£1600. Amp. Speakers. Turntable.

[VeloChap]

Eight years layter, I'm finally getting around to replacing the Arcam 7 amp, Arcam 7 SE CD Player and B&W 601 S2's I foolishly sold in 2005. Yet to book any demos, but throwing my ideas up here first in case you guys can recommend any brands my local store might not stock... My first thought is it reproduce a similarly 'warm' and 'detailed' sound with an Arcam A18 amp and B&W 685 speakers, and then instead of a CD player, switch to a fully analogue setup with an Rega RP3 + Elys 2 turntable. Only problem I can imagine with this is I've seen comments about the Arcam not being able to drive the 685's...

 

[Al ears]

Hi VeloChap welcome to the forum.

'in case you guys can recommend any brands my local store might not stock' - informative we can try to be but we are not psychic.

Not really much point in us recommending stuff you cannot audition, wherever you may be, so it might be an idea to know what your local store does stock.

Not too sure why you have heard Arcam will not drive the 685's as, by my recollection, they are not that tricky a load.

 

[chebby]

Pro-ject Debut Carbon Esprit with supplied Ortofon 2M Red. £400

Arcam A19 or Rega Brio-R (both have built-in MM phono stages). £650

That leaves £550 for a decent set of loudspeakers. (And stands if necessary.)

 

[matthewpiano]

I'd suggest auditioning the Arcam A19 with the Focal 705S speakers (which you will only be able to do at Richer Sounds as the Focals are exclusive to them), the KEF Q300s and the new Dali Zensor 3s. IMO these three brands match Arcam better than B&W. You might also want to consider the MA RX1s.

 

[Al ears]

Not sure of your room size but I'd agree, partially, with chebby.

I'd stick with the RP3, add Rega Brio-R and either, if you have space, the Q Acoustics 2050i floorstanders or Q Acoustics Concept 20 + their dedicated stands.

 

[stevebrock]

Brio is £498 - bargain

 

[Frank Harvey]

I'd probably look at something like the Arcam A19 to partner the Q Acoustics Concept 20. You can't go wrong with the RP3 for the money - I serviced a couple of Rega decks recently (Planar 3 models), and even they sounded better than CD when I was testing them out - the RP3 just takes things to a whole new level.

 

[Al ears]

Pretty much similar advice so far.

Just wondering if VeloChap could expand on the need for an analogue only system. Do you still have a large vinyl collection?

 

[VeloChap]

@Chebby: Aye, got a bit extra budgeted on top for cables, stands etc. I'll have to demo a Pro-ject, right now I've got a silly prejudice against them because I don't like the name Intruiged by the Brio-R a) I like the idea of a cleaner setup (smaller package, fewer knobs, potentially nicer sound) b) almost £200 cheaper than the A19...

@matthewpiano: There's a Richer Sounds in town, I'll go and check out those Focals. Spied the KEF Q300 and MA RX1's before, tasty! Never really looked at the Dali's before though. Interesting few options to add to the list, thanks!

@alears: 'informative we can try to be but we are not psychic.' Ah ha yes, I guess I was trying not to limit the conversation. Wheras I should be able to sneak in some bookshelf speakers on stands, I don't think floorstanders will get by my domestic 'operations director'. Will give the Q''s a look though.

@Daviid +1 for the Q Acoustics! Will have to give them a demo, thanks

For info, room is 11'4" x 17'9", with the speakers most likely placed either side of a 4'4" fireplace in the center of the long wall, and listening position directly opposite against the opposite wall.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Not sure of your room size but I'd agree, partially, with chebby.

I'd stick with the RP3, add Rega Brio-R and either, if you have space, the Q Acoustics 2050i floorstanders or Q Acoustics Concept 20 + their dedicated stands.

+1 !!!

For me this the way to GO! :cheer:

Nice sinergy between RP3 and Rega Brio R.

:cheers:

 

[stevebrock]

Nice sinergy between RP3 and Rega Brio R.

Still think its the best bang for buck - just add speakers that you like and you have a superb vinyl set up!

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Nice sinergy between RP3 and Rega Brio R.

Still think its the best bang for buck - just add speakers that you like and you have a superb vinyl set up!

:cheer: :dance: 8) :boohoo: :twisted:

:cheers:

 

[Al ears]

Looking at room layout I would say the 2050i's would not be best bet as they need to be given a bit of space (brownie points there then).

If you are considering the Concept 20's then do factor in their dedicated stands (£200 ish) as these are one of the very few speakers that I have heard that do, in fact, benefit from them.

 

[VeloChap]

Just wondering if VeloChap could expand on the need for an analogue only system. Do you still have a large vinyl collection?

I haven't bought a CD in over five years, and moved my existing CD collection to iTunes in 2004. Especially since the arrival of Spotify, and as great as that service is for discovering new music, I've noticed that I don't listen to music or give it the same attention as I once did. So as much as I've invested in digital, it has decreased my actual enjoyment of music. And with the arrival of my son last year, I really want him to grow up with the same tangible and physical relationship to music that I had growing up. Right now I have a total of ONE record. But my wishlist is mighty, and the local record shop will soon start receiving orders. So to be honest, I just class CD's and MP3's as the same - digital. And I just don't want the slippery digital slope (i.e. CD, Internet, AirPlay, etc.) to be a part of the music experience in this house.

