Hi All I'm a student who has been listening to my father's very impressive sound systems over the years, and have finally decided that my ears deserve better too. I recently purchased a CA 650A and Wharfedale's 10,1s to go with my DACmagic, and I use my macbook pro's optical out as a source. All cables are Chord. I have a dilemma though. After reading many reviews on the amp i feel that I can get more from it with better speakers, but am wary of approaching the too clinical side of the sound. At the moment it doesn't sounds clinical at all, which many people seem to think it does, especially when compared with the NAD326BEE. I demo'd both and chose the 650A, must just be my ears. Here's the thing - the new MA RX1/RX2's sound perfect on paper, leaning towards the warm side. Anyone had any experience with this combo, or think that it may be a good one? Thanks is advance PS. Also, at a stretch, I can change my 650A for a 326BEE...
Monitor Audio RX1/2 speakers for CA 650A
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rx1 will work well.but no better than the 9.1. the rx2 are superior but you will get clinical sound.
Both the M/A RX1s and 2's are very good speakers and are a sight better than the Wharfedale speakers you've got now so they'll be a good step up
Yes the NAD C326BEE amp is a very good one as well and it has a different sound to the C/A amp you've got currently so a demo is really in order as you may find that the NAD sound isnt for you OR it could be just what youre after!
The M/A RX1's and 2's do need to have good speaker stands under them so the Atacama Nexus 6i's or the SoundStyle Z2's at a minimum really. The M/A RX2's are big speakers though so IMO the Partington Super Dreadnoughts would be a much better match!
I demo'd the RX2's quite a lot with the NAD C326BEE, C355BEE amps and the C545BEE and Rega Apollo CDP's and they are brilliant! The only reason I went for the RX6's is that once the RX2's are on decent stands they take up the same room as the floorstanders do!
It'd be handy to know what your overall budget maybe for upgrades and also what music you generally listen to?
Yes the NAD C326BEE amp is a very good one as well and it has a different sound to the C/A amp you've got currently so a demo is really in order as you may find that the NAD sound isnt for you OR it could be just what youre after!
The M/A RX1's and 2's do need to have good speaker stands under them so the Atacama Nexus 6i's or the SoundStyle Z2's at a minimum really. The M/A RX2's are big speakers though so IMO the Partington Super Dreadnoughts would be a much better match!
I demo'd the RX2's quite a lot with the NAD C326BEE, C355BEE amps and the C545BEE and Rega Apollo CDP's and they are brilliant! The only reason I went for the RX6's is that once the RX2's are on decent stands they take up the same room as the floorstanders do!
It'd be handy to know what your overall budget maybe for upgrades and also what music you generally listen to?
Thanks for the replies 🙂
Well, I hope that it is my preference in sound, and not a product of the set up at my dealer! All the NAD reviews favouring the 326BEE over the 650A have me a little worried.
I mostly listen to Indie, Rock, a little electronica (such as Air) and some Jazz/vocal.
I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, and so it's very hard to find a single dealer that stocks the right combination of products that I want to demo. Specifically, the dealers for NAD and CA are different to those for MA, Marantz, Kef and B&W. Which is why I was hoping someone had tried a set up like I mentioned above. Also some more exotic brands are hard to come by or not imported at all.
I tried a second hand pair of B and W CM1s on my barely run in 650 and they didn't work for me. More detail and better timing than the 10.1s, but over the line in terms of clinical. My budget is pretty much the RX2's - £500. This system started out as being of the student-budget type, but is slowly but surely creeping up and up, such is the nature of hifi it seems!
I find that the 10.1s "tame" the 650A and balance the sound, so is it possible that the RX2s will do the same? Or will the sound remain clinical, like ears suggests?
Well, I hope that it is my preference in sound, and not a product of the set up at my dealer! All the NAD reviews favouring the 326BEE over the 650A have me a little worried.
I mostly listen to Indie, Rock, a little electronica (such as Air) and some Jazz/vocal.
I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, and so it's very hard to find a single dealer that stocks the right combination of products that I want to demo. Specifically, the dealers for NAD and CA are different to those for MA, Marantz, Kef and B&W. Which is why I was hoping someone had tried a set up like I mentioned above. Also some more exotic brands are hard to come by or not imported at all.
I tried a second hand pair of B and W CM1s on my barely run in 650 and they didn't work for me. More detail and better timing than the 10.1s, but over the line in terms of clinical. My budget is pretty much the RX2's - £500. This system started out as being of the student-budget type, but is slowly but surely creeping up and up, such is the nature of hifi it seems!
I find that the 10.1s "tame" the 650A and balance the sound, so is it possible that the RX2s will do the same? Or will the sound remain clinical, like ears suggests?
