Looking for a whole new system and very confused!

[veryconfuzed]

Hi Guys

My existing system is so ancient that I'm too embarassed to tell you anything about it - think maybe I'll donate it to a museum! Anyway, I have decided I need a whole system upgrade and for a budget of around £3000 - £3500, I'm hoping to purchase a network streamer, cd, amp, turntable and speakers. (I will also need a new tv and dvd / bluray player/ hard disk recorder, but other than wanting to sometimes play the tv through the hifi, I'm not too worried about that side of things, music playing with excellent sound quality is the priority. Having not really purchased any hifi for about 35 years, I'm pretty confused, but was thinking about something like the Cambridge Audio CXC, CXA-60, CXN combo with a Rega Planar RP3 / Elys cartridge, Rega pre-amp + maybe the Tannoy Revolution XT6F's. I'd love to hear about other ideas though, especially if the sound quality would improve. Most of my music is on CD, vinyl, or iTunes, and we have a lot of Apple devices, and we listen to all music types from Classical through Jazz to Rock music as well as Spotify. Not sure what Tidal is but hear a lot of people talking about it. Would it make sense to swap out the CXC for a CXU? I don't have any SACD's, although might consider buying some if that would really improve audio quality. I quite like the convenience of one manufacturer / remote controller, but again willing to consider alternatives for better sound quality. I am completely open to suggestions on speakers as I haven't even heard the Tannoy's yet, and mihght consider investing more on that side if the audio quality would significantly improve. Any assistance / suggestions, very gratefully received!

 

[CnoEvil]

My suggestion is to have a listen to a Linn Majik DSM and some Kef LS50s/R Series speakers.

The DSM has HDMI sockets, so can act as a hub for 2 channel and AV needs. It has a Pre out for a sub and a phono stage for a TT. IMO you will not need a CDP.

I will let others recommend a TT, as I have been out of that game for over 20 years.

The size of speaker will be determined by your room size.

I would visit any local specialist dealers that you have in your vicinity and start listening to what they recommend, along with ideas that you get on here.

You have a decent budget, so try to listen to as much as possible and don't get tunnel vision over a few 5* brands.

 

[ifor]

does that leave for the TT Cno?

 

[gasolin]

You have a high budget but would recommend some of what i have more in the value for money category.

A marantz pm6005 not the most powerfull amp but it sounds good and in my small room my boston a25 are enough for my taste (max spl), marantz cd6005 cd (same dac as in the amp so using the dac in the amp to connect to your pc would give almost the same sound as the cd player if you use tidal hifi).

I use supra ply 3.4 speaker cable which doesn't sound as thin, bright as the supra classic 2.5, speakers could be dali zensors which whathifi really like with this pm6005 amp, the zensor3, since you have a high budget (not entry level budget system, but above it) i think for more omph you should look at the dali zensor 7 with 2x 7" woofers and 90 db

 

[CnoEvil]

does that leave for the TT Cno?

There is about £800 left after getting the Linn and LS50s.

 

[MajorFubar]

Your ancient system sounds cool, bet I would like it...

 

[ifor]

does that leave for the TT Cno?

There is about £800 left after getting the Linn and LS50s.

it would probably have to be a base R or P-j. I was hoping he wouldn't have to follow the sheep.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

I use supra ply 3.4 speaker cable which doesn't sound as thin, bright as the supra classic 2.5,

Are you serious? Suggesting speaker cable before any decision on any other part of a system.

I suggest OP look at suggestions from a few of 'our experts'.

 

[gasolin]

I use supra ply 3.4 speaker cable which doesn't sound as thin, bright as the supra classic 2.5,

Are you serious? Suggesting speaker cable before any decision on any other part of a system.

I suggest OP look at suggestions from a few of 'our experts'.

Yes i do

 

[ChrisIRL]

c

I use supra ply 3.4 speaker cable which doesn't sound as thin, bright as the supra classic 2.5,

Are you serious? Suggesting speaker cable before any decision on any other part of a system.

I suggest OP look at suggestions from a few of 'our experts'.

Well he will need cables at some point whereas you provided no suggestions at all.

I 2nd CNO on the Ls50s as a base, perhaps a Rega turntable/ amp combo then. Plenty of budget for a streamer remains. An Oppo BDP 105D perhaps, bluray and streaming in one.

 

[gasolin]

You talking about the kef ls50... why not KEF X300A and a preamp?

Then there should be plenty for a good TT

 

[gowiththeflow]

Dynaudio Xeo 4 + Xeo Hub or the new Xeo Connect.

Sources - Sonos Connect or Auralic Aries Mini (the latter can be fitted with a SSD or HDD (up to 2TB)

Project Essential II (either the Digital, or the Phono USB)

Plenty of money left for a CD transport and interconnects. No speaker wires required.

z

 

[ID.]

I use supra ply 3.4 speaker cable which doesn't sound as thin, bright as the supra classic 2.5,

Are you serious? Suggesting speaker cable before any decision on any other part of a system.

I suggest OP look at suggestions from a few of 'our experts'.

Yes i do

Cool, I didn't realize that this is an ignore the OP's brief and suggest the system we own thread.

That's a decent budget and there's lots of great equipment available within that budget.

