Audition Day

[matthewpiano]

Tomorrow is audition day. Marantz 6003 CD and amp, Rotel RA04SE/RCD06SE, Dali Lektor 2s, and MA RX1. I'm also taking my Mission 751s with me because I'm likely to change the speakers last of all (and after a lot of comparative listening I feel the Missions are better all-round than the KEF C30s, even if there are things I love about the latter).

Will report back tomorrow evening. 🙂

 

[Clare Newsome]

Enjoy. I know you know this, but don't forget to take your favourite discs with you

 

[Anonymous]

Good luck - Hope you find a keeper this time!

 

[Anonymous]

I can't help but think you might be setting the bar a bit too low there... but who knows. Enjoy, and don't buy anything...yet.

 

[John Duncan]

I'd take your amp and CDP with you as well, you might find you just need new speakers

 

[matthewpiano]

Clare Newsome:Enjoy. I know you know this, but don't forget to take your favourite discs with you

Thanks Clare. I've picked some tracks out this evening and listened to them again. They cover the full range of my tastes so should give me a good idea.

 

[Anonymous]

good luck matthew and keep us informed!

 

[tonky]

Until the next time!

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:I'd take your amp and CDP with you as well, you might find you just need new speakers

I think so to

 

[JoelSim]

matthewpiano:Tomorrow is audition day. Marantz 6003 CD and amp, Rotel RA04SE/RCD06SE, Dali Lektor 2s, and MA RX1. I'm also taking my Mission 751s with me because I'm likely to change the speakers last of all (and after a lot of comparative listening I feel the Missions are better all-round than the KEF C30s, even if there are things I love about the latter).Will report back tomorrow evening. 🙂

No Arcs?

Can't help feeling your erring on the bright side Matt.

See if you can listen to Epos m12, AVI Neutron V and some PMC or ProAcs

 

[matthewpiano]

Its purely a starting point. I can't afford to buy new Arcams - the CD17 and A18 are £600 a piece - so I'll have to look into possibilities for auditioning used examples.

The dealer does have a CD192 on his used rack so I might give that a listen but I don't want to overload myself with loads of different options in one session.

At this stage I want to have a really good listen to the Marantz stuff again but with my own music and for long enough to decide whether its worth pursuing further or not. I really really liked it at the show, but I need to hear how it will handle some quite difficult discs that I listen to on a regular basis. The Rotels are there as a comparison and because I've liked Rotel gear in the past.

 

[JoelSim]

Remember the most ear-catching sound on a short listen isn't always the best for long listening sessions.

 

[matthewpiano]

JoelSim:
Remember the most ear-catching sound on a short listen isn't always the best for long listening sessions.

Thanks Joel, that is a good reminder, and something I've perhaps not paid enough attention to in the past.

 

[JoelSim]

matthewpiano:JoelSim:
Remember the most ear-catching sound on a short listen isn't always the best for long listening sessions.

Thanks Joel, that is a good reminder, and something I've perhaps not paid enough attention to in the past.

Any hint of anything harsh and give it a swerve.

 

[Thaiman]

My advise, if you like it don't buy it yet! sleep on it for a day or two and if up grade feeling still strong then go for the deal.

 

[plastic penguin]

Thaiman:My advise, if you like it don't buy it yet! sleep on it for a day or two and if up grade feeling still strong then go for the deal.

My sentiments echo Thaimans. If you do choose there and then make sure it's a set-up you want to marry and not just to date!

 

[RodhasGibson]

plastic penguin:

Thaiman:My advise, if you like it don't buy it yet! sleep on it for a day or two and if up grade feeling still strong then go for the deal.

My sentiments echo Thaimans. If you do choose there and then make sure it's a set-up you want to marry and not just to date!

The above would be my way also Matt good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

All the best Matthew and have an enjoyable time! Can't wait for my turn next week! Shall use all the advice given here

 

[matthewpiano]

Here is my feedback from today's proceedings.

Firstly I was disappointed with the Marantz stuff and it proved how impressions at a show where hand picked recordings are being played at high levels can be misleading. Its perfectly decent and honest enough budget kit but it doesn't cope with complex textures very well. When things get tricky it just sounds a mess, both tonally and in terms of soundstage. At low volumes it loses presence as well, whatever speakers it is paired with. It didn't make me want to part with any money and it was some way off some of the systems I've had here. It reminded me of the things I disliked about the CD6002/PM6002 combination that I auditioned later last year.

