Hi Fi in BKK

[funky_house]

Was looking for Hi Fi shops in BKK, and came across the HiFi Centre, in soi next to Big C, opposite Central World.

Anyone been there? Any good?

[beej]

Was looking for Hi Fi shops in BKK, and came across the HiFi Centre, in soi next to Big C, opposite Central World.

Anyone been there? Any good?

Bit over priced there sometimes, what kind of thing are you looking for?

[funky_house]

Was looking for Hi Fi shops in BKK, and came across the HiFi Centre, in soi next to Big C, opposite Central World.

Anyone been there? Any good?

Bit over priced there sometimes, what kind of thing are you looking for?

Good quality surround sound AV receiver. Maybe Denon or Onkyo, and a decent blu ray player. To build a home theatre system.

[Teddy]

Why not try somewhere in London like richer sounds? They've got fair prices and will save you lumping it back as well.

Or try online.

[funky_house]

Why not try somewhere in London like richer sounds? They've got fair prices and will save you lumping it back as well.

Or try online.

Because its for Thailand. Richer Sounds have the Denon AVR2310 for a monkey, but I'm not lugging that halfway around the world.

[drlovelife8]

People still use hi fi :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

[zeusbheld]

People still use hi fi :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

may shock you, but the laws of physics haven't changed. you need something to amplify all those schmoov lossless superbit DVD Audio files you pirated from the 'net, and you need something to actually move some air and make some sound, even hooked up to a computer... and computer sound systems are ****.

for loudspeakers i'm kinda keen on these:

http://www.norh.com/Norh_Loudspeaker/Norh.html

otherwise i wish for Ohm, but can't afford 'em. Ohm are made in Brooklyn, NY whereas Norh are made here in Thailand. the 4.0s are affordable and get good reviews in the audio snob papers.

of course there are decent off-the-rack audio too (there's a B&W shop in that posh mall across from amarin, if you're so inclined).

as for where to get that receiver: even with shipping it might be cheaper to buy one overseas as imported electronics are swamped by duties. www.jandr.com or bhphotovideo.com are worth inquiring into in the US, but if you buy in the US make sure that you get one that can do 110-250v, as many US models are 110 only. also if you think you might end up in the US or Japan at some point get one that does 110-220 instead of just 220. unlike computers there's usually no reason to replace a receiver every 2 years.

that said, that hifi mall next to big c varies a LOT. i've seen standard Power Center (or whatever it's called) prices on Onkyo etc. but i've also seen some really good deals on last year's Onkyo and especially Marantz (there is a Marantz shop there, still there i believe but i haven't been in a while). i'd prefer an NAD but i'm slightly snobby and the Onkyo is a good choice (the careful observer will note that i havent' bought a home theater system, because the ones i like are too pricey, that's a bit counterproductive isn't it). as an added bonus last i knew the onkyo remote worked with the ipod when it was hooked up to the receiver...

for the really adventurous there are many guys in Thailand who build tube amps, but this would be more for audio purists than home theater. tubes are great for music but not for home theater, and don't offer the control or audio decoiding that HT receivers do. still, the idea of getting a pure class A tube amp on the cheap to hook up to that terabyte of lossless music you're listening to through your computer's preamp right now is pretty appealing. (pure class a isn't a judgment of quality it merely describes how it's wired).

[drlovelife8]

People still use hi fi :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

may shock you, but the laws of physics haven't changed. you need something to amplify all those schmoov lossless superbit DVD Audio files you pirated from the 'net, and you need something to actually move some air and make some sound, even hooked up to a computer... and computer sound systems are sh*t.

for loudspeakers i'm kinda keen on these:

http://www.norh.com/Norh_Loudspeaker/Norh.html

otherwise i wish for Ohm, but can't afford 'em. Ohm are made in Brooklyn, NY whereas Norh are made here in Thailand. the 4.0s are affordable and get good reviews in the audio snob papers.

of course there are decent off-the-rack audio too (there's a B&W shop in that posh mall across from amarin, if you're so inclined).

as for where to get that receiver: even with shipping it might be cheaper to buy one overseas as imported electronics are swamped by duties. www.jandr.com or bhphotovideo.com are worth inquiring into in the US, but if you buy in the US make sure that you get one that can do 110-250v, as many US models are 110 only. also if you think you might end up in the US or Japan at some point get one that does 110-220 instead of just 220. unlike computers there's usually no reason to replace a receiver every 2 years.

that said, that hifi mall next to big c varies a LOT. i've seen standard Power Center (or whatever it's called) prices on Onkyo etc. but i've also seen some really good deals on last year's Onkyo and especially Marantz (there is a Marantz shop there, still there i believe but i haven't been in a while). i'd prefer an NAD but i'm slightly snobby and the Onkyo is a good choice (the careful observer will note that i havent' bought a home theater system, because the ones i like are too pricey, that's a bit counterproductive isn't it). as an added bonus last i knew the onkyo remote worked with the ipod when it was hooked up to the receiver...

for the really adventurous there are many guys in Thailand who build tube amps, but this would be more for audio purists than home theater. tubes are great for music but not for home theater, and don't offer the control or audio decoiding that HT receivers do. still, the idea of getting a pure class A tube amp on the cheap to hook up to that terabyte of lossless music you're listening to through your computer's preamp right now is pretty appealing. (pure class a isn't a judgment of quality it merely describes how it's wired).

He is asking about multiple piece unti hi fi equipment and you kow it.

I have everything on my i-pod system. The speakers are the only external piece. They ate tiny and the sound is amazing.

[Damnam1]

Hi,

any western equipment might be way overpriced. The king of Thailand has got german Burmester equipment. Cant afford that, pity.

