Tagged: budget hi-fi

7 articles we've published with this tag.

Class D amps have won the value war. Here's why I'm still not 100% sold
Class D amps now deliver serious power for giant-killer money. Dave Okafor breaks down what you actually gain, and give up, versus solid-state and valve gear.
By Dave Okafor
Subwoofer output limiting: the setting that quietly ruins cheap subs
Most budget subs sound worse the harder you push them because of built-in limiter behaviour, not the driver. Here's how to find the real ceiling.
By Dave Okafor
Watts on paper vs watts that matter: matching amp power to real speakers
Why the watts-per-channel number on the box tells you almost nothing useful, and how to actually match an amplifier to a speaker without overspending.
By Dave Okafor
DAC chip specs are marketing. Here's what actually decides sound quality
ESS, AKM or a "flagship" chip name tells you almost nothing about how a DAC sounds. Here's what genuinely separates a good one from a dud, on any budget.
By Dave Okafor
Where a vinyl system's money actually goes: spending in the right order
A former record shop owner on the real spending order for a turntable system, and where extra dollars stop buying you anything.
By Priya Anand
How to build a multiroom audio system without blowing your budget
Multiroom audio doesn't have to cost a fortune. Dave Okafor breaks down the real options, the traps, and the ecosystems worth your money in Australia.
By Dave Okafor
Do you actually need an external DAC, or is your device good enough?
Dave Okafor cuts through the DAC upgrade hype: when a dedicated converter genuinely improves your sound, and when it's just expensive placebo.
By Dave Okafor