Addictive hobby

[boshk]

The more I research into it and read opinions and experiences from people all around the world, the more $$$$ this hobby is getting.

My system is pretty basic compare to some but already I'm over budget and quite happy.

My initial plan was to buy B&W 685 S2 to replace my broken right speaker, continue to use AV amp.....thats it.

I ended up with CM1 and RA-12 (RA-12 backlogged....another 1-2 weeks wait)

Now I'm considering cancelling RA-12 and get RA-1570, in case I replace CM1s with CM8s. I think a listening position 7-8ft triangle should be ok for floorstanders.

Then I got thinking maybe CM8s in future.....maybe I should consider the special offer from B&W for PM1 & RA-1570 & RCD-1570 now.......thats just the hardware.

Software-wise....I'll trial Audirvana, Fidelia, Jriver and start buying hi-def 24bit music

anyone else ended up with something completely different from what they began with?

 

[Vladimir]

Shoot for B&W 805S with their factory stands and you will be happy for quite some time.

How do you like your CM1s so far?

 

[boshk]

Shoot for B&W 805S with their factory stands and you will be happy for quite some time.

How do you like your CM1s so far?

Love my CM1s, they are leaps ahead of my old KEF Cresta I brought 15 years ago but I'm just driving them with Sonos AMP since my av receiver is faulty too and my ordered RA-12 isnt available yet.

 

[Vladimir]

They will be a really sweet combo with the Rotel.

If you go for the bigger CM8 then you have the problem of having too little power from your new amp and off you go into more upgrades... Don't go so fast, enjoy one setup at a time, learn it all the way and then you will get the right idea where to go next.

 

[matthewpiano]

The PM1s are outstanding speakers and IMO worth every penny. If I had a £2k budget for speakers I would be very tempted indeed. They really allow you to hear right into a recording. They aren't just in a different league to the CM1s. They are from another planet altogether.

 

[Freddy58]

I just bought the RA 1570 and RCD 1570 and have to say I'm very pleased with my purchase. I took a chance and bought them on spec. The guys at the shop set them up with some Monitor Audio Gold GX100's. I was very impressed by the overall clarity and level of control displayed. At no point did the system sound under stress, even at quite high levels. Of course, other speakers may or may not be a better option, but imo, the Rotel units deliver. I should add, these Rotel units are very well constructed and have a solid feel. Connectivity is good too.

 

[Vladimir]

Congrats on your new excellent Rotel kit Freddy. *drinks*

I was thinking of buying the RA1570 but I went after the Roksan so I can feel special. *crazy*

 

[boshk]

The PM1s are outstanding speakers and IMO worth every penny. If I had a £2k budget for speakers I would be very tempted indeed. They really allow you to hear right into a recording. They aren't just in a different league to the CM1s. They are from another planet altogether.

I only heard them once and they sounded amazing too. The offer B&W are offering here in Asia is the PM1 with factory stand for around 1720pounds, but of course I would have to buy the RA-1570 and RCD-1570 too.

Thanks too Vladimir, I know I shouldnt start looking at upgrades so soon otherwise it becomes a vicious cycle. I know what I should do, swap the RA-12 for RA-1570 and be done and just enjoy music, but since theres a forum with guys like yourselves so interested in this hobby, I figured I see what you think.

 

[boshk]

I just bought the RA 1570 and RCD 1570 and have to say I'm very pleased with my purchase. I took a chance and bought them on spec. The guys at the shop set them up with some Monitor Audio Gold GX100's. I was very impressed by the overall clarity and level of control displayed. At no point did the system sound under stress, even at quite high levels. Of course, other speakers may or may not be a better option, but imo, the Rotel units deliver. I should add, these Rotel units are very well constructed and have a solid feel. Connectivity is good too.

How do you like the connectivity? do you use the USB-PC/MAC input?

what are you driving with your amp?

 

[plastic penguin]

I don't personally see hi-fi as "addictive", as I usually dem and dem and dem until I'm 100% satisfied with each component.

My first proper system was in 1978, and I have chopped and changed my system quite regularly up until 4-years ago. Since then I've only changed the speakers (also changed the cdp but that was because the previous one was showing signs of age). When I purchased the Leema that eclipsed all my expectations. Thirty-five years to find the hi-fi niche.

Back to your personal situation there are rough guidelines:

A) Have realistic expectations of the sound you expct from your budget.

B) Matching speakers with the right amp is essential: Rotel/B&W, Arcam/Focal or MA or PMC or Totem; Naim/PMC or Neat...

