HiFi Separates not as good as my home music studio gear?

[hybridauth_Facebook_1773270076]

Hi,
I know that when I say "better" = subjective but, I am in the market for a CD player, Amp and speakers, so I listened to a Cyrus 6DAC partnered with Cyrus CD T and Kef Q300 speakers this afternoon. I was a little disappointed. I've only got mid-low range studio gear (Roland Octa-Capture and Mackie MR5's) but in the sweet spot, playing MP3's (!), I think the sound from my gear is better and it cost me less than the quoted £2650. I could spend that on a quiet pc, a replacement interface and monitors for me

and shift the current gear down to the living room. Seriously, not having any technical savvy, can anyone explain what's going on. Is it that I am just used to a non-coloured sound that the system (CD, AMP or Kef Q300 speakers) provides?

No idea what to do now

 

[matthewpiano]

Why not consider actives such as the AVI ones?

 

[ifor]

It could be that you don't like the Cyrus sound. Many don't.

 

[steve_1979]

I think that pro studio gear is generally better than hifi too. There are a lot of people moving over to active studio monitors nowadays because they prefer the sound.

 

[CnoEvil]

I think you should try the Kef LS50s or some ATCs (SCM 7 or 11), but I think you may need a more ballsy amp (maybe ditch the CDP and try something like the Bel Canto C5i).

 

[drummerman]

I think that pro studio gear is generally better than hifi too. There are a lot of people moving over to active studio monitors nowadays because they prefer the sound.

Well, I once listened to a whole bunch of actives in a pro/musician's retailer and the cheaper ones sounded ... cheap. On that occasion £400/single speaker (ADAM) is where it started to get interesting.

That may not be representative or even helpful but just because something is labelled 'pro' (Pro's probably rarely use even £500/piece speakers which are perhaps more aimed at your bedroom DJ's) doesn't mean it's automatically good. Many also look a little hair shirt with speaker grills most noticeable by their absence.

 

[Vladimir]

Oh Barry...

 

[steve_1979]

I think that pro studio gear is generally better than hifi too. There are a lot of people moving over to active studio monitors nowadays because they prefer the sound.

Well, I once listened to a whole bunch of actives in a pro/musician's retailer and the cheaper ones sounded ... cheap. On that occasion £400/single speaker (ADAM) is where it started to get interesting.

That may not be representative or even helpful but just because something is labelled 'pro' (Pro's probably rarely use even £500/piece speakers which are perhaps more aimed at your bedroom DJ's) doesn't mean it's automatically good. Many also look a little hair shirt with speaker grills most noticeable by their absence.

There are plently of c**p studio monitors too. Especially if you listen to some of the really cheap ones.

But once you get up to the price range where the likes of Adam, Genelec and Quested start then you'll find many monitors that (IMO) blow away similarly priced hifi speakers. Dare I say it - there's a clear night and day improvement over passive hifi speakers. Active monitors are (generally) much clearer, less fatiguing and have more dynamic range.

*bomb*

 

[steve_1979]

If you want more traditional looking hifi speakers (with grills and vaneers) but like the clearer monitor sound you could give some PMC and ATC speakers a try on the end of a suitably powerful amplifier (100watts or more). PMC and ATC hifi speakers are 'voiced' to sound the same as their pro monitors.

Also check out the AVI speakers as mentioned above. They have a fairly similar sound to some of the non overly bright studio monitors like Quested.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Barry - did you try any other combinations? Who suggested the combination you heard?

 

[davedotco]

Part of the issue is this.

Decent inexpensive monitors, the latest MR5s cost just £230, may have limitations but the they produce a sound that most budget/mid-fi struggles to match in certain respects.

Mid band clarity, bass tightness and mid bass punch and dynamics (for example) put most price competitive hi-fi to shame, once you get used to these characteristics, hi-fi equipment lacks clarity and is overly 'warm' and flatulent.

Sometimes you have to think outside the box but depending on the source, a nice pair of actives and a dac-preamp can be had for less than £1k. Given the OP's expectations, that could well be the way to go.

 

[cheeseboy]

Seriously, not having any technical savvy, can anyone explain what's going on. Is it that I am just used to a non-coloured sound that the system (CD, AMP or Kef Q300 speakers) provides?

There's nothing going, you just prefer the sound frmo your home studio gear. Contrary to what some may believe (tongue in cheek) you *are* allowed to like, even prefer this set up to a traditional home hifi stereo, after all, you're the one who is listening to it.

