Speakers to go with Cambridge Audio set

[admin_exported]

Hello!

A while ago I asked for help to set up a proper system for around 5 grand, but my budget ended up not being quite as high as that... anyways, I've bought everything from Cambridge Audio, DacMagic, Azur 340A SE and the Azur 540C SE, all through Cambridge Audio cables.

Now the question: I had decided to go with Dali Concept 2 speakers as I was very happy with them when I listened to them, but now I wonder if there are better options for the money or maybe a bit more. They cost 250 pounds, and I was looking at some other speakers at around the same price. The ones I can probably get hold of are the Dali Lektor 2, Lektor 3 (which is the better range, Concept or Lektor?) KEF IQ30, Monitor Audio RS1, and Mordaunt Short Mezzo 2. Do you think I should stick with the Concept 2? I wouldn't really mind spending an extra 100 pounds on a better set of speakers, so what do you recommend?

Just some notes... they need to be bookshelf speakers, and, to give you an idea of what I prefer from speakers, I value a powerful sound (with a good and balanced amount of bass, mids and treble) and a wide soundstage with a lot of instrument separation more than actual detail (I auditioned a pair of Usher S520 and wasn't happy with the sound... it had a lot of detail but the sound wasn't powerful at all, I felt it needed much more bass and some more mids).

Thank you!!

Leonardo 

 

[matthewpiano]

I can't understand why you've bought a 540C when you've also purchased a DacMagic. Surely you would have done better by buying the 340C CD player and the 540A amp???? The 340C is a perfectly good transport and, routed through the Dac Magic will easily outperform the stock 540C. My 340C through the V-DAC sounds a million dollars.

I'd be looking at Mordaunt-Short MS902i with the Cambridge kit.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, you have a point!

The thing is that the transport is not for my system, it's for my dad, and he listen to a lot of CDs as well as DVD's, Blue-rays and TV, so the DacMagic became necessary. I didn't think that the DacMagic would make the 340C better than the 540C, though... the only thing is that, where I bought it, the 540A was significantly more expensive than the 340A SE, more than the difference between the 340C and 540C (30 pounds versus 100 pounds). But well, maybe it would have been better to have saved a lot more and get the 340C.ÿ

For me, I will use an old Pioneer unit to play CDs (as I will mainly use music from the computer), so I didn't get a CD player. We will both get the same pair of speakers though.

Apart from that problem, do you think the system will sound good? I am very happy with how it sounds through earphones, but am yet to hear it with proper speakers.ÿ

I will take a look at those Mordaunt-Shorts then, thank you very much for the reply!ÿ

 

[matthewpiano]

I'm sure the system will still sound very good, I just think it could have been even better.

I think you''ll get excellent performance with the Mordaunt-Shorts. They are superb speakers. If you find them too bright it would also be worth looking at the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1s which are excellent, but I've always found the synergy between Cambridge Audio and Mordaunt-Short to be superb (not surprising considering they share a lot of their designers).

 

[Anonymous]

I see! Thank you for the suggestion, I will try to listen to them as soon as tomorrow!