As it turned out the Rotel was an RA-06SE and NOT the RA-04SE I thought I was going to hear. It was a substantial improvement on the Marantz in every way but, again, I wasn't even tempted to part with any money for it.

Then he played his trump card. A used Naim 90/92 pre-power combination fed by a Rotel CD player into the V-DAC and output through the Quad 11Ls. It did some music very well indeed but got harsh at the top end with big orchestral stuff. A change of source to a Naim CD5i turned it into a superb set-up but we are talking £900 worth of CD player that I just can't afford. The Naim amps were great but they need the Naim CD player so it isn't the right thing for me.

So I left having learned a lot about what I want and, actually, having some regrets about some of the equipment I've parted with over time. I now realise that the Marantz stuff was setting my sights too low (thanks to those who tried to tell me this before ). I also realise that I am not going to get everything I want out of a system and that some element of compromise is going to be absolutely necessary.

With this hindsight I now realise that the things my Arcam CD73/A65+/Quad 11L set-up got right matter far more to me than the things it didn't quite do and I regret parting with the Arcams just over 3 years ago. I would be very happy with that set-up now because I know it represents the best compromise on a budget for my personal needs.

I also realise that of the new affordable stuff I've heard over the last 12 months, the Rega Brio 3 amp is the best of them all by some margin. Like the Arcam stuff it gets the important things right and doesn't shout about the omissions.

So its either going to be 2nd hand Arcam gear or something built around the Brio 3, all laced with a new-found sense of proportion.

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder whether an all-Rega setup might be just the right thing for you, or an s/h Arcam combo, such as A85/CD73. I heard the latter for a day (then took the CD73 away to use in another system in another city in another country), and it sounded very good. No sharp edges, so to speak. And I like what I know about Rega, but that's not very much (I've got a Planet 2000). Must be worth a try with the reduced Apollo tough. A friend has asked my advice on a setup around £1,500-2,000 for classical music and jazz, and the Mira/Apollo/RS3 combo will certainly be on his audition list. I forgot -- how much money do you have to spend? And is s/h an option, if you know the components?

Hedgehog

 

[matthewpiano]

Thanks Hedgehog. Money-wise, the truthful answer is as little as possible to get the results I'm after. You are bang on with your Rega and Arcam thinking, although I have also realised today what a superb amp the CA 640A V2 that I had for a while was - again, no sharp edges but very good at laying the music out in front of you. (The 740A takes that recipe and adds a clinical element that I just don't 'get').

I've also realised today just what special speakers the Quads are with the right electronics behind them.

Yes, I am now happy to consider 2nd hand as I think it might turn out to be the best way to achieve the performance/price balance I'm looking for. I'm very interested in looking at the A85, but would also consider an A65+ or one of the later Alpha amps - an 8/8P combination is a possibility as I know the 8 and like what it does.

 

[Anonymous]

thats the exact same way I felt when I started auditioning new systems with the budget I had ... and compared it to my last system I had (which was very good IMHO but had to sell to keep the bailiffs at bay)

so what I have done is buy a lower cost (used) system ... enjoy it immensley, and am slowly upgrading component by component

but i did not disconnect the system because it was not as good as my last...

so my advice is take your time, stick with the older used items off ebay for the meantime and enjoy what you buy ...

may take a while but I will eventually have the system that I am after (can say I am pretty chuffed with what I currently have ... cdp is the next upgrade after hooking spotify to my hifi ...

and new cables .... and ... and ... but 1 step at a time) ..;. so good luck Matthew and keep us posted

 

[plastic penguin]

