100% New system advice needed.

[admin_exported]

I have this system at the moment...

Micromega Stage 3 cd player,

JVC AX-R742 Int Amp,

JBL monitor 4208 speakers,

Sony MBS-JB980 minidisc...

Ive been looking at a new kit to put downstairs... Acram CD17 cdplayer (600), Arcam A18 amp (500), Quad 22L2 speakers (700). Anyone had any experiance with any of the kit mentioned? Even thinking of the latest NAD cd player and AMP aswell!. Any other suggestions? cheers RGA

 

[mikeinbrum]

I would definitely listen carefully to the ARCAM kit. The CD17 is quite good, but I found the A18 to be very uninspiring. I think your money can definitely be spent better elsewhere I'm afraid. Loads of deals going on with end of line Cyrus kit. Maybe you could look there? The new NAD kit sounds like its worth an audition too but I can't comment as I haven't heard it. Another thing to consider would be this if you could stretch to it....... http://www.moorgateacoustics.co.uk/index.php?product_id=1442997&option=Prod_detail

looks great value

 

[the record spot]

The MM Stage 3 was around £900 when it came out, so I'd be rather surprised if it's suddenly rubbish overnight. It does, however, warrant better partners I think, from your amp and speakers, so I'd be inclined to improve the amp first, then the speakers.

I very much doubt the Arcam CD player will be a step up, or at least, give you the kind of improvement you think you will get. Bit of a backwards step IMO and digital technology on the CD front hasn't improved so significantly in ten or twelve years that the Arcam will be good enough to beat the Micromega. A friend of mine had the same player when it came out and it was very impressive I thought. Can't recall the amp he used it with, but he did partner it with Castle Severn 2 floorstanders and it sounded magnificent.

My gut feeling is that you can save the money for a new CD player and put it into a better amp and speaker combination to improve the quality of the audio you get from what was an excellent - and I suspect still is - source.

 

[respe]

I would find a local dealer, tuck your stage 3 under your arm, and compare it to the current £600 players and see which you prefer, say the Arcam or apollo. As was said above, it mey well be that the CD player can stay. For my money the Rega may well better the Stage 3, as Rega have had a new OS developed for the apollo/saturn that to my ears has improved CD replay for the better. Only your ears can tell you. From that point you know if your budget has to be spread over three or two boxes.

 

[Anonymous]

If I were you, I would keep the CD player (a very good one) and use it as CD transport to feed music to a DAC like the Beresford (£180) or DACMagic (£220), which connects to the amp. This will not only produce sound quality to match if not improve on your Stage 3 (because of more uptodate converter chips), but will also provide you with the option of going computer-based music via "streaming" from computer to DAC (check this forum for posts on this vast topic), or just via the humble USB lead from computer to DAC. I have gone this route and I love it, have not used a CD player for a while now.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for comments. Ill have a look as some of the things mentioned and post bk soon. thanks RGA

 

[Anonymous]

My micromega stage 3 is great i must admit. Anyone got any views on what DAC (possible) and amp to use! looking at the beresford (looks good) , Not to sure about the CA DACmagic (dont like CA may just be stuck in my ways) Amp?????... god no idea now! rga

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for comments. Ill have a look as some of the things mentioned and post bk soon. thanks RGA

 

[matthewpiano]

At there latest prices I think the Arcam CD17 and A18 are over priced. The Rega Apollo is in a different league to the CD17 IMO, and I actually think the Brio 3 is a better amp than the A18 as well.

I'm not convinced relying on a transport as old as the Micromega is a great idea. They weren't the most reliable of machines.

 

[drummerman]

AVI Neutron's with amp-pack or AVI's ADM9.1?

 

[the record spot]

reggaedave:My micromega stage 3 is great i must admit. Anyone got any views on what DAC (possible) and amp to use! looking at the beresford (looks good) , Not to sure about the CA DACmagic (dont like CA may just be stuck in my ways) Amp?????... god no idea now! rga

Assuming your MM Stage 3 is still performing well mechanically, then have a look at the Stello Signature SA100 DAC (was £650 before the price rises at the turn of the year), which has had an excellent write-up and was recommended to me before I sold off my old Linn Mimik to partner that ahead of buying a new transport. In the end I went with the existing Marantz SA7001 KI I now have as it was at too good a price to pass up.

The Beresford gets a fabulous write-up and I wonder just how much it would cost if it were to be sold via typical retail outlets. £155 online is a fine price for what seems to be an excellent piece of kit and my gut feeling is that £250-£300 wouldn't be too far off the pace (?).

 

[JoelSim]

If I were you, and I was looking to upgrade I would keep the CDP and would buy a pre/power amp combo and some new speakers. A £200 CA DACMagic isn't going to improve on your Micromega but your amp and speakers can easily be bettered. And I do like Arcam but I wouldn't go for entry level kit as you've suggested. Arcam is one of those brands that doesn't do itself justice in a short listening test, but come 2am you don't want to switch the buggers off...the number of times I've woken up soon after I've gone to bed...

