Hi,

 I'm looking for my first decent hi-fi. I've considered a system at around £300 but I have thought can I just buy a good amplifier and decent speakers for £300 and plug in my MP3 player? I would not have a CD or radio but I only want to play my MP3s. I can add other separates later and the sound should be better than a system.

Hi Dan, welcome,

You can get some good deals at richer sounds link is on the left of screen, if shop is near to you go along tell them what you want and how much youve to spend, i am sure they will look after you check out the nad C352 amp........Carl 

Hi Dan, of course you can, just ask. From my experience of Richer Sounds, they are more than helpful and could probably put together a good system at that price. However It may be instructive to note that MP3 is a compressed format and will not normally sound as good as straight CD, I personally recon that a £25 CD/DVD player from Tesco would sound better, and would hardly alter the budget.

Whilst I realise that no 'self respecting' Hi-Fi buyer would ever venture into Tesco for musical Nirvana, the reality is that the 'bottom end' just got better, so much better that it now challenges the 'top end'. Check out a bottom end class 'D' amp, it may only be £90 but don't dismiss it, then keep all the real dosh for a serious speaker system, you will be amazed at the results.

John...

PS please don't be intimidated that £100 on leads will do anything as it won't, virtually all dealers are keen to sell leads as their 'mark-up' is so much greater than the equipment. 

Hi Dan,

 I agree with John, with your budget what he said makes good sense, but you should try to upgrade your freebie  cables to some better quality types from maplins at very little extra cost.

 all the best Electro.

Thanks electro, yer maybe a slight upgrade, gold etc. Now I don't know if you have seen it but maybe interesting - the 911 thread.

John...