Be prepared to take your time and listen to equipment outside the forum darlings and 5 star ratings. There's plenty of great stuff that doesn't get much talk on the forums or reviewed by What Hi Fi. Cno's suggestion is a good example.

The PM6005 is a decent enough budget amp, but with your budget I'd say the PM8005 would be a better bet. Cables can wait until afterwards and you don't really need to worry about them at this stage. I wouldn't get too concerned about SACD as the music available is relatively limited unless you listen to a lot of classical, and the benefits are arguable.

 

[lindsayt]

Veryconfuzed, I bet your hi-fi system is newer than most of my system, which I've bought in the past few years. Parts of my system are 80 years old.

There's nothing to get embarrassed about. It's only hi-fi. I'll tell you my system if you'll tell me yours.

Whatever you're thinking about buying, my recommendation is to compare it against your existing system before you've spent any money that you won't be able to get back in full. Make sure that you're happy that any new equipment sounds better than what you've got already and is worth the money in your eyes (ears).

Think of it as Darwinian evolution. Survival of the fittest. Whatever you like best stays. Whatever you don't doesn't.

 

[lindsayt]

And £3500 is enough to buy you a system that:

Either sounds flawed in certain important respects to the point that if I had it I'd be pining for something better.

Or sounds nearly as good as any system ever made (including mega bucks systems).

Or is somewhere between those 2 extremes.

 

[gowiththeflow]

Naim Unitilite + turntable (with phono stage- built-in or separate) + speakers.

 

[gasolin]

I use supra ply 3.4 speaker cable which doesn't sound as thin, bright as the supra classic 2.5,

Are you serious? Suggesting speaker cable before any decision on any other part of a system.

I suggest OP look at suggestions from a few of 'our experts'.

Yes i do

Cool, I didn't realize that this is an ignore the OP's brief and suggest the system we own thread.

That's a decent budget and there's lots of great equipment available within that budget.

Be prepared to take your time and listen to equipment outside the forum darlings and 5 star ratings. There's plenty of great stuff that doesn't get much talk on the forums or reviewed by What Hi Fi. Cno's suggestion is a good example.

The PM6005 is a decent enough budget amp, but with your budget I'd say the PM8005 would be a better bet. Cables can wait until afterwards and you don't really need to worry about them at this stage. I wouldn't get too concerned about SACD as the music available is relatively limited unless you listen to a lot of classical, and the benefits are arguable.

We all talk about what we have experince with.

I am not shure what the OP what to spend most on, amp or speakers?

 

[veryconfuzed]

Wow - thanks all. Some great thoughts there. Lots to think about. The room is about 22' x 18' so any thoughts on speakers with that in mind? Since you ask about my ancient system, it's origins a Trio KD1033b turntable with Ortofon cartridge, Sansui Amp and Mission 710 speakers. Served me well since I was a teenager ;-)

 

[RobinKidderminster]

You seem to know yr requirements very well and I am surprised u have had so few constructive suggestions. You list CD, TV, streamer etc in yr post - I don't know if all of this is inside yr £3k+ budget. I for one don't have enough experience to make recommendations (and as happy as I am, I would not be silly enough to suggest a copy of my own equipment any more than suggest you buy my CD's or BD's or cables! )

However, I would suggest a good dealer should help u to find a good solution, allow some good demoes and offer a decent discount to secure customer loyalty. Good luck.

 

[jonathanRD]

Maybe we can recommend some good dealers in your locality.

That's where I would start, if they are close enough just pop in and have a chat, or if its a journey, call them first to set up a demo. If it was me I would want to demo as much as possible.

 

[lindsayt]

One of the limitations of going to a dealers is that you will only be able to demo what they have in stock. Which will be a tiny fraction of the equipment that you could buy.

Instead of, or as well as going to a dealer you could organise a bake-off / hi-fi enthusiasts get together. Or you could attend someone else's.

 

[CnoEvil]

If I'm not mistaken, you've knocked £1k off your budget, which now makes my suggestion too expensive.

You could look at a Sneaky DSM instead or...

Sneaky DS + Arcam A29 / Creek Evo 50A / Rega Elex R + Kef

 

[veryconfuzed]

Hi All,

For the figure I mentioned £3000 - £3500, I was not including a TV or bluray / DVD player, but was thinking a CD player. Not sure if it's a sensible idea to combine those two devices (bluray/DVD and CD) in one. I also wanted a network streamer, amp, turntable / pre-amp, and stereo speakers.

A

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi All,

For the figure I mentioned £3000 - £3500, I was not including a TV or bluray / DVD player, but was thinking a CD player. Not sure if it's a sensible idea to combine those two devices (bluray/DVD and CD) in one. I also wanted a network streamer, amp, turntable / pre-amp, and stereo speakers.

With a Linn DSM, you can connect a Blu Ray, which then uses the Linn's superior DAC and covers DVD and CD as well. I have done something similar to this for a friend and it sounds great.

 

[veryconfuzed]

Thanks CnoEvil - will definitely check the Linn DSM out as it seems very flexible. Does it also act as a network streamer or wopuld I still need a separate device for that? Also, any recommendations on the bluray? Are the KEF speakers you mentioned suitable for the relatively large room. What about something like the ATC SCM 11's that seem to win all the awards?