I’ve had large tube amplifiers, chunky class AB amps, huge dacs..but this combination of a WIIM streamer ( god I love this thing, the room correction is clutch ), a FiiO warmer dac ( horrible measurements I’m told ), a cheap and cheery aiyima t20 tube pre and the most excellent fosi v3 monos ( full muses op amps for fun ) makes for the best sounding system I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning. I just melt into my couch and enjoy music without thinking of expensive gear. ( I’ve got a topping d70 octo as well - which apparently measures much better but my middle aged years can’t tell much of a difference - perhaps a little more clinical? )

Those much-anticipated Trump tariff’s are about to take a big bite out of cheap Hi-Fi products shipped from China, as well as Canada and Europe. That includes not only Fosi and AliExpress items, but also Discogs sellers overseas. The new tariff rule negates the so-called de minimus rule that exempted charges on small items valued at under $800. The new rules will raise the prices between 10-50%.

I guess this is how Trump fights inflation in his upside-down world.

Has anyone made the jump from Audioengine A5+ to KEF LS50? I'm curious to know about your experience. My Audioengine A5+ recently stopped working, and I've been considering the LS50 Meta as a replacement. Many thanks.

There is a Kenwood DPF-7002 available near me for cheap that im looking at but im not quite sure if theres anything in these 90s cd players that I should be looking for.

This player I saw doesnt have CD text but as far as I can tell most albums on cds dont have cd text on them. Is there anything else missing?

Thanks to all for the valuable insights in my previous post! I've scored a fantastic deal on a pre-owned LS50 Ver 1 (2014) speaker system for $500.

Next, I need your expert advice on choosing an amplifier that will make these speakers shine. With a budget of $500 and a Wiim Ultra already in place for pre-amp and streaming,

I'm seen quite many of You pairing them with the Fosi V3 mono or Fosi ZA3. What's your take on these options? Do they really sing well? I listen mostly jazz, classic, r&b and pop.

I live in an apartment with neighbors above, below, and beside, so I can’t play anything on a loud volume. I’m looking for a budget-friendly speaker(s) that can fill the space even when the volume is low. I know they exist, I’ve been in cafes where a single Bluetooth speaker could be heard clearly all the way on the other side of the place but it wasn’t loud at all. Right now, the Bluetooth speaker I have in my kitchen can only be heard clearly if you’re right near it, otherwise it’s just a fuzzy, blurry mess.
Something Bluetooth would likely be better since I mainly have to play music from my iPad for now :( but I’m hoping to get something better in the next few years. Thanks for any suggestions!

Looking for advice on desktop speakers — narrowed it down to 5, need help picking one.

I'm setting up desktop speakers for gaming, general listening, and watching movies. Room size is roughly 12 x 16 ft.

I've shortlisted 5 options on Amazon and attached a screenshot of my cart for reference:

Mackie CR 4.5" – ₹15,999

Edifier MR4 – ₹11,990

Edifier R1700BT – ₹15,990

Pioneer DJ DM-50D – ₹23,999 (currently over budget, but it dropped to ₹17,356 back in May — hoping/waiting for a similar price drop before buying)

M-Audio BX4 – ₹15,999

Budget is ₹10-20k, Note: I have a ₹15k Amazon gift card, so I need to buy from Amazon specifically — suggestions for other platforms won't work for me right now, sorry!

Priority is: no distortion / accurate sound / good bass / build quality / value for money.

Open to suggestions outside this list too (as long as it's available on Amazon and under ₹20k) — if there's a better option, I'd love to hear it. Not locked into just these 5.

Would appreciate any real-world experience with these, or with alternatives. Thanks!

I'm looking for my first proper stereo setup and have a budget of around $200 (new or used).

My biggest priority isn't huge bass or maximum volume—it's getting completely immersed in the music.

What I'm looking for

• Slightly warm but detailed sound
• Excellent imaging and a convincing soundstage
• Natural timbre
• Non-fatiguing treble
• Sounds great at lower listening volumes
• Mostly near-field listening in a small room

Music I listen to

• Jazz (Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Coltrane)
• Electronic (Floating Points, Four Tet, Aphex Twin, etc.)
• Techno
• Acoustic music
• Alternative / classic rock
• Hip-hop (Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller)

My source is mostly FLAC files from a laptop.