It just depends on what music youre listening to at the time but IMO the C/A sound is clinical and I've never been a fan of it!
I liten to stuff like Air, Daft Punk, Layo & Bushwacka, Massive Attack, Fischerspooner and the likes but I also listedn to Pink Floyd, ontovani, Jethro Tull, AC/DC, Metallica and more and the M/A RX2's with the NAD C326BEE did superbly well!
Very good bass depth but it was taut and punchy. Superb midrange that was detailed and smooth when necessary and the treble is crisp/clear.
The NAD's a fairly punchy amp so it'll drive the RX2's very well indeed
I liten to stuff like Air, Daft Punk, Layo & Bushwacka, Massive Attack, Fischerspooner and the likes but I also listedn to Pink Floyd, ontovani, Jethro Tull, AC/DC, Metallica and more and the M/A RX2's with the NAD C326BEE did superbly well!
Very good bass depth but it was taut and punchy. Superb midrange that was detailed and smooth when necessary and the treble is crisp/clear.
The NAD's a fairly punchy amp so it'll drive the RX2's very well indeed
chebby
Well-known member
- Jun 2, 2008
- 1,257
- 34
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Jamu:Hi All
I'm a student who has been listening to my father's very impressive sound systems over the years, and have finally decided that my ears deserve better too. I recently purchased a CA 650A and Wharfedale's 10,1s to go with my DACmagic, and I use my macbook pro's optical out as a source. All cables are Chord. I have a dilemma though. After reading many reviews on the amp i feel that I can get more from it with better speakers, but am wary of approaching the too clinical side of the sound.
Don't dump the 650A for a NAD 326BEE. You already have an amp you like even with budget speakers.(Also lots of reports of the NAD having an incredibly sensitive volume control).
I would live with the 10.1s for a while. Save a bit more and go for even better speakers than the MA RX1/RX2s. One respected reviewer was talking seriously about using £1000 speakers with the CA 650 electronics....
"The prices of these two products will naturally end up with most of them being used with loudspeakers costing around £200 or so. While it will do a great job here, to really hear what it can do, try it with a pair costing five times that figure, ideally one with a soft dome tweeter too. Suddenly, what most people consider as good mid-price electronics becomes a neutral platform to play music with a great deal of integrity."
In contrast the WHF review of the NAD 326BEE states...
"But if you keep your partnering speakers below the £500 mark you'll find
this amp to be nigh-on faultless"
I would stick with the amp that allows the greatest latitude to get more from expensive speakers.
I'm a student who has been listening to my father's very impressive sound systems over the years, and have finally decided that my ears deserve better too. I recently purchased a CA 650A and Wharfedale's 10,1s to go with my DACmagic, and I use my macbook pro's optical out as a source. All cables are Chord. I have a dilemma though. After reading many reviews on the amp i feel that I can get more from it with better speakers, but am wary of approaching the too clinical side of the sound.
Don't dump the 650A for a NAD 326BEE. You already have an amp you like even with budget speakers.(Also lots of reports of the NAD having an incredibly sensitive volume control).
I would live with the 10.1s for a while. Save a bit more and go for even better speakers than the MA RX1/RX2s. One respected reviewer was talking seriously about using £1000 speakers with the CA 650 electronics....
"The prices of these two products will naturally end up with most of them being used with loudspeakers costing around £200 or so. While it will do a great job here, to really hear what it can do, try it with a pair costing five times that figure, ideally one with a soft dome tweeter too. Suddenly, what most people consider as good mid-price electronics becomes a neutral platform to play music with a great deal of integrity."
In contrast the WHF review of the NAD 326BEE states...
"But if you keep your partnering speakers below the £500 mark you'll find
this amp to be nigh-on faultless"
I would stick with the amp that allows the greatest latitude to get more from expensive speakers.
my experience of cambridge audio amps with mon audio RS1 speakers is that the combo can be a little shrill. Can be tamed slightly by correct cable choice but why have to do that? Nad amps go well with mon audio.
chebby:
Jamu:Hi All
I'm a student who has been listening to my father's very impressive sound systems over the years, and have finally decided that my ears deserve better too. I recently purchased a CA 650A and Wharfedale's 10,1s to go with my DACmagic, and I use my macbook pro's optical out as a source. All cables are Chord. I have a dilemma though. After reading many reviews on the amp i feel that I can get more from it with better speakers, but am wary of approaching the too clinical side of the sound.
Don't dump the 650A for a NAD 326BEE. You already have an amp you like even with budget speakers.(Also lots of reports of the NAD having an incredibly sensitive volume control).
I would live with the 10.1s for a while. Save a bit more and go for even better speakers than the MA RX1/RX2s. One respected reviewer was talking seriously about using £1000 speakers with the CA 650 electronics....
