Hi-Fi Advice

[admin_exported]

Hey all,

This is my first post on the forum! But I have been reading lots of threads.

I need some advice I am about to take the plunge and lay some money out on a system that could last me for life.

I have about £1500(could be increase for the right reasons) to spend but I am confused as the world of Hi-Fi/Home Cinema seems to have become complex.

These are my intial thoughts:

1. The main purpose of the system is for music, me and my girlfriend have an eclectic taste from Jazz to Indie to Rock, music will be the main use of the system

2. I would like a system I can plug into my Xbox/TV/NAS (Qnap 259) and enjoy the films.

3. I think I will begin with two floor standing speaks and flesh out the system over years to come.

4. I would like to make use of air play and spotify and my iphone.

5. I am a big fan of honest simple technology, I dont like shiney black plastic slapped around my lounge like some bachelor pad. (This is perhaps a strange this to say on an audiophile forum, but I can't enjoy the music surrounded by ugly things 😛) So ideally beautiful wooden speakers and simple matt black square seperates.

This is all I have managed to wrestle together so far, feel free to put me in my place.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully this tread will start me on a road to getting that system in my lounge in the next month!

 

[noogle]

Marantz M-CR603

PMC DB1i

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting choices, I am going to do my reseach on them.

I wondered what your opinion is on the Kef iQ90.

Do you think this could be a good pairing.

I love the look of the Kef exlcuding the plinth, but the reviews seem to suggest careful choice of companion in required.

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting choices, I am going to do my reseach on them.

I wondered what your opinion is on the Kef iQ90.

Do you think this could be a good pairing.

I love the look of the Kef exlcuding the plinth, but the reviews seem to suggest careful choice of companion in required.

 

[CnoEvil]

Interesting choices, I am going to do my reseach on them.

I wondered what your opinion is on the Kef iQ90.

Do you think this could be a good pairing.

I love the look of the Kef exlcuding the plinth, but the reviews seem to suggest careful choice of companion in required.

Hi Dynamooo and welcome to the forum.

I owned the IQ9s, which are very closely related to the IQ90.

They give a clean, transparent sound, with bass that is well controlled and tight for their price.

They are great for AV due to the clarity, but for 2 channel (imo) they need a little warmth in partnering equipment...they work well with Arcam for example. I also think they might be a little bright in a "live" sounding room (eg. starkly furnished, with laminate floors and large areas of glass).

Hope this helps

Cno

 

[Anonymous]

This is very valuable advice, I had not even considered the parameters of the room, which is bleakly furnished with hard floor and only 5x6m roughly. Perhaps the PCM are a wise idea, they take up less room, look great and have fantastic reviews.

I am feeling quite good about the pmc's, I think I am going to research for some alternatives to the just to understand he field a little better. The thing I was curious of is why not get a great av + separate cd. Is there a reason against this approach?

thanks for the wise advice

 

[CnoEvil]

Any speakers you get, will benefit from deadening your room a bit (rugs, curtains and soft furnishings etc)

Given your room, I would worry about the IQ90...mine only sounded right when I lifted the laminate floor and put down a carpet.

I think you are on the right track with PMC..... also add Proac, Sonus Faber and Spendor. These are more expensive and need good amplification to get the best out of them. Your budget will be smashed I'm afraid.....think more like £2k for amp and speakers to go this route.

Amps like Musical Fidelity M3i; Peachtree Nova (on offer at Sevenoaks); Unison Research Unico Series and Sugden Mystro are worth looking at, if prepared to spend more.

 

[Anonymous]

lol

I knew this would happen.

The Sugden amps look awesome. It would mean I am departing from my original Marantz all in one solution. I am wondering if perhaps it could be a stop gap if that I stick with the Marantz for the moment and then at some point upgrade the amp.

Otherwise I would need to resort to playing CD's on my Xbox which I think would not do the whole process justice.

The other element in my life is I am currently living in Switzerland and there doesnt seem to be much chance to audition these possible arrangements.

My aim it to do this on a quick business trip to London.

I am feeling quite set on the PMC's but when parting with some much money I am very keen to hear these babies in action, perhaps I will end up spending more if I get the chance to hear the difference between the Marantz and the Sugden Mystro.

There is the added appeal of an all British system PMC/Sugden, and buy this all in the UK, making for a good contribution to British Engineering.

Can anyone suggest some great places to see these toys in action in London? I am not familiar with this whole process but I assumme I just give my destination some fore warning and then suffer the suspence.

Also would I be insane to think that buying such a large value of stuff(for me!) that there might be haggling room?

Finally, has anyone had any experience shipping items to Switzerland (Zurich) not sure how the whole VAT / delivery works out but I will cross that bridge when I get to this.

 

[CnoEvil]

I would be cautious about buying in London and shipping to Zurich.

There could be issues of different plugs / voltages; problems with warranties / back up; and the cost of shipping / insurance. etc.

If you are living in Zurich, I would buy it there...there must be good dealers hidden away somewhere...check the websites for dealers.

Arcam goes well with PMC and Proac goes well with Sugden.

If you will be leaving Switzerland in the near future, you might consider a more temporary "all in one" solution, from Arcam or Sonos etc.