matthewpiano:Here is my feedback from today's proceedings. Firstly I was disappointed with the Marantz stuff and it proved how impressions at a show where hand picked recordings are being played at high levels can be misleading. Its perfectly decent and honest enough budget kit but it doesn't cope with complex textures very well. When things get tricky it just sounds a mess, both tonally and in terms of soundstage. At low volumes it loses presence as well, whatever speakers it is paired with. It didn't make me want to part with any money and it was some way off some of the systems I've had here. It reminded me of the things I disliked about the CD6002/PM6002 combination that I auditioned later last year. As it turned out the Rotel was an RA-06SE and NOT the RA-04SE I thought I was going to hear. It was a substantial improvement on the Marantz in every way but, again, I wasn't even tempted to part with any money for it. Then he played his trump card. A used Naim 90/92 pre-power combination fed by a Rotel CD player into the V-DAC and output through the Quad 11Ls. It did some music very well indeed but got harsh at the top end with big orchestral stuff. A change of source to a Naim CD5i turned it into a superb set-up but we are talking £900 worth of CD player that I just can't afford. The Naim amps were great but they need the Naim CD player so it isn't the right thing for me. So I left having learned a lot about what I want and, actually, having some regrets about some of the equipment I've parted with over time. I now realise that the Marantz stuff was setting my sights too low (thanks to those who tried to tell me this before ). I also realise that I am not going to get everything I want out of a system and that some element of compromise is going to be absolutely necessary. With this hindsight I now realise that the things my Arcam CD73/A65+/Quad 11L set-up got right matter far more to me than the things it didn't quite do and I regret parting with the Arcams just over 3 years ago. I would be very happy with that set-up now because I know it represents the best compromise on a budget for my personal needs. I also realise that of the new affordable stuff I've heard over the last 12 months, the Rega Brio 3 amp is the best of them all by some margin. Like the Arcam stuff it gets the important things right and doesn't shout about the omissions. So its either going to be 2nd hand Arcam gear or something built around the Brio 3, all laced with a new-found sense of proportion.

Hi Matthew

This auditioning malarky is a rascal. It proves that regardless of how good the electronics are, they all have limitations. The trick is to disover the ideal compromise.

As an Arcam owner and admirer ( and I listen to Clasical stuff too) I really do believe the Arcs are THE ideal compromise. The only reservation is I think, due to the nature of the Quads, the A65 will need a power amp to make the most of them - something I touched on a little while ago - and you should have a great little system.....

 

[matthewpiano]

Which power amp would go with the A65? Would it be the P75?

 

[Anonymous]

plastic penguin:

matthewpiano:Here is my feedback from today's proceedings. Firstly I was disappointed with the Marantz stuff and it proved how impressions at a show where hand picked recordings are being played at high levels can be misleading. Its perfectly decent and honest enough budget kit but it doesn't cope with complex textures very well. When things get tricky it just sounds a mess, both tonally and in terms of soundstage. At low volumes it loses presence as well, whatever speakers it is paired with. It didn't make me want to part with any money and it was some way off some of the systems I've had here. It reminded me of the things I disliked about the CD6002/PM6002 combination that I auditioned later last year. As it turned out the Rotel was an RA-06SE and NOT the RA-04SE I thought I was going to hear. It was a substantial improvement on the Marantz in every way but, again, I wasn't even tempted to part with any money for it. Then he played his trump card. A used Naim 90/92 pre-power combination fed by a Rotel CD player into the V-DAC and output through the Quad 11Ls. It did some music very well indeed but got harsh at the top end with big orchestral stuff. A change of source to a Naim CD5i turned it into a superb set-up but we are talking £900 worth of CD player that I just can't afford. The Naim amps were great but they need the Naim CD player so it isn't the right thing for me. So I left having learned a lot about what I want and, actually, having some regrets about some of the equipment I've parted with over time. I now realise that the Marantz stuff was setting my sights too low (thanks to those who tried to tell me this before ). I also realise that I am not going to get everything I want out of a system and that some element of compromise is going to be absolutely necessary. With this hindsight I now realise that the things my Arcam CD73/A65+/Quad 11L set-up got right matter far more to me than the things it didn't quite do and I regret parting with the Arcams just over 3 years ago. I would be very happy with that set-up now because I know it represents the best compromise on a budget for my personal needs. I also realise that of the new affordable stuff I've heard over the last 12 months, the Rega Brio 3 amp is the best of them all by some margin. Like the Arcam stuff it gets the important things right and doesn't shout about the omissions. So its either going to be 2nd hand Arcam gear or something built around the Brio 3, all laced with a new-found sense of proportion.

Hi Matthew

This auditioning malarky is a rascal. It proves that regardless of how good the electronics are, they all have limitations. The trick is to disover the ideal compromise.

As an Arcam owner and admirer ( and I listen to Clasical stuff too) I really do believe the Arcs are THE ideal compromise. The only reservation is I think, due to the nature of the Quads, the A65 will need a power amp to make the most of them - something I touched on a little while ago - and you should have a great little system.....

and don't forget ... £275 will get you a good old Pioneer Sa-9800 (not just saying that because I have one) ... read the vintage pioneer forums ... best upgrade I have made so far ... there are better new amps, but in the £1600+ price range) IMHO