help with new first decent HiFi

[pogologo]

Have had an all in one for many years which just about did what I wanted but was never happy with the sound. Now have 40,000 tracks on a NAS (40s music onward) and consigned the speakers etc to the tip.

I now miss the CD physicality, the speakers and everything else.

So what would I like?

I would like something that plays CDs and I can hook my TV to (optical I guess).

Something network attached so I can play music from the NAS.

Speakers to go with it.

Have looked at Marantz amp and CD, Yamaha amps, dali speakers and I am more confused than ever.

Help, please!

 

[pogologo]

Budget around £1000 I should add.

What do you think is possible?

 

[pogologo]

Oh and room about 5 x 4m....

 

[Peter Kudelstaart]

With your budget a Marantz with digital inputs is too expensive (PM7005). Onkyo springs to mind though. Onkyo has the excellent TX-8050 receiver with digital inputs for your tv ( approximately 400 euros). A matching cd-player is the Onkyo C-7030 (approximately 200 euros). You haven't stated if you are looking for bookshelves or floorstanders. Dali has bookshelves like the Zensor 1 and 3 (appraximately 3 to 400 a pair). The floorstanding Zensor 5's are 660 euro a pair which would exceed your budget. I have stated dutch prices. I don't know if these prices match british prices.

Yamaha also has a receiver with digital inputs, the RN-500. This model is a bit more expensive than the Onkyo, but with a matching cd-player and the same Dali's bookshelves this option is also just within your budget. It would be nice to audition these sets side by side before choosing though.

 

[pogologo]

Thanks.
Would a PM6005, a CD6005 and a MCR510 be overkill? All Marantz.

I think the PM6005 has one optical in. Would an optical switch work e.g. Amp with three way switch with CD, MCR and TV plugged into?

I do not mind either floor or book speakers. Best option for the money.

 

[matthewpiano]

Why not go for an MCR610 with some Q Concept 20s?

 

[pogologo]

I was tempted but between here and AVF I was put off by people saying it was under powered and didn't want to be disappointed.....

On these tours of people putting me off I heard the Dali Zensor 3 was a good match....better than the QAs?

 

[pogologo]

Oh and I remember....they need £200 stands (WHF review) which I figured could be spent better on a better system.

 

[Peter Kudelstaart]

Thanks. Would a PM6005, a CD6005 and a MCR510 be overkill? All Marantz.

I think the PM6005 has one optical in. Would an optical switch work e.g. Amp with three way switch with CD, MCR and TV plugged into?

I do not mind either floor or book speakers. Best option for the money.

How could I forget the PM6005! Of course this means that a Marantz set is within budget. A CD5005 will probably do the job as well as a CD6005. This is you could try out in an audition.

You can't connect the PM with the MCR. Or connect the speakers with both amps for that matter. You can connect the PM with your tv using the optical in of the PM. The cd-player is connected to the amp using interconnects (analogue).

Matthewpiano's suggestion of buying the MCR610 is a good option too. I don't think that you will miss very much in the power departement compared to the PM6005. It's more compact than going the seperates way and you will have more space in your budget to get even better speakers.

If you choose standmounts and you don't have furniture to place them on you will need stands. Stands are at least 150 euros a pair and standmounts and stands might therefore be more expensive than floorstanders. However there are a lot of floorstanders to choose from that are cheaper than the Zensor 5 I mentioned in my previous post. Wharfedale Diamond floorstanders for example would be great for the PM6005 too.

 

[pogologo]

So much good advice. Thanks all.

I am back on the MCR610. Think I will go and try to hear it somewhere tomorrow.

Would the Zensor 5 and the 610 be mismatched I.e. The 610 not good enough, powerful enough etc for the Dali?

 

[matthewpiano]

The MCR610 is a great unit. The sound competes very well with the PM6005/Rotel RA10 etc. and its feature set and useability are very strong. If you want party levels of volume it won't suit, but for domestic listening at the sort of volumes you could actually stand listening to for any period of time, it isn't an easy system to dismiss.

An audition is the best way forward, preferably with a couple of different speakers. No reason why it couldn't drive the Zensor 5s, but they are quite a bassy speaker so whether or not you like them will depend on how you want the sound to be balanced. Zensor 3s, Q Concept 20s, and KEF Q100s would all make good, sensible matches and with any of them you need to budget for stands.

 

[Callum J]

Hi, i bought the MCR610 last January with Dali Zensor 1 speakers and have listened to it a lot since then on CD, Dab, FM, Internet radio, Spotify, and a Yamaha KX-390 cassette deck. It is an excellent and versatile piece of kit, and very easy to listen and live with. Due to space constraints i have to have the Dalis on wall mounted mini shelves, and i am no hifi expert, but they sound pretty good. I'm sure on proper stands they would be even better. As Matthew says, for sensible domestic listening, the Marantz has plenty of power, and is enjoyable. Definately, a system worth considering!

 

[BigH]

Speakers stands do not cost a min. of Euros 150, that is not right, plenty of decent stands around £60-£100, if you buy used then you can get for around £20. I would not touch cheap floorstanders.

 

[max337]

Having ran FLAC and CD via Zensor 1s via a Yamaha av amp, I can say they're excellent. Zensor 3 superb if in budget. £80-100 extra.

The marantz should sound noticeably better powering them. Sounds like a winning system. Stands are £50ish.

You could try other combinations but that's a good system. Relatively speaking, it should sound brilliant. Richer sounds probably already packaged that sytsten together. Check them out.

 

[max337]

Good price.

http://m.richersounds.com/#!/product/PAH011628

 

[pogologo]

I think the 610 with Zensor 3 or 5 feels like the way to go.

Have got a demo of those two combinations booked in. Let's see how they go.

Just to open the can up further, what is your thoughts on speaker wire? Expensive or not? Also should I bother with banana plugs? Don't plan on moving the speakers around at all.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Freddy58]

I think the 610 with Zensor 3 or 5 feels like the way to go.

Have got a demo of those two combinations booked in. Let's see how they go.

Just to open the can up further, what is your thoughts on speaker wire? Expensive or not? Also should I bother with banana plugs? Don't plan on moving the speakers around at all.

Thanks again for your help.

Don't mess about with fancy cables, QED 79 strand is perfectly adequate, imo. No need for plugs either, just use the bare wires