First proper hifi

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I've just bought a cambridge audio 540a amp, the 540c cd player and a pair of f1 tannoy speakers, and i'm looking for advice on how to break the components in and how to improve the sound. The whole lot cost me £400, with some symphony 200 speaker wire thrown in 'for free'.

Any advice?

thanks

 

[JoelSim]

Let it settle for a couple of weeks with plenty of airtime before you do anything.

There are plenty of upgrades you can do, but always best to hold fire until you know what you like and don't like about the sound.

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Ok i've been finding listening to my new setup quite difficult due to it sounding quite bright even to the point of giving me headaches. I've also found that the right speaker seems to be louder than the left for some reason at low volume, which is quite annoying. I think i have about 4 days left if i want to return any components to richersounds and i'm considering getting a refund on the CA 540 amp and cd player, and buying a NAD C325 BEE amp and just having that with my tannoy F1 speakers. Is this a good combination that would be better suited to me than my current setup?

 

[Anonymous]

assuming its not something simple like the balance control has been moved a bit then it does sound like a problem with the amp.

I think the Nad could go well they have a nice sound. will you get the matching cd player too?

 

[Anonymous]

Does the volume on both channels balance out when you get the volume control over about 9 o'clock......if it does its a known issue (and not considered a fault) with the lower specced CA gear. Its a design thing....something to do with the vol control wired in series or something. I had the same on my 540a....cured it by fitting some attenuators on the amp input.......

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah it does seem to balance out after about 9 oclock. Still quite frustrating when listening at low volumes but i suppose it can be fixed using the balance knob. I'm still thinking about replacing it for the NAD but because of the difference in price i won't be able to afford the matching cd player with only around £120 leftover unless i can find it for second hand somewhere.

Will the NAD with my tannoy speakers definately produce a much warmer sound, because i don't really want to have the same problems again?

 

[Anonymous]

Ok i've decided i'm going to head back to richersounds tomorrow and change my ca 540a for the NAD C326BEE.

Does anybody know how these two amps compare?

 

[Anonymous]

I think you've made the right decision. I have the NAD C515BEE and the C515BEE with Wharfedale Diamond 75th Anniversary 9.1 speakers and the sound is really good now that they have been run in properly. I, too, can't stand bright systems as I find myself waiting for the next ear-shattering 'SSS' sound. The new system keeps that under control nicely but doesn't lose any excitement in the process. Don't forget decent cabling and interconnects as they really do make a difference.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help. I just wish i had been giving more information in the shop regarding the actual sound of the system..would have been a lot less hassle.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got a pair of Tannoy Mercury F2, as far as I know it's the same as what you have only the next model up. They also struck me as very bright when I first started using them, but that settled down to some degree as the speakers were broken in. I am running them with a Denon UD-M50 mini system.

Cambridge does have a bit of a reputation for being forward, while NAD tends to be warmer. So I think the switch should accomplish what you are looking for. Add in some break in time and things should sound better.

 

[method man]

bob123:Thanks for the help. I just wish i had been giving more information in the shop regarding the actual sound of the system..would have been a lot less hassle.

They do love there cambridge in there mate. They will probably cry their eyes out when you say your swapping.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah i got the impression they weren't too happy to see me back in the shop. Oh well i've got the NAD amp now and it's definately a much warmer sound that i'm a lot happier with. Seems to be improving with playing time as well which is good.