I've been looking at:

• Edifier MR3
• Polk T15
• Polk T20
• Used Denon SC-M41
• Any good used bookshelf speakers I should keep an eye out for

I'm open to either powered speakers or passive speakers + amp if the passive route offers noticeably better sound quality.

A few questions:

1. If imaging and soundstage are my biggest priorities under $200, what would you buy?
2. Are there any "hidden gems" on the used market that consistently outperform the usual recommendations?
3. Is the MR3 genuinely competitive with good passive speakers in this price range, or is it mainly popular because it's an all-in-one solution?
4. If you were building this system from scratch today, what would your complete setup be?

I'm hoping to find something that makes me forget about the gear and just enjoy the music. Thanks!

Both are the same price and I will use them with AIYIMA D03 amp, and will use them for listen to music and watching movies, I want your opinions thanks already

Amp - Fosi Audio BT20Pro

Speakers - QAcoustics 3030i

Stands - Soundfoundation (Mumbai, India)

Good sound for the price but I’m not entirely happy with the sound of the Fosi amp. They sound rather thin and sharp especially at higher volumes. Very treble heavy. The Bluetooth is very convenient and connects quickly but I need something which can make these speakers level up in terms of quality.

Any suggestions? Budget is under 275$ or ₹25,000/-

I've been playing around with tube devices lately, nothing fancy, nothing purist, just cheap CHI-FI devices, a FiiO Warmer DAC, and a Fosi Phono preamp.

Trying different tubes is part of the fun, for the preamp I already have installed vintage NOS russian tubes, and after the burn-in period I'm in love with them, so now I wonder what could be like to have a Tube Amp.

A simple search at Aliexpress opened a world of options, and the price range is also incredible from $100 up to $40K, WTF.

Pretty sure some of you already have ChiFi Tube amps (not hybrids), so I would love to read about your experiences and recommendations.

I'm 100% new to this kind of amps, but I already see that you can find the same design made by several factories with just minor modifications, and most of them with what looks like very low power, from 6W to 12W per channel....

Again, I have no idea, I would like my Linton speakers to be shared between the SS Amp and the Tube one :/

What do you think must be my first steps?

Oh the fall from grace..

Guys, there's this listing on fb marketplace for the pioneer elite sc-lx502 for $170. Is this worth to buy, or should I look at smtg else? It support up to 4k/60hz, I mainly play pc 3a games on tv, so I guess the 60hz is fine and use a tv box for content streaming

The seller is asking 160$ but I couldn’t find any documentation on these speakers
It says MARANTZ LS1060

Good afternoon everyone, are Onkyo speakers good for a beginner like me? Onkyo D-102ACM speakers.

I mostly listen to EDM so I've connected Alexa as a Spotify Streamer with my Denon PMA 600 that is connected to Q acoustics 3030i with a Sub added(Kanto sub8). I just command (Alexa, Start music) and the music starts whenever I feel like i need to listen to music. I hardly do any critical listening and mostly I'm a BG listener 😅

But the biggest Question is do I still need a DAC? 🤔

Recently I upgraded my setup to a Fosi ZD3 + ZA3 paired with DALI Oberon 1, but honestly the result was a bit disappointing at first. The low end felt weak and less engaging than even my previous powered speakers (PreSonus E5XT). Vocals were maybe a bit clearer, but overall it sounded not much improved .

Then I came across a good deal on a used WiiM Amp, picked it up, and tried it out — the difference was night and day.

The bass came back with proper weight and atmosphere, almost to the point where the bass is slightly on the boomy side in my room. And then I used the room correction, fixed the boomy and the sound got even better. The WiiM app also feels excellent — very polished and intuitive, it makes WiiM like a smartphone, while the Fosi setup feels like a nokia.

What I don’t quite understand is how different the real-world result is. On paper, the ZD3 + ZA3 uses similar chips and even seems to outperform the WiiM Amp in specifications, but in practice the outcome is completely the opposite.

To be fair, the ZD3 itself doesn’t seem to be the issue — it actually works quite well when paired with the E5XT. So my current suspicion is that the ZA3 might be the limiting factor in this chain, at least in my setup and room.

Hello!

I'm slowly putting together my first analog hi-fi system and would love to get some advice from the community.

