Adam Harding-Jones' Stereo Setup

Some systems impress with sheer scale. Adam Harding-Jones' does it with balance — a two-channel setup in Wallasey, UK, built from around £7,000 of carefully chosen gear, where every component earns its place. By day, Adam leads a team at The Contact Company, and his path here ran through BT, Firstsource, and even a stint as a constable with Merseyside Police. But evenings belong to music, and this system is where that passion lives. The heart: Naim Uniti Star. The Star sits at the core of the setup — amplifier, streamer, and CD player in a single box, carrying Naim's signature sound. It's the kind of component that simplifies a system without dumbing it down: one chassis, no compromises on musicality. The soul: Rega 50th Anniversary Edition turntable. For vinyl, Adam turned to Rega's anniversary deck — a fitting tribute from a company that has spent five decades refining the art of the turntable. Records played here sound the way vinyl should: warm, present, and alive. The voice: Focal Aria 926. In piano black, the Aria 926s are the visual and sonic anchor of the room. Focal's engineering shows in the expansive soundstage and precise imaging, with a warmth that pulls the listener in rather than shouting for attention. The foundation: Solidsteel rack. Easy to overlook, impossible to do without. The Solidsteel rack gives every component a stable, resonance-controlled home — and it looks the part doing it. What makes this system special isn't any single component — it's the discipline behind it. £7,000, four key pieces, zero filler. Proof that audiophile excellence comes from thoughtful choices, not an open chequebook. Questions about Adam's setup — the gear, the room, or how it all came together? Leave them in the comments. He's happy to share what he's learned.

Room: living room