Suggested upgrade to budget CA kit?

[admin_exported]

Hi All,

My current setup consists of:

CA 540A V2

CA 540C V2

Quad 11L2

Ipod 30g Video

Apple Dock

The sound is listenable but a bit dry and occaisionaly brittle, but I am wanting to lift it to a slightly better level, where I live kit is hard to demo (if not impossible) and mostly quite expensive (even in terms of UK prices)

Most of the mainstream manufactuers are represented in some form so can certainly get better kit

What would be the first component to upgrade? looking at around the 500UKP mark per component.

Listen to music from all spectrums and wanting a more balanced, slightly warm and articulate sound..

Don't mind a bit of a sideways move if that will help things along...

Thanks!

 

[ear]

you can get better sound changing the speakers.

 

[d_a_n1979]

I agree with the above.

The C/A gear you've got isnt that budget at all and with the right speakers it should do very well.

Standmount speakers such as the B&W 685's, Monitor Audio RX1's and 2's should be worth demoing as should the MS Mezzo range as well.

What is it about your current system that's 'just not doing it for you'?

 

[Anonymous]

It's a little 'shrill' and fatiguing...

Incidently, the difference between the CDP and the Ipod playing lossless via the dock is night and day - I suspect the system is fairly revealing of poor recordings...

 

[d_a_n1979]

That's not always a bad thing!

Have you thought about changing your cabling as well (interconnects and speaker cable)? That can sometimes calm the systems brightness etc...

The likes of Chord Carnival Silverscreen speaker cable and the Chord Crimson interconnect would work well.

Have you demo'd any other speakers at all in comparison to your QUAD's?

 

[Anonymous]

Tried Whardedale diamond 10.1 and Evo2-8 - a little boxy and laid back... Also tried a few different speaker cables & IC's, little to no effect...(Cloth ears! 🙂)

 

[d_a_n1979]

I think really you need to try some better speakers; ones that are closer to your budget limit!

I think the B&W 685's would work very well (more so with Chord cabling)

 

[matthewpiano]

I disagree. I think changing the amp would make the most sense, and I'd suggest the NAD C355BEE as a significant upgrade that will give you the sort of balance you are looking for. You might also wish to audition the Marantz PM7003.

The speakers are good and the Wharfedales you have auditioned would be a downgrade. What the Quads need is an amplifier with high current and a NAD will provide this in spades. They also need to be bi-wired with a good quality copper cable, rather than silver.

Your CD player is very good and you might eventually find that simply adding a CA DACMagic or a Musical Fidelity V-DAC would be sufficient here.

 

[d_a_n1979]

That's an idea MP; I havent heard the amp for a while but have heard the CDP recently and it's very well balanced

I totally agree with the NAD options; you could also consider a 2nd hand Arcam FMJ A32 integrated or possibly a Creek Evo as loved by Gerrardsnails and the likes.

The Arcam DiVA A85 integrated would be a very good option as well and IMO would sit with the QUAD speakers superbly. Have a nosey around eBay and see what you can find.

I think the Rotel RA-04SE or even the RA-06SE amps may be worth demoing as well!

 

[ear]

nad's warmth would work well with the Quads.I agree.

 

[chebby]

How about the next level up? Upgrade to 650A/650C?

The reviews suggest the amp is a tad on the bright side of neutral and that the CDP balances this by being quite smooth.

Then you will have a bit extra (from your £500 per component budget) to invest in speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

I have ordered a set of MA RX 1's so hopefully they will be with me sometime later next week - give them chance to settle in and think of the next upgrade 🙂

 

[d_a_n1979]

Antman:I have ordered a set of MA RX 1's so hopefully they will be with me sometime later next week - give them chance to settle in and think of the next upgrade 🙂

Have you demod the M/A RX1's with your gear?

 

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately not - dealers in this part of the world generally don't hold stock, the distributor is 1000 miles away in Johannesburg, so will have to hope for the best!

 

[ear]

rhe rx1 is the Rx range speaker i find the less explicit on the treble.so it might go well with the CA.certainly better than the rx2 for ther CA