Help, need to make some decisions.

[andyhcape]

Hi

First of all, thanks everyone for all the forums which have helped so far, but in the end I have just got my self a little confused.

Basically I have decided to set up a hi-fi system in one place in my house for optimum sound quality, a place to listen to music.

Want to listen to CDs, occasionally plug the system via stereo jack into a an iPhone/iPad for internet radio (no DAB or FM signal here) and also play music from them. And I have an airport express to use airplay again from iphone, ipad and my MacBook.

I currently use a NAD C 300 (but also have a Nad C 3020i amplifier), with M71i Mission speakers, and a very basic Toshiba DVD player (used as a CD Player). The system is in a large room, although the sitting area of this room is like a normal size room, just not walls all around it. Some soft furnishings but not much mostly wooden floor and ceiling (granite wall on one side), and in one part of the big room there are 7 metre high ceilings. It's an old wesleyan chapel in Cornwall. Quite open plan.

So what I would really like some help on is....

1)

-Is the NAD 300 or 3020i better, I think the NAD 300 sounds a little muffled in comparison? But picked this one over the 3020i because of the remote control (bit lazy, very willing to swap back if people think 3020i is superior)

2) The big question

-Am I better off improving my current system, by buying a better CD player (a entry level marantz or similar) - or look into a cheapish DAC unit to take all the digital inpouts.

OR

-just retiring the AMP and Speakers to a secondary room and going for a whole new system such as the new MCR 610 Marantz (or Marantz 603) with bundled Q2020i speakers - and solve everything in one swoop??? Would that in reality just be loads better than all of above, do the all the same functions but just do them better.

I don't have a budget as such, just hate falling for the consumer fetishism trap and buying something unneccasrily.

And I think I want a good sound but possible not sophisticated enough at the moment to warrant top end gear.

would really appreciate help on this one.

best

Andy

:help:

 

[chebby]

7 metre high ceilings in an open-plan chapel conversion would suggest a LOT of power will be needed to fill the space. (What are the other dimensions of the main listening area including any open-plan areas adjacent to it?)

 

[fr0g]

-Is the NAD 300 or 3020i better, I think the NAD 300 sounds a little muffled in comparison? But picked this one over the 3020i because of the remote control (bit lazy, very willing to swap back if people think 3020i is superior)

The best one is the one "you" think is best. It doesn't matter if one costs 10x as much, or is a 5 star vs a 2 star product.

And it sounds as if you know you are using the wrong one...

 

[audioaffair]

You would almost certainly have to consider floor standing speakers with the room dimensions you are quoting - something like Dali Zensor 5's or Zensor 7's would be worth a look at. As for equipment, as per the previous post really, whatever you are drawn to, in terms of price and performance over looks and style. Also, a decent power amplifier would be worth looking at to drive them better.

 

[SiUK]

The system is in a large room, although the sitting area of this room is like a normal size room, just not walls all around it. Some soft furnishings but not much mostly wooden floor and ceiling (granite wall on one side), and in one part of the big room there are 7 metre high ceilings. It's an old wesleyan chapel in Cornwall. Quite open plan.

Sounds incredible. A lot of headroom

 

[andyhcape]

Thanks, thus far.

I really listened to both amps - must have swapped cables about a dozen times, so exactly same set up with each listen. And although it took me a while to discern a big difference the C300 won out in the end, was listening to the first track on Atoms for Peace album, has a lot of layers at different frequencies and some odd noises that the amp could quite easily make a hash of. Although it must be said both had their good points in the end I preferred the harsher 'attack' of the C300, over the possibly warmer 3020i (this is the first time I am using these words, so please ridicule away if I am spitting nonsense)

The sitting area, a sofa and some chairs placed in the right position for the newly wall mounted speakers (speaker brackets, old but fairly sturdy ones) is about 5m across by 5-6m deep. The listening triangle, if I can call it that is about 2.4m (Speaker, head, speaker). The large void I talked about is to the side, but the speakers and sofa are both under a mezzonine level of about 3m high. I don't crank it up, so I think I have enough power.

But it is true a Marantz mcr610 and BX2's might be more appropriate size for the space.

Spent the whole of today trying to figure a way to get various inputs to go through a CD player with a half decent DAC onboard.

Changed the crappy DVD player to a Sony Walkman type CD player - this really improved sound, suddenly aware of the weird clanging bells on the forementioned tune.

Anway still a little confused although - have started to look into a multi input DAC devices, one with USB for iphone/ipad, tosilink(from airport express), and a coax or optical from a CD player. And then also buy a standard entry level CD player. But if I bought the irDAC Arcam, this would seem to unbalance a fairly novice system with a super pro DAC.

Hence why I keep returning to Marantz 610 (or 603 and wire up via an ethernet) and bundled speakers, which is job done - but perhaps that is seen as cheating???

oooohhhhh - not easy this game is it. But fun! :bounce:

Andy

 

[audioaffair]

See if you can get a demo of the irDac, as this will deffinately transform your CD source in a very noticable way, keeping you on the spearates pathway, which I would say would be best overall, given your room.

 

[davedotco]

Thanks, thus far.

