Anyone know much about old Hitachi hifi stuff?

[_tom_]

I think I've decided that I'm going down the hifi route rather than monitors. I just dont need the accuracy for what I would use them for and would rather have something that makes stuff sound nice.

I have recently heard a pair of my mates Mourdaunt Short MS25is and they sound awesome, even with his Philips receiver/amp. Really clear and detailed sound, everything is clear and punchy. Got home and listened to my Creative desktop speakers and felt a bit ill :lol: Horrible sound.

Anyway, I have an old Hitachi amp that my dad used to have downstairs, model number HTA-MD20. I cant find much about them on the internet but did read something on some random hifi forum where someone said that older Hitachis such as this were actually rebadged Denons, any truth to that?

Just dont want to buy some nice speakers then have to spend an extra £100 (at least) on a new amp because this does them no justice. Then again, if the MS25is sound good with the Philips receiver..

[Denim n Leather]

By and large, most old hifi equipment is very euphonic and not ideal for mixing or recording.

[_tom_]

Yeah I guessed that, as I said I just dont need that as my home recording stuff isnt serious at all - more like a way of getting ideas down so I dont forget them. I would be mostly using them for listening to music (either cds or high quality mp3s), watching films and gaming so  having transparent/unforgiving speakers (monitors) would probably make all that worse..

[MDV]

Films and games are good all the better on decent monitors if the sound is well mixed. Which on even modestly large releases it generally is.

[_tom_]

Just when I think I've made my mind up.. :lol:

Dont think I can really afford "decent" monitors though, just lower end ones up to a max of £250 probably.

[ailean]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/B-w-CM2-SPEAKERS-IN-MAPLE-EXCELLENT-STANDMOUNTERS_W0QQitemZ170320661215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers?hash=item170320661215&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Awsome speakers.

[_tom_]

Cant afford any at the moment til my next student loan goes in/get my car insurance refund :(

I was probably going to go for either some Tannoy F1 Customs or Mordaunt Short 902i's. Leaning toward the MS's as those MS25is are really nice and the 902i also get good reviews.

[Denim n Leather]

CM2's are garbage.


In my opinion.

[MDV]

I'm not a fan of the DM602s I have. They're very brash, dry and harsh, not very good soundstage either.

If the CM2s share the family sound then I'd avoid them.

Just get some adams and have done with it :)

[Denim n Leather]

There are loudspeakers out there not primarily designed as studio monitors that will do the job. But it's always advisable to check your mix on at least one "accurate" pair of loudspeakers.

In terms of amplification, the simpler the better. Essentially, what you want is a 'straight wire with gain'. Most consumer level products have so much 'enhancement' circuitry in them that they sound terrible, and in order to make room for these 'enhancements' critical compromises are made.

So ... will an old Hitachi amp work with a pair of, say, Paradigm monitors (which are very affordable and also very good)? Sure. But the Paradigms will sound a LOT better on something as simple as a Creek integrated amplifier.

[ToneMonkey]

I was just about to make a post about speakers, so funny I should see this.

I'm in the market for some second hand speakers as I'd prefer to get some good second hand ones than half decent new ones and I've got a budget of about £150.  I've been recommended some TDL RTL2's which can be picked up for about £60 (but since you're in Leicester if you see any, keep you bloody hands off and let me know instead I've had my eye out for some for about 4 months now).

I've been looking at the MS 902i's as well.  They're nice speakers.

Don't know much about the amp that you're on about, but since they're seperates then you can build them up over time and replace stuff.  It took me about five years to build up my stereo (and then a couple of years to slim it down to just an amp and a CD player - Got a Yamaha Mini-disk player for sale cheap if any wants it).  So even if the amps a bit cr@p, you can pick up another one for not a lot of money in the future.

[_tom_]

If you want floorstanding ones, those MS25is are really good. Only cost £28 as well, bargain!

[ailean]

CM2's are garbage.


In my opinion.

Thanks for that, should I hide mine in shame?  :P

[ToneMonkey]

http://www.fergusonhill.co.uk/product_details.php?id=3

[_tom_]

Just plugged in some low-end Sony speakers in to see how it sounds, surprisingly allright actually but its hard to tell with these little speakers, not that great through the amp they're made for as well. Bit boxy but I suspect thats the speakers rather than the amp (small enclosures and speakers).