Welcome to Stranger HiFi Systems
I love talking about music, audio, studios, and HiFi — but most of all, I love helping people create a system that’s tuned to their individual tastes and space.
Everyone listens differently. Some crave the warmth of vinyl, others the precision of digital. Some want to recreate the energy of the studio, others seek deep, immersive calm. There are countless ways to put a system together, and the right one is the one that speaks to you.
So please don’t hesitate to give me a call on 07702 155847 or email me. We can set up a Zoom call so I can get a sense of your room, your current setup, and how you like to listen. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to fine-tune something specific, I’m happy to help.
These systems below are not off-the-shelf — they’re starting points. Every element can be adapted to fit your space, music, and preferences.
System 1: Stranger HiFi £5,000 Reference System
System Overview
This carefully chosen digital-first system delivers serious audiophile performance with compact elegance. Built around Roon streaming, Chord Electronics’ world-class digital components, and ATC’s legendary loudspeakers, this is a complete solution for music lovers who value clarity, precision, and reliability.
Renowned for their neutrality, midrange clarity, and sealed-box precision, the SCM11s bring studio-grade accuracy into your living space. Perfectly matched for small to medium rooms.
Music Server / Streamer Roon Nucleus One – £599
Silent, fanless Roon Core optimized for audiophile playback. Acts as the system’s central brain, serving music from local storage or streaming platforms like TIDAL and Qobuz with minimal noise and maximum stability.
Digital-to-Analogue Converter Chord Qutest – £995
Award-winning DAC known for transparency, detail, and musical flow. Converts digital files into rich analogue sound with Chord’s proprietary FPGA technology.
Amplification Chord Anni Integrated Amplifier – £1,299
A compact but powerful integrated amp with excellent synergy with ATC speakers. Features a headphone output for intimate late-night listening.
Cabling Accusound Interconnects & Speaker Cables – Approx. £300
Studio-quality cables designed to preserve signal integrity, delivering low-noise, neutral performance from source to speaker.
Total System Price: £4,843
Suggested Additions / Options
ATC Speaker Stands (e.g., Custom Design FS104 Signature) – £150–£200
Roon Lifetime License (optional) – £829
Replace Roon Nucleus One with Wiim Pro Plus – £219
Future Upgrade Path
Upgrade to ATC SCM19 for greater bass authority
Add a CAD Ground Control for further noise reduction
System 2: Stranger HiFi Chord and ATC System
System Overview
This system brings together high-resolution streaming, Chord’s latest compact pre/power amplification and DAC technology, and ATC’s impeccable passive loudspeakers. Clean, musical, and endlessly upgradeable, it offers the performance of high-end separates in a beautifully minimal form.
Exceptional sealed-box standmounts with fast, clean bass and ATC’s trademark midrange accuracy. Ideal for serious listening in medium-sized rooms.
Music Server Roon Nucleus One – £599
A silent, dedicated Roon Core. Serves as the digital transport, streaming TIDAL, Qobuz, and local files to the Hugo 2 over USB or optical.
Digital-to-Analogue Converter Chord Hugo 2 DAC – £1,795
High-end DAC with battery power supply and Chord’s proprietary filtering architecture. Clear, punchy and detailed, with the added flexibility of portable use if required.
Preamplifier Chord Suzi Pre – £2,697
A refined and compact preamplifier with balanced outputs and ultra-low noise floor. Pairs perfectly with Chord DACs and power amps.
Power Amplifier Chord Suzi Power – £2,697
Compact stereo power amp that delivers exceptional control, dynamics and transparency into the SCM19s. Capable of driving them with absolute authority.
Cabling Accusound Interconnects & Speaker Cables – Approx. £350
Neutral, professional-grade cabling to ensure full transparency between source, preamp, power, and speakers.
Total System Price: £10,733
Upgrade Options
ATC SCM40 or active range in the future
Add CAD Ground Control for even lower system noise
Grimm MU2 as all-in-one DAC/streamer alternative
Dedicated power conditioner or isolation platform
System 3: Stranger HiFi Analogue Reference System
System Overview
This system is designed for analogue purists who value warmth, presence, and musical flow. Combining the legendary Technics SL-1200GR2 turntable, pure Class A amplification from Sugden, and ATC’s floorstanding reference monitors, this vinyl-first system delivers dynamic realism and long-form listening satisfaction.
The latest version of the legendary SL-1200 line. Coreless direct drive, rock-solid timing, and superb build quality. A true reference deck for vinyl lovers.
Phono Stage Sugden A21 Phono Stage – £859
Designed to complement the A21SE amplifier. MM input with exceptional low-noise performance and rich tonal balance.
Amplification Sugden A21SE Integrated Amplifier – £3,999
30W of pure Class A power. Warm, holographic, and emotionally engaging. A British hi-fi icon.
Speakers ATC SCM40 (Passive Floorstanders) – £4,750
Full-range sealed cabinet with ATC’s signature dome midrange. Transparent, controlled, and musically immersive.
Cabling Accusound Interconnects & Speaker Cables – Approx. £300
Studio-grade signal transfer with excellent neutrality. Preserves source character and system dynamics.
Total System Price: £11,657
Upgrade Options
Upgrade cartridge on the SL-1200GR2 for even better resolution
Add CAD Ground Control to lower background noise
Explore external power conditioning or isolation platforms
System 4: Stranger HiFi Statement System — Grimm + ATC
System Overview
This all-active, ultra-minimalist system combines Grimm Audio’s reference-level MU2 streamer/DAC/preamplifier with ATC’s legendary SCM50A active loudspeakers. Paired via Grimm’s own balanced TPR cabling, this setup is astonishingly pure, resolving, and effortless. A true reference for modern high-end listening.