I am audiophile, too. Years ago I had Vincent amp and other equipment such as CD and tube amps. Vincent comes from China, but their products are near high-end and they dont need to fear western competitors. Check them out - they have great products and most probably at very competitive prices in Thailand:

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/504.html

HongKong dealer:

www.cattylink.com

Cheers

Ray

[beej]

.... I try to buy everything I need in the UK, its mad over priced in Thailand, though I did buy the wife a nicely priced NAD Bee amp from that store behind Big C

There is also an extremely mouth watering hi-fi shop on the very top floor of Pantip, if you go up the final escalator and turn immediately left as if to go to the car park, you'll find it!

[Dave40]

People still use hi fi :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Ah yes I have a Yamaha Receiver a full high definition telly, a blu ray player Bowers and Wilkins Speakers and Sub!!!!

I just put all my cd's on my Ipod and play through the "docking station" which is connected to my receiver!!!!

[funky_house]

.... I try to buy everything I need in the UK, its mad over priced in Thailand, though I did buy the wife a nicely priced NAD Bee amp from that store behind Big C

There is also an extremely mouth watering hi-fi shop on the very top floor of Pantip, if you go up the final escalator and turn immediately left as if to go to the car park, you'll find it!

.... I try to buy everything I need in the UK, its mad over priced in Thailand

Won't they sting you at Customs?

Any extra boxes always seem to attract their beady little eyes, and I wouldn't like to chance stuffing an AV receiver in my suitcase. I've seen those baggage handlers at work.

[beej]

.... I try to buy everything I need in the UK, its mad over priced in Thailand, though I did buy the wife a nicely priced NAD Bee amp from that store behind Big C

There is also an extremely mouth watering hi-fi shop on the very top floor of Pantip, if you go up the final escalator and turn immediately left as if to go to the car park, you'll find it!

.... I try to buy everything I need in the UK, its mad over priced in Thailand

Won't they sting you at Customs?

Any extra boxes always seem to attract their beady little eyes, and I wouldn't like to chance stuffing an AV receiver in my suitcase. I've seen those baggage handlers at work.

Always find its ok if its packed into my large wheelie suitcase and wrapped in clothes.

Only trick with customs is ditch the boxes and paper work, they can't sting you if its used.

[funky_house]

.... I try to buy everything I need in the UK, its mad over priced in Thailand, though I did buy the wife a nicely priced NAD Bee amp from that store behind Big C

There is also an extremely mouth watering hi-fi shop on the very top floor of Pantip, if you go up the final escalator and turn immediately left as if to go to the car park, you'll find it!

.... I try to buy everything I need in the UK, its mad over priced in Thailand

Won't they sting you at Customs?

Any extra boxes always seem to attract their beady little eyes, and I wouldn't like to chance stuffing an AV receiver in my suitcase. I've seen those baggage handlers at work.

Always find its ok if its packed into my large wheelie suitcase and wrapped in clothes.

Only trick with customs is ditch the boxes and paper work, they can't sting you if its used.

Thats what I'm gonna try then. But the one I'm looking at weighs 11 kilos. That's gonna be some haul.

[zeusbheld]

He is asking about multiple piece unti hi fi equipment and you kow it.

not sure what you're getting at; i was *answering* about "multiple piece unit hi fi equipment," and if you actually read what you quote-boxed you'd know it....

I have everything on my i-pod system. The speakers are the only external piece. They ate tiny and the sound is amazing.

two things, 1) i'm glad you're happy with 'em (all that matters really) but i highly doubt there'd be a consensus around their amazingness, and 2) there most definitely is an amplifier in the speakers somewhere as you'd barely be able to hear them from the ipod's preamp. not a great design approach sound-quality-wise, which leads back to (1)...

[zeusbheld]

.... I try to buy everything I need in the UK, its mad over priced in Thailand, though I did buy the wife a nicely priced NAD Bee amp from that store behind Big C

There is also an extremely mouth watering hi-fi shop on the very top floor of Pantip, if you go up the final escalator and turn immediately left as if to go to the car park, you'll find it!

the pantip joint has impressive stuff if you a) can afford it and know what you're looking at. they have some absolutely crappy soundgear side by side with stuff The Absolute Sound would go all moist over.

to elaborate a bit on Beej's navigation instructions, i'ts *two* lefts, but the first left (in front of IT City or whatever it's called) wouldn't get you to the carpark, so you'd figure it out quite quickly. i only bring it up because they have a roomful of audio equipment at the place where you need to make the second left, and the main shop's the one with people in it...

[zeusbheld]

Hi,

any western equipment might be way overpriced. The king of Thailand has got german Burmester equipment. Cant afford that, pity.

I am audiophile, too. Years ago I had Vincent amp and other equipment such as CD and tube amps. Vincent comes from China, but their products are near high-end and they dont need to fear western competitors. Check them out - they have great products and most probably at very competitive prices in Thailand:

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/504.html

HongKong dealer:

www.cattylink.com

Cheers

Ray

don't know Vincent but china (prc) has some arcane mofos making high end tube amps in their garage or basement or whatever the spare room in a hutong (are there any left?) is called.

i met a guy in Tianjin (a painter, but not a rich **** like miss bourgie Beejoir, the normal, poor kind) who had a stereo setup with two enormous 9 watt single channel pure class a power amps that some guy made in a garage for next to nothing, and an old-school turntable with a heavy enough platter that moving day would be a *****. handmade speakers too.

the sound was a bit more believable than many concert halls. amazing stuff.

me personally i'll probably get a home theater receiver (NAD first choice, Onkyo a distant second) and ideally a 9 watt pure class A tube amp, hooked up to an ipod filled mainly with lossless files. that's the dream anyway but right now all my spare income which isn't being saved is going toward computer **** and setting up a system to play back video from hard drives...