Would this be an upgrade for complex music??

[admin_exported]

Hi everyone,

Im afraid this is basically another one of those comparison threads, yes i do know a lot of it is down to personal opinion but all are welcome.

I have a marantz PM6003 combo with B&W 685s. The system sounds very good with 'simple' music with just a single voice and one or two instruments/beats/layers (however you describe it) John Mayer, Michael Buble for example. Although i have a lot of that type of music in my collection it is probably a 35/65 split with complex rock, Hip hop RnB music. I find although the bass is very good the separation between layers of tracks is not great, for example heavy nickelback/muse tracks. With vocals sometimes losing their presence and separate instruments blurring into one.

My question is would a Rotel pre/power combo improve the shortfalls i have mentioned above? Im aware now(wasnt at time of purchase of marantz equipment) of rotels great synergy with B&W.Im sure the speakers are the best part of the system so definitely want to keep them. If a change to rotel wont correct the above then I shall stick with what i have.

Id be looking along the lines of RA-02/03/04 with RB-03/06 although suggestions of others are very welcome, obviously id consider used.

Importantly I really dont want to lose the voice and instrument clarity given by the marantz on less complex tracks by changing to rotel.

Finally I dont really have the opportunity to listen to equipment alot but i like good voice clarity, strong bass for dance,hip hop, rock and just for instruments to sound as 'in the room' as possible. room is 5mx5m.

Hopefully that helps to give you an idea of my situation.

oh and budget would be whatever i sell the marantz amp/cd for +£100.Although I may keep the cd player.

Thanks

 

[Andrew Everard]

A Rotel integrated, used together with one of the matching power amps to biamplify the B&Ws, should certainly give better clarity and definition, but it could just be that the recordings you think are suffering at the hands of your current amplification are just recorded like that, and have a dense sound with less instrumental separation.

I think you need to do two things:

1. Have a listen to some of the affected recordings on a really good system, which your retailer should be able to demonstrate for you.
2. Then have a listen to the kind of discs you think create problems on the Rotels driving the B&Ws.

My only concern is that, should it be that the recordings are pretty rough, a better system will only make them sound more so.

 

[drummerman]

I think that a/ you have good ears and b/ by adding just a hundred quid to whatever you get from flogging the other stuff is a sidewards move. What you're expecting costs more. Personally I'd do what AE suggested and visit your dealer. Listen to the rotels, Nads etc in that price category but also try a few better amplifiers. I'm sure you hear the difference.

 

[d_a_n1979]

I agree with both comments.

I listen to a lot of similar music (apart from RnB). Music I like ranges from Fischerspooner to Vampire Weekend to Delphic etc...

The B&W speakers are superb and so is the Marantz combo BUT, for me, not together!

The B&W speakers deserve much better, throatier amplification and I just dont think the Marantz gear has it. I've demo'd the CDP and amp toegther with the 685's as well as Dali and Wharfedale speakers and the 685's didnt sound right at all. Lacked in bass weight as well as detailed midrange.

I agree that adding a decent bi-amp combo would work very well but so would a solid integrated etc...

A solid integrated amp such as the NAD C355BEE or a decent NAD C352 or an Arcam DiVA A85 via eBay would do very well indeed. Both can be bi-amped with their matching power amps at a later date if you so wish.

As you said though it all depends on budget and what you'd get for your Marantz gear.

I think if you were to change for a decent integrated amp, it may be worth looking at the NAD C545BEE CDP as well. This would really suit your musical tastes down to a tee IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

My first system exhibited the traits you are describing. An upgrade to the NAD 352 amp sorted things out. If it hadn't been for a helpful dealer letting me swap components in and out of the setup I don't think I would have known what the problem was. I also found moving from the silver anniversary cable helped a little. I really couldn't get on with that cable.

 

[Anonymous]

Thats a lot of very useful information, thanks everyone.

Would I be right in thinking that with b&w speakers NAD and Rotel gear sounds the same or quite similar, ie better suited to dense, complex music? Is this true of all NAD and Rotel stuff?eg older equipment.

I shall contact the dealer i bought the marantz stuff from and see if they can offer any kind of part exchange deal, i only bought it 3 months ago, not very long ago but long enough (i think) to let the equipment settle and be worn in enough to know the sound wont really change anymore.

So i should be looking higher up the price/model scale? is the rotel ra-1520 overkill for the b&w?

based almost entirely on whathifi reviews it seems rotel cd players arent really up to much, is this the case?would it be with my speakers? baring in mind i listen to CD/arcam irdock 60/40, so cd player quality is important.

Thanks

 

[batonwielder]

For me, Rotel has always been the best match for the B&W speakers. NAD will sound decent and handle complex music pretty well, but Rotel has more ease and detail.

I think the new RA series is a great match for the 685's, also being able to accommodate a significant speaker upgrade later on.

 

[Anonymous]

I find that integrated circuits don't work that well at all with 'dense, complex music'. Much better to go with tube gear.

 

[the record spot]

And with the budget the OP has, that's not going to be happening. Not unless the Marantz kit he sells goes to some mug who's never opened a hifi mag (a blessing in disguise at times I think) and has money to burn!

 

[Anonymous]

Id rather not have to get into fiddling with the electronic components(me or anyone else), but thanks for the suggestion.

Total budget without selling the CDP would be £400, im not sure what this would get me on ebay.In terms of new equipment i don't think it would buy much improvement, but thats all i can afford to spend.£600 if i sold the CDP too.

Any further thoughts?

Thanks