I have been researching into a new system for quite some time now, and after much deliberating and thinking about exactly what my requirements were, I recently visited my local Richer Sounds for a demo.
My starting point was the Marantz MCR611. It ticked all of the boxes for what I needed - 90% of my music is still played on good old fashioned CD, so a CD drive was a must - and the ability to listen to internet radio stations is also something which I wanted to explore. It had to be compact in size due to limited space and have plenty of inputs, with the potential to run my TV and PS4 through it. DNLA capability was also a bonus, as I have music stored on a laptop. I had also read many favourable reviews from experts and owners.
Speaker wise, purely based upon reviews and my available budget, I had chosen to listen to the Dali Zensor 1 and the Mission LX2.
So, the demo. What immediately struck me about the Missions was their soundstage and depth. Music had a decent weight to it, and they sounded particually good with more bass heavy tracks. The Dalis, on the other hand, sounded much leaner from a bass perspective, but the midrange and treble blew the Missions out of the water. They were so much more detailed, particularly with vocals, placing them more forward in the mix. I was impressed, but missed the punch offered by the Missions in the lower frequencies. I was then advised to try the Q Acoustic 3020. These fell mid-way between the Dalis and the Missions. The bottom end wasn't as deep as the Missions, and the midrange and treble not quite as sweet as the Dalis, but they were very well balanced across all frequencies. But I still wasn't quite satisfied with any of the speakers that I had heard - I wanted the midrange and treble of the Dalis, but with the low end punch of the Missions. So I then asked to listen to the Dali Zensor 3. Wow... all of the sweet midrange and treble of the Zensor 1, but with much more weight and dynamic punch in the lower frequencies. I was seriously impressed - the bass was deeper and better controlled than the Missions, but with an even wider soundstage. They sounded just as good with delicate vocal tracks as they did with heavy metalcore. They were definately worth the extra over the speakers that I had originally in mind, even if I had to stretch the budget a little, and will withstand an upgrade or two in the future years. Sold!
So, I am now a suitably happy boy. It's been quite a while since I have demo'd and purchased new kit, and I very much enjoyed the experience. I just hope the upgrade bug doesn't bite too soon...
My starting point was the Marantz MCR611. It ticked all of the boxes for what I needed - 90% of my music is still played on good old fashioned CD, so a CD drive was a must - and the ability to listen to internet radio stations is also something which I wanted to explore. It had to be compact in size due to limited space and have plenty of inputs, with the potential to run my TV and PS4 through it. DNLA capability was also a bonus, as I have music stored on a laptop. I had also read many favourable reviews from experts and owners.
Speaker wise, purely based upon reviews and my available budget, I had chosen to listen to the Dali Zensor 1 and the Mission LX2.
So, the demo. What immediately struck me about the Missions was their soundstage and depth. Music had a decent weight to it, and they sounded particually good with more bass heavy tracks. The Dalis, on the other hand, sounded much leaner from a bass perspective, but the midrange and treble blew the Missions out of the water. They were so much more detailed, particularly with vocals, placing them more forward in the mix. I was impressed, but missed the punch offered by the Missions in the lower frequencies. I was then advised to try the Q Acoustic 3020. These fell mid-way between the Dalis and the Missions. The bottom end wasn't as deep as the Missions, and the midrange and treble not quite as sweet as the Dalis, but they were very well balanced across all frequencies. But I still wasn't quite satisfied with any of the speakers that I had heard - I wanted the midrange and treble of the Dalis, but with the low end punch of the Missions. So I then asked to listen to the Dali Zensor 3. Wow... all of the sweet midrange and treble of the Zensor 1, but with much more weight and dynamic punch in the lower frequencies. I was seriously impressed - the bass was deeper and better controlled than the Missions, but with an even wider soundstage. They sounded just as good with delicate vocal tracks as they did with heavy metalcore. They were definately worth the extra over the speakers that I had originally in mind, even if I had to stretch the budget a little, and will withstand an upgrade or two in the future years. Sold!
So, I am now a suitably happy boy. It's been quite a while since I have demo'd and purchased new kit, and I very much enjoyed the experience. I just hope the upgrade bug doesn't bite too soon...
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram