BANG FOR YOUR BUCK - GRAND SOUNDING COMPONENTS FOR UNDER A GRAND
/Not that long ago, here at Audio T Reading, we had a visit from a wonderful new customer who journeyed in from Twickenham to see us. A little perplexed, he was looking to invest into his first proper hi-fi system. He explained that he was left confused by the plethora of options available to him, and that his odyssey had been fraught with uncertainty right up until the point of visiting our establishment. We proceeded to guide our customer through the options and following a great demo (including multiple streams of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill that remarkably were not driven by the global obsession with Stranger Things!).
During the process it came to mind that, for a newcomer to the hi-fi world, it’s a minefield out there. There are endless options, ranging from the entry-level to the sublime. And there are a multitude of different combinations that can send us plummeting into the audio abyss or see us soaring gracefully into audio nirvana. So, with inspiration taken from our customer’s recent voyage, we would like to delve a little deeper in to a few specific gems we have in-store; individual equipment which we know and can confidently show has that special ability to sound grand for under a grand. Moreso, can these treasures perform wonders way beyond their price point? Let’s find out…
The AE100² in the Audio T Reading main demo room
WE HAVE LIFT OFF – THE ACOUSTIC ENERGY AE100²
During yet another very grey and windy day at Audio T Reading, we felt there was no better way to blast away the gloom than with a pair of loudspeakers that never fail to impress, the Acoustic Energy AE100². Coming in well below the £1000 mark and costing just over £250* a pair, it wouldn’t be fair to call these little lovelies budget. That’s because they sound anything but budget - instead they exhibit sonic virtues of being balanced, sure-footed, energetic and even room filling relative to their modest dimensions. Most of all, these speakers present your music with a good dose of enjoyment. We find that they happily dovetail into pretty much every system we can put together instore at around the £1000 to £1500 mark and they are very rarely outshone by speakers in their price bracket, and in some cases those costing double the amount or more.
Here’s something to consider when looking for your first set-up… Rega’s System One is a fabulous system comprising of award winning components including the Planar 1 turntable, IO amplifier and Kyte speakers. It has been devised as an excellent option to cater to the needs of any budding hi-fi enthusiast. Using the ingredients in this system as a basis of comparison is a brilliant starting point when trying to traverse the murky waters of hi-fi selection…
If you were so inclined, it’s entirely possible to swap out the Rega Kytes for the Acoustic Energy AE100². Have no fear of the comparatively lowly price tag of the AE100², they will go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Kytes despite being nearly half the price. You may even find that you prefer them? Afterall, the Kytes have a unique look more akin with professional studio monitors, whereas the AE100² adheres to the more conventional design of hi-fi speakers and comes in three finishes - Black, White and Walnut. But that’s not to discount the Kytes in any way. Sound is a flavour at the end of the day, so don’t be shy to get in touch with us to hear the differences for yourselves and to discover some great sounding kit.
The Rega Brio in the Audio T Reading front of shop
ENTER THE ENTERTAINER – THE REGA BRIO
It has to be said, to our ears, not many amplifiers come close to the Rega Brio at this side of a grand. Every time this determined little might is part of an amplifier shoot-out in store, it almost always comes up trumps for the customer and yet one more Brio inevitably flies off the shelf quicker than a cheetah in running shoes! It’s hard to believe that so much goodness is packed into that shoebox-sized form factor. The Brio entertains. Full stop.
Whatever we play via the Brio, it brings a smile to our already happy faces - well happy most of the time! What the Brio may fall short of in outright technical specifications, such as types of inputs, it more than makes up for with its engaging, energetic and rhythmic delivery. It’s that ‘M’ word (ahem – musical – there, we said it!) which seems to mean both everything and nothing to the hi-fi community that we love and are a part of!
Some worthy words of consideration, when it comes to any of Rega’s amplifiers, try not to pay too much attention to the wattage figures. They all sound way bigger than their power on paper suggests. Just come by with your tunes and hunker down for a listen, we’ll be happy to show you, and we dare you not to tap your toes!
The Bluesound NODE in the Audio T Reading front of shop
BEATING THE BLUES - THE BLUESOUND NODE
The red pill or the blue pill? Which one should you go for? If it’s a multiroom streamer under a grand that you are after, we would suggest going blue – and in particular, the Bluesound NODE.
There are few better ways of pulling sounds from the internet and pumping them into your listening space in glorious hi-fi quality. When it comes to features, the NODE will stop short only of making you a coffee, but it’ll probably do everything else. Do you want to hear your music played in high quality, say from your phone via Bluetooth or Airplay, and then routed through your hi-fi system? Or do you want to stream your tunes directly from your preferred Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify or other music subscription service? Or maybe you want to listen to internet radio, or even perhaps stream your favourite sounds directly to your Bluetooth headphones? Whatever you want to do, the NODE very likely has it covered.
There can’t be many better ways, nor better sounding ways, of having your digital cake and eating it – especially with the inclusion of a great sounding DAC onboard, as well as the ability to connect to a separate outboard DAC should the upgrade bug bite. This makes the Bluesound NODE highly scalable, a device that will grow with you and your hi-fi system. Previous iterations of the NODE have been known to stay in countless systems for many a year. Please don’t be put off by its diminutive size. The NODE remains a modern marvel and punches well above its weight.
FINAL THOUGHTS – HUMBLE HEROIC HI-FI
The sweet spot… Value for money… Bang for your buck… you can be certain that these three hi-fi heroes are genuine examples that comfortably live up to the overarching mantra of getting-more-for-less.
When starting out on a hi-fi equipment expedition, if the choice seems daunting and the fear of disappointment looms large, you can be sure that these three examples will push the boundaries of performance at the price. Plus each one will hold its own when individual components of the system are upgraded around them.
Of course, we have other gems, like the Rega Planar 3 turntable, that also fit the bill. Those are for another time, so please do check back in. And if ever your audio voyage starts to feel murky, why not pop in to see us? We live for your hi-fi questions and would love to guide you through the process.
In signing off, many thanks to our customer from Twickenham who made the train ride over to us at Audio T Reading. After all, he is the inspiration for this article, and we hope sharing his hi-fi odyssey will bring some benefit to others on their journey, or at least will leave some good food for thought.
Thank you for reading.
Rishi, Gareth and Rob – Audio T Reading
If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.
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Acoustic Energy, Bluesound and Rega can be found at the following Audio T stores:
*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE
