Marantz 6002 vs. Arcam Solo Mini

[admin_exported]

Hi there!

Given that the Marantz 6002 Amp+Player combo and the Arcam Solo Mini are both Award Winners this year, I would like to get the view of the experts here on which would be a better choice to be paired up with the B&W 685s?

I know that the general rule is that separates will usually beat an all in one system but given that we are looking at Budget separates vs a premium all in one system, I was wondering whether the difference would be significant?

Thanks!

 

[Andrew Everard]

I'd go for the Marantz combo, myself...

 

[chebby]

Depends upon your priorities and needs. If you only need CD and amplifier and have room to spread out the components side by side (or in a cabinet/rack)* the seperates should in theory be better. Obviously you must listen for yourself to test that theory.

*Seperates should not be stacked onto each other despite the ads always showing them stacked.

Remember that the Arcam Solo-Mini represents THREE seperate components not two. (It has an excellent FM/DAB tuner also.) If a decent FM/DAB tuner is not a priority (it is for me) then all the more reason to get seperate CD & amplifier otherwise you are paying for an incorporated tuner that you won't need.

I was not prepared to make the necessary room to lay out three (larger) seperate boxes side by side, or spend out good money on a specialist rack with which to stack the items vertically.

Also the Solo-Mini's 25 watts - with reasonably efficient speakers - gives more than enough power for my levels of listening but they may not have enough power for you or your speakers.

The looks of the minimalist and discrete Solo-Mini also attracted me.

Before writing it off though, you should hear one first and don't be shy about trying it with expensive speakers (so long as they are at least around 89 - 91db efficiency)

 

[Anonymous]

Would the Solo Mini be a good match with the B&W 685s? Or would the Marantz combo be a better match? Radio is important to me so I would need to get the matching Marantz tuner as well if I go for that option. Price wise, the 2 options would be about equal.

What would happen if I stacked the equipment on top of one another? Would it overheat?

 

[Audiofoolius]

I am afraid the Mini won't be able to provide the powerhungry B&W's enough juice. And stacking your equipment is never a good idea.

ÿ

A word on the Marantz-B&W combo: it's not ideal in my experience. I would advise you brands as Rotel or NAD with B&W. Try to get a listensession with a dealer to sort this out. This is very important to prevent disappointment afterwords. Take your time! ÿ

 

[chebby]

seakingadvice:Would the Solo Mini be a good match with the B&W 685s?

The 685's + a good pair of stands would come to £500

I suggest a pair of floorstanders with an efficiency of 90 db. Monitor Audio BR5's for instance (£400).

WHF recommend MA BR2's (£200 +stands)

Both Monitor Audio BR models are quoted as being 90db (6 ohms). My Rega R3's are 89db (6 ohms) but I don't want to be seen to be recommending my entire system to you! (Even though they are a perfect match.)

Any speakers that are significantly less efficient are not going to 'raise the roof' with the 25 watts on offer.

However, if you are set upon the B&W 685s (or already own a pair) and/or enjoy listening at very loud levels with less than efficient speakers then the Solo-Mini is not for you.

 

[Anonymous]

I would always go down the 'separates' route myself.

 

[matthewpiano]

Chebby is absolutely on the money here. One box solutions have got so good these days that its no longer appropriate or sensible to disregard them just because they are a one box unit.

Personally, I'd be throwing another seperates system into the equation. Have a listen to the NAD C325BEE with the C525BEE. IMO it beats the Marantz system hands down, but its all a matter of taste and you will only know by taking a thorough demonstration with your own choice of music. The NAD amp in particular is an absolute stormer.

 

[plastic penguin]

Let me think about this. . . .

 

[plastic penguin]

I really admire both brands. Certainly for convenience the Arcam is a logical choice. Am a big Marantz fan and both go well with the B&W's.

. . .separates. . .

 

[Cypher]

EvilWolf:I would always go down the 'separates' route myself.

Me too. I heard the Arcam solo and the Arcam solo mini and IMO they are no match for separates. Try some budget amp/cdplayer from Rotel, Marantz or NAD.

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:seakingadvice:Would the Solo Mini be a good match with the B&W 685s?

The 685's + a good pair of stands would come to £500

I suggest a pair of floorstanders with an efficiency of 90 db. Monitor Audio BR5's for instance (£400).

WHF recommend MA BR2's (£200 +stands)

Both Monitor Audio BR models are quoted as being 90db (6 ohms). My Rega R3's are 89db (6 ohms) but I don't want to be seen to be recommending my entire system to you! (Even though they are a perfect match.)

Any speakers that are significantly less efficient are not going to 'raise the roof' with the 25 watts on offer.

However, if you are set upon the B&W 685s (or already own a pair) and/or enjoy listening at very loud levels with less than efficient speakers then the Solo-Mini is not for you.

