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Hi-Fi & Audio

We've been selling the world's best Hi-Fi equipment for nearly 50 years. From turntables to amps, streamers to subs, and everything in between, you can rely on Sevenoaks Sound and Vision to help you get the perfect system to bring out the very best of your music.

Learn More About Hi-Fi

The traditional approach – an “audiophile” Hi-Fi setup

It’s great to have music available to us whenever and wherever, but many people only experience music incidentally, a background wallpaper to their lives. However, for a true music lover, there’s no substitute for a quality Hi-Fi system. It’s a uniquely powerful experience, that will transport you to a spine tingling, foot tapping, intimate new appreciation for your favourite artists.

We want our customers to experience their music in the best way possible, and would love to help you on your journey to musical nirvana. With over fifty years experience selling some of the best Hi-Fi products available, we have assembled, specified, and connected countless systems for our discerning customers.

We will match the components together within your budget for a complete, perfectly balanced system. Whether that’s the all in-one minimalist approach, or ultra high-end bespoke specialist equipment, we can help.

Whilst music systems come in every shape and size, we can typically categories a system into a few key areas:

The Source

The first step in any Hi-Fi system is the source. This could be a CD player, a precisely calibrated turntable, streaming device, or combination of all three!

Many music lovers are familiar with the sonic benefits of a quality turntable, but you may also wish to explore Hi-Res streaming... Conversely, you may wish to jump onboard the vinyl revival but need some help with making the right choice (given how complicated vinyl playback can be!)

Alongside these traditional source components, with recent improvements in digital audio processing, TVs are fast becoming another important source that many audiophiles want to blend into their system.

Just let us know your aims and we’ll point you in the right direction, and once you’ve decided how you’re listening, we can set it all up faultlessly so you can get on with enjoying your music.

The Power

Once you’ve chosen your sources, the next step to consider is amplification. This can consist of a preamplifier (dealing with the all-important audio signal quality) and power amplifier (the muscle that drives the speakers), or alternatively, you could opt for the simplicity of an integrated amplifier which has both elements built in one single unit. Many modern amplifiers utilise a technology called “Class D amplification”; this highly efficient design means amplifiers are becoming smaller and more powerful, and some might argue that Class D amps can now outperform conventional large and heavy amplifiers.

It’s also vital not to underestimate the complexity of trying to balance every part of your new Hi-Fi. We can advise you on the most suitable interconnects, power cables, additional power supplies and even mains isolation for each component.

How far you go into separates is completely up to you. Depending on your requirements we can specify a system that involves the bare minimum number of “boxes” on your rack, or go down the (immensely fun) rabbit hole of DAC’s, DDC, streamers, networking upgrades, DSP’s, valve amps, passive and active pre-amps, stereo amps, and mono-blocks! It’s hard to overstate the benefit of each component part of your hi fi setup being optimised specifically for its intended role, not to mention the countless upgrade possibilities.

Whilst research and comparing the specification and features for your next amplifier is important, more so is hearing how everything works together. A great system is only great if you love how it sounds. Brief us on your requirements and we can help narrow down your choice given the vast range of amplification options there are to choose from.

The Speakers

Arguably the most important part of any great music system is the loudspeakers. Speakers come in a huge variety of styles, shapes and sizes, but determining what works best for you is as much about personal taste as it is the size of your room. Active speakers (with a built in amplifier) may work best in a busy family living room, offering minimal cables and fuss, and ensuring ease of use for any user.

For passive designs (powered by separate amplification) it’s critical that the amplifier is suitably matched. Whilst wattage output tells you something, the impedance behaviour of every speaker will differ so careful matching is crucial. In our experience it’s easier to damage a speaker using an underpowered amplifier, so always aim for some headroom!

Also, bear in mind that every room is different, so placing your speakers in the ideal listening position might not always be possible, but we urge experimenting with placement when feasible. That said, knowing the basics of where to start will save you a lot of time and trouble. This is especially the case with subwoofers, which are often a challenge to position discretely.

Don’t forget that speakers will also sound different in different rooms, so you shouldn’t base your decision solely from reviews. Given the important role of the loudspeaker in a system, careful matching is imperative, so do take the time to visit one of our stores to listen to as many as you can.

The Room

Last, but certainly not least is your room. An often-overlooked component, but of vital importance to get the most out of your system, is room treatment. Just ask anyone that’s been to a high-end Hi-Fi show or had an amazing demo room experience about the difference it makes.

All rooms have different acoustic properties, and huge improvements can be gained in almost any room through careful application of acoustic treatment.

Consider tackling some of the issues your room may pose through precise placement of professionally made diffusors and absorbers. You can achieve great success with only a few panels in most small rooms, as long as they are placed in the correct position in relation to your speakers. Alternatively you can opt for a more discrete option through careful placement of soft furnishings, and furniture positioning.

Whilst treating your room may not stop your subwoofer from annoying your neighbour, don’t underestimate that transformative effect it can have on your listening experience. With so many treatment products on the market we can help you make the best choice for your room, budget and taste.

Get in touch

Upgrading your system is one of the most exciting, (sometimes challenging!), but ultimately rewarding exercises in Hi-Fi, but because it’s such a personal journey, a well-informed opinion at the outset is enormously helpful. So if it’s help designing your dedicated music room, or something more straightforward like installing your first turntable properly, we’re here to help.

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