I replaced my Audiolab 6000A with the PM7000N, sounds great to me with Vinyl, CD and it covers all my streaming needs.
Ebay or Amazon should have something of use... how about one or two of those brass front door spy holes, take the lens out and away yer go
So finally managed to arrange a demo at the local RS store. They were very accommodating. I auditioned the following:
Marantz PM7000N
Cambridge Audio CXA61
Wharfdale Diamond 12.3
Monitor Audio Bronze 200
Dali Oberon 1 (as a standmount comparison - I have Tannoy Mercury M2s on Atacama SE24"s at home)
Turntable as source - Audio Technica LP5X (at home I have a Linn Axis with a K9 cartridge)
First up was the CXA61 with the Dali Oberons with Yello - The Rythm Devine as a terst track. I immediately dismissed these as the sound was thin. Swapped to MA Bronze 200 and it was much better. Swapped to Wharfdales and better still but not by that much. Just a smidge.
Swapped to the Marantz amp and did the same track with MA Bronze then the Wharfdales. Sound was remarkably similar to the Cambridge, maybe a little less full but not much. We swapped around and back a few times but there was little in it. We are talking small differences. Played more Yello tracks (superb production in all of them), some Massive Attack, some Pink Floyd.
To be honest I was thinking I would have been blown away by this demo compared to my 27 year old kit at home. I just wasn't feeling it. It just lacked something. I out on the title track 'Infected' by The The and it sounded absolutely terrible
We then switched to streaming on the Marantz and played 'Particles' Piano Version by Nothing but Theieves and I was blown away! Absolute presence right in the room. Amazing. Sold me the Marantz right there. We tried a few Foo Fighters tracks. Excellent. Royal Blood was a bit disappointing and messy but then it's not fine production values here. Still undecided about the speakers though the wife approves of both aesthetically.
Went home and streamed the same Nothing But Thieves track through my Amazon Echo Dot - Rotel RA-930AX - Tannoy Mercury M2's and it sounded great. Just not quite as great as in the demo. It is rather 'LoFi'. Played The The 'Infected' on my Linn and it was sublime. Clearly the turntable at RS used for the demo was rubbish or defective so it kinda marred the listening experience so I've no idea how the phono stage really sounds.
Ordered the amp. Should get it tomorrow. Will run current setup with the new amp and then decide on speakers. Might just buy online and return if I don't like them. If I buy instore they charge a 10% handling fee. Not applicable for online purchases. Might even try the Fyne Audio F302i if I can find them at a reasonable price as I prefer the light Oak colour to the darker wood and grey of the otehr two speakers.
Marantz PM7000N
Cambridge Audio CXA61
Wharfdale Diamond 12.3
Monitor Audio Bronze 200
Dali Oberon 1 (as a standmount comparison - I have Tannoy Mercury M2s on Atacama SE24"s at home)
Turntable as source - Audio Technica LP5X (at home I have a Linn Axis with a K9 cartridge)
First up was the CXA61 with the Dali Oberons with Yello - The Rythm Devine as a terst track. I immediately dismissed these as the sound was thin. Swapped to MA Bronze 200 and it was much better. Swapped to Wharfdales and better still but not by that much. Just a smidge.
Swapped to the Marantz amp and did the same track with MA Bronze then the Wharfdales. Sound was remarkably similar to the Cambridge, maybe a little less full but not much. We swapped around and back a few times but there was little in it. We are talking small differences. Played more Yello tracks (superb production in all of them), some Massive Attack, some Pink Floyd.
To be honest I was thinking I would have been blown away by this demo compared to my 27 year old kit at home. I just wasn't feeling it. It just lacked something. I out on the title track 'Infected' by The The and it sounded absolutely terrible
We then switched to streaming on the Marantz and played 'Particles' Piano Version by Nothing but Theieves and I was blown away! Absolute presence right in the room. Amazing. Sold me the Marantz right there. We tried a few Foo Fighters tracks. Excellent. Royal Blood was a bit disappointing and messy but then it's not fine production values here. Still undecided about the speakers though the wife approves of both aesthetically.
Went home and streamed the same Nothing But Thieves track through my Amazon Echo Dot - Rotel RA-930AX - Tannoy Mercury M2's and it sounded great. Just not quite as great as in the demo. It is rather 'LoFi'. Played The The 'Infected' on my Linn and it was sublime. Clearly the turntable at RS used for the demo was rubbish or defective so it kinda marred the listening experience so I've no idea how the phono stage really sounds.
Ordered the amp. Should get it tomorrow. Will run current setup with the new amp and then decide on speakers. Might just buy online and return if I don't like them. If I buy instore they charge a 10% handling fee. Not applicable for online purchases. Might even try the Fyne Audio F302i if I can find them at a reasonable price as I prefer the light Oak colour to the darker wood and grey of the otehr two speakers.
Gray
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I like a light oak finish too, it's what my speakers are.
But please tell me that you wouldn't let that be the deciding factor over other makes and models of speaker - after you've made the effort to audition the electronics.
Haha! No! But then we do have to look at them daily. I'd rather look at a pretty thing than an ugly old box. I think the Fyne's are quite pretty. Plus the fact that the Monitor Audios and Wharfdales are not too dissimilar in sound despite having quite different reviews. I really though the Wharfdales were going to be miles better but they weren't. Plus the Fyne's look a little bit like a Spendor A7
Al ears
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the Fynes look like A7s??? Are you sure?Haha! No! But then we do have to look at them daily. I'd rather look at a pretty thing than an ugly old box. I think the Fyne's are quite pretty. Plus the fact that the Monitor Audios and Wharfdales are not too dissimilar in sound despite having quite different reviews. I really though the Wharfdales were going to be miles better but they weren't. Plus the Fyne's look a little bit like a Spendor A7
If I take my glasses off and squint a little bit after a brandy or two
Try the Oberon 3s. They have more bass than you will possibly need. I have to use the tone controls on mine because they are placed only 5 inches from the back wall. At around -6db and the bass is still boosted. You will need an amp with tone controls that operate on a frequency range rather than on a single frequency though, and that rules out Marantz. Come to think of it, the Oberon 1s may sound just right in your listening room.
