Which kind of amp and speakers do you have in your HiFi setup?

[GroeneLeeuw]

Hi-Fi online forums messes with people´s mind.
It´s clear to me now.
😀

But talking about buying refurbished:

About 1 year ago, I bought a refurbished full automatic coffee machine from DeLonghi, directly from them, was close to 50% cheaper than the announced new price (which could also be bought on the same webshop), and I swear to God, I thought I had received a new machine when I unpacked it.
From all the packaging (external & internal), accessories, to the machine itself, it looked brand new!

So yeah, not hi-fi related, but a feel good story about buying refurbished (and online).
Hope it helps.

 

[Holt]

Hi-Fi online forums messes with people´s mind.
It´s clear to me now.
😀

But talking about buying refurbished:

About 1 year ago, I bought a refurbished full automatic coffee machine from DeLonghi, directly from them, was close to 50% cheaper than the announced new price (which could also be bought on the same webshop), and I swear to God, I thought I had received a new machine when I unpacked it.
From all the packaging (external & internal), accessories, to the machine itself, it looked brand new!

So yeah, not hi-fi related, but a feel good story about buying refurbished (and online).
Hope it helps.

Yep, it does. Cheers. 🙂

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hi-Fi online forums messes with people´s mind.
It´s clear to me now.
😀

But talking about buying refurbished:

About 1 year ago, I bought a refurbished full automatic coffee machine from DeLonghi, directly from them, was close to 50% cheaper than the announced new price (which could also be bought on the same webshop), and I swear to God, I thought I had received a new machine when I unpacked it.
From all the packaging (external & internal), accessories, to the machine itself, it looked brand new!

So yeah, not hi-fi related, but a feel good story about buying refurbished (and online).
Hope it helps.

I'm not sure if it applies to all things, but I have been told "refurbished" covers a few different things:

• Online purchases returned under 14-day "cooling-off" period. cleaned an repackaged.
• New but faulty or cosmetically damaged items that are repaired.
• Second hand items that are rebuilt and "refurbished" to like new.

Whatever the reason, they can be a good buy.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Can’t make up my mind at the moment, I think I will accept delivery Monday after having second thoughts.

if its an online purchase (in the UK) you get 14 cooling off period.

 

[Holt]

if its an online purchase (in the UK) you get 14 cooling off period.

I pushed delivery back to Wednesday now because I am busy the next few days. Which amp do you think I would be better of with, the Cambridge Audio or the Arcam 5 Plus? Thanks

 

[Holt]

Arcam 5 plus versus the Cambridge Audio CA81 MK2 amp? What do you think people? Thanks

 

[Shrek]

Arcam 5 plus versus the Cambridge Audio CA81 MK2 amp? What do you think people? Thanks

Google Search

 

[Holt]

Google Search

Thanks Shrek, just been doing that and the Cambridge Audio sounds much better in my view. So it’s a keeper. 👍

I can even hook it up to my TV with my optical cable, and listen to my Blu-rays. 🙂

I have definitely made the right choice buying one of these kind of amps because my Pioneer VSX-LX70 av receiver is well old now and Bluetooth doesn’t sound great on it and nor does the sound anymore. So it was time for an upgrade.

 

[Al ears]

Arcam 5 plus versus the Cambridge Audio CA81 MK2 amp? What do you think people? Thanks

Well WHF says, of the A5, good Bluetooth performance which obviously total rubbish as it either works or it doesn't.....
I would dearly love for someone to explain to me how one amp can be better than another over Bluetooth alone if using the same codec.

 

[Shrek]

Thanks Shrek, just been doing that and the Cambridge Audio sounds much better in my view. So it’s a keeper. 👍

I can even hook it up to my TV with my optical cable, and listen to my Blu-rays. 🙂

I agree Gel 😁👍

 

[Holt]

Apparently it is coming today still, even though I rearranged with the post office for Wed!

Looking forward now to getting it but have to pop out a few times today so may miss delivery in which case I will have to go and collect it.

 

[michael hoy]

Apparently it is coming today still, even though I rearranged with the post office for Wed!

Looking forward now to getting it but have to pop out a few times today so may miss delivery in which case I will have to go and collect it.

