Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
I've always been happy with NAD amps. They sound very good for the money and tend to work well in lower and mid-priced systems. I'd classify their sound as warm and dynamic. -- Pale Blue Ego Pale Blue Ego's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=110 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
if you can indicate the budget.more precisely. from my experience t-amp fantastic imaging ...but no bass bellow 100hz has only 3 watts usable power before clipping. nad amps ...are only warm if you use the fitted vol potsthey can be clean fast dynamic if you use an alps blue [this was true for my nad 3020a anyway]. richer sounds..gear the cambridge azur 740 amps are very good. the a1 and a5 are ok speakers ...the kef q7 and the tannoy eyris would be [on paper] the ones I'd look at...but you need to listen to them preferabley in you own listening room. -- zanash zanash's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=12157 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
If you're pitching it around Cambridge Audio/NAD level, you might also consider Rotel amps. 250 quid will get you a new RA 04 (which both gets good reviews and has three very cool-looking blue lights on it). Monitor Audio BR speakers also get rave reviews and can be yours for 200 notes. This is the system I went to buy from my dealer, but was seduced into upgrading the speakers to end of line Quad 11Ls and, more recently, a KEF HTB2 sub. The learning point is that many dealers offer heavy discounts on end of line or ex demo stock: I got both purchases half price. Also, do invest in some decent leads, they really do make a difference. Simon -- ashmore ashmore's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10654 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
i have a moodlab concept that i will sell to YOU, the interested consumer for $175, plus shipping. this includes an RCA and toslink cable. mine is in like new condition and is about 3 months old. it is the older model with black faceplate instead of the plexiglass and no usb port; otherwise it is the same as the new model. i am very pleased with it, and am selling it because i am getting a bolder analog mod for my SB and won't need a DAC anymore. if interested, please contact me. [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- ratso ratso's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11493 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
The advantage of A/B speaker switching on the CA 640a is a big plus for me as an external box is messy/additional cost/possible sound quality problem. I just see time and time again on the web people choosing similarly priced NAD over CA. I will hopefully audition the arcam solo soon and take a trip up to Belfast to hear the CA in richer sounds. -- flatface flatface's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9985 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
swhite58;213875 Wrote: I recently compared the CA Azur 540 v2 with a NAD c320BEE and didn't find much difference between them. The NAD sounded a bit more forward, and the CA had a bit more detail in the bass. I ended up with the NAD. I'd love to hear a T-amp sometime - I'm curious. if you're in melbourne, feel free to drop by to have a listen -D -- drewe181 http://www.last.fm/user/drewe181/ drewe181's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=8129 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
i can highly recommend the sonic impact super t-amp. i just purchased one of them and also a moodlab concept dac to use with my squeezebox. i'm surprised at the change they made to the sound of the squeezebox. unfortunately, now, some of my more poorly recorded cd's don't sound so good. both of these were bought for a little over $AU500 so for a budget system i find them pretty good value. As for my speakers, i found them in the street and had only needed to change the tweeters as one of them had blown. for a little over a grand in total (incl. squeezebox) it's a pretty decent choice i believe. -D -- drewe181 http://www.last.fm/user/drewe181/ drewe181's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=8129 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
I finally ditched cd's and all other sources last year. I found that plugging the squeezebox directly into a power amplifier (or a pair of mono's) gave me the tidiest setup, as i was using the SB's preamp. Ok if you have other sources you cant really do that, but i always think that the sound source going through two preamp stages is not so good, and you cant use the SB's remote, or the pc interface to adjust the volume on its own as you have two volume controls to adjust. That said, in terms of equipment, there are plenty of amazing finds on ebay in the hi-fi section, especially loudspeakers. You could get some classic mission 760's for under £40, and a power amplifier (or an integrated) for less than £60. I run my squeezebox through a pair of musical fidelity xa50 monoblocks, via an arcam delta dac (picked up for £20 second hand)Loudspeakers are Gradient Preludes. I've used mission 760's and wharfdale diamonds on the current system and they both deliver a lively and detailed sound, and both are highly recomended. -- russj1975 russj1975's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=12290 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
