e a relatively old system consisting of Pioneer Pd s-06 cd player, Naim Nait 5 and Ruark Talisman 2 speakers. I am looking to spend up to 2k on an upgrade. The sound is great but turns harsh on busier passages. I listen to varied music, Pat Metheny, Cinematic Orchestra, Cassandra Wilson, Bugge Wesseltoft etc
I naturally assumed that the cd player would be the weak link, so have auditioned a number of players up to 2k both in my system and at dealers, and have been amazed that it has held it's own with all (Leema stream, Quad, cyrus, Arcam) Only the electrocompaniet Ecd -1 and the Copland CD823 were what I would class as better...the pioneer is built like a tank, and has a very forthright sound, similar to the old Naim CD 3.5..
So, I have always felt that the Nait wasn't doing the Ruarks justice; I have just auditioned the new Naim 152/155 in my system, and was staggered by the results - loads more grip, coherence, drive - the Ruarks finally seemed to be singing. I still got the impression, however, that I was missing some tonal colour to the music, which I had heard in other systems. I tried the Primare I30, which lacked the grip of the Naims, but added a level of colour to the sound. Still not entirely staisfactory, but MUCH more improvement than spending the same amount on a CD player.
I then tried the Sugden A21 Mk 2 - and was blown away. Everything sounded beautiful - timing was superb, but the music started to make sense - I wasn't listening critically to the hifi anymore - I just wanted to listen!!
Fantastic, you might think - my concern is that buying the Sugden limits my speaker upgrade options - the Ruarks are 10 years old, and at some stage are going to need replacing. How well will the Sugden drive speakers around the 2k mark - I love Thiel CS 1.6.
Also, is there another integrated / pre-power out there which will sing like the sugden without the compromises in terms of power / headroom, and which will still time like a Naim?
Thirdly, I was under the impression that CD Replay had come a long way - how can the Pioneer (a 600 pound purchase 9 years ago) Compete so effectively (Not just my opinion - the dealers could find no argument to sell me the player having heard the comparisons!!) against players up to 2k today??
I live in Wales, so have to travel a fair way to any dealer. How would the electrocompaniet or a copland amp compare to the Sugden? They seem to offer simiar "Sound" but with more power?
Paul
I naturally assumed that the cd player would be the weak link, so have auditioned a number of players up to 2k both in my system and at dealers, and have been amazed that it has held it's own with all (Leema stream, Quad, cyrus, Arcam) Only the electrocompaniet Ecd -1 and the Copland CD823 were what I would class as better...the pioneer is built like a tank, and has a very forthright sound, similar to the old Naim CD 3.5..
So, I have always felt that the Nait wasn't doing the Ruarks justice; I have just auditioned the new Naim 152/155 in my system, and was staggered by the results - loads more grip, coherence, drive - the Ruarks finally seemed to be singing. I still got the impression, however, that I was missing some tonal colour to the music, which I had heard in other systems. I tried the Primare I30, which lacked the grip of the Naims, but added a level of colour to the sound. Still not entirely staisfactory, but MUCH more improvement than spending the same amount on a CD player.
I then tried the Sugden A21 Mk 2 - and was blown away. Everything sounded beautiful - timing was superb, but the music started to make sense - I wasn't listening critically to the hifi anymore - I just wanted to listen!!
Fantastic, you might think - my concern is that buying the Sugden limits my speaker upgrade options - the Ruarks are 10 years old, and at some stage are going to need replacing. How well will the Sugden drive speakers around the 2k mark - I love Thiel CS 1.6.
Also, is there another integrated / pre-power out there which will sing like the sugden without the compromises in terms of power / headroom, and which will still time like a Naim?
Thirdly, I was under the impression that CD Replay had come a long way - how can the Pioneer (a 600 pound purchase 9 years ago) Compete so effectively (Not just my opinion - the dealers could find no argument to sell me the player having heard the comparisons!!) against players up to 2k today??
I live in Wales, so have to travel a fair way to any dealer. How would the electrocompaniet or a copland amp compare to the Sugden? They seem to offer simiar "Sound" but with more power?
Paul