Question for Cno and other electro fans

[plastic penguin]

Okay, the Electro retails around the 2k mark. In your opinion, is the uplift in SQ worth £600-£700?

I suppose that depends on how much value you place on the difference it brings......for me it's worth it, from what I remember of the Pulse......but for you, I wouldn't like to give an answer, other than to say it's worth the effort to arrange a dem.

I have seen the ECI-3 second hand for about £850 and ex-dem for £1300.

Fair enough - but I think you like a more "with it" sound, where I like a sound that sets my pants alight, allied to some realism.

Sorry for playing devil's advocate, but dealers of Electro is thin on the ground. That's why I get the grumps occasionally, not so much about the product but trying to locate a decent dealer that doesn't take up half a day to travel there and back. 🙂

 

[CnoEvil]

Fair enough - but I think you like a more "with it" sound, where I like a sound that sets my pants alight, allied to some realism.

I know......hence my degree of reticence.

I think with the Naim on one end, and MA on the other......your pants should still explode! :O

 

[stevebrock]

TBF, I really want to hear the Leema with top-notch speakers first and take from there.

I thought your MA boom boxes were here to stay 🙂

 

[plastic penguin]

TBF, I really want to hear the Leema with top-notch speakers first and take from there.

I thought your MA boom boxes were here to stay 🙂

They are what they are... very good sub-£1000 floorstanders. They can, however, be beaten but it'll boil down to how much it'll take and whether I can slot them into the living room/system.

 

[stevebrock]

i reckon we should have a sound off! 🙂

 

[plastic penguin]

i reckon we should have a sound off! 🙂

Sounds good to me. 😛oke:

I've had RS6s since 2007. If they are crud why would I keep them this long? Like you with Rega they just suit my sonic pallet.

 

[stevebrock]

i reckon we should have a sound off! 🙂

Sounds good to me. 😛oke:

I've had RS6s since 2007. If they are crud why would I keep them this long? Like you with Rega they just suit my sonic pallet.

all in jest PP

 

[plastic penguin]

i reckon we should have a sound off! 🙂

Sounds good to me. 😛oke:

I've had RS6s since 2007. If they are crud why would I keep them this long? Like you with Rega they just suit my sonic pallet.

all in jest PP

Wise move. hate to see a grown man cry. :twisted:

A much better square-up is to see how far short the Leema is compared to the Elicit-R.

 

[Singslinger]

I've not heard the Leema but my experience listening to Electro amps is that they have a warm, lush and full-bodied sound.

Not completely neutral but very enjoyable.

PS I also think they look great and are built to a high standard.

 

[plastic penguin]

When the time comes to wave bye bye to the Leema, the Electro (Classic range) will be at the top of my list.

 

[gregvet]

I understand why you are keen to avoid second hand PP, but I have to say if it was me I would go for the second hand ECI-5 Mk I at Mackenzie hifi. For that price, I think you would see a much bigger jump in performance.

i love the electro amps I have heard, and would be happy with the ECI-3, but the ECI-5 just gives more of everything.

 

[plastic penguin]

I understand why you are keen to avoid second hand PP, but I have to say if it was me I would go for the second hand ECI-5 Mk I at Mackenzie hifi. For that price, I think you would see a much bigger jump in performance.

i love the electro amps I have heard, and would be happy with the ECI-3, but the ECI-5 just gives more of everything.

Don't have a problem with s/hand amps. I am, however, cautious of s/hand CDPs and, to a lesser extent, speakers. The Electro seems to be a good option as and when the time comes. Nevertheless, I'll need to budget for a phono stage. Can't live without my vinyl.

 

[nopiano]

I've not heard the Leema but my experience listening to Electro amps is that they have a warm, lush and full-bodied sound. Not completely neutral but very enjoyable. PS I also think they look great and are built to a high standard.

That is closer to my recollection than others. I would say dark rather than lush, but very appealing.

 

[damonster]

Hi pp ,sorry to hijack your thread ,but most of the people replying to you may be able to help me out. Since i bought my pmc db1is i cant get out of my head how good they sounded with the naim uniti i demoed them with.The uniti is out of my price range .The whole setup together had a lush smooth warm sound.I am considering selling the Pulse and audiolab and going for the unitilite. Or keepng the audiolab as it has got the flexibility of cd player and dac and letting the pulse go and getting a naim nait xs.i know you you have heard the xs and was wondering how it compares to the pulse .also have been reading about electrocompaniet and how good it sounds with pmc but just wonder how they xs and ec i3 would pair with the audiolab.any suggestions on go for unitilite or just swap amp for a warmer sound.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi pp ,sorry to hijack your thread ,but most of the people replying to you may be able to help me out. Since i bought my pmc db1is i cant get out of my head how good they sounded with the naim uniti i demoed them with.The uniti is out of my price range .The whole setup together had a lush smooth warm sound.I am considering selling the Pulse and audiolab and going for the unitilite. Or keepng the audiolab as it has got the flexibility of cd player and dac and letting the pulse go and getting a naim nait xs.i know you you have heard the xs and was wondering how it compares to the pulse .also have been reading about electrocompaniet and how good it sounds with pmc but just wonder how they xs and ec i3 would pair with the audiolab.any suggestions on go for unitilite or just swap amp for a warmer sound.

