Setting up a proper hi-fi environment at your home can be a tough task, particularly if you want the very best gear on the market at the moment. The main problem associated with the best hi-fi equipment is undoubtedly the ridiculous cost, which makes them pretty much inaccessible except for the wealthiest of people.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you cannot buy hi-fi equipment of a budget. In fact, it is quite possible to get gear of acceptable quality for much lower prices than expected, provided that you can find a good balance between the price and features you want. You definitely cannot have the best of both of worlds: comprising will be necessary to an extent.

The other problem for people on a budget is choosing what components to prioritise over others. For this simple reason, given below is an exhaustive list of the things you will probably need the most, providing some form of advice on whether you should opt to pay a little more to get better products or just to stick with the cheaper alternatives.

• Headphones – You are likely using headphones quite often, so it might be a good idea to find a good pair first of all. The design of the headphone itself matters to many people, but the extra decorations can quickly add up in price. If you can forego the aesthetics and settle for a more normal looking pair of headphones, it is possible to save a few bucks. Nevertheless, remember to only buy from quality brands, and always check the specifications first.
• Speaker System – This component is also a must if you like good audio clarity. Speaker and subwoofer systems are available in different sizes and different price brackets, so try to choose one that isn’t too large that you will have difficulty finding space for in your home. Avoid the largest of systems unless you will be integrating it as part of one of your home automation systems.
• Turntable – Turntables are pretty expensive, which is why you should really only go for something like a Rega RP1 turntable. These turntables are built pretty well and are a good way to get started with vinyl records if you are new to them. They have been popular for quite some time, and the sheer amount of units sold should say something to you about how good they really are.
• Blu-Ray Player – For those who watch films on Blu-Ray on a frequent basis, there is nothing better than a good player to watch your favourite films. Be sure to get a player with good audio playback capabilities, or else you will be wasting the capabilities of your subwoofer system.