I'm not that knowledgebale a person to ask.. I'm getting my first ever separates next week too!
People around here don't reply to newbies coz obvioulsy they have better stuff to do, but I'll tell you all the info that I got from hifi retailers, people from better forums, and also from a guy who used to work for Acoustic Solutions.
Here goes:
Firstly Acoustic Solutions is a brand that makes reliable, sturdy and cheap speakers. But they are not a brand that makes any sort of half-decent hifi equipment. I know the separates you're talking about from Argos (the amp and the cd player are 90 euro each).
Basically with the kind of quality you're getting from Acoustic Solutions you're better off buying a one-piece mini-hifi or even if you do end up getting the amp (if your budget can't stretch that much for example) then don't get the AS cd player. I've been told that you're better off using a Playstation to play music than the AS cd player (or even a discman or an iPod).
If the reason you're getting separates is that you want to hear a distinct and noticeable difference in sound quality, then you simply must invest in something more expensive. A system of separates basically consists of four parts:
(1) transport (CDP unit);
(2) amp;
(3) speakers;
(4) cables.
You should invest time, money and research into each one of them, because they will all be there to stay. If you get a good amp and you can't afford a good transport then at least, maybe in six months' time, you can always buy a good CDP as well.
But if you try to squese it all into too small a budget then you're going to end up with a ****** CDP, ****** amp and ****** speakers. And you will regret it.
So having said that, what's more important out of those 4?
Answer: definitely the amp!
Instead of buying the Acoustic Solutions CDP and the AS amp, if you just buy a more expensive amp instead then it will be a better and wiser investment, for both the short and long term.
Why? Well, basically because if you use a top quality amp then even if you use a normal DVD player to play CDs you're going to notice a higher standard of quality then if you were to use the Acoustic Solutions set. You could use your ipod. You could use your laptop. You could use a discman. The sound quality will still be good because the amp is good. Eventually somewhere down the line, you will be able to afford a set of speakers which are powerful enough to get the most out of your amp. Go around some hifi stores and audition them before buying. Personally, I find Acoustic Solutions speakers to be nice. Your next priority is a dedicated CDP, which is comparatively cheap and when you get it you will once again notice a serious shift in quality. And lastly you can get some professional wires too, to put the icing on the cake.
If however, instead of starting off with a quality amp, you decide to get a complete set of cheaper stuff, then there is no way of improving it without actually replacing all of it, see?
.
I have a pretty tight budget and I'm planning on getting an AMP next week. I will have to wait another month or so before getting a decent CDP unit. For now I can use my PC and my iPod. The best amp you're going to find for the kind of money that would get you all the AS separates if probably the
Cambridge Audio Azur 540A . This thing costs about 300 euro (about the price of the entire AS set) and if you do a google search on some reviews you will find that it kicks ass. I am prolly going to buy the 640A personally, because it's only slightly dearer with a bit more power.
Another alternative is the Yamaha AX series. They are more natural sounding, slightly more expensive, but appropriately more reliable. Yamaha is a leader in hifi equipment..the equivalent of the Azur 540 would be the
Yamaha AX-396 . This would sell for about 350 euro and once again, it has more powerful and slightly more expensive cousins, the 496 and the 596.
For my needs, my budget and my expectations it is a clear-cut choice between the AX-496 and the Azur 640A. Both these amps can facilitate 4 speakers, and they have just about the power I need for a my bedroom. I have about a week to decide.
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The last thing I can say is that although the best thing you can do is get as much advice and opinions from as many people as possible, you still HAVE to go into the hifi stores and request an audition. Because at the end of the day, it's your money and if you don't like the sound of some amp then you shouldn't buy it, no matter what anyone else says. You can't buy a piece of music equipment without having heard it first. It's like buying a car without ever seeing it..
But like I said, the Acoustic Solutions set is a waste of money. It's not a step up from normal cd players. It's pretty much more of the same, just in the form of separates and with less functions. If you're buying separates then you HAVE to invest!
good luck
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