You can divert it to me Gel, i'll look after it 😎

 

[Rui]

CDM7 B&W and A-91D Pioneer

 

[Holt]

You can divert it to me Gel, i'll look after it 😎

😀

 

[Fandango Andy]

Thanks Shrek, just been doing that and the Cambridge Audio sounds much better in my view. So it’s a keeper. 👍

I can even hook it up to my TV with my optical cable, and listen to my Blu-rays. 🙂

I have definitely made the right choice buying one of these kind of amps because my Pioneer VSX-LX70 av receiver is well old now and Bluetooth doesn’t sound great on it and nor does the sound anymore. So it was time for an upgrade.

This makes more sense now, I think you made a mistake on the original post, you described you Pioneer as VSA-LX805 which only came out a couple of years ago. I see you have the older model, that wasn't as well regarded for music.

Any one of the amps you have mentioned should be good. I'm sure you will be happy with the Cambridge audio.

A couple of things to consider over time, forget blutooth for music, get a streamer. You don't need to spend a fortune, a WiiM Mini is a big improvement over blutooth. The DAC isn't great so conect digitally to amp.

Unless you are limited for space, you can probably do better than your speakers. The B&W FPM6 are on-wall flat panel monitors designed as much for style and space-saving as sound. They tend to be used mainly in home theater setups.

 

[Jasonovich]

This makes more sense now, I think you made a mistake on the original post, you described you Pioneer as VSA-LX805 which only came out a couple of years ago. I see you have the older model, that wasn't as well regarded for music.

Any one of the amps you have mentioned should be good. I'm sure you will be happy with the Cambridge audio.

A couple of things to consider over time, forget blutooth for music, get a streamer. You don't need to spend a fortune, a WiiM Mini is a big improvement over blutooth. The DAC isn't great so conect digitally to amp.

Unless you are limited for space, you can probably do better than your speakers. The B&W FPM6 are on-wall flat panel monitors designed as much for style and space-saving as sound. They tend to be used mainly in home theater setups.

I agree with you about the streamer and speakers, if Gel can stretch his budget.
I would suggest streamer only, no DAC, Primare NP5. Feed the coax output to Cambridge.
You can grab version 1 second hand on eBay for about £250. Excellent sound quality, I can vouch for that! 😄

In terms of speakers, the Dali Oberon 1 is a good place to start. I believe this model has been superceded by Sonik series, so there's a good chance the dealers like Peter Tyson are applying discounts to clear old stock.

 

[Covenanter]

I bought my current kit in 2014 and reviewed it here. 12 years later I have not changed a thing nor I have felt inclined to do so. It still produces music that sounds wonderful.

It's not esoteric - Marantz PM8005 and SA8005 with Kef R700 speakers - so mainstream but not budget. I've no idea what it would cost to replace this with equivalent quality kit in 2026.

PS I mainly listen to classical music.

 

[Holt]

This makes more sense now, I think you made a mistake on the original post, you described you Pioneer as VSA-LX805 which only came out a couple of years ago. I see you have the older model, that wasn't as well regarded for music.

Any one of the amps you have mentioned should be good. I'm sure you will be happy with the Cambridge audio.

A couple of things to consider over time, forget blutooth for music, get a streamer. You don't need to spend a fortune, a WiiM Mini is a big improvement over blutooth. The DAC isn't great so conect digitally to amp.

Unless you are limited for space, you can probably do better than your speakers. The B&W FPM6 are on-wall flat panel monitors designed as much for style and space-saving as sound. They tend to be used mainly in home theater setups.

I have the Pioneer VSA-LX805 hooked up to the B&W FPM 6 speakers and the Pioneer VSX-LX70 hooked up to the B&W FPM 4 speakers. The Cambridge Audio CA81 MK2 is replacing the Pioneer VSX-LX70 to go with the B&W FPM 4 speakers.

Change speakers, here was me thinking my speakers were the business until I just asked AI and they reckon the B&W 606 S3 bookshelf speakers will sound better! They can’t do can they?

 

[DougK1]

I bought my current kit in 2014 and reviewed it here. 12 years later I have not changed a thing nor I have felt inclined to do so. It still produces music that sounds wonderful.

It's not esoteric - Marantz PM8005 and SA8005 with Kef R700 speakers - so mainstream but not budget. I've no idea what it would cost to replace this with equivalent quality kit in 2026.

PS I mainly listen to classical music.

It would cost a lot more to replace than what you paid for it 12 years ago, of that you can be certain 🙂