Colsoulpower said:
Thanks for the replies, really appreciate it a lot.
@hifilover: can I ask you why you stuck with the bx5's and sold the rx2? And would you agree that the rx2's are more fatiguing than the dynaudio's?
And also, as i mentioned earlier, my library only contains 320 kbps, I read some raving reviews about speakers and than ended with: they can be too revealing and if your quality of the source isn't that good, they will enlarge this (eg eb acoustics eb2). So maybe that leaves out a few? or can 320 be fixed with a decent dac to sound as good as a decent cd player or flac-files?
And is it maybe best for the long term to choose a very neutral amp like rotel or better marantz, which read from reviews do tend to sound warmer. Or yamaha as-500? very exciting review on whathifi, but on the fora, not that many fans...
Re the above bolded comment:
I sold my M/A RX2's as I had sold off my NAD pre/power combo and NAD integrated hifi set-up as I was looking to reduce to an all in one system (i.e. the Marantz CR603). The speakers were also sold as the wife doesnt like speaker stands.
In NO way did I EVER find the M/A RX2's fatiguing; they're superb speakers as long as theyre matched with the correct amp and source (i.e. as what I said above in my 1st comment - Arcam, Rotel, NAD etc...)
I demo'd the B&W CM5's with the Marantz CR603 as I had them with my NAD pre/power set-up) as well as the Dynaudio 2/6's and 2/7's as well as the B&W 685's and M?A RX1's and the RX2's, for me, stood heads above the rest.
I listen to a lot of music such as Fischerspooner, Layo & Bushwacka, Hed Kandi, Mount Kimbie, Zero 7, Unkle etc... The RX2's control over the soundstage along with their superb, deep, and very taut bass as well as crisp/clear treble (but with no harshness) was superb
The RX2's do need room to breathe though; they're rear firing so they need at least a foot of space around them and a biggish room as well; they were very capable of getting our house shaking indeed but also a superb speaker to sit back and enjoy with the likes of the Late Night Tales music series or some Dean Martin / Nat King Cole etc...
With regards to your music and amp selection; have you ever considered the all-in-one system such as the Marantz CR603 or Arcam Solo Mini etc...?
If you are after an amp and DAC then the likes of a NAD C356BEE, Rotel RA04SE, or the Yamaha AS500 amp will work superbly as long as you choose the right speaker and cables etc... As for a DAC; you're spoilt so the worlds your oyster currently.
You REALLY need to demo as much as possible though so you are able to understand what works better with each component etc...
Currently, my money would be on a decent 2nd hand amp (more bang for your buck) such as an Arcam FMJ A32, Musical Fidelty XA200, NAD C352 (PD version) or C355BEE, Arcam Alpha 10 etc...