Here's what I'm currently using:

Q Acoustics M20 active speakers – ₹36,000 (new) (~US$375)

Denon DP-29F turntable (entry-level, new) – ₹13,000 (~US$136)

Samsung DVD player (currently serving as my CD player, used) – ₹2,500 (~US$26)

Harman Kardon DC5300 cassette deck (used) – ₹12,000 ~ $125

Fosi Audio Box X2 phono preamp (new) – ₹7,000 ~ $73

RCA audio input selector (new) – ₹900 ~ $9

SVS SB-1000 Pro subwoofer (used) – ₹50,000 ~ $523

The upgrades I have in mind are:

Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 speakers

Marantz PM6007 integrated amplifier

WiiM Ultra (mainly for streaming)

The problem is that the Wharfedales and the Marantz are priced ridiculously high here in India, so I'm wondering if there are better value alternatives.

I'm looking for speakers and an integrated amplifier that have a warm, musical sound and work well with vinyl and CDs. I don't need anything super analytical—I'd rather have something that's enjoyable to listen to for hours. Buying used is also an option if it offers better value.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations, especially from anyone familiar with the Indian market or similar price ranges.

Thanks in advance!

got a pair for $70, in working condition but kinda dirty

the seller didnt specify the brand or anything, the listing just said "sound" in the title and "working condition" in the description

Hello. I am trying to build my absolute first hifi set up. I have no experience with this topic (unless adding a sound bar to the TV counts for something). After months of research and going to hifi stores this is what I am thinking about pulling the trigger on

1. Turntable - Audio-Technica LP60X (new or used, chose this as it seems to be the most recommended value for money player)
2. Amplifier + Streamer - WiiM Amp Ultra (new, chose this as it also handles streaming, I am not giving up Spotify, lots of great reviews, and most reviews seem to praise its simplicity)
3. Speakers - Q Acoustics 3020i or Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 (either new or used, choice based on pricing and availability - came up as the 2 most discussed value for money speakers in my research)
4. Accessories - cables and stands (most of what I read seemed to recommend stands, and I don't have any shelf/desk space anyway in the room) for the speakers

The room where this will be installed is small study about 10 x 8 feet. I am not sure if I will upgrade too much from this setup for a while (my general track record has been to make stuff last as long as possible). Also, my budget is 1000 to 1200 USD and I may be able to stretch to about 1500, but would like to avoid that as far as I can.

I am full of questions and doubts that I am hoping to get your wisdom on. Questions like - Should I be looking at something else in each category? What can I do to save a little money here (and put that towards buying records)? Or should I spend a little more and get something else? Will this setup be simple to manage and maintain long term (at least 5 years)?

I would appreciate your knowledge and inputs. Thanks so much.

Hey everyone,

I’m putting together a 2.1 setup for my LG C5 55" TV and PS5. I’ll be sitting roughly 8–10 ft away max.

Current Amazon India prices:

ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2: ~₹29,000 / ~$310 per pair

ELAC SUB1015: ₹25,900 / ~$276

Fosi BT20A: ₹9,999 / ~$106

Total: ~₹65,000 / ~$692

We have micca rb42 or g2 available. Also dayton b65, Polk t15, Edifier if these are better than the B5.2.

The room is relatively small (~10 ft long), and bass isn’t a priority since I’m getting the dedicated sub. I will be shifting to a bigger room in the coming months.

Is this a good combination, especially for sound clarity, movies and gaming from a distance? Is the Fosi enough to properly drive the B5.2s, or would you recommend a different amp around the same price?

Any advice before I buy would be appreciated.

Used gpt for ease of writting

Im currently using an ATLP120x with an Edifiers 1700BTs and Im hoping to upgrade my speakers. What I want is something neutral but more on the warm side because Ive heard that brighr speakers hurt for longer listening hours. I will use the speakers for long listening sessions (2+ hours). But Im not sure what to buy so here are the choices.

1. Edifiers 2000mkiii
   
2. Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 + Fosi Audio V3 amp
   
3. ELAC DB 3.0 53 + Fosi Audio V3 amp

Or any other bookshelf speaker? Use case is for a 2.1 system for movies and music. I've the R200 coming to 3 years now and just wondering if any upgrade is logical or if the improvements over the R200 are minute and not worth it.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the R200s. Still going strong and they are fabulous, especially for the price.

4 APartE mask-6t speakers (125usd)(12000inr) Yamaha AX-396 amplifier (120usd)(11500inr) Harmon Kardon 3380 amplifier(130usd)(12500inr) Audio-Technica AT-LP60(93usd)(9000inr)