A world-class all-in-one streamer, DAC, and volume-controlled preamp built around a discrete analog output stage. Native Roon endpoint, ultra-low-jitter clocking, and effortless detail retrieval. The ultimate digital front end.
Speakers ATC SCM50A Active Loudspeakers – £16,650pair
3-way active monitors with ATC’s in-house drivers, onboard amplification, and sealed cabinet design. Studio-grade transparency, dynamics, and resolution — suitable for both nearfield and full-room listening.
Cabling Grimm Audio TPR Balanced XLR Cables – £400 (approx.)
Low-capacitance, ultra-transparent pro-level cables. Perfect match between MU2 and SCM50A.
Total System Price: £34,000
Why It Works
No unnecessary boxes: DAC, streamer, and preamp all handled by the MU2
Active amplification inside speakers means no external power amp required
Ultra-short, balanced signal path
Incredibly low noise floor, fast transient response, and natural tone
Options & Expansion
Acoustic treatment and bespoke system tuning via Stranger High Fidelity
System 5: Stranger HiFi Statement System — MBL NL-01
System Overview
The MBL NL-01 is a fully integrated high-end system from Germany’s most revered audio brand, combining iconic Radialstrahler loudspeakers with world-class digital playback and amplification. A complete system with astonishing coherence, holography, and dynamics — designed for the listener who wants nothing less than a fully immersive, reference-grade experience.
Omnidirectional design using MBL’s patented Radialstrahler drivers. Incredible sound dispersion, natural tone, and 3D spatial realism. Compact enough for real rooms but utterly uncompromising.
Source Component MBL N31 CD-DAC
CD transport and high-resolution DAC in one. Combines superb digital decoding with MBL’s signature musicality. Roon Ready, USB and AES inputs, and up to 24/192 and DSD.
Amplification MBL N51 Integrated Amplifier
Elegant yet powerful integrated amp, perfectly voiced for the 126. Fully balanced circuitry, massive current delivery, and the MBL house sound: smooth, revealing, and effortlessly dynamic.
System Package MBL NL-01 Package (126 + N31 + N51) – Total Retail: £42,480
Upgrade & Customisation Options
Add MBL N15 mono power amps for even greater headroom
Dedicated MBL isolation platforms and racks
Full room setup consultation available via Stranger High Fidelity
System 6: Stranger HiFi Ultra Statement System — MBL RX-02
System Overview
The MBL RX-02 system represents the pinnacle of high-end audio. This is not just a playback system — it is an experience, a reference point for what recorded music can truly sound like when all physical limits are removed. Designed for the world’s most discerning listeners, the RX-02 is an engineering and artistic masterpiece built entirely by MBL in Berlin.
The ultimate omnidirectional loudspeaker. Four Radialstrahler towers with external crossover units and dedicated bass columns. Immersive, limitless soundstage with stunning realism and full-range frequency response.
Power Amplification 4 x MBL 9011 Mono Power Amplifiers
MBL’s flagship power amplifiers, delivering staggering current, dynamic speed, and absolute control. One mono amp per speaker channel for the ultimate separation and grip.
Digital Source MBL 1621A CD Transport
A meticulously engineered CD transport with anti-resonance housing and ultra-precise disc handling. Designed to deliver flawless digital signal to the 1611F.
MBL 1611F DAC
State-of-the-art digital-to-analog converter with native high-res and DSD support. Analog warmth meets digital precision.
Preamplifier MBL 6010D Reference Preamp
Known globally as one of the finest preamps ever built. Fully dual-mono, with exceptional dynamics and vanishingly low noise. The control centre of the RX-02.
Total System Price: £594,590
Why RX-02?
Unmatched scale, depth, and realism
Radialstrahler technology fills the room with 360° sound
Designed and built by hand in Germany
A true endgame system for the most exclusive listening rooms
System 7: Stranger HiFi Analogue Precision System — DS Audio, Technics, Kerr
System Overview
A stunning vinyl-first system built around optical cartridge technology and high-performance British amplification. This setup offers both clarity and weight, ideal for listeners who want to hear deep into the grooves of their records. Two amplifier options let you tailor the tone to your personal taste — whether that’s the clean, ultra-dynamic energy of Chord Electronics or the rich, fluid Class A character of Sugden.
Turntable Technics SL-1200G – £3,999
An icon of engineering, taken to its highest level. Ultra-precise coreless direct drive, dead-quiet background, and exceptional build quality.
Cartridge & Equaliser DS Audio E3 Optical Cartridge & E3 Equaliser – £2,540
Revolutionary optical design means no magnetic drag, lower distortion, and smoother frequency response. Supplied as a complete system with its own dedicated EQ/power supply unit.
Loudspeakers Kerr Acoustic K320 Mk3 – £8,795
Full-range, transmission-line design with ribbon tweeters. Stunning detail and bass depth, combined with a natural, unforced presentation. Handmade in the UK.
Amplification Options
Option 1: Chord Electronics Ultima Integrated – £8,500
Fast, ultra-transparent, and highly dynamic. For those who value clarity, grip, and scale.
Option 2: Sugden Masterclass IA-4 Integrated – £6,670
Pure Class A with exceptional tonal richness and drive. A more romantic, fluid character with no loss of resolution.
Total System Price:
With Chord Ultima Integrated: £23,834
With Sugden IA-4: £21,964
Professional-grade cabling to ensure maximum transparency and system synergy.
Upgrade Suggestions
Isolation platform for turntable (e.g., Townshend or HRS)
CAD Ground Control for noise reduction
Add a second tonearm with conventional MC/MM cartridge