Building a hi-fi system piece by piece has an obvious advantage: you choose every component down to the last detail. It also brings a real difficulty: making sure amplifier, speakers and source play well together, without spending hours comparing specifications. That is why we created the Recommended Systems: bundles we have already tested in our listening room in Lisbon, sold at a single price that is always lower than the sum of the parts bought separately. In this selection we bring together six systems, grouped by price tier, for different ways of listening to music at home.
Entry-level vinyl, up to 300 euros
For anyone who wants to start listening to records without complications, we have two systems solved in two boxes: a turntable with a built-in phono preamp, connected directly to active speakers. No amplifier and no extra cables required.
The Vulkkano Vinyl System, TD10 + A4 ARC MKII pairs the Vulkkano TD10 turntable with the A4 ARC MKII active speakers, which bring Bluetooth for your phone and HDMI ARC for the television. Take it out of the box, plug it in and it plays.
The Vulkkano Plus Vinyl System, TD10 + A5 ARC MKII follows the same principle with more presence in the room: the same TD10 paired with the A5 ARC MKII active speakers, for more power, more bass and a wider soundstage.
Both suit bedrooms, offices or small rooms where vinyl is the priority and the television or phone come in as an extra.
Complete room sound, up to 1000 euros
At this tier the systems already cover television, phone, streaming and, in one case, CD too, always paired with reference bookshelf speakers in their class.
The Tangent System, Ampster BT III + iEAST OLIO + Acoustic Energy AE100² combines the compact Tangent Ampster BT III amplifier, with HDMI ARC, Bluetooth aptX HD and a phono input, with the iEAST OLIO streaming receiver, which adds Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, with the Acoustic Energy AE100² bookshelf speakers rounding out the set. It is the choice for anyone who wants to connect everything (television, phone, streaming and a future turntable) to a proper pair of speakers.
The Eversolo System, Play CD Edition + Acoustic Energy AE100² resolves streaming, CD and amplification in a single box: the Eversolo Play CD Edition combines streamer, DAC, amplifier and CD player in one compact unit with a display, connected to the same Acoustic Energy AE100² speakers with just two speaker cables. It is the system for anyone who still has a CD collection and wants to add streaming without multiplying devices.
Classic hi-fi with streaming, from 1690 euros
In the next two systems we return to the classic three-piece format (integrated amplifier, streamer and speakers) built for anyone who wants analogue sound with the convenience of today's streaming.
The Heed Asterisk System, Asterisk + WiiM Ultra + Acoustic Energy AE300 pairs the Hungarian Heed Asterisk integrated amplifier, at 2 x 30 W, with the WiiM Ultra streamer, which offers Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, radio, a touchscreen and a quality DAC, with the Acoustic Energy AE300 speakers completing the set. It is the system we usually set up in the store to show what high fidelity can already do at this price.
The Heed Elixir System, Elixir + WiiM Ultra + Acoustic Energy AE300 is a step above, with the amplifier that gave Heed's philosophy its name: the Elixir delivers 2 x 50 W, a phono input and the organic musicality that built the brand's reputation, paired with the same WiiM Ultra and the same Acoustic Energy AE300 speakers. A system built to last for years.
All six systems, side by side
| System | Suited for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Vulkkano TD10 + A4 ARC MKII | Starting out in vinyl, small room | €249 |
| Vulkkano Plus TD10 + A5 ARC MKII | Starting out in vinyl, more power | €299 |
| Tangent Ampster BT III + iEAST OLIO + AE100² | TV, phone and streaming in one room | €590 |
| Eversolo Play CD Edition + AE100² | Streaming and CD, all in one box | €990 |
| Heed Asterisk + WiiM Ultra + AE300 | Classic hi-fi with streaming | €1690 |
| Heed Elixir + WiiM Ultra + AE300 | Classic hi-fi, one step up | €2400 |
You can see all the bundles, with the details of every component, in the Recommended Systems collection.
Frequently asked questions
Can I swap a component in the system?
Yes. The Recommended Systems are the starting point we suggest for each budget, but any piece can be replaced with another one from our store. Talk to us before buying and we will adjust the set to your speakers, your space or the sources you already have at home.
Does the system already come with the necessary cables?
The systems with active speakers (the two vinyl systems) connect directly to the turntable, with no amplifier and no extra cables. On systems with an amplifier and passive speakers, speaker cables are required, which you can add to your cart or ask us about when checking out.
Can I listen to the system before buying?
Yes. All these bundles pass through our listening room in Lisbon before being recommended. You can book a demonstration to hear any of them under the same conditions in which we tested them.
If you are still deciding where to start, our guide to choosing a high fidelity system explains the criteria in more detail. The article on how much a good high fidelity system costs helps you place these prices in the market.