C) Don't buy speakers that are substantially more expensive than the amp. So don't match a RA-12 with PM1s. The amp won't have the quality of power and you'll never hear the best of the amp or speakers. Likewise don't buy a 2k amp and expect marvellous results with a £200 pair of speakers.

D) Always dem with the proposed purchases before handing over money.

Sorry if I'm trying to show you how to suck eggs but I've witnessed too many victims of just buying purely on reviews.

 

[Gonepostal]

Just out of interest how do you know if amp has enough power to get the best from a pair of speakers, is there some kind of formula for working it out. May sound like a strange question, but it is a genuine one.

 

[boshk]

Just out of interest how do you know if amp has enough power to get the best from a pair of speakers, is there some kind of formula for working it out. May sound like a strange question, but it is a genuine one.

I think P.Penguin said quality of power and I can see the reasoning behind it.

I think any amp can power any speakers but as PP said, you wont get the best out of them.

as to actually numbers.....I dont know, sorry. Audition your amp & speaker combo is your best bet.

 

[lindsayt]

I really don't like B&W PM1's due to the stupidly high amount of noticeable bass distortion from them at generous volumes. KEF LS50's are equally good sounding speakers - but with different sonic compromises at half the price of the PM1's.

 

[alchemist 1]

The PM1s are outstanding speakers and IMO worth every penny. If I had a £2k budget for speakers I would be very tempted indeed. They really allow you to hear right into a recording. They aren't just in a different league to the CM1s. They are from another planet altogether.

I only heard them once and they sounded amazing too. The offer B&W are offering here in Asia is the PM1 with factory stand for around 1720pounds, but of course I would have to buy the RA-1570 and RCD-1570 too.

Thanks too Vladimir, I know I shouldnt start looking at upgrades so soon otherwise it becomes a vicious cycle. I know what I should do, swap the RA-12 for RA-1570 and be done and just enjoy music, but since theres a forum with guys like yourselves so interested in this hobby, I figured I see what you think.

B&W offering PM1's including stands for £1720 !

Why can't B&W offer the same deal in their own country ???

 

[boshk]

The PM1s are outstanding speakers and IMO worth every penny. If I had a £2k budget for speakers I would be very tempted indeed. They really allow you to hear right into a recording. They aren't just in a different league to the CM1s. They are from another planet altogether.

I only heard them once and they sounded amazing too. The offer B&W are offering here in Asia is the PM1 with factory stand for around 1720pounds, but of course I would have to buy the RA-1570 and RCD-1570 too.

Thanks too Vladimir, I know I shouldnt start looking at upgrades so soon otherwise it becomes a vicious cycle. I know what I should do, swap the RA-12 for RA-1570 and be done and just enjoy music, but since theres a forum with guys like yourselves so interested in this hobby, I figured I see what you think.

B&W offering PM1's including stands for £1720 !

Why can't B&W offer the same deal in their own country ???

u missed the bit about amp and cd too. At the current exchange rate....I will be paying 3000pounds for the set and that's IF I have a certain credit card. I think the bank has some deal with them.

 

[alchemist 1]

The PM1s are outstanding speakers and IMO worth every penny. If I had a £2k budget for speakers I would be very tempted indeed. They really allow you to hear right into a recording. They aren't just in a different league to the CM1s. They are from another planet altogether.

I only heard them once and they sounded amazing too. The offer B&W are offering here in Asia is the PM1 with factory stand for around 1720pounds, but of course I would have to buy the RA-1570 and RCD-1570 too.

Thanks too Vladimir, I know I shouldnt start looking at upgrades so soon otherwise it becomes a vicious cycle. I know what I should do, swap the RA-12 for RA-1570 and be done and just enjoy music, but since theres a forum with guys like yourselves so interested in this hobby, I figured I see what you think.

B&W offering PM1's including stands for £1720 !

Why can't B&W offer the same deal in their own country ???

u missed the bit about amp and cd too. At the current exchange rate....I will be paying 3000pounds for the set and that's IF I have a certain credit card. I think the bank has some deal with them.

Silly me.

 

[plastic penguin]

Just out of interest how do you know if amp has enough power to get the best from a pair of speakers, is there some kind of formula for working it out. May sound like a strange question, but it is a genuine one.

It's a fair question, and tricky to nail down. Hi-fi is fairly unique in that everyone hears something different, and there are other aspects that come into play -- room size/acoustics, how loud you listen to music, if the amp starts to clip or distort, budget ceiling amount etc etc... but there are a few 'rule of thumb' guidelines (as the ones I've mentioned above): All we can do is to hope to point you [vaguely] in the right direction towards finding your ideal set-up.

