AUDIO SYSTEM for ROCKERS

[admin_exported]

Hi,
I've seen plenty of questions here on the forum from people unsatisfied with their audio systems ,- sometimes a lot of money spent and no trace of "audio nirvana" , no expected pleasure and amazing emotions coming with THE REAL SOUND.

My idea is to help each other by showing a system that you personally had a chance to hear to [not "someone told me that ..." ] and were amazed.
The System MUST be at least EXCELLENT - "good , fair, not bad" and other systems to correct are not allowed!!! [we look for ready solutions not problems].

Let's start from SYSTEM for ROCKERS i.e. 70' hard rock [Deep Purple,Black Sabbath, Led Zepp etc.] + 80' metal [Metallica,Megadeth,Slayer etc.] + 90' grunge [Nirvana,Soundgarden etc.] + plenty of sharp guitar bands of last decade as well.
EXPECTATIONS : FAST / FURIOUS / DYNAMICALLY EFFORTLESS / and above all OPEN / INVOLVING /and CONTROLLED sound and ability to play "without a pain" the highest density [like Slayer's drums and bass ...] and not perfectly recorded tracks .
Don't especially need : huge soundstage and plenty of details.
Don't want : boomy bassy sound

By the way IMO it's not an easy task - I've heard plenty of systems playing at least well such music as an acoustic guitar solo concert but failing to play densier, sharp, not good recorded discs [IMO most speakers have too slow ,lazy and not well controlled bass drivers for such music as speed/trash metal and in the end you'll get the mess].

I hope we'll find at least 10 perfect ROCK SYSTEMS [CDP, ic, AMP, cables, SPEAKERS] to die for and so others could try and maybe buy them without months of thinking and testing every new item on the market.
[In october we could start to collect perfect System for Classical Music Fans and later RAP/Techno system etc.].
Let's rock !
[it's my first post here / sorry for my "english"]

 

[chebby]

I don't really 'get' the idea of systems that are tailored to specific musical genres.

A case in point is the AVI ADM9.1s. A few members on this forum have this system and written about it, and it has been reviewed (and praised) by both WHF and 'Gramophone' magazines with musical material from opposite ends of the rock/classical spectrum.

People with classical and rock tastes have all mentioned the same good points and the same bad points. I have read about their lack of bass depth being criticised by classical fans and defended by rock fans and vica versa. I have have also seen them praised highly by jazz fans.

That is one example but another (of which I have lengthy experience), is a friend's Primare i30 + ATC SCM11 system that I have heard with Heavy/Thrash Metal and Rock and Classical (light and orchestral) and Reggae and Punk and Pop.

I have heard it with sources as various as a Rega Apollo CD and an iMac + iTunes lossless via a Dacmagic and a Rega P3-24 turntable + Denon DL-103 cartridge.

I truly cannot say that it favours any genre over another. That also goes for many of the systems I have owned in the past. They have all sounded good with Rock, Pop, Jazz and Classical and spoken word. (Although my tastes don't run to heavy metal like my friend.)

I would go as far as to say that much well recorded classical material actually demands MORE out of the dynamics of a system than heavy metal.

 

[the record spot]

Yep, if you want to test a system's mettle and abilities, a good symphony orchestra in full swing will do the trick, or a recording where a range of instruments dropping in and out as the piece requires likewise, chamber music, etc.

Obviously, that's not all of the story and I've a good few rock albums that do the trick as well, but for real depth, you can't go wrong with a double bass or two being played, it brings a new dimension to the sound if it's done well in the recording and handled well by the equipment.

EDIT: I should clarify, that my own take on all of this is that a system ought to be able to make a good fist of any type of music and instruments therein. If it doesn't, IMNVHO, don't waste the money on it. Look elsewhere. In fact, spend more time finding the really good recordings and masterings of the albums you like and that will probably reap greater reward.

Exception to the rule:-

i) Cerwin Vega! who tested their speakers using, legend has it, Iron Maiden albums,
ii) The Technics SL1200-series decks aren't just for DJs.

Other than, we're good to go I think.

 

[Anonymous]

Gentlemen,

FACTS :

1/ In so many reviews you can see sentences: 'it's good for classical,jazz..." , "it's not best suited to hard rock" , "it plays all kind of music equally well" [see WHF review] .IMO rock system must be something special [see expectations in my first post].

2/ I had a chance to listen to a system of famous british company worth over 50 000 pounds! I guarantee you it wasn't even "good" for R&R !!! 50 000 and not universal? BTW their much much cheaper low powered amp even with 'difficult' speakers was really "good" playing Metallica!!!

3/ Chebby , I heard system Primare 31 + ATC 12 - IMO "excellent" for classical and lighter pop but only "very good" for metal .
But let's say WE HAVE GOT FIRST SYSTEM

:

CD Primare 31 + AMP Primare 31 + Speakers ATC 11

4/ Why are there no more proposals??? Maybe there are only few REALY HAPPY OWNERS in the world and they don't enter our forum?

REALY HAPPY OWNER = listening to his new system till late night hours, forgetting about eating,drinking,sleeping,sex... just changing discs ! He doesn't even think about bass accuracy or treble sweetness [that's what the most posts here are about...] - he ENJOYS MUSIC!!!
Are you one of them ? If yes, help others and show us your excellent rock system.

5/ One on-line reviewer of high-end audio said after many years of testing [not cheap] products : "I choose only very good gears worth my attention and in the and I really admire no more than 5% of them" .If professional tester says it then what can we, average listeners do to set up perfect system in less than let's say one year? Why not to check out recommended solutions ?

6/ I personally heard dozens of systems [dealers,shops,friends etc.] and really liked maybe 5 and love 2 - only they were playing MUSIC !
Others were imitations.
BTW I'm not only "metal freak type" but also classical [ancient, renaissance till baroque] music lover with piano player's background

Anyway, R&R fans : we can recommend you only one system so far [thanks chebby!] :

CD Primare 31 + AMP Primare 31 + Speakers ATC 11

Who's next?

regards
Manio