Hi Fi world novice

[admin_exported]

Hi there! :wave:

After reading the reviews on What Hi Fi and reading through the various threads, finally, took the plunge for my first hifi seperate system .

After listening to limited setups(due to non availability of choices and brands locally), I have purchased a CA 340A SE demo piece for the amp and Tannoy Mercury V1 bookshelf speakers and the Marantz CD5004 for the source and set up the system. Not sure if the combo of CA and Marantz would be fine. It's a risk I have taken to combine Marantz and CA overshooting my budget . The sound quality is very nice, crisp and clear. However the sound is forward and light/bright and a bit lean - not to my liking. I am looking for a slightly deeper/warmer/sweeter sound. I am thinking the weak link is the amp - CA 340A SE and want to change it. Would NAD 326BEE/315 BEE or PM 5004 be better companion to the Marantz CD 5004? Should I change the CD player to CA 350C/550C? Or should I wait for a few days of playing allowing the speakers and CD player some burn time? Any suggestion/feedback would be appreciated.

I listen to wide genres of music - Rock, Metal, Blues/Jazz, Country, Indian music etc.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Anonymous]

C'mon Hifi gurus,

Help a fellowman out ray: it's just seems that amp and CD player combination is not workable :? Really need some inputs in quick time.(Pardon my English).

Thanks.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi and welcome...

I've never really got on with budget Cambridge gear. I'd say that's the weak link.

The Nad is the polar opposite: It is warm and smooth but punchy. For me though, Nads are a little too bass-heavy, but may sound fine with your speakers. Alternatively, look at Marantz, Yamaha or Arcam.

Edit - also try some different speakers before looking at amps.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,a newbie. What can you say guys about Onkyo AVR TX-NR609 paired to Jamo HC3 608. Thanks.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi,a newbie. What can you say guys about Onkyo AVR TX-NR609 paired to Jamo HC3 608. Thanks.

Hi and welcome...

Can't say anything about Onkyo or Jamo. You both really need to address the issue in the 'Hi-Fi' or 'AV' section. Plus give a little more info: Budget, current kit, music preferences... the info is too vague.

See you on the other side.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Plastic Penguin,

Thanks a lot for your suggestion. I shall post the question in the HiFi section also in order to garner some more suggestions/feedback from other knowledgeable members.

Cheers!

 

[Blackdawn]

gk_123,

Can you try different sources? (e.g. PC, Laptop, different CDP, MP3 player, tape etc) also try the same with different speakers if you have any. If the harsh/lean sound is still present then I expect the problem is the amp.

As already mentioned you could try Marantz, NAD or Denon for a new amp. If you are happy to go second hand then there is even more choice.

 

[matthewpiano]

Your speakers are not the problem. The V1s are excellent and will thrive on the end of a NAD amp. Try a C316BEE or a C326BEE and I think your issues will be resolved. Alternatively, a Marantz PM6003 or PM6004 should do the trick nicely.

An amp that works brilliantly with the Tannoys is the Nakamichi IA-4, which you can occasionally pick up second hand if you are patient. Great combination.

 

[Anonymous]

+1 for NAD.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses. Choice is very limited in my country/city and whatever is available is expensive too. Anyways, I can't change the speakers and the CD player, shall try changing the amp, either a NAD or Marantz/Denon and try out.

Cheers!

 

[nopiano]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses. Choice is very limited in my country/city and whatever is available is expensive too. Anyways, I can't change the speakers and the CD player, shall try changing the amp, either a NAD or Marantz/Denon and try out.

Cheers!

Do check a few things first though:-

1.if it is all brand new, it will mellow after a few days. Leave everything on (never turn it off) and CD on play continuously. Then listen again in a few days.

2. have you got the speakers set up properly - on stands? Or are they perching on the TV, or a wobbly coffee table?

3. are all the basics correct - speakers in phase, for example? Proper cables or just the junk that came in the box?

4. Does anything sound good? Maybe your favourite CD may not be the best recorded?

Happy listening.

 

[Anonymous]

I assume you bought everything new right? Why not let all the gears/speaker run in before making any decision. Let everything settle down for awhile before evaluating. Another suggestion for you is to buy some Van Den Hul interconnect or speaker cable, they are known to tame down harshness.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks a bunch guys!

As suggested, I have decided to run the system a bit more and decide. Except for the amp(a demo piece), all others are brand new. Speaker cable is Norstone classic 2.5 sq mm and RCA connector is MX. However, I still feel the CA 340A SE(with all due respect) is the odd one out in the set up(for the kind of sound I am looking for). I don't think changing the Marantz CD 5004 to a CA 350C/550C would help?

Cheers!

 

[Anonymous]

Am back again here

Have returned the CA 340 A SE, now looking for a budget amp to partner the Tannoy V1 and Marantz CD5004. Expert opinions/suggestions solicited(choice narrowed down to Nad 316 BEE, Marantz PM 5004, Yamaha S-500, Denon PMA 510 AE)

Thanks!

 

[nopiano]

I'd go with the recommendations for the NAD, as a better match for your speakers.