drewe181;213652 Wrote: i can highly recommend the sonic impact super t-amp. i just purchased one of them and also a moodlab concept dac to use with my squeezebox. i'm surprised at the change they made to the sound of the squeezebox. unfortunately, now, some of my more poorly recorded cd's don't sound so good. both of these were bought for a little over $AU500 so for a budget system i find them pretty good value. As for my speakers, i found them in the street and had only needed to change the tweeters as one of them had blown. for a little over a grand in total (incl. squeezebox) it's a pretty decent choice i believe. -D Great advice there. Though I didn't find my speakers in the street, shoving a pair of wide range Fostex 8 drivers (fe206- $120/pr new on ebay) into an old bose cabinet is only slightly less punk rock. De-constructed hi fi is all the rage. Thankfully it doesn't cost an arm+leg, unlike the de-constructed clothing the GF is so fond of. I use a sonic impact sometimes, and if you can go easy on the output wattage they sound very three dimensional. Some say tubey as well, but to my ears the jolida tube amp I have is more accurate, especially in the low range, and far more eerily lifelike in the midrange, possibly due to the mile long decay of the sounds. There is a tripath based amp called Trends that gets good press, and may be a wiser investment than a stock sonic impact. You'd still have to go easy on the volume, but with a well matched speaker, some room placement/treatment experimentation, and maybe an external DAC and subwoofer, one can go into hi fi shops and not be jealous. -- Skunk Skunk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2685 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
Thanks for the feedback! Sonic T-amp: I have seen the reviews and threads on the sonic t-amp and it does look interesting but I am only concerned about the number of inputs and outputs. I would like to use the squeezebox, a cd-player/DVD, and have an Ipod dock I may chuck in too. Also I would like speakers in the kitchen as well as the main room running from the same source. As this is my first amp and speakers I think seperates would be more fun and I could go for a t-amp next year with another SB for upstairs. Source: I was thinking of a musical dvd player such as the CA mentioned so it could act as a cd player for those ocasions. Arcam solo: This is a good option. The arcam solo movie is way to expensive though. Also if it mostly acting as an amp to the SB is it not a waste? Can you plug DVD players in too? Amp: My bro owns a NAD 3020 and I like the sound. I have seen it said that the CA amps sound thiner. Second-hand: Yep it would be great to go second-hand but for the novice its a little overwhelming. Also the delivery costs for heavy items to Ireland can make it less atractive. Also no playing with the new box and polystyrene. -- flatface flatface's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9985 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
flatface;213701 Wrote: Arcam solo: This is a good option. The arcam solo movie is way to expensive though. Also if it mostly acting as an amp to the SB is it not a waste? Can you plug DVD players in too? The Solo has a built-in DVD player. It has additional inputs if you want to plug in an additional DVD player... -- PhilNYC Sonic Spirits Inc. http://www.sonicspirits.com PhilNYC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=837 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
Regarding the multi room setup you would like to have. The Cambridge Audio azur 540A v2 amp I recently bought is already fit for it. Additionally to ordinary outs for a second set of speakers it includes inkognito. http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/content.php?COID=88Title=Incognito+Brochures Bye, signor_rossi. -- signor_rossi signor_rossi's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11941 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
The Solo has a built-in DVD player. I believe there are 2 different products the arcam solo (audio only) and the arcam solo movie (with dvd player) and the solo movie is 1000 more expensive and has 5.1 etc which I don't require. will check out the inkognito. have you got it working? -- flatface flatface's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9985 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
No, since I don't need it atm. (I lack the additional rooms ;) ). I just bought the CA amp because it was the best offer (nice sound/good price) I could get at a local dealer where I could actually listen to what I would get. I got the ordinary 400 price for 2 Mordaunt Short 904i speakers and had to pay 400 for the 540a v2 amp plus the 640p phono preamp, since the amp hasn't a phono-in itself. As for the thinner sound, that may depend a lot on the speakers you decide to buy. What I can say is that with the (hi-end) CD transport in the shop the speaker/amp combo was quite revealing on some older/bad? recordings. Fortunately for me the SB3 fits well in that combo as a transport. Of course these are still first impressions of a beginner as I am, since this is my fist hi-fi gear too. Bye, signor_rossi. -- signor_rossi signor_rossi's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11941 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
I recently compared the CA Azur 540 v2 with a NAD c320BEE and didn't find much difference between them. The NAD sounded a bit more forward, and the CA had a bit more detail in the bass. I ended up with the NAD. I'd love to hear a T-amp sometime - I'm curious. -- swhite58 Clark Connect Linux file server-SB3-NAD C320BEE-Gale 3020/Sennheiser headphones swhite58's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5038 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
I have just got my squeezebox 3 and have a Qnap 500GB on the way so I now have to order the rest of my system as the SB is currently sitting on an embarrassed mini-system. Living in Ireland so not many shops with demo rooms (the main option is www.richersounds.ie) so I am relying on a little research for my first system. I have not found much info on the T515 but the SB3 would be the main source. Does anyone have any suggestions on these setups? I was thinking of: Primary source: SB3 Secondary source + DVD: NAD T515 HDMI Amp: NAD C352 external A/B speaker switch Speakers A: Monitor Audio RS1 Speakers B: Monitor Audio BR2 or: Primary source: SB3 Secondary source + DVD: Cambridge Audio DVD89 HDMI Amp: CA 640a v2 Speakers A: Monitor Audio RS1 Speakers B: Monitor Audio BR2 -- flatface flatface's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9985 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] budget system help
Arcam Solo and BW CM-1 speakers - about £1500? -- amcluesent amcluesent's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10286 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=36696 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
