Normal People

Well, I guess you're here because you are looking to upgrade or buy your first sound or A/V system, or maybe you're just curious. Whatever the reason, we try to give a relatively unbiased view on the equipment available and its place relevant to the Australian market place. We offer advice (free) and hi fi bargains (not so free) along with reviews on both equipment and DVD software. Obviously we can't stock every brand although over the past 30 Years I reckon I've sold just about all of them. The reason we've ended up selling our current range is that we believe they offer the best value for money although that equation changes regularly and we move along with the times. There is no one electronics brand which stands out above the others in terms of sonics, the speaker/room combination is far more critical to the overall sound than any receiver/ amplifier will ever be. As long as you stick to one of the majors, Yamaha, Marantz, Denon, Cambridge Audio or Onkyo, you can't go too far wrong. There are a few lesser known brands which should also be considered, Sherwood, (they manufacture some equipment for Marantz, Denon, Harmon Kardon and others), Sony ES Range (although a little too brittle sounding for my ears) and maybe NAD, Harman Kardon or Rotel although their build quality has been sporadic in the past - mainly because a lot of their product is out sourced. Speakers are a bit harder, whereas the sound difference between amplifiers exists, it's relatively small between the above mentioned brands. All speakers sound way different and as most people's perception of sound varies, it tends to come down to personal preference. There is no way to produce a speaker which everybody loves. Paradigm and sister company Martin Logan come close to it (I use them at home) and KEF do a fair stab at it but with over 80 brands of speakers on the Australian market it's a bloody minefield. Best grab your favourite CD and head out for an audition or in the case of you country people who can't get around, e-mail or fax your room dimensions, musical tastes and budget then we can take a fair stab at what you need. Don't be afraid to e-mail or phone with your questions - even if they sound silly, we'll still answer them - then have a good laugh later! Most of all, don't take this stuff too seriously, it'll stress you out and then you won't enjoy your investment. Have a peek around our site and don't be afraid to ring (02 9651 4922), Fax (02 9651 5011) or e- mail (steve@eastwoodhifi.com.au) if you don't understand something or need advice.

N