Hi chebby,

What do you mean by "less than efficient speakers"? Are you refering to the B&W 685s? And why would they be considered less than efficient? Or you mean that they are less than efficient when pared up with the Solo-Mini?

Sorry but I'm new to Hi-Fi so I don't really understand how to interpret the data on db, ohms and watts. Thanks.

 

[chebby]

Maybe a better word than 'efficiency' would be 'sensitivity'.

An efficient (or sensitive) speaker needs less power from an amp to drive it to the same volume level as a less efficient (less sensitive) speaker with a more powerful amp.

This 'efficiency' is measured in the amount of decibels (sound level) at 1 metre distance when the speaker is fed with 1 watt of power...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudspeaker#Efficiency_vs._sensitivity

This efficiency has no correlation to (or bearing upon) sound quality. There are many examples of great quality speakers across the whole range of efficiency rating. It is simply something that is very important to bear in mind if you intend to use a less powerful amp. To get decent sound levels you need a more efficient speaker, say 90 db (with 1 watt at 1 metre) or higher.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the feedback.

The problem that I have is that I'm not able to audition the B&W 685s with the Marantz system and the Solo-Mini side-by-side. Since I'm no expert in Hi-Fi, this makes it extremely difficult for me to determine which one sounds better without doing a side-by-side comparison and hence would like to get the views of you guys who have been able to do such a comparison.

Since the Marantz combo and Solo-Mini would cost very similar, I wanted to know which one would be the better buy. Also, does the Solo-Mini's 25 watts rating mean that it is underpowered to be paired up with the B&W 685s? I remember reading a review in another mag that was raving about the Solo-Mini but that review got rebuked in this forum. Also, I think WHF recommended the Marantz combo with the B&W 685s in one of their issues a few months ago.

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:Maybe a better word than 'efficiency' would be 'sensitivity'.

An efficient (or sensitive) speaker needs less power from an amp to drive it to the same volume level as a less efficient (less sensitive) speaker with a more powerful amp.

This 'efficiency' is measured in the amount of decibels (sound level) at 1 metre distance when the speaker is fed with 1 watt of power...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudspeaker#Efficiency_vs._sensitivity

Thanks chebby. So the B&W 685s is not "sensitive" enough to be powered by the Arcam Solo-Mini's 25 watts then? If that's the case, what is the minimum watts that I should be looking at to power the B&W 685s?

 

[Clare Newsome]

I've heard the Marantz combo with the B&Ws several times - a superb-sounding system (just make sure you get decent stands for the 685s). Yes, the B&Ws can be driven by even better electronics (that's one of their great points - their system flexibility), but that gives you upgrade room when you can afford to replace the CD player and amp a few years down the line

 

[matthewpiano]

chebby:seakingadvice:I remember reading a review in another mag that was raving about the Solo-Mini but that review got rebuked in this forum.

WHF also awarded the Solo-Mini 5 stars and a place in it's 2008 Awards Issue a couple of weeks ago.

This forum regularly trashes Arcam equipment. Don't let it stop you trying to hear one.

Arcam is an acquired taste but one which many people love. I personally have never settled with their newer equipment but many many people get huge amounts of pleasure from their Arcam systems. There is no doubt that it is very well engineered equipment and it could be exactly your sort of sound so, as Chebby has already said, go for a long audition.

The Marantz sound is very different and, again, not one of which I am personally very fond but, again, one which gives many listeners everything they want.

Just don't limit yourself to kit that has appeared in the awards. My NAD suggestion was a very serious one. For me the C325BEE is an incredible amplifier for the money and in a different league to the PM6002. I found it very difficult to improve upon the NAD without spending big bucks. The Cambridge 740A was the only amp I tried that could convincingly do so without costing the earth.

The thing you learn most quickly about hi-fi is that its very personal and that reviews, whether by a magazine or forum members, are a very insubstantial part of the story. Far more important is your own reaction to the particular equipment in question. The big question is, 'Does this system let me sit back and enjoy the music?'. If the answer is yes, you've hit the nail on the head whether certain components received 1 or 5 star reviews and whatever has been said about them on forums. Its your own ears that will have to live with the equipment so let them choose!

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:I've heard the Marantz combo with the B&Ws several times - a superb-sounding system (just make sure you get decent stands for the 685s). Yes, the B&Ws can be driven by even better electronics (that's one of their great points - their system flexibility), but that gives you upgrade room when you can afford to replace the CD player and amp a few years down the line

Hi Clare,

Thanks for the input. Have you also heard the B&W 685s with the Arcam Solo Mini as well? How does it compare with the Arcam combo?

Thanks for your view on this.

 

[chebby]

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[chebby]

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[chebby]

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[chebby]

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