"The prices of these two products will naturally end up with most of them being used with loudspeakers costing around £200 or so. While it will do a great job here, to really hear what it can do, try it with a pair costing five times that figure, ideally one with a soft dome tweeter too. Suddenly, what most people consider as good mid-price electronics becomes a neutral platform to play music with a great deal of integrity."
In contrast the WHF review of the NAD 326BEE states...
"But if you keep your partnering speakers below the £500 mark you'll find
this amp to be nigh-on faultless"
I would stick with the amp that allows the greatest latitude to get more from expensive speakers.
Hit the nail on the head Chebby!
Jamu:Hi All
I'm a student who has been listening to my father's very impressive sound systems over the years, and have finally decided that my ears deserve better too. I recently purchased a CA 650A and Wharfedale's 10,1s to go with my DACmagic, and I use my macbook pro's optical out as a source. All cables are Chord. I have a dilemma though. After reading many reviews on the amp i feel that I can get more from it with better speakers, but am wary of approaching the too clinical side of the sound.
Don't dump the 650A for a NAD 326BEE. You already have an amp you like even with budget speakers.(Also lots of reports of the NAD having an incredibly sensitive volume control).
I would live with the 10.1s for a while. Save a bit more and go for even better speakers than the MA RX1/RX2s. One respected reviewer was talking seriously about using £1000 speakers with the CA 650 electronics....
"The prices of these two products will naturally end up with most of them being used with loudspeakers costing around £200 or so. While it will do a great job here, to really hear what it can do, try it with a pair costing five times that figure, ideally one with a soft dome tweeter too. Suddenly, what most people consider as good mid-price electronics becomes a neutral platform to play music with a great deal of integrity."
In contrast the WHF review of the NAD 326BEE states...
"But if you keep your partnering speakers below the £500 mark you'll find
this amp to be nigh-on faultless"
I would stick with the amp that allows the greatest latitude to get more from expensive speakers.
Hit the nail on the head Chebby!
I agree with Chebby and Frank. The 650A is a very capable amp, and reveals tons of detail.
Bring your amp and DAC with you and hook them up to a store's RX2s. It's definitely worth it to listen and hear for yourself.
Bring your amp and DAC with you and hook them up to a store's RX2s. It's definitely worth it to listen and hear for yourself.
I don't agree at all.
I haven't heard the 650 so can't comment myself, but just because one reviewer talks about pairing it with expensive speakers doesn't mean it's a good idea . Same with the NAD review - in fact, mine's one of the predecessors of the C326BEE, and I've had it driving expensive speakers (as in ten times the price of the amp) for years. Always enjoyed the sound. Reviews are at best a guide, that's all, they're not to be taken as gospel.
Having heard the 10.1s briefly I can understand why the OP wants to change.
I haven't heard the 650 so can't comment myself, but just because one reviewer talks about pairing it with expensive speakers doesn't mean it's a good idea . Same with the NAD review - in fact, mine's one of the predecessors of the C326BEE, and I've had it driving expensive speakers (as in ten times the price of the amp) for years. Always enjoyed the sound. Reviews are at best a guide, that's all, they're not to be taken as gospel.
Having heard the 10.1s briefly I can understand why the OP wants to change.
After all my um-ing and ah-ing for a while, here's what I did: I went to my favourite hifi dealer and asked if he had any trade ins on some decent speakers, preferably B&W (since I've always been a fan). Fortunately, his other branch had a pair of 684s that they couldn't sell because the colour - light oak - is very unpopular over here. So he said he'd give them to me at cost! I've been listening to them over the weekend and I must say I've never been happier. The sound is everything I wanted from my budget set up. It all seems to work together faultlessly, and none of my friends can believe that such good sound is coming from my mac! I'm going to call him now and let him know that I'm keeping them.
Thanks to all for the replies, they've helped me to get to where I want to be.
________________
CA 650A
CA DACMagic
Chord Silver Anniversary
Chord CrimsonPlus
MacBookPro
B&W 684
Thanks to all for the replies, they've helped me to get to where I want to be.
________________
CA 650A
CA DACMagic
Chord Silver Anniversary
Chord CrimsonPlus
MacBookPro
B&W 684
chebby
Well-known member
- Jun 2, 2008
- 1,257
- 34
- 19,220
This is most encouraging.
It seems it is true that substantially more expensive speakers can be used with the 650A (given that the 684s retail for £700) and was not hyperbole from a single reviewer.
(Actually I love Maple and 'white oak' finishes.)
It seems it is true that substantially more expensive speakers can be used with the 650A (given that the 684s retail for £700) and was not hyperbole from a single reviewer.
(Actually I love Maple and 'white oak' finishes.)
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