My advice, for what it's worth, go with the system you are already enjoying as you've already cracked half of what a lot of people still strive to achieve and go with that

 

[ID.]

I'd expect them to. It isn't hard for it to outperform budget speakers like the Q300. I have a pair of Adam A7X which I use for listening rather than production, and they're great. Although my main setup is good, the Adam's paired with a NuForce Icon HDP achieves performs at a similar level for considerably less money, although both setups have their own characteristics that I enjoy. I think if I were starting from scratch I could get far more bang for my buck by spending a similar amount on a pair of Genelecs, just because I think they are more living room friendly than Adam's studio monitors. Now if their Artist range of speakers were available here, I'd be checking out the Artist 6. If in the UK I'd definitely be checking out AVIs.

 

[davedotco]

I'd expect them to. It isn't hard for it to outperform budget speakers like the Q300. I have a pair of Adam A7X which I use for listening rather than production, and they're great. Although my main setup is good, the Adam's paired with a NuForce Icon HDP achieves performs at a similar level for considerably less money, although both setups have their own characteristics that I enjoy. I think if I were starting from scratch I could get far more bang for my buck by spending a similar amount on a pair of Genelecs, just because I think they are more living room friendly than Adam's studio monitors. Now if their Artist range of speakers were available here, I'd be checking out the Artist 6. If in the UK I'd definitely be checking out AVIs.

The Artist range is up for replacement, Thomann in Germany have the Artist6 at about £600 pair and will ship free in Europe. Something of a bargain though I suspect you are rather further away than that.

 

[ID.]

I'd expect them to. It isn't hard for it to outperform budget speakers like the Q300. I have a pair of Adam A7X which I use for listening rather than production, and they're great. Although my main setup is good, the Adam's paired with a NuForce Icon HDP achieves performs at a similar level for considerably less money, although both setups have their own characteristics that I enjoy. I think if I were starting from scratch I could get far more bang for my buck by spending a similar amount on a pair of Genelecs, just because I think they are more living room friendly than Adam's studio monitors. Now if their Artist range of speakers were available here, I'd be checking out the Artist 6. If in the UK I'd definitely be checking out AVIs.

The Artist range is up for replacement, Thomann in Germany have the Artist6 at about £600 pair and will ship free in Europe. Something of a bargain though I suspect you are rather further away than that.

Japan, and not looking to upgrade. I think the next major upgrade will probably moving somewhere bigger, although that's probably more to do with room for kids rather than hifi. A bigger living room wouldn't be bad for the hifi either.

Adam is distributed here, but only their studio products. So no Artist or their higher end home speakers like the Classic or Tensor series.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

I'd like to hear what in your opinion was the difference Barry Gardner in a bit more detail.

That's a pretty sweeping statement you make. What other hifi combos have you heard.

The other question I'd Like to ask how 'big' is your 'studio'. Are you talking near field listening or a system filling a room?

The active speaker argument again.....prrft!....Myths. Most would fail to tell the differences between a passive/active speaker set up blind.

Anyway care to expand.

 

[cheeseboy]

The active speaker argument again.....prrft!....Myths. Most would fail to tell the differences between a passive/active speaker set up blind.

Anyway care to expand.

just fyi, if you are wanting somebody to expand on something, it generally helps not to try and rubbish something like the whole active speaker thing before you ask, kind of akin to saying "christianity, bunch of tales stories and rubbish.... so tell me why do you believe in god?"....

 

[Thompsonuxb]

No, you have that the wrong way around Cheeseboy.

The active argument is very misleading given that a well sorted passive system is equal when it comes to delivery of music.

I have requested the OP expand to determine what he found lacking in hifi systems compared to his current system.

I see no problem.

Do you have a kite?

The active speaker argument again.....prrft!....Myths. Most would fail to tell the differences between a passive/active speaker set up blind.

Anyway care to expand.

just fyi, if you are wanting somebody to expand on something, it generally helps not to try and rubbish something like the whole active speaker thing before you ask, kind of akin to saying "christianity, bunch of tales stories and rubbish.... so tell me why do you believe in god?"....

 

[cheeseboy]

No, you have that the wrong way around Cheeseboy.

no I don't. think we'll stop there eh!

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Lol......

No, you have that the wrong way around Cheeseboy.

no I don't.  think we'll stop there eh!