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Im going to get the beresford TC7520 for a start to solve possible imputs (pc etc..)

Amp will be next. Looked at the possibility of of a pre+pwr amp combo but going to be to pricey i think (as i have money commitments elsewere) so think will get an int amp, speakers and lastely a new cd player. was looking at the naim nait 5i intergrated amp...

http://www.naim-audio.com/products/nait5i.html

But its early days yet.Any ideas for an amp for upto 600 pound.

 

[matthewpiano]

The Nait 5i is a cracker and well worth an audition. I'd also suggest looking at the following:

NAD C326BEE and C355BEE

Creek Evolution

Cambridge Audio 740A

Rega Brio 3

The NADs punch WELL above their weight. The Creek is very highly thought of and there are still one or two good deals on it now its been replaced with the Evolution 2. The 740A is great if you like a very detailed sound, whilst the Rega Brio 3 is one of those amps that just sweeps you up in the music.

 

[Anonymous]

regal brio 3 looks good. had nad amps before.... do like the look of the RB3 got to say.

 

[chebby]

reggaedave:Im going to get the beresford TC7520 for a start to solve possible imputs (pc etc..)
Amp will be next. Looked at the possibility of of a pre+pwr amp combo but going to be to pricey i think (as i have money commitments elsewere) so think will get an int amp, speakers and lastely a new cd player. was looking at the naim nait 5i intergrated amp...

http://www.naim-audio.com/products/nait5i.html

Sounds an excellent idea to me

...

 

[Anonymous]

+1

Seconded.

 

[Anonymous]

Chebby... nice! I am looking at your setup to be honest. Naim cd and amp ( plus beresford ).. Just gotta make the decision thats all. Liked the RB3 amp till i found out it didnt have a remote!. Lovely mate!... Rga

 

[Anonymous]

budget....Harmon Kardon HK980 amp + HD980 cd player.

Next... Creek evo amp/ Regal brio 3 amp + (mystery cd player)

Top.... Naim cd and amp as above pic from chebby!

Any ideas on the Budget idea?

The thing is ill be buying two systems this year, one for upstairs and one for down. Can get a good price for HK Stuff from Richer sounds, and good price for creek amp at superfi.

Naim is expensive but i feel will be bought as last system, plus kits get a 5 year warrenty (this could be worth 1500 pound).rga

 

[Anonymous]

Took my micromega stage 3 cd player to local hifi shop today. Was looking at the entry level arcam and naim systems as mentioned earlier. Sounded better than both the cd players, couldnt belive it, and im not being biased because was ready to part with the money. Is this a case of they dont build them like they used to or what!!!. Ive not even rigged it up through a DAC yet and its allready pxxxxxx all over these 700 pound players! any comments on this then! . . RGA

 

[the record spot]

Only one: told you!

 

[matthewpiano]

The Arcam CD17 is dreadfully over-priced at £700. I rejected it at £500. It is now more expensive than a Rega Apollo and not in the same league. In many ways its not as good as the CD73T that it replaced. It somehow sounds more digital and less musical than the older player.

I'm surprised the Naim didn't better the Micromega. Its a very good player, though I'm not convinced its worth the premium over the Apollo.

Worth auditioning an MF V-DAC if you start trying DACs. I know its seems cheap but it really is very good.

 

[Anonymous]

matthewpiano, that may be your opinion but I disagree.

The Arcam CD17 has the Wolfson 8741 DAC which is a definite step up from the older 8740 in the CD73 and DV139. To my ears this new DAC chip sounds far more emotionally involving than the 8740. The CD17 implementation is a steal - I think it sounds very slightly better than the CD37, which since it has to play SACDs has more complex circuitry. The CD17 is a pure and simple CD player, that is, a modern digital servo transport feeding a Wolfson 8741 DAC with audiophile clocks, analogue circuitry and power supplies.

There's no point in resenting the recent price rises, it is purely to do with exchange rates. All manufacturers either have increased prices or will, since kit is either made abroad by a subcontractor or even if made in the UK, parts are priced in dollars. No-one is making any more money. Manufacturers who cut their margins to absorb cost increases would go bust.

 

[matthewpiano]

I don't resent the price increases, but I think the increase on certain products seems to be out of proportion to others and that the £200 price rise on the CD17 has made it uncompetitive when there are players like the incredible Apollo around. A dealer I spoke with the other day agrees with me, and also that the CD73T was in SOME ways better than the 17. Unfortunately £700 puts it within reach of the Roksan Kandy K2 and Naim CD5i, as well as the Apollo.

Having said that, I still think the 17 is a decent player. Arcam's entry level CD players are much better than their entry level amps. Every entry level Arcam amp I've heard has been a disappointment - A65+, A70, and A18. I think there are cheaper amps like the NADs and the Rega Brio 3 that can eat them for breakfast. I'm not an Arcam basher either - I think their more expensive kit is superb and I'm a big fan of the later Alpha series amps as well.

Only my opinion of course.