Need help in building a system

[AHD880]

Hello, going to buy speakers (and an amplifier) soon, only for music.

The money: 1700 euro for speakers+amplifier..

What models should I exclude/include?

Yet found these:

KEF LS50

Q Acoustics Concept 20

Dynaudio DM 2/7

Focal Chorus 807V

Focal Chorus 806V

Amplifiers:

Yamaha R-S700

Yamaha A-S700

Rotel RA-10

Pioneer A-50

The soundcard is E-mu 0204, do I need an upgrade?

Thanks in advance.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Really, you need to audition, particularly the speakers, and it depends on your room, how close speakers have to go to the back wall etc, but anyway... I'd look at the Dynaudio and the Kef LS80 above the other speakers. That is my bias, because I don't like Focal speakers, and haven't heard the Q Acoustics.

The amp depends to a large extent on what speakers you buy. Both the Kef and Dynaudio like amps with a bit of oomph, which would suggest the Yamahas, although again I've not heard them. I have had the Pioneer A30, but found it not the best with difficult speakers. Can you find other brands? I'd probably pick NAD above the ones you mention.

Can't comment on the sound card, but, if it has a preamp, then look also at Adam Audio or Dynaudio active speakers.

 

[matthewpiano]

I'm not going to make any recommendations at present, because I'm not totally sure where I'm going with my own system and I've found it very hard to settle with anything.

However, I would like to give you one piece of advice. Listen to a good range of kit, including(if you can) some of the less popular stuff and even some second hand items (harder to audition but still possible). When you find a sound that you enjoy, go for the kit that produces it, whatever it is.

 

[AHD880]

Thanks for replies.

My soundcard doesn't have a preamp, don't know whether it's worth changing as people say it's best for up to 340 euro

KEF ls50 cost here 1000 euro, while Dynaudio DM 2/7 - around 620 euro.

Found Dynaudio Excite X12 (same cost as DM 2/7)) and Dali Ikon 2 MK2, do they deserve to be considered? Any other choices?

I can find other brands of amplifiers but I don't know the models which I should review.

I will try to listen before buying of course.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Definitely the Excite, don't know the other. Whereabouts are you based? There might be some good local gear.

 

[steve_1979]

The £1375 AVI ADM9 speakers are worth consideration. They include built in amplification and a remote control.

Clicky

 

[AHD880]

The AVI is an interesting thing, don't know yet what revision sells here, but they cost 800 euro and I most likely won't be able to listen to them. Found Yamaha Soavo 2, with the same price.

 

[BigH]

I have only heard the LS50s and the Dyn X12s. IMHO the LS50s need good powerful amps to get the most out of them, also did not find them good at low volumes, without that I would consider the Kef R100s. The X12s were quite good but on some music (jazz0 the treble was too forward for me and irriating, so an audition is needed. Can you not get amps. like Roksan Kandy, Arcam and Creek?

If you can hear AVI then do, they were the best I have heard around that price range.

For soundcards I would look at Xonar, the DG is only about £20 and its pretty good but they do more expensive ones to.

 

[AHD880]

The Roksan Kandy K2 is 900 euro, Creek Evolution 2 -800 euro, maybe there are another models but these are easy to find.

My soundcard's DAC is AK4896.

The AVI revision that sells here is the one with USB 1.1 Input with 24 bit DAC Wolfson (codec Burr Brown), so I think its 2007 model, how much does it worse than the later revisions?

I also consider to buy other active speakers, if they cost less than passive+amplifier and make almost same sound, because I don't need all amplifier's features and I have not much space.

Found Genelec 8040AP for 890 euro and Genelec 8050AP for 1400 euro.

 

[AL13N]

As you've already mentioned KEF and Dynaudio, you could see if the same dealer/s also stock the KEF X300A and Dynaudio Xeo 3.

The Genelecs are available at Pro-Audio stores, where you can usually demo a wide range of monitors side by side.

 

[AHD880]

I wonder if the higher quality audio files (more than CD) will sound better in this price range speakers (1700 euro)? Also is that possible to find active speakers with sound quality same as passive+amplifier under this price?

Xeo 3 has a lower frequency DAC (24/48 converts to 16/48 on the output) than my soundcard (24/192).

What speaker models (inc. floorstanders) are the "standard" of a perfect exact non-colored sound (name 5-10 models, unlimited price)? I'm going to compare with them first.

I've looked through most models and ended up with this list:

Passive:

Q Acoustics Concept 20 (700 euro)

KEF LS50 (1000 euro)

Dynaudio Excite X12 (700 euro)

Dynaudio DM 2/7 (700 euro)

Active:

Genelec 8040A (890 euro)

Genelec 8050A (1400 euro)

AVI ADM9 (2007, 800 euro)

2x Focal Solo6 Be (1700 euro)

2x Adam A7X (1150 euro)

2x Adam A8X (1700 euro)

KEF X300A (800 euro)

2x Dynaudio BM 12A (1700 euro)

Dynaudio Xeo 3 (1250 euro)

?x PSI A17-m (1300 euro)

?x PSI A 21-m (1700 euro)

Thanks.

 

[BigH]

The AVI revision that sells here is the one with USB 1.1 Input with 24 bit DAC Wolfson (codec Burr Brown), so I think its 2007 model, how much does it worse than the later revisions?

I think the main difference is the bass, latest version have more, there are a few other refinements. AVIs tend to be good value as they are mostly direct from factory so cut out the middlemen (dealers) although there are a few dealers I suspect the commission is lower.

I have only heard the 9RSSs version and IMO they were better (clearer and more dynamic) than the amp/speakers around £1,500-£2,000 I heard. I would say generally actives are better value. The DAC in AVI is similar to the Rega Dac.

Other advantages with actives, the sound does not change so much as volume is increased, so good at lower volume, thats probalby down to the active crossover. WIth AVIs the positioning does not seem to so much of an issue and the sweet spot is wider.

 

[AHD880]

Thanks for an answer, I'll go with actives because of a limited space. But what models are best to compare the sound with (unlimited price)? I don't know any.

 

[richardw42]

The AVI revision that sells here is the one with USB 1.1 Input with 24 bit DAC Wolfson (codec Burr Brown), so I think its 2007 model, how much does it worse than the later revisions?

crikey, whereabouts are you ? They went out of production ages ago.

But if you specifically want or need the USB model, all good.

Ive only heard the RS & RSS model, but they get great reviews all the way back. I believe the review on WHF is for quite an early model.

Maybe have a look at the AVI Forum where you could get some of the answers you're after.

 

[AHD880]

I'm in Moscow, Russia. Not going to buy AVI's without comparing, so they're out of my list now. Also usb is not crucial at all.