Denon Cara + Speakers. Or overkill ?

[richardw42]

Over the years I've always got by without worrying too much about quality. As long as it looked good that was ok.

But been hankering for a proper HC setup (using a soundbar at mo) but hate the idea of all the wires and how complicated it all looks. I haven't demoed anything yet but wondered if I'm on the right track.

A single box solution looked ideal to me and was going to buy a BD HC package to keep it simple but then saw the Denon Cara ad on Youtube and was smitten. Thing is now comes the complicated bit picking the speakers and don't know what I'm doing.

The CARA's output are 5 x 75W, but if using for audio the fronts become 2 x 150W. I guess this means that the front speakers should be at least up to 150w ?

For my CDs I currently use an Arcam Solo (will be selling to help pay for the HC) and a pair of Monitor Audio BR1.

Can I use (will the BR1s be good) as rears in a 5.1 set-up. Wantig to keep it in the family and bearing in mind the CARAs 2 x 150W was thinking of Monitor Audio BR6 for the front and then Centre and Sub also from the Bronze range.

My living room is 18'6 x 10'6 and from my favoured watching / listening position would be around 8 -9 foot from the front speakers.

Will the combo of the CARA and the BR6's be too much and too overpowering.

I don't have to have Monitor Audio but if the BR1s are ok for rears would be happy to stay with them. The Cara really is a thing of beauty. Haven't seen any reviews yet though.

Any help to get me started is appreciated.

 

[simonlewis]

Overkill imo it would be cheaper buying seperates, but if you've got two grand in loose change might be worth it for aesthetic reasons.

 

[kevinJ]

The Cara looks great and has nice specs too. But don't believe that it will deliver those 5 x 75 watts they claim. And definately not the 2 x 150watts
Simple explanation for that: an audio-amp has an efficiency of about 50%. When the amp draws 110 watts from the socket, you'll get about 55watts of total power out of it. That is 2 x 27.5watts for the Denon. I guess those stated watts have been measured at a very high distortion level (like all manufacturers do because watts sell)

I don't know if the Denon would be better for cd's than the Arcam. You should go and have a listen for yourself. Do you have the "solo" or the "solo mini"?

I guess Denon designed the Cara for use with a style speaker package like those made by B&W, KEF, ... Those kinds of speakers mostly have a relative high efficiency, so will work with a less powerful amp too.

 

[richardw42]

Got the Solo Mini. Like the sound.

Can a BD player match the Arcam for CD playing ?

Budget is around 3 - 3.5 K for everything including cables. Floorstanders at the front would be nice but B&W MT-25 on it's dedicated stands would look good. Could they handle the claimed 150W audio of the Denon Cara.

I want to use the HC set-up for CDs as well as I don't want different systems dotted around the lounge. The one box solution of the Cara suits my needs perfectly.

As I like the sound from the Solo are there any Arcam products I could consider ?

 

[bigboss]

richardw42:

Can a BD player match the Arcam for CD playing ?

For your budget, no.

A few BD players good at playing music are:

1) Denon DVD-A1UD

2) Marantz UD9004

3) Denon DVD-3800BD

4) Marantz UD8004

5) Oppo BDP-83SE

6) Cambridge Audio Azur 650BD

 

[richardw42]

Thanks for the list.

Some of those prices make the eyes water.

Purely from an aesthetic POV the Denon Cara is my front runner. So assuming that will be my player what are your thoughts on speakers. BR6s at the front are still in my mind. Are the BR1s ok for rears. I will of course audition before I buy, but I need a starting point. The more I try to read up on it the more confused I get.

Bearing in mind I currently live in a terrace am I best delaying a Sub ? (I'm after a detatched house but been gazumped on last two(

 

[TKratz]

bigboss:

A few BD players good at playing music are:

1) Denon DVD-A1UD

2) Marantz UD9004

3) Denon DVD-3800BD

4) Marantz UD8004

5) Oppo BDP-83SE

6) Cambridge Audio Azur 650BD

A fine list bigboss!

Just of curiosisty, was the list set by random or was a rank order intended?

I think a few more players could be added to the list as well:

- Pioneer LX91

- Sony S5000ES

- Marantz BD7004

 

[bigboss]

My list was in the order of the price. Yes, the Pioneer & Sony you mention also add to the list.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Monitor Audio's BR range is relatively easy to drive, and sticking with speakers like this will help make the most of the output that the Cara has. We've had our Cara running in our demo room with Monitor Audio's Vector package, and with KEF's 3005se package, and both times the system has sounded good, but we've felt we weren't getting the most from the system. Having said that, I don't think you need to look at speaker so large. Movies are mixed and mastered on smaller, sub/sat based speaker systems, not huge great floorstanders. Small speakers have many benefits when used in an AV system, and shouldn't be ruled out on their size.

 

[richardw42]

Thanks for the replies.

I've looked at the suggestions for BD. I'm still liking the one box / one plug solution. Alright 2K on a sep/ BD and amp will get me better quality, but sure the denon will be so much better than my crumbly old soundbar that I won't know myself.

Glad to hear that other speaker packages are suited to the Denon, but as I also plan to use this system for CDs would not a more hifi speaker serve me better.

Looking at speakers suggested guess the MA BR5s would be ok ????

Also. Are the any TVs with ARC ? Can't find it on the specs for my Samsung Series 7 7020 46" UE46B7020 so I guess it isn't.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi there richardw42, Just picking up this thread, I am very interested in the Denon Cara as a one box solution both for bluray movie playback and for CD/music streaming.

Did you go ahead with the Cara and if so interested in your experiences? Where did you end up as regards speaker combinations to go with it?

Thanks for any feedback!