Help with hi-fi choice.

[DeanVRS]

Hi all,was after some advice regarding speaker output on a micro hi--fi.
I've been after a slim line micro hi-fi for the lounge and have seen on amazon a

Panasonic hc3dbeb model which suits the space available...my question is... this model if you want to look it up is a total output 40 watts...is this speaker output any good as i'm no expert on speaker ranges.

I'm not looking to hold huge raves etc but like to turn it up a tad now and again and like to hear a decent sound.

feel free to give me an opinion on this model if you like and let us know what sort of watts are ok with the speakers provided.
cheers

[P700DEE]

Slim line We are not talking Hi-Fi
40 watts of what ?? Not Hi-Fi
With my current speakers 40 watts (Class A of course) would equate to over 105dB , plenty loud enough for domestic use

When looking at Slim line / mini systems they can sound OK, someone here might even be able to recomend one. Wattage however is irrelevant as it has no effect on either the quantity or quality of the sound. The difference for 3dB in volume is 10X the wattage so there is little difference between 20 watts and 50. There is no substitute for listening to your proposed system, they do sound different and your choice may not match mine

[E31Shrew]

DeanVRS said:

Hi all,was after some advice regarding speaker output on a micro hi--fi.
I've been after a slim line micro hi-fi for the lounge and have seen on amazon a

Panasonic hc3dbeb model which suits the space available...my question is... this model if you want to look it up is a total output 40 watts...is this speaker output any good as i'm no expert on speaker ranges.

I'm not looking to hold huge raves etc but like to turn it up a tad now and again and like to hear a decent sound.

feel free to give me an opinion on this model if you like and let us know what sort of watts are ok with the speakers provided.
cheers

We sell these. Great for bedrooms and kitchens but thats about it!

[The_Burg]

P700DEE said:

Slim line We are not talking Hi-Fi
40 watts of what ?? Not Hi-Fi
With my current speakers 40 watts (Class A of course) would equate to over 105dB , plenty loud enough for domestic use

When looking at Slim line / mini systems they can sound OK, someone here might even be able to recomend one. Wattage however is irrelevant as it has no effect on either the quantity or quality of the sound. The difference for 3dB in volume is 10X the wattage so there is little difference between 20 watts and 50. There is no substitute for listening to your proposed system, they do sound different and your choice may not match mine

3db in volume is double the power i believe.
(Though wattage is almost irrelevant over 20 watts for a home system i would agree, with the exception of home cinema).

[FlossyThePig]

Oh Lord please protect me from marketing idiots who insist on taking the largest figure for each channel then adding them all together.

Bring back the old days when amps were rated at X watts rms per channel at 8 ohm.

[Toffer]

I have listened to the Arcam Solo mini Music System, although not my kind of thing, it was the best micro system I have ever heard.

[Monkey Tennis]

Looking around for something relatively small for the bedroom, budget about £150-200. Would I get something better looking for an 'all in one' solution like the Panasonic that the OP mentioned, or alternatively heading to Richer Sounds to get something like the Onkyo CR435 and a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.0's.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/mini-hifi-syst...
http://www.richersounds.com/product/bookshelf-spea...

Suspect that from the earlier comments about the Panasonic that this bigger unit is likely to produce better sound - is that right? Also, the wattage per channel on the Onkyo is shown as 14W, while the Wharfedales have a rating of 75W - would this mean that the amp would struggle to drive the speakers properly?

Cheers!

[CRACKIE]

P700DEE said:

Wattage however is irrelevant as it has no effect on the quantity of the sound.

Are you sure ??

[CRACKIE]

DeanVRS said:

Hi all,was after some advice regarding speaker output on a micro hi--fi.
I've been after a slim line micro hi-fi for the lounge and have seen on amazon a

Panasonic hc3dbeb model which suits the space available...my question is... this model if you want to look it up is a total output 40 watts...is this speaker output any good as i'm no expert on speaker ranges.

I'm not looking to hold huge raves etc but like to turn it up a tad now and again and like to hear a decent sound.

feel free to give me an opinion on this model if you like and let us know what sort of watts are ok with the speakers provided.
cheers

40 watts is plenty for most domestic setups unless the speakers are very low efficiency or the room is very large and you're listening a long way away.
Slimline is fine too ~ Size isn't really a factor here; the quality of the power supply in the unit is more relevant. Products like Linn's Classik, Naim's Nait and Arcam's Solo are very compact.

[DeanVRS]

I did go for the slimline panasonic unit....excellent styling and sound,always worth paying extra for a bit of quality.

[Monkey Tennis]

DeanVRS said:

I did go for the slimline panasonic unit....excellent styling and sound,always worth paying extra for a bit of quality.

Cheers for the update - I'd still prefer something unnecessarily massive, but this one could well be the winner when the girlfriend sees it...!