 

[Overdose]

Just out of interest how do you know if amp has enough power to get the best from a pair of speakers, is there some kind of formula for working it out. May sound like a strange question, but it is a genuine one.

Just get some active speakers and fret no more. *wink*

 

[Gonepostal]

The reason I ask is I recently brought a Marantz mcr510 with some Dali Sensor 5 speakers. It sounds amazing when listening to acoustic or folk music. But I've noticed it seems to struggle when listening to some rock music. I'm not sure if the marantz can handle the speakers, I listen with a spotify premium account so perhaps I'm expecting to much seeing as I'm not playing CD's....

 

[plastic penguin]

The reason I ask is I recently brought a Marantz mcr510 with some Dali Sensor 5 speakers. It sounds amazing when listening to acoustic or folk music. But I've noticed it seems to struggle when listening to some rock music. I'm not sure if the marantz can handle the speakers, I listen with a spotify premium account so perhaps I'm expecting to much seeing as I'm not playing CD's....

What do you mean by struggle?

 

[Freddy58]

Congrats on your new excellent Rotel kit Freddy. *drinks*

I was thinking of buying the RA1570 but I went after the Roksan so I can feel special. *crazy*

I think we all know there's something.."special" about you Vlad *crazy**biggrin*

 

[Freddy58]

I just bought the RA 1570 and RCD 1570 and have to say I'm very pleased with my purchase. I took a chance and bought them on spec. The guys at the shop set them up with some Monitor Audio Gold GX100's. I was very impressed by the overall clarity and level of control displayed. At no point did the system sound under stress, even at quite high levels. Of course, other speakers may or may not be a better option, but imo, the Rotel units deliver. I should add, these Rotel units are very well constructed and have a solid feel. Connectivity is good too.

How do you like the connectivity? do you use the USB-PC/MAC input?

what are you driving with your amp?

As yet, I have no speakers, something I'm working on. As for connectivity, I can't comment in practical terms, but it looks promising. I have to admit that I'm not up-to-speed with modern technology, but the prospect of being able to connect to a PC, well, seems a good resource.

 

[boshk]

I just bought the RA 1570 and RCD 1570 and have to say I'm very pleased with my purchase. I took a chance and bought them on spec. The guys at the shop set them up with some Monitor Audio Gold GX100's. I was very impressed by the overall clarity and level of control displayed. At no point did the system sound under stress, even at quite high levels. Of course, other speakers may or may not be a better option, but imo, the Rotel units deliver. I should add, these Rotel units are very well constructed and have a solid feel. Connectivity is good too.

How do you like the connectivity? do you use the USB-PC/MAC input?

what are you driving with your amp?

As yet, I have no speakers, something I'm working on. As for connectivity, I can't comment in practical terms, but it looks promising. I have to admit that I'm not up-to-speed with modern technology, but the prospect of being able to connect to a PC, well, seems a good resource.

Have you started looking?

Just curious what you are aiming at? Floors or bookshelves? how big is your room?

 

[Freddy58]

I just bought the RA 1570 and RCD 1570 and have to say I'm very pleased with my purchase. I took a chance and bought them on spec. The guys at the shop set them up with some Monitor Audio Gold GX100's. I was very impressed by the overall clarity and level of control displayed. At no point did the system sound under stress, even at quite high levels. Of course, other speakers may or may not be a better option, but imo, the Rotel units deliver. I should add, these Rotel units are very well constructed and have a solid feel. Connectivity is good too.

How do you like the connectivity? do you use the USB-PC/MAC input?

what are you driving with your amp?

As yet, I have no speakers, something I'm working on. As for connectivity, I can't comment in practical terms, but it looks promising. I have to admit that I'm not up-to-speed with modern technology, but the prospect of being able to connect to a PC, well, seems a good resource.

Have you started looking?

Just curious what you are aiming at? Floors or bookshelves? how big is your room?

Hiya. Yes, I'm on the lookout for some. I only just got my Rotel units a few days ago, so early days yet, don't want to rush into buying the first speakers I think sound good. As I said earlier, I was quite impressed by the Monitor Audio GoldGX100's, which are stand-mount/bookshelves. Of course, I heard these in a 'proper' listening room. At £1250, that's probably as much as I want to pay. The room is around 14' x 12', but it's been a real pain trying to suss out where I'll site them, think I've sorted it though. I heard some Focals Aria 906's and some PMC Twenty .21's yesterday. They were good, but didn't bowl me over. Sure, the clarity was good, but seemed to lack weight. Trouble is, there are so many variables. This might be a long journey!

 

[Vladimir]