FrankHarveyHiFi:MWC:
I am probably going to going down the Cyrus 8XPd and CDXtSE system route,, as this allows for many flavours of upgrade when the budget permits. I am looking for pointers on speakers based on a budget of £1,000 and no more. Any recommendations? The price would have to include stands if stand mounters but not cable. Is anyone using a similar set-up i.e. integrated amp with on-board DAC and a CD Transport instead of a player?
If you like a fast paced, nicely balanced sound, try the KEF XQ10's. They're front ported, so very few problems with boundary placement. Nice clean midband, tight bass, and, against the beliefs of many, a pretty smooth treble. They tend to perform particularly well with compressed music, bringing out more detail, making you aware of the layers that are actually there, rather than the usual flat wall of sound produced by MP3. The Monitor Audio GS10's are only recommended if you use the rear port bungs, as their bass is pretty heavy for a standmounter, and their treble is a little on the zingy side. Might be a little bright for some. Would be good for lower level listening though. The Proac Studio 110's are another front ported speaker that is pretty neutral, so placement shouldn't be too much of a problem, but won't be as boundary friendly as the KEF's.
ATC's are very good speaker for boundary placement due to being a sealed cabinet, and produce a very well balanced speaker that is probably the better all rounder of this bunch. The only problem is their sensitivity (86dB, same as the SCM19's and SCM40's.). This won't affect those who use their system for easy listening or as background music, but those that like to let loose every now and again will find their lower than average sensitivity will push the amplifier more. Earlier today I'd been running the SCM11's with the 8XPD at around -20dB, and after about 30/40 minutes (can't remember exactly, time flies!), the 8XPD was extremely hot to the touch. I'd have been a little reluctant to run the amp much longer than I did, or any harder. When I use an amp/speaker combination, I want the piece of mind that there's something in reserve ready for when I want to call upon it. With this combination, I didn't. obviously the size of room would affect this, and our dem room is about the same internal volume as the average through lounge/double living room. In an average single living room, this problem will be less apparent.
Personally I'd stay clear of the PMC's, which produce a fair amount of bass for their size - again, better for low level listening, but once you turn them up you're likely to lose any control they have if the bass becomes overpowering. For this reason I'd stay away from Dynaudio, as they're quite bass heavy, and their 4ohm load does make the Cyrus amps work a little too hard at higher volumes.
I apologise to the OP for a less detailed version this time, but I'm not one for being able to remember word for word what I post, as I tend to write a post, shuffle it about, add things, cut things etc etc.
iv got the atc11's and a primare i30 and that gets very hot after about 40/50 minutes with the volume turned to 40 out of 78, is there a chance of me damaging the amp the louder i play it and the hotter it gets?