I've heard the Naim XS with the Pulse once, just prior to buying the Pulse, about 3 and a bit years ago. IMVHO, there's very little difference in overall SQ, although each had their own little quirks. TBH, the major deciding factor was the extra inputs and the turntable phono stage. The last time I heard the XS was with unfamiliar speakers (Dynaudio Contour S1.4) and sounded stunning in isolation.

If you're looking to richen up the overall presentation then change the Audiolab. Try and listen to Arcam CD37 to see if that gives you a more natural feel to proceedings. Yes, all reviews point to the Electro EC1-3 being lusher than the Pulse, but beyond that I can't comment as I've not heard any Electro stuff.

I like Naim with PMC, but haven't heard any of the Unitis.

Leema and Arcam is a great match IMO. Whether that combo works for you is another thing. So many different permutations.

For my taste Leema/Audiolab is a no no. But that is purely my taste...

 

[damonster]

Cheers pp,i think i would rather sacrifice a cd player than a dac .Does arcam have a similar warm sound like naim?Wondering if irdac would be worth an audition with pulse and pmcs.

 

[plastic penguin]

Cheers pp,i think i would rather sacrifice a cd player than a dac .Does arcam have a similar warm sound like naim?Wondering if irdac would be worth an audition with pulse and pmcs.

IMO Arcam and Naim are fairly neutral, but what they do offer over the Audiolab - which on a very brief dem with the Leema sounded cold - is a nice solidity or thickness without it sounding warm and soupy.

 

[plastic penguin]

Wondering if irdac would be worth an audition with pulse and pmcs.

Certainly worth a listen but i do think that the Pulse or other price compatible amp will deserve something better. By contrast to my previous post I found the Rega Dac, Arcam CDP used as transport, to be quite warm. Mrs. P loved the sound but i couldn't live with it over long periods. To me the Rega sounded warm and wooly especially when the volume was cranked up, but that could be down to room acoustics. After that I heard the Naim CD5i-2 and it had (IMO) all the lovely sonic traits of the Rega without the wooliness, and with added attack and cohesion. The soundstage was just so much bigger - not hugely significant but very noticable.

Hope that helps.

 

[damonster]

Thanks pp for the replies,look like i have got somewhere to start can look at changing the transport instead of the amp,will see what is about to demo over the Xmas period .Ideally would like a cd player and dac in one that's why unitilite sprung to mind.

can now throw arcam into the mix and longterm could go seperate cd player and dac.cheers!

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks pp for the replies,look like i have got somewhere to start can look at changing the transport instead of the amp,will see what is about to demo over the Xmas period .Ideally would like a cd player and dac in one that's why unitilite sprung to mind.

can now throw arcam into the mix and longterm could go seperate cd player and dac.cheers!

Well no, I'm not saying don't change the amp. There are many options around that price point: Naim XS, Roksan Capian, Audio Analogue, and probably the one I'd look at in your situation: Arcam A38. However, from the amps I've heard over the years you won't necessarily get better than the Pulse, just something a little different.

 

[damonster]

🙂 Its ok i haven't got my audiolab up for sale yet ,but can look at source first if it doesn't work out can then look at amp.One thing i have learnt from demoing is what a massive difference system matching can make.Also how good things can sound when you get it right.I now know the sound i am after its just a matter of how much it costs to get there.

 

[plastic penguin]

🙂 Its ok i haven't got my audiolab up for sale yet ,but can look at source first if it doesn't work out can then look at amp.One thing i have learnt from demoing is what a massive difference system matching can make.Also how good things can sound when you get it right.I now know the sound i am after its just a matter of how much it costs to get there.

How true. A fine juggling act.

BTW, those PMCs are gems. I've likened them in the past to a hi-fi equivalent to a Swiss Army knife. The Kef LS50 get all the plaudits but I would say the DB1is are more versatile as regards to amp matching. Would love a pair but...

 

[stevebrock]

Wondering if irdac would be worth an audition with pulse and pmcs.

Certainly worth a listen but i do think that the Pulse or other price compatible amp will deserve something better. By contrast to my previous post I found the Rega Dac, Arcam CDP used as transport, to be quite warm. Mrs. P loved the sound but i couldn't live with it over long periods. To me the Rega sounded warm and wooly especially when the volume was cranked up, but that could be down to room acoustics. After that I heard the Naim CD5i-2 and it had (IMO) all the lovely sonic traits of the Rega without the wooliness, and with added attack and cohesion. The soundstage was just so much bigger - not hugely significant but very noticable.

Hope that helps.

Take everything that is said on these forums with a pinch of salt - go listen for yourself, obviously Mrs P likes Rega 🙂

 

[plastic penguin]

Wondering if irdac would be worth an audition with pulse and pmcs.

Certainly worth a listen but i do think that the Pulse or other price compatible amp will deserve something better. By contrast to my previous post I found the Rega Dac, Arcam CDP used as transport, to be quite warm. Mrs. P loved the sound but i couldn't live with it over long periods. To me the Rega sounded warm and wooly especially when the volume was cranked up, but that could be down to room acoustics. After that I heard the Naim CD5i-2 and it had (IMO) all the lovely sonic traits of the Rega without the wooliness, and with added attack and cohesion. The soundstage was just so much bigger - not hugely significant but very noticable.

Hope that helps.

Take everything that is said on these forums with a pinch of salt - go listen for yourself, obviously Mrs P likes Rega 🙂

Yup - a pinch of salt and some cracked pepper. 😛 I can only report what I've heard based on speakers, amp, room acoustics etc etc.