Looking for system advice hope you can help

[admin_exported]

Hi guys I am looking for your advice and recomendations regarding upgrading first of all my speakers and then the cd player and amp. Presently I have a Sony XB 930, NAD C320 and acoustic energy pro evo's. I have heard the BR2's and they do excellent but have not heard it with my current system.

Therefore I would like to firstly ask if i was to buy the BR2's with my existing system would i hear a big improvement?

Secondly with a budget of 450.00 what would you recommend in terms of amplifier and source, i would consider buying a second hand amp but would purchase a new cd player.

I have heard heard you are meant to run your speakers in but I never did, does this mean i am not hearing the best out of them?

When I replace my system where is the best place to try and sell it? also as far as second hand prices are concerned should i be selling them for half of what they were at retail?

I have noticed that seperates quickly get discontinued and then a new model comes out, where can i catch them before they do get discontinued?

Thanks in advance

 

[up the music]

I don't know enough new kit to comment on the MA speakers. Some people seem to like the BR2 and other comments indicate they're a bit bright. I dunno.

On discontinued stuff, the current big thing seems to be to grab the newly discontinued Arcam kit. Do a Google.

As for selling your own kit, there's always E Bay. Alternatively if you sign up to a few of the hifi forums, some of them have Member Sales, which are free. Could save on EBay and Paypal fees.

Pricing depends on state and age of kit and how well you market it. A lot of kit can be had for a little over half price new though if you're patient and thorough in your research. See what prices your items are currently fetching on EBay to get an idea of waht you'll likely get.

Running in speakers (and other kit) is just that. You use it for a number of days and it's run in. Much like a pair of new shoes, a lot of kit takes time to work at it's best. So your kit should be run in if you've used it.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply, don't get me wrong I like the current setup but the BR2's struck me as being much more impressive than my speakers. In terms of the brightness, I guess I like that aspect because I mostly listen to rock and rap. I guess for now I am interested to know how much of an improvement the BR2's will bring to my current system. Thanks for the idea of arcam I know they are held in high regard but the problem is i don't trust second hand cd players and therefore i am not sure if marrying an arcam amp with a cheaper cd player would be a waste.

I have read that the azur range is very good as is the marantz, as are NAD and rotel, it's not like there isn't choice out there for the budget end of the market.

 

[d_a_n1979]

What music are you into? That can help a lot with regards to suggestions for amps, CDP's and speakers.

IMO with £450 as a budget i'd be looking at NAD, Arcam, Rotel, Monitor Audio, Acoustic Energy (AE109's only) and B&W speakers.

All of the above listed will work very well together.

Amp wise id be looking at NAD C320BEE or the NAD C352 integrated; Arcam - Id be looking at Arcam Alpha 8 or 9 integrated amps (you can always save to add the matching power amp at a later date as well)

CDP's id be looking at the NAD C315 or the NAD C542; the Arcam Alpha 8SE.

Speakers id be looking at M/A BR5's or the BR2's; B&W speakers i'd be looking at either the B&W 602 S2's or the S3's (IMO - The B&W 602 S2's were a lot better than the 602 S3's). The Acoustic Energy AE109 speakers are superb as well; a lot of solid sould for a small footprint and they can be bought fairly cheaply on eBay too.

 

[Anonymous]

Well I am mostly into rap and heavy rock, sorry I probably didn't make that too clear the budget of 450.00 is the maximum I would spend on the amp and cd player combined. As for the speakers, a maximum of 200.00 but I do know that I can purchase the BR2's for 150.00 so that is one step forward. I would like to ask you though, since I already have the NAD C320, are the C320BEE's a big improvement? also it seems like they are now discontinued so it would be a case of tracking them down second hand from somewhere.

 

[Anonymous]

I should have also added my room is only 9 ft by 10 ft therefore I am only looking at bookshelf speakers.

 

[d_a_n1979]

You can still get the NAD C320BEE from sone online shops brand new; and yes; i do think it makes a difference.

With your budget i'd be very tempted to take a look at the NAD C352 integrated amp partnered with the NAD C542 CDP. Both very good; gel very well together; are great with M/A BR2 speakers and sound superb with solid punchy bass, smooth midrange and crisp/clear treble.

You could also look at some Musical Fidelity itmes on eBay (i.e. the MF X-A1 or X-A2 integrated amps. Theyre superb and look great!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies all very much appreciated although I have read most notably on the other forums website that NAD cd players tend to play up. Have you ever experienced problems with the NAD players? in terms of skipping or simply not playing?

 

[d_a_n1979]

Some of the earlier models did have ussies but ive never heard any bad issues with the NAD C542 CDP.

If it were me; i'd be watching these:

Musical Fidelity - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180302051577&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008 OR http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Musical-Fidelity-X-A1-Integrated-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ260305854835QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260305854835&_trkparms=72%3A1300%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Arcam - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200267053869&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

Rotel - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROTEL-RA-01-Integrated-Amplifier-TOP-KIT-MUST-LOOK_W0QQitemZ270291390183QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270291390183&_trkparms=72%3A1300%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Arcam CDP - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Arcam-Alpha-8SE_W0QQitemZ120323948882QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120323948882&_trkparms=72%3A1300%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

B&W speakers - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bowers-Wilkins-B-W-DM-601-S2s_W0QQitemZ320313608995QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320313608995&_trkparms=72%3A1300%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 OR http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/B-W-DM602-S3-Fantastic-Bowers-Wilkins-Speakers-LOOK_W0QQitemZ270291406287QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270291406287&_trkparms=72%3A1300%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[Anonymous]

Can I ask why you never mentioned marantz?

 

[d_a_n1979]

I persoanlly am not a fan of the Marantz sound. I find it too forward and bright, sometimes too clinical.

I also dont think that it would give a good sound with regards to the music you listen to; thats all IMO

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice just one more question, if for now I decided to only upgrade the speakers to BR2's do you think I would hear a big improvement?

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Not sure TBH - I would take your speakers to a dealers and compare. You might find you prefer your current speakers, which could save you a fair amount of cash!