Peoples Latest listening experiences (Equipment you were impressed with)

[stephennic]

Hi,

Dropped into the 3 hifi shops. The first one they had the latest leema amp, rega saturn cd player, floorstanding pmb speakers and expensive chord interconnects and chord speaker cables. Had a listen very smooth almost anologue sound and natural yet dynamic, not the deepest or widest soundstaging but some of the best sound Ive heard for awhile (very musical) probably at least $20000 AUS worth.

Another shop had the expensive QUADs 2805 I think all nordost cables with all valve gear, massive soundstaging with real depth probably around $30000, it didnt seem quite as musical as the rega saturn gear, hard walls all around I think made the mids a little bright- but still impressive.

The last shop I had a listen to martin logan speakers, creek destiny cd player and naim amp all nordost cables. Quite nice not as good as the first two- little analytical sounding, lacked a little depth. They then they put naim amp and cd player on and the sound was too forward and lost depth, fatigued after 5 minutes prefer the creek destiny cd player.

System matching seems so important, I think also some of the nordost cables may be very revealing and a touch on the analytical side, the type of rooms seem to affect the sound too.

Im wondering why what hifi haven't reviewed the rega saturn yet or have they?

Very enjoyable day listening to the latest hifi.

Cheers

Steve.

 

[chebby]

I have rarely been impressed listening to anything at a hifi shop demo. I doubt I ever will be.

Even stuff I enjoy at home sounded all wrong in the shop.

I doubt I will ever arrange another demo unless it's in my own home.

 

[MattSPL]

Haven't been to a hifi shop in a while but the last time i was there i heard a pair of B&W N801's being driven by a Mark Levinson 383 intergrated amp. Sounded stunning.

 

[Anonymous]

Being near a dealer these days would be a fine thing. I listened to a friend's pair of AVI ADM9.1s last year and loved those. Very clean, detailed sound in a nice compact solution.

Two years ago I auditioned the Primare I30 with matching CDP on a few speakers. First up were the PMC GB1i. Lovely, airy, detailed and punchy sound, quite polite and polished but a sound I would enjoy living with. Then we swapped in the FB1i which I fell in love with. Tonnes more punch and scale but otherwise similar to the GB1i. They were a lot of fun and worked very well with the I30. Then we swapped in the MA GS60s which I found to be very airy and almost tinkly. Excellent speakers but their top-lit balance didn't do it for me. Finally we swapped in the B&W 685s. These faired very well given their price and they seemed to really benefit from the I30 with exceptionally deep and powerful bass for their size. I felt that the tweeter was their biggest let down after the PMCs, and the bass was a little wayward.

Also heard the Musical KW 550 with matching DAC/transport paired with MA PL300s. The cabling was near top-end Nordost stuff. I found it all a bit too detailed and almost clinical for me. The bass was like a pneumatic drill and the room needed to be five times the size to not feel assaulted. I can see the attraction but not for me!

 

[drummerman]

chebby:

I have rarely been impressed listening to anything at a hifi shop demo. I doubt I ever will be.

Even stuff I enjoy at home sounded all wrong in the shop.

I doubt I will ever arrange another demo unless it's in my own home.

My last audition was the other way round. Sounded fantastic in a dem room but did'nt suit my place. Still think the Naim is a very good system though. Agree with your last point though chebby, a home try is a must.

 

[chebby]

drummerman:My last audition was the other way round. Sounded fantastic in a dem room but did'nt suit my place. Still think the Naim is a very good system though. Agree with your last point though chebby, a home try is a must.

Maybe it is my local dealer's dem rooms. They are comfortable and soundproof and quite smart etc. but, nothing I liked at home ever sounded as good in the shop first. (Naim, Arcam Solo-Mini, old Rega speakers etc.)

So last April (when I bought Naim amp and CD) I didn't even bother trying it in the shop and arranged for a loan/demo.

Writing this has just just reminded me again how much I didn't get on with the Spendor S3/5Rs a couple of months ago in a shop demo using the same type of Naim gear I use at home. Hmmmm....

Maybe they need a second chance.

 

[stephennic]

Hi,

Yes the listening room makes a fair bit of difference. I use to live in a house with carpet, heavy curtains etc. My system use to sound fairly warm and relaxing now in a unit with hard floors, solid walls it sounds much brighter and fatiguing after awhile.

I had to put curtains in the room and 3 m of mat (carpet) between the speakers and the listening seat - much better now.

Cheers

Steve.

 

[Sliced Bread]

drummerman:chebby:

I have rarely been impressed listening to anything at a hifi shop demo. I doubt I ever will be.

Even stuff I enjoy at home sounded all wrong in the shop.

I doubt I will ever arrange another demo unless it's in my own home.

My last audition was the other way round. Sounded fantastic in a dem room but did'nt suit my place. Still think the Naim is a very good system though. Agree with your last point though chebby, a home try is a must.

My experiences match drummerman's. I've always found equipment to sound better in demo's. Maybe Chebby, your listening room is just very good

 

[Anonymous]

I am in the market for a new amplifier and speakers and like many others spent loads of time surfing forums and reviews. Finally went for a demonstartion of Naim amplifiers and Neat speakers and really wanted to like the set up but for me the sound was far too bright.

Bit more surfing and the set up that sounded (based on reviews) good was an LFD amplifier and Harbeth Super HL5 speakers. The only dealer near to me here in Rotterdam was in Belgium so needed a three hour train trip but I had almost convinced myself in advance that this was the set up for me. I can not believe how disappointed I was, maybe great for clasical or small jazz combos but far too relaxed for anything with a bit of life in it. The dealer then swopped the Harbeths for Esoteric MG-20 speakers and man what a revelation, I recently heard a top of the range Linn set up with top of the range Wilson Benech speakers (over fifty grands worth) and altough it sounded good the LFD + Esoteric set up sounded so much better for 12% of the cost!!

The valuable lesson learnt was to judge by my ears and not the reviews.