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Would the Elac Debuts be in your budget?
I managed to pick up some open box debut reference 6.2 for £400, they are incredible little boxes, I'd image in the Debut 6.2 would be similarly impressive and cheaper.
Interesting thread otherwise, shame you didn't get the hear any of the Denon amps, as I've got one and thinking of upgrading to something with more power and connections, the PM7000N is on my list.
Got a good review from Darko
darko.audio
Sounds similar to the Denon range (not surprising really). Heos is the issue for me, I'd have to continue to use my Connect streamer to stream via Roon, and/or change sub from qobuz to Tidal.
I managed to pick up some open box debut reference 6.2 for £400, they are incredible little boxes, I'd image in the Debut 6.2 would be similarly impressive and cheaper.
Interesting thread otherwise, shame you didn't get the hear any of the Denon amps, as I've got one and thinking of upgrading to something with more power and connections, the PM7000N is on my list.
Got a good review from Darko
A super-integrated for the rest of us: Marantz's PM7000N | Darko.Audio
Proof that an abundance of features doesn't have to cost the earth.
darko.audio
Sounds similar to the Denon range (not surprising really). Heos is the issue for me, I'd have to continue to use my Connect streamer to stream via Roon, and/or change sub from qobuz to Tidal.
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Arses! Hadn't realised what a sizeable beast this was! Measurements for height and width were fine for my audio cupboard BUT it's so deep that the phono plugs and cables are hard against the rear and I can't close the cabinet door. Damn. Is there such a thing as a Right Angle Phono Adapter that's any good? Seen some online from Pence to £££'s. What's the verdict on these?
Gray
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If they solve your problem why not?
It does mean one extra connection though.
I fitted right-angled plugs instead of the ones on my cables for space saving - but that may not be an option for you
Al ears
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never had the need to use them myself but it looks like you can get so well made items for around £6.
I wouldn't normally advocate adding additional items into a line but, in your case, convenience matters.
Gray
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...of course, you can buy cables with right- angled plugs fitted 👍
(Because, when space is really tight even those adaptors take up extra space of their own).
(Because, when space is really tight even those adaptors take up extra space of their own).
Al ears
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You can also use spades on your speaker cables as a way of helping if they protrude too far using banana plugs.
Gray
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You can.
(But if speakers are that close to a wall, you might have other problems 🙂)
Al ears
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I was referring to the back of the amplifier.......
This is where his issues lie, it would seem.
I had the same issue with the depth of my amp. I knew it was going to be a problem so I cut the back out of the unit, but even so I had to get spades on the amp end for speaker connection as the terminals are huge and I hadn't allowed for that
Gray
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Of course it is 👍I was referring to the back of the amplifier.......
This is where his issues lie, it would seem.
Nothing to do with the speaker end - don't know what I was thinking 🤪
Phew! After a bit of wriggling and moving it a shelf down where the grill of the door is recessed on the inside I can get it to fit with about 5mm to spare!
The main issue was the banana plugs as the speaker terminals on the back are big fat jobbies with a screwdown option. I saw they had a hole for bare flex to go through so just clamped the banana plugs in there so they are at right angles to the back now. Also the mains kettle lead was a bit protruding but luckily I've a right angled version. Don't need phono plug adapters now. I would have eventually bought new interconnects with RA ends but the phono lead from the Linn would have been an issue and expensive to replace. I don't even know if they do one.
All up and running and sounding great! Even with current Tannoy M2s. I'll keep it this way until I can get some speakers to demo at home.
Anyway it'll have to come out again when I run the network cable as its just on wifi at the moment. But that is another job along with running the speaker and network cables under the floor (and while I'm down there I need to replace a water pipe to an outside tap etc etc).
The HEOS app is a bit of a mare especially when you have special characters in the password. There was one I couldn't access on the Marantz amp so had to change it to something more accessible then it was OK.
A nice cuppa and some more music becons.
The main issue was the banana plugs as the speaker terminals on the back are big fat jobbies with a screwdown option. I saw they had a hole for bare flex to go through so just clamped the banana plugs in there so they are at right angles to the back now. Also the mains kettle lead was a bit protruding but luckily I've a right angled version. Don't need phono plug adapters now. I would have eventually bought new interconnects with RA ends but the phono lead from the Linn would have been an issue and expensive to replace. I don't even know if they do one.
All up and running and sounding great! Even with current Tannoy M2s. I'll keep it this way until I can get some speakers to demo at home.
Anyway it'll have to come out again when I run the network cable as its just on wifi at the moment. But that is another job along with running the speaker and network cables under the floor (and while I'm down there I need to replace a water pipe to an outside tap etc etc).
The HEOS app is a bit of a mare especially when you have special characters in the password. There was one I couldn't access on the Marantz amp so had to change it to something more accessible then it was OK.
A nice cuppa and some more music becons.
Al ears
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Al ears
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suggest you replace speaker banana plugs with spades at the amp end.
Al ears
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Any..... A spade is a spade, as long as it is the right width. A simple connection but best bought already terminated to a cable by someone who knows how....
Gray
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