Hi - still needing help with selecting stuff for my shopping list. Here's the background - Got max £1800 to spend on electronics (with a speaker upgrade to follow once bank manager is rested and recovered) and listen almost entirely to Cds. Last bought hifi 20 years ago so I'm well out of touch. Now hope to buy stuff that will last me as long, (Also probably worth adding, don't want to sound funny but this is a lot of ££ for me to spend!)
Many helpful suggestions already from people on here resulted in a home test of Quad CDP-2 and 909 against a Pioneer A-a9 Mk2k and PD-d9 mk2k. I'm using existing speakers (Wharfedale 505.1) on stands and decent cabling/interlinks. I was offered the Kandy too, but turns out someone else had it out and so I haven't heard it.
But all that has happened is that I'm confused!
I found the Pioneer pairing clear and transparent, but bass seems to roll off quickly and wasn't really tight and distinct. Simple tracks (Leonard Cohen 'Tower of Song' or something like Norah Jones) sound very nice to me, but more complex stuff (Editors, Red Hot Chillis) seemed to turn a bit hard, bright and light. I think the build quality and 'feel' is really nice. It also plays mp3 cds. The best price is about £1350 leaving a bit over to start the speaker upgrade.
The Quad combination sounds warmer, with better bass control, but a touch less transparency on some materials - Leonard's vocals seem less nuanced and detailed, for example, but more complex stuff seems rendered better - 'easier listening' overall. Bach's suite for unaccompanied cello sounds great!. I was a bit disappointed with the seeming build quality of the Quad - the power switch is squint on the poweramp, the CD tray seems flimsy and rattles out (the Pioneer is smooth and rigid) and the buttons seem loose and rubbery on the CD player and a nasty plastic remote. The Quad also seems old-fashioned - won't play mp3 for example - and (because I can't afford the separate pre-amp) has limited inputs for conventional peripherals. The best price is about £1750 - so starting from scratch as far as saving for the speakers goes.
So - both systems have some limitations and I'd welcome any suggestions for something built as nicely as the Pioneer, with the clarity it offers, but with better bass extension and control? Is it sensible to wait for speakers or would I get a better all round system (since I'm not wanting to be a perpetual upgrader) by finding another £200 and shaving enough off the electronics to allow me to add speakers at this time?
Many helpful suggestions already from people on here resulted in a home test of Quad CDP-2 and 909 against a Pioneer A-a9 Mk2k and PD-d9 mk2k. I'm using existing speakers (Wharfedale 505.1) on stands and decent cabling/interlinks. I was offered the Kandy too, but turns out someone else had it out and so I haven't heard it.
But all that has happened is that I'm confused!
I found the Pioneer pairing clear and transparent, but bass seems to roll off quickly and wasn't really tight and distinct. Simple tracks (Leonard Cohen 'Tower of Song' or something like Norah Jones) sound very nice to me, but more complex stuff (Editors, Red Hot Chillis) seemed to turn a bit hard, bright and light. I think the build quality and 'feel' is really nice. It also plays mp3 cds. The best price is about £1350 leaving a bit over to start the speaker upgrade.
The Quad combination sounds warmer, with better bass control, but a touch less transparency on some materials - Leonard's vocals seem less nuanced and detailed, for example, but more complex stuff seems rendered better - 'easier listening' overall. Bach's suite for unaccompanied cello sounds great!. I was a bit disappointed with the seeming build quality of the Quad - the power switch is squint on the poweramp, the CD tray seems flimsy and rattles out (the Pioneer is smooth and rigid) and the buttons seem loose and rubbery on the CD player and a nasty plastic remote. The Quad also seems old-fashioned - won't play mp3 for example - and (because I can't afford the separate pre-amp) has limited inputs for conventional peripherals. The best price is about £1750 - so starting from scratch as far as saving for the speakers goes.
So - both systems have some limitations and I'd welcome any suggestions for something built as nicely as the Pioneer, with the clarity it offers, but with better bass extension and control? Is it sensible to wait for speakers or would I get a better all round system (since I'm not wanting to be a perpetual upgrader) by finding another £200 and shaving enough off the electronics to allow me to add speakers at this time?
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