I really listened to both amps - must have swapped cables about a dozen times, so exactly same set up with each listen. And although it took me a while to discern a big difference the C300 won out in the end, was listening to the first track on Atoms for Peace album, has a lot of layers at different frequencies and some odd noises that the amp could quite easily make a hash of. Although it must be said both had their good points in the end I preferred the harsher 'attack' of the C300, over the possibly warmer 3020i (this is the first time I am using these words, so please ridicule away if I am spitting nonsense)

The sitting area, a sofa and some chairs placed in the right position for the newly wall mounted speakers (speaker brackets, old but fairly sturdy ones) is about 5m across by 5-6m deep. The listening triangle, if I can call it that is about 2.4m (Speaker, head, speaker). The large void I talked about is to the side, but the speakers and sofa are both under a mezzonine level of about 3m high. I don't crank it up, so I think I have enough power.

But it is true a Marantz mcr610 and BX2's might be more appropriate size for the space.

Spent the whole of today trying to figure a way to get various inputs to go through a CD player with a half decent DAC onboard.

Changed the crappy DVD player to a Sony Walkman type CD player - this really improved sound, suddenly aware of the weird clanging bells on the forementioned tune.

Anway still a little confused although - have started to look into a multi input DAC devices, one with USB for iphone/ipad, tosilink(from airport express), and a coax or optical from a CD player. And then also buy a standard entry level CD player. But if I bought the irDAC Arcam, this would seem to unbalance a fairly novice system with a super pro DAC.

Hence why I keep returning to Marantz 610 (or 603 and wire up via an ethernet) and bundled speakers, which is job done - but perhaps that is seen as cheating???

oooohhhhh - not easy this game is it. But fun! :bounce:

Andy

If you are going to use the Marantz, then spend a few quid extra and get a pair of Q Acoustics 2050i.

You have the space to make them work and they produce a big sound from modestly powered amplifiers.

You have a wonderful sounding space, seems a shame to just put a micro system in there.

 

[andyhcape]

I think I need a CD player anyway (can't go on using a portbale CD player, terrible buzz when CD finishes, and other annoyances) -

plan A

if I got a marantz CDP 6005 - wouldn't this come with a decent onboard DAC? - infact if I used the USB port - this would surely - also use the DAC in the CD PLayer for the attached Iphone/iPad too?

Although I notice you have to spend a lot more on a CD player that will have a Optical Digital input - to use the DAC onboard. (such AUDIOLAB 8200CD)

Or is this wrong apprach.

plan B

Am I better getting irDAC and then just feeding an average/entry level CD player through it - along with all the other imputs I might use at later date - such as my Airport Express (via Tosilink).

what do you think - Plan A or Plan B?

 

[stevebrock]

Reagrding A

I think this is the better option, but you need to check with Marantz if plugging in your idevice will disable its DAC and use the Marantz DAC - I am sure this has come up in the last few days - maybe search for CD6005 in the search above.

 

[Teo]

Nearfield ? Just to see how that works ?

 

[andyhcape]

I Don't really understand the nearfield principle? how do you set up? and what is nearfield?

Do you set up with just a CD PLayer - you don't need any other form of amplification with the active speakers - (so preume CD player needs a control - and are we then talking - the 8200 CDQ, that's £1K right?) but would give me lots of inputs for all the other digital devices.

RE Marantz 6005 - I think the USB does use the dac - but there arn't other connections/inputs like coax or optical (which could come from the Airport express)

lots of learning happing here, thanks

 

[andyhcape]

I Don't really understand the nearfield principle? how do you set up? and what is nearfield?

Do you set up with just a CD PLayer - you don't need any other form of amplification with the active speakers - (so preume CD player needs a control - and are we then talking - the 8200 CDQ, that's £1K right?) but would give me lots of inputs for all the other digital devices.

RE Marantz 6005 - I think the USB does use the dac - but there arn't other connections/inputs like coax or optical (which could come from the Airport express)

lots of learning happing here, thanks

 

[stevebrock]

Most CD players wont have inputs!

 

[davedotco]

I Don't really understand the nearfield principle? how do you set up? and what is nearfield?

Do you set up with just a CD PLayer - you don't need any other form of amplification with the active speakers - (so preume CD player needs a control - and are we then talking - the 8200 CDQ, that's £1K right?) but would give me lots of inputs for all the other digital devices.

RE Marantz 6005 - I think the USB does use the dac - but there arn't other connections/inputs like coax or optical (which could come from the Airport express)

lots of learning happing here, thanks

Nearfield and farfield are accurate terms to describe your listening position. Put simply, in the nearfield the dominant sound reaching your ears is direct from the speaker. in the farfield the dominant sound, in quantity at least, is reflected from the room. Note; Hearing perception favours direct over reflected sound but this is a different issue,

Generally speaking, the more reverberant (reflective) the room, the closer you need to sit to the speakers to be in the nearfield, in a less reflective room the nearfield reaches much further from the speakers. In theory speakers can be specifically balanced for nearfield or farfield use but this is rarely the case in the real world in my experience.

 

[chebby]

RE Marantz 6005 - I think the USB does use the dac - but there arn't other connections/inputs like coax or optical (which could come from the Airport express)

The Marantz PM6005 amp has a built-in DAC with co-ax and optical inputs. (No USB.)

The Marantz CD6005 only has a front panel mounted USB input (compatible with iPhone / iPods). It has optical and co-ax digital outputs at the back (to allow the option to use it as a a CD 'transport' with an external DAC), but no optical or co-ax inputs.