless router and offers the ultimate choice of Internet radio stations from across the entire globe. Excellent if you have a love for the more niche musical genres.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology is not just found on phones, and in the case of hi-fi systems, can let you to connect more than one devices – another option if you want to spread your music around your house.

mp3 Player Dock

Docking stations are installed into hi-fi systems to let you play digital files from your mp3 player or iPod. For more info on mp3 player or iPod docking stations, head to our Docking Stations Buying Advice site.

Hi-Fi Accessories

There are plenty of extras and accessories you will need to consider after buying your hi-fi system, from the components used to control your sounds, to the components used to listen to them. Here are the key accessories to consider…

Remote control

Remote controls will generally come in the box with most audio systems, but you may decide you want to pick up a universal remote to control your whole entertainment set-up.

What you buy and how much you spend is completely up to you – you can pick up universal remotes for very cheap, but you can also spend more than you might on your actual stereo.

Headphones

Headphones are an essential purchase for your stereo system – particularly if your neighbours don’t appreciate your taste in music. It’s worth spending as much as you can afford on headphones if you listen to a lot of music, as the higher quality cans are so much better, both in audio quality and comfort.

If you don’t want to annoy other members of your household, then we recommend you make sure your potential headphones don’t leak noise, and if you intend to take them on your travels as well, go for some noise-cancelling headphones to block out the drone of trains, planes and automobiles.

Cables

There are two rules to consider when buying audio cables for your hi-fi system. The first is, if it’s an analogue cable, then it’s worth spending money on it to improve longevity and sound quality. The second rule regards digital cables – you won’t improve sound quality by spending more, as a digital signal works, or it doesn’t.

If you are buying digital, only spend good money if you need long cables – as the more expensive they are, the longer they will tend to last – otherwise, you can get the job done with just spending a few pounds.

Hi-Fi Racks

If you are spending a large amount of money on a hi-fi stereo, you may want to consider allowing for a nice home to keep it in within your budget.

Just like TV racks, hi-fi racks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so we recommend making sure you see a potential purchase with your own eyes before buying, rather than grabbing one based on a picture from the Internet.

Hi-Fi Buying Advice: Jargon Buster

You may find the technical jargon a little bit confusing when you’re buying a new hi-fi system, but there is really no need. We’ve put together a few of the terms you will likely come across and described them in layman’s terms.

AAC

AAC is a difital file format – like MP3 but supposedly better quality. You will probably encounter AAC files as they are the standard format for the Apple iPod and iPhone, for example.

Amplifier

Amplifiers amplify signal levels from an audio source (such as a CD player) and send those signals to the speakers, which you then hear. You will come across Integrated and Power amps when buying a new hi-fi system. Integrated amps are built in and have no other requirements, while a Power amp requires a pre-amplifier to control the output and volume.

Analogue

Analogue describes audio signals that are recorded onto mediums such as vinyl records or tape. There is much debate on whether analogue audio is better quality than digital audio, but in general, it really only depends on the equipment you are using.

Bi-Wiring

Bi-wiring is a method of connecting your speakers to your amplifier; one wire goes to the high frequency terminal and one wire goes to the low frequency terminal. It is thought by some to improve sound quality, but in most normal home set-ups it isn’t worth bothering with.

Crossover

Crossover describes the splitting of the audio signal into different frequency ranges, so each signal can be sent to its optimal audio driver; the bass to the sub-woofer and the treble to the tweeters, for example.

DAC

DAC stands for Digital to Analogue Converter and is present in the vast majority of CD players. As its name suggests, it converts digital signals into the analogue signals understood by analogue amplifiers. However, most contemporary hi-fi systems are now digital.

Impedance

Impedance describes an important feature of a loudspeaker. Impedance restricts an electrical current flowing through it – typical speakers have an impedance of 6,8 or 16 ohms. It’s important to match your speakers’ impedance to that on your amplifier, or there is a good chance of blowing it.

Integrated

An integrated amplifier contains both the pre-amplifier and the power amplifier in one integrated unit – buying separate units will probably get you better sound quality, but integrated amps are far less hassle for the inexperienced or those that don’t really care!

Line Level

Line Level describes the strength of an analogue signal, from a CD player, for example. These will work fine through a normal hi-fi system, but there are devices that require a boost to reach ‘line-level’; turntables, for example.

Phono Stage

That boost is known as a Phone Stage and some hi-fi systems that have been built with turntables in mind will have one built in.  You will need an external phono stage if your amp doesn’t have one and you want to play vinyl – a simple DJ mixer will do the business here.

Power Amplifier

The Power Amp of a hi-fi system has one job and one job only; to drive the loudspeakers. A power amplifier needs a pre-amplifier to be controlled, as there are no volume controls, for example.

Pre-Amplifier

The pre-amplifier allows you to control your hi-fi or amplification system, whether that is volume or other kind of setting.  If you have a power amp, it will also prepare the signal for it to send to the speakers.

RCA

RCA connectors are a type of electrical connector normally used to carry audio and video signals. They are analogue audio connectors and commonly known as phone plugs.

 

 

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