[PygoShlee]

Hey all.

First off not sure if this is the correct forum for this, but had a look and seems appropriate. I'll let the mods tell me off if im wrong

Basically, I've been asked by my boss to try and sort out a sound system for new years eve.

He's looking for an Ipod dock/system, which can connect to 4 seperate speakers. He doesnt want the speakers huge, just 9" ones roughly. He's looking at around a £300 budget.

I'm not too hot on the technical front when it comes to audio things, so bare with me

I'm completely new to all this so thought I'd ask some experts!!

Cheers guys,

Ash

[BlueWizard]

£300 is cutting it thin especially with 4 speakers. Can you give us a little better idea of the day-to-day use of this system? Is it for parties or just background music for his office, or background music for the entire office area?

If four speakers are a must, I would recommend the NAD C315 stereo amp with 45 watt per channel; amp only, no radio. Price about £180.

Speakers are a little more difficult. Off the top of my head, I would say Wharfedale Diamond 9.0. But I personally thing a single pair of 9.1's would be better than 4 Diamond 9.0. The Diamond 9.0 are about £50 a pair, if you can find them, and the Diamond 9.1 is about £100, again, if you can find them. If your boss wouldn't mind some nice floorstanding speakers; the Diamond 9.4 with a single 6.5" woofer, run about £170 to £180 per pair. Even though these are floorstanding speakers, they are not so large as to overwhelm any given room with sound. In a sense, they are bookshelf sized drivers, in a floorstanding cabinet.

A pair of the Diamond 9.4 would definitely be all that you need. But again, it depends on the application.

I've not check out the prices, but I've been lead to believe the Q Acoustic 1000 series is being closed out, and that should provide some real bargains. The 1010i are about like the Diamond 9.0, and the 1020i bookshelf is about the equivalent of the Diamond 9.1, and would be the preferred bookshelf speaker. The 1030i is about the same as the Diamond 9.4; a floorstanding speaker with a single 6.5" woofer. Again, I haven't checked out the prices, but I expect them to be pretty low if you shop around. Both the Q Acoustic and Diamond are well regarded speakers.

I prefer the Wharfedale, but I'm suspecting the prices on the Q Acoustic 1020i and 1030i (or 1050i) are going to be just too good to pass up.

Again give us a better understanding of what you are trying to do, and we will expand on the options available.

EDITED:

The easiest way to add an iPod to a stereo system is with an iPod Dock, these run about £30 to £40 for a nice basic one. Though, you can get one for as low as £20. Some in this price range even come with a remote control for the iPod. All are likely to double as iPod chargers.

Steve/bluewizard

[PygoShlee]

Nice one, thank you.

Basically its for new years eve, at a pub. So thats the difficult bit, having the 4 speakers positioned around the pub with decent sound.

Cheers

Ash

[BlueWizard]

So, what happens after new years eve, does he sell it, does he take it home, does he put it in his office?

It doesn't seem right to spend £300 to £400 on a stereo system, to use for one night.

Although, you haven't said, it would be helpful to know if your boss is the owner or manager of that particular Pub. Or, is he renting it out for a New Years bash?

Also, the lay out of the pub matters. Is there something of a stage area? Is there a dance floor area set aside? Are there places to put the speakers, or do we have to consider wall mounting them? How well protected are the speakers going to have to be to prevent drunken pub goers from wreaking them? Will they need to be place tight up against the walls, or can they be out a bit from the walls?

Will it just be for general background music in the Pub, or will it be specifically for dancing? Does it need to be concentrated in the area of the bar, leaving quiet corners for those who want to talk?

There are a lot of things that need to be considered.

Steve/bluewizard