Expert opinion on cambridge audio azur 650 vs Marantz PM 7003 for Wharfedale diamond 9.6

[admin_exported]

I have a pair or diamond 9.6 and a pair of 9.1 which I currently use
with my Onkyo 703 AVR home theater setup. Now I am looking for a stereo
amp and have shortlisted the following:

1 > Marantz PM 6002 or 7001 or 7003

2 > CA azur 540 or 640A V2 or 650A

Me and my wife auditioned the CA (540 and 650) and Marantz (7003)
paired with MS Aviano series (both bookshelf and floorstanders)
yesterday and we really liked both(CA 650 and Marantz 7003). Better then
the current Onkyo 703 for sure.

I did scan through the posts and the "general" feeling has been that Marantz pairs well with diamonds.

I kind of liked Marantz over CA yesterday whereas my wife said CA it
is. I might have been biased as I had read the reviews before going
there

The current Onkyo 703 plays decently at loud volumes but its the low volume that made me look out for a dedicated stereo amp.

Kindly suggest which one to go for ?

 

[ear]

i think CA Would suit better the diamonds.marantz bass is soft...and badly defined.

 

[the record spot]

Eh? Where does that come from? Rest assured the bass for the Marantz amps is neither soft or undefined. Precisely the opposite in fact.

You might be able to snag a 7001-KI for a good price now the 7003/8003 range is out. Very good amp indeed and I recall John Duncan rating his highly.

 

[Cypher]

I heard the Marantz PM6003/CD6003 with some Dali Lektor 2 speakers for a while ago and it sounded incredibly good for the money. The bass was tight and focused. A wide soundstage and lots of detail. Very impressive.

 

[ear]

well the 7003 is good..the 4002 and 6002 had soft bass.for small speakers are ok,but for floorstander I'd get another amp.my floorstander with the pm4002 were BADDDDDD

 

[the record spot]

Depends what you're comparing with though; I used the PM6010-KI for a decade almost and it was excellent. Partnered it with Mission 733i floorstanders and it made good music with a Linn Mimik, before that a Kenwood DP-7090 CDP, no bass issues, flabby or otherwise.

Equally, I just sold my aforesaid amp as it didn't make for quite so good a partnership with the current set-up, but that's more to do with it being more of a neutral amp running with a lean sounding CDP and quite transparent speakers.

 

[ear]

Im sure the KI series dont suffer from this problem.