EDIT:

Wow, great responses chaps! Seems like a Rega demo with a bunch of speakers, and an A19 amp for comparison is on the cards

 

[Al ears]

Just wondering if VeloChap could expand on the need for an analogue only system. Do you still have a large vinyl collection?

I haven't bought a CD in over five years, and moved my existing CD collection to iTunes in 2004. Especially since the arrival of Spotify, and as great as that service is for discovering new music, I've noticed that I don't listen to music or give it the same attention as once did. So as much as I've invested in digital, it has decreased my actual enjoyment of music. And with the arrival of my son last year, I really want him to grow up with the same tangible and physical relationship to music that I had growing up. Right now I have a total of ONE record. But my wishlist is mighty, and the local record shop will soon start receiving orders. So to be honest, I just class CD's and MP3's as the same - digital. And I just don't want the slippery digital slope (i.e. CD, Internet, AirPlay, etc.) to be a part of the music experience in this house.

I can understand where you are coming from completely. Even my nine year old daughter thinks daddy's turntable is 'cool' unlike mum who thinks it hideous.

I trust you are aware your are about to get in to a very expensive source-material situation. Vinyl is ineed making a comeback and prices reflect this. (Could also be something to do with the price of a barrel of Brent Crude as well)

 

[stevebrock]

I love vinyl and everything about it, the record hunting, cleaning, cartridges, tracking force - i think its fascinating and above all it sounds ace!

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

You're not the only one, you're not alone in this world...

In Last December I had 1 vinyl record, today don't know how manny, but keeps growing every week...

See for your self.

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/turntables-and-lps/lets-see-all-those-vinyl-storages-spaces?page=2#comment-2876660

 

[DIB]

I love vinyl and everything about it, the record hunting, cleaning, cartridges, tracking force - i think its fascinating and above all it sounds ace!

You sound like me a few years back. Eventually that feeling wore off and now its almost exclusively CDP or SBT, though I still spin the odd LP for old times sake

.

 

[stevebrock]

I love vinyl and everything about it, the record hunting, cleaning, cartridges, tracking force - i think its fascinating and above all it sounds ace!

You sound like me a few years back. Eventually that feeling wore off and now its almost exclusively CDP or SBT, though I still spin the odd LP for old times sake

.

Well as you can see I have invested a modest amount on my vinyl front end, however streaming does figure somewhat in my system!

I'm not bored yet - I just love the sound and all that goes with it

 

[floyd droid]

This could throw the OP completely of kilter.

Chebbys Project suggestion, Ive found that for £350. Plus the fact that Rega is s**t ( this is an in-house joke ).

Icon Audio Stereo 20 £600.

Phonostage , Rega mini thingy , that will do ya for starters. £ 60 ? , couldnt be ars*d to trawl tinterwebby.

Speakers , no brainer Q acoustics either standmounts or floor jobbies that little valve amp will drive em easy.

I could live with that set up, far far better sq than that grainy,hard,sterile transistorised poo thats been suggested.

 

[VeloChap]

Intruiged by the Icon amp + Rega phono combination. Pricey, I was already thinking about the extra library the £200 saved with the Brio-R could aquire But then the A19 I'm also trying out is the just about same cost-wise so I'll give it a demo, thanks!

I've looked at Q Acoustics stuff, and to be brutally honest, I don't like the budget looks and gloss finishes. Going to give it a listen though I am much more inclined to stick with the B&W's and KEF's... We'll see

 

[BigH]

I would try the Kef R100s as well as the Q300s.

 

[floyd droid]

I've looked at Q Acoustics stuff, and to be brutally honest, I don't like the budget looks and gloss finishes. Going to give it a listen though I am much more inclined to stick with the B&W's and KEF's... We'll see

You can get the QA floorstanders in a walnut (effect ?) veneer. Have to agree that I dont go a lot for high gloss finger print magnets either.

Do a bit of research concerning the QAs , its a lot of speaker with a loudspeaker design guru behind them , for quite frankly peanuts.

I'm not the one to give you a thumbs up for B&Ws , cant abide em.

 

[duedlydeeks]

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[duedlydeeks]

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ugg boots uk Tim Kress, a Mayfield Ranch Realtor, and team are with REMAX 1 in Cedar Park, Texas and specialize in Cedar Park real estate This company provides online education and training for successful securities trading on an ongoing basis It will take time to build it back up to a good credit ratingve come to understand just how often potential or current customer calls go unanswered

The essential beliefs are -1 The positive was it provided more choices for them in hiring a call center agencyfrom Starbucks, to Nike, to Kraft This does not mean that two sites with very different purposes dont need that much support after all

ugg boots uk sale On the other hand, for those who have low ferritin levels, it is recommended upon the assessment of a doctor to increase the level Get a feel for what See - wwwHowever it's your responsibility to concentrate on the websites who actually want you to work for them and not be duped in the process

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