Suggestions on buying a music system

[money4me]

Hi,

I am planning to buy a good music system (< 15k range). My requirements are:

1. Good clarity of sound even in low volume (I am not keen on in high volume music)
2. Should play from CD/DVD/USB in mp3/wma format.
3. Will be good if it plays cassettes too.
4. Not sure if it matters though.. Prefer to listen to Carnatic Classical, Jazz, some hindi and regional music.
5. Portability is not a requirement. Would be an added advantage.

Could you please suggest what I should look for in a music system (like wattage, speakers, brand etc)? Should I buy a home theater system or should I go for old style players. If you have any brands/models in mind, please send them across to me.

[sunitha]

Check for Wattage in terms of RMS and not PMPO. RMS is a measure of real sound output. Also check the frequency response, ideal would be 20Hz to 20kHz. The range of human hearing is generally regarded as being from 20Hz, very low bass tones, through 20kHz (20,000Hz), the very highest treble.

[alfar]

Money4me, Please check the link below. I own a similar system. Both sound and video quality are fantastic.

MHC-GNZ888D : Mini Hi-Fi System : Hi-Fi System : Sony India
(model no Mini Hi-Fi System - MHC-GNZ888D).

[gshankar]

I have Sony DAV-DZ150K. It is 4 years old model. Sound quality is fantastic.
But i suggest DAV-DZ270. It has HDMI and USB.
Product Comparison : DVD Home Theatre System : Sony India

[yogi]

Hi OP,

The first task for you is to decide whether you want a music system, or a video (DVD) player. You can get a much better music system within your budget, if you stick to one format, otherwise you are spreading your money too thin. You can always add a Rs 3K DVD player to handle the DVD, USB, mp3/wma capabilities. If you listen to Classical and Jazz music, you would eventually end up disappointed if you go in for a home theater product. They are quite poor with acoustic music.

You should first buy some good book shelf speakers (8K to 11K) from a speaker company such as Wharfedale (Diamond), Mordaunt Short, QAcoustic or Sonodyne. Then look for a good analog stereo amp from an audio electronics company such as NAD, Marantz, Cambridge Audio etc. You would also need a CD player from the above companies, but if that busts your budget, you can start with a 3K Philips DVD player with USB. You can always add a dedicated CD player later on. Logitech's Squeezebox 3 is also a very good option, but it would eat up most of your budget. Analog devices do not age, so buying a good used stereo amp makes a lot of sense.

BTW, if you like to listen to the latest dhik-chik-dhik-chik music for two months and then move on, or if your music collection consists of highly compresses MP3 files, then you would be happy with a micro system from a home appliance company with meaningless PMPO ratings. Though I would recommend that you still audition some real audio stuff, just for the experience. It doesn't cost anything.

[yogi]

You can also look at Bose! Sound quality wise, it is awesome! It will play only a few formats, and is quite expensive...but I feel that nothing compares to Bose music system. If you are ready to spend around 30k, then Bose is good.

[guru]

Originally Posted by yogi

You can also look at Bose! Sound quality wise, it is awesome! It will play only a few formats, and is quite expensive...but I feel that nothing compares to Bose music system. If you are ready to spend around 30k, then Bose is good.

Bose has a huge brand name. They are not known for sound quality, but their marketing techniques. Audio enthusiasts routinely criticize Bose in online forums, accusing it of overpricing its products and the poor sound produced by Bose products. You could refer to any audio forum in the world for more details. So I would refrain from using stronger words here. Bose is the only audio company in the world which does not publish technical specifications (impedance, sensitivity, frequency range, sound pressure levels) on either their packaging or their website.

Here are some less radical articles you could read:
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2880

"Summary
-------
I’ll close in saying that Bose is very often an emotional purchase by uninformed (through no fault of their own) buyers and more often than not the size of the Satellite Cubes is what seals the deal. However if you’re after genuine sonic fidelity and aren’t limited to a speaker that’s tiny, I urge you to do your research, hear multiple systems and refrain from impulse purchases, your ears and wallet will thank you."


Why is bose music system so expensive?
intellexual net · m k i v
Why Not Bose? - AVS Forum
Why the Bose Hate? | Ask Metafilter
Why should I hate Bose again? - AVS Forum
Why do people hate bose so much? - ecoustics forum

[yogi]

Originally Posted by guru

Bose has a huge brand name. They are not known for sound quality, but their marketing techniques. Audio enthusiasts routinely criticize Bose in online forums, accusing it of overpricing its products and the poor sound produced by Bose products.

I am not a die-hard Bose fan, nor do I own a Bose system (though I am planning to buy it in future). But I have used the Bose Wave system when I stayed at a hotel and it was awesome. The sound quality was great. One of my relatives has bought a Bose Wave Music system and he is completely satisfied with it. Though the price was around 30k, but it is compact and great sound quality.

When you say Bose is good at marketing, how many vendors(Next, eZone etc.) store or display Bose systems? How many advertisements have you seen from Bose? I guess not many. They have a store in Forum and that's it. So where are the marketing techniques?

[smartbadri]

I would recommend BOSE. Visit the showroom in any shopping mall you will get what you want.