Upgrade advice

[CarlDW]

Hi,

I am looking at upgrading from my current Yamaha MCR140 all in one system. I don't have a huge budget so want to make sure I would actually be getting a worthwhile upgrade.

I am considering either the Marantz MCR611 with suitable speakers such as Q Acoustics 3020 or Dali Zensor 1, or alternatively a traditional separates system such as the Onkyo CD7030, A9010 and similar speakers to the Marantz combination.

I know I need to listen to them for myself, but would this be a worthwhile upgrade or do I need to wait and raise more funds? Would separates sound better than the Marantz?

I listen to mainly heavy rock, metal and indie and CDs are my usual weapon if choice although I may invest in a new laptop in the future and store my music on there.

Any comments welcome.

 

[CarlDW]

With Black Friday coming up it might be a great time to grab a good deal... Does anyone have any thoughts on a potential upgrade?

 

[matthewpiano]

My Dad has the Onkyo C7030, A9010(UK) and Q Acoustics 2010i speakers, and is very pleased with it. This is after a lifetime of owning and being interested in hi-fi, so I'm sure you'll find it a suitable upgrade in sound quality.

 

[CarlDW]

Slight change of plan... I have bought a new laptop during the Black Friday 'bonanza' and so the aim now is to get an amplifier and speakers, using the laptop as my main source (I have already begun the arduous procedure of ripping my CD collection).

I think I have settled pretty much on a NAD D3020 amplifier as it is compact, has enough inputs for what I need and has Bluetooth built in. It appears well reviewed in magazines and by owners.

Speaker wise, I need something fairly compact but with a 'punchy' sound... aside from the usual Q Acoustic 3020's, Wharfedale Diamond 220's etc, is there anything else I should be looking at? I was thinking of the Dali Zensor 1's (my budget will be around that price point).

Thanks.

 

[rainsoothe]

Hi. Imo money will be better spent getting studio monitors. I'd look at Adam A5X and a Behringer uca 202 audio interface as dac. Maybe, if you want something fancy, musical fidelity dac/preamp or maverick audio tube magic D1 with upgrades

 

[davedotco]

Hi. Imo money will be better spent getting studio monitors. I'd look at Adam A5X and a Behringer uca 202 audio interface as dac. Maybe, if you want something fancy, musical fidelity dac/preamp or maverick audio tube magic D1 with upgrades

If performance is the object, then the active monitor route would be superior, but it would be less flexible and lack the usual bling factor and hi-fi branding.

As usual it depends on what the user really wants, the D3020 is a very tidy little amplifier, but expensive for what it is, even combined with the best possible £200 speakers it would be 'blown into the weeds' by rainsoothe's suggestion above.

A compromise setup, high performance active speakers combined with pretty much all the facilities you need can be had in the Yamaha NX-N500 though just over budget at £599.

 

[CarlDW]

The Yamahas are a very interesting proposition. I haven't seen those. Would they be of equivalent sound to say, Yamaha HS7s with a USB dac? Or other similar priced active monitors such are KRKs?

 

[CarlDW]

After doing some more research, it looks like performance and price wise active monitors might just be the way to go.

So, the short list is Yamaha HS7, KRK RP3 RoKit G3 and possibly Presonus Eris 5 (all based upon reviews and reputation). I'm not sure if I will be able to demo any of these, so I may be buying blind - any thought welcomed.

One last issue - I would prefer to control the volume seperately from the computer - I assume I would need a USB DAC in order to do this - any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[record_spot]

See if you can find a pair of AE22 actives. Sublime speakers that offer ample insight into a recording without becoming forensic in the slightest. AE were selling off pairs for £449 delivered, half price is other words. Bargain by any other name. Got mine in August this year and they've been on just about all the time since.

 

[davedotco]

After doing some more research, it looks like performance and price wise active monitors might just be the way to go.

So, the short list is Yamaha HS7, KRK RP3 RoKit G3 and possibly Presonus Eris 5 (all based upon reviews and reputation). I'm not sure if I will be able to demo any of these, so I may be buying blind - any thought welcomed.

One last issue - I would prefer to control the volume seperately from the computer - I assume I would need a USB DAC in order to do this - any suggestions?

Thanks.

You need to have a think about what you want your system to do, what sources you want to use, whether you want remore volume etc.

Ideally a decent, remote control dac/pre-amp is what we all want, but it barely exists at anything like sensible prices, mainstream munufacturers expect you to pay £500 or more.

This is quite absurd when you consider an A/V receiver with full network connection, Airplay and or Bluetooth, plenty of digital and analog inputs, dsp room correction etc, etc can be had for less than £250.

 

[CarlDW]

Thanks, food for thought... I would like to access music stored on my laptop, but Bluetooth and digital radio would be a nice bonus.

Would a cheap AVR with preouts, connected to active monitors as outlined previously, be a good solution?

 

[CarlDW]

Would the Audioengine D1 do what I require - accept the signal from my laptop, and control the volume level into active monitors? Also doubles as a decent headphone amplifier, a nice bonus.