Affordable Hi-Fi - An absolutely superb system with Rega, Acoustic Energy and Bluesound!
/It’s no secret that the Hi-Fi industry is one of the few where the more you spend, the more you get in terms of performance. So does that mean that all good Hi-Fi systems are expensive? The short answer: No. There are Hi-Fi systems out there that can be affordable without compromising quality, and today we’re going to look at just that…
We’ve put together this system for the person or family looking for a great sounding and affordable set-up, who primarily wants to be able to both stream music and also play records.
The Brio is a half width, no frills amplifier, packing 50 watts into an 8 ohm load. Rega took the decision to forgo having an internal DAC or Bluetooth receiver and instead opted on spending more of the budget on having an excellent in-built MM phono stage along with higher quality electrical components.
This multi-award winning amplifier is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to build a two channel Hi-Fi system.
Rega Planar 1
The Planar 1 is at the entry point of Rega’s turntable line-up and is pretty much a plug and play deck; with no anti-skate to adjust and a counterweight that simply slides onto the arm until it comes to a stop.
Speed change is manual but is very quick and easy to accomplish, you are not paying for an electronic speed change that does absolutely nothing for sound quality. It comes fitted with a Rega Carbon cartridge as standard, but could easily be upgraded should you wish.
The Rega Planar 1 is not short of competition but it truly is the ultimate budget turntable!
Listening to Yello’s excellent ‘One Second’ album; the track track ‘La Habanera’ shows just how good the phono stage in the Brio is, highlighting deep lows and possessing a lustrous tonality. Shirley Bassey’s vocals on ‘The Rhythm Divine’ exhibit a rich top end and are never bright or forward. There is good bass control but it is the lovely top end where it shines the most.
The Rega Planar 1 exhibits a smooth midrange and open treble. The lower frequencies are tight and punchy.
Bluesound Node
The current Bluesound Node adds to the strengths of its illustrious predecessors. The all important control App is one of the best in the business and connectivity is excellent: Wired or wireless, Bluetooth in and out, HDMI (to connect to your television), plus analogue and digital outputs. There is also the ability to add music to extra rooms with other Bluesound devices.
Like Rega, the Node strength’s are all about rhythm and dynamics. Piano music can be a real test of any Hi-Fi system or component. Debussy’s ‘Children’s Corner’ can sound splashy and unpleasant on many a system but not here. The subtle harmonics that give depth and resonance to the piano are accurately reproduced and everything flows beautifully.
With the advent of the excellent WiiM series of music streamers, the Node is no longer the cheapest introduction to high quality streaming, but it is still the best value for money in our humble opinion.
Acoustic Energy AE100² Speakers
These attractive little speakers are without doubt the best budget speakers that I have ever heard and can easily rival opposition that may cost twice as much.
With nicely rounded corners and a magnetic grill they have an appealing design. The cabinet is unusual in that it is made of HDF rather than MDF; this allows for thinner walls and bracing, increasing the internal volume and therefore increasing the depth of bass available from the cabinet size.
Perhaps their strongest attribute is with regard to their sound staging abilities; with just a little bit of toe in they can present a broad sound field, with real depth and an excellent central image. They are detailed, with a punchy midrange. The treble and upper midrange err towards brightness but they are by no means fatiguing to listen to. Bruce Springsteen’s ‘57 Channels and Nothing On’ is a foot tapping track and it was delivered in a snappy way and never once sounded harsh or edgy.
Bass depth and extension is in line with most of their peers.
In conclusion
I would argue that each and every one of these components is individually the best in class.
We know from experience that putting two or more excellent products together is by no means always a recipe for success. The key to putting a good system together is all about obtaining good synergy. There might be occasions when putting a system together where every item errs towards dynamics might be over egging the pudding, but no, these all work together perfectly.
The result is a fabulous little system that is a delight to listen to.
Thank you for reading.
Jon and Rob - Audio T Oxford
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.
If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…
Rega, Acoustic Energy and Bluesound 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
