Choice between two Hi-Fi systems
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I would like some help choosing between these two systems: -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BYTUYIE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=29IKT3H7WNPRZ&coliid=I1NDYAHUAQ1ZRX
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005TOE3X2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=29IKT3H7WNPRZ&coliid=I2OP0J7XF9EDLS&psc=1
I know there are many other brands available and to be honest a trip to Richer Sounds blew my mind in terms of choice and I was still none the wiser after speaking to one of their specialists.
I'm tempted by the Sony but I've had their systems in the past and in fact have one at the moment that lets me down on numerous occasions alarm wise in the mornings. Especially when I set the alarm as a DAB station. All it sometimes does is display "Tuning" and nothing else.
The Panasonic system confuses me slightly. There appears to be different versions, one with DAB and the other without although on Amazon some of the pictures show the model and DAB is present, while other images from the same model don't have the DAB labels on the front of the unit.
What Hi-fi gave them both 4 stars out of 5 but did say that the Sony has the edge on sound quality.
Another plus with the Panasonic is the Bluetooth connectivity so any phone can be synced up and perhaps something like the TuneIn app can be run to access internet radio. The Sony does have internet radio but if it's anything like the model I have the vTuner interface is very slow and you literally give up with it.
Any help would be great guys if you have any experience with these two or the sound quality especially.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BYTUYIE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=29IKT3H7WNPRZ&coliid=I1NDYAHUAQ1ZRX
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005TOE3X2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=29IKT3H7WNPRZ&coliid=I2OP0J7XF9EDLS&psc=1
I know there are many other brands available and to be honest a trip to Richer Sounds blew my mind in terms of choice and I was still none the wiser after speaking to one of their specialists.
I'm tempted by the Sony but I've had their systems in the past and in fact have one at the moment that lets me down on numerous occasions alarm wise in the mornings. Especially when I set the alarm as a DAB station. All it sometimes does is display "Tuning" and nothing else.
The Panasonic system confuses me slightly. There appears to be different versions, one with DAB and the other without although on Amazon some of the pictures show the model and DAB is present, while other images from the same model don't have the DAB labels on the front of the unit.
What Hi-fi gave them both 4 stars out of 5 but did say that the Sony has the edge on sound quality.
Another plus with the Panasonic is the Bluetooth connectivity so any phone can be synced up and perhaps something like the TuneIn app can be run to access internet radio. The Sony does have internet radio but if it's anything like the model I have the vTuner interface is very slow and you literally give up with it.
Any help would be great guys if you have any experience with these two or the sound quality especially.
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Denon-Network-Internet-Airplay-Speakers/dp/B008JCIQLG/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1398011332&sr=1-5&keywords=denon++Hi-Fi++wifi
The Denon sound well be so much better than any Sony or Panasonic stuff.
The watts are low but it don't matter and will be loud enough and far better.
If you want DAB there is this to
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Denon-DM39-RCD-M39DAB-Acoustics-Performance/dp/B009ERNTCG/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1398011771&sr=1-18&keywords=denon+dab+hifi
Those two both look good, but have you heard them playing the kind of music you are in to?
I did look at a Denon unit in Richer Sound but I wanted a system that does everything rather than buying one with specifics as I tend to use a hi-fi for CD's, FM, DAB, and internet radio.
They had some on display in Richer Sounds and I heard a couple but they were a little bit to expensive and you also needed to fork out for speakers on top of the displayed price. I like Richers but they do tend to show you hugely expensive units in my opinion that are for ears that go further into specifics than my pocket does.
Sadly they didn't have the two systems that I've posted. I can't find a retail outlet that does so listening to the sound that they output is impossible.
There is a YouTube video of the Sony unit in action and it sounds very clear but it's hardly the way to gauge the true quality.
All other things being equal, and if it comes down to sound quality, I doubt there will be much to choose between the Panasonic and the Sony.
I've had various Panasonic and Sony amps in the past, the most recent being a Panasonic Surround AV system that produced very sharp and detailed sound with a lot of punch in the bass. However, the interface must have been designed by someone snorting coke, because every time the damn thing was started up it was necessary to reset everything from scratch.
So I replaced it with a Sony - similar spec and price bracket. The Sony had a logical and easy to use interface, but was more laid-back than the Panasonic on sound, although in a classy way, and not lacking anything the Panasonic had, just different.
Where the Panasonic was bright and edgy, the Sony was more subtle and serene, and at it's best with classical / orchestral music. The Panasonic shone when playing fast and punchy pop, such as the fast moving Michael Jackson stuff.
AV wise, the Panasonic really excelled with the Fast & Furious series. Whereas, the Sony was at its best with the Jurassic Park movies due to being able to deliver on all the thumps and bumps, but also shining in a subtle way by doing an excellent job with the background music.
Bottom line was that it wasn’t possible to say that one was better than the other – they were both really good, but excelled in different ways.
I've got a smaller Panasonic Hi-Fi than the one you're looking at, and that has much the same general characteristics - very sharp and detailed sound, but also well matched with solid bass responses.
My older Sony AV of 20 years also shares characteristics with its newer replacement.
Both of the above AVs received 5 stars from What Hi-Fi, with gushing reviews.
So as a ballpark recommendation on sound, if you’re a Michael Jackson fan and into pop, I'd say go for the Panasonic. But if you’re into classical guitar / orchestral music, (the more laid-back stuff) I would give the Sony a go.
Based on my own experience with Sony interfaces on AV’s and Blu Rays, I would guess that they will be easier to use than the Panasonic. On that point, I suggest trying to find the manuals on-line so you can check out what’s involved, and maybe look through some reviews which might cover that aspect.
You are spending a decent amount of money, and if you didn’t want all the bells and whistles, you could do a lot better on sound quality, but then I guess you’ve taken that into consideration, and I hope you will be happy with the features and sound quality on whichever one you choose - I doubt that either will disappoint.
I would have bought it today if the retail Sony shop wasn't nearly £100 dearer than online.
Thanks for all the help!
We're they not prepared to price match? Not surprising all the high street shops are disappearing.
What would be the point of selling at a loss? - it's VERY doubtful that they even make £100 on the unit.
High street shops are disappearing because people use their facilities for free, then buy on-line where the seller has zero overheads - many don't even keep any stock at all, just order when you do.
Yes I think it's wrong to try something in a shop and then buy it online or elsewhere without the same facility to try - a scammy thing to do. You get instances where people actually go in the shops and while they are in there look up the online price:o, our local toy shop folded for this reason.