cuzman
07-15-2006, 04:04 AM
I'm in the market for a separates system with a budget of approx £1000. That seems to be pocket money to many of you here, but it will be the most I've spent on a system to date. What I will need is:
1) Integrated amplifier
2) DAB/FM tuner (extra bands welcome)
3) CD player
4) Pair of floor-standing speakers
I'm extremely anal when it comes to appearance, so I want the separates to be the same colour/finish, style and manufacturer. They need to be available in silver/titanium, as all-black won't go with the room. The speakers will need to be beech, maple or cherry to fit in with the furniture. The room this will go in is approx 28 x 12 feet.
I originally shortlisted the following combinations which can be had for £600 to £750, sparing the rest for interconnects and speakers in the league of the Acoustic Energy Aegis Evo 3: http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo-1.cfm/Product_ID/1278
The proposed combinations were:
Cambridge Audio Azur 640A V2 Integrated Amplifier
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=105&Title=Azur+640A+%28Version+2%29
Cambridge Audio Azur 640T V2 DAB/FM tuner
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=135&Title=Azur+640T+V2
Cambridge Audio Azur 640C V2 CD Player
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=99&Title=Azur+640C+%28Version+2%29
Denon PMA-700AE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_main.php?main=prod&ver=&MID=3&sub=2&action=detail&Pid=286
Denon TU-1800DAB DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_main.php?main=prod&ver=&MID=3&sub=2&action=detail&Pid=230
Denon DCD-700AE CD Player
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_main.php?main=prod&ver=&MID=3&sub=2&action=detail&Pid=287
Harman/Kardon HK 970 Integrated Amplifier
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?cat=AMP&prod=HK%20970/230&sType=C
Harman/Kardon TU 970 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?cat=TUN&prod=TU970/230&sType=C
Harman/Kardon HD 970 CD Player
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?cat=CDP&prod=HD%20970/230&sType=C
Marantz PM4001OSE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.Product&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3520&series=comp&type=ose
Marantz ST7001 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.Product&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3525&series=comp&type=tun
Marantz CD5001OSE CD Player
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.Product&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3524&series=comp&type=ose
NAD C325BEE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.nadelectronics.com/hifi_amplifiers/C325BEE_framset.htm
NAD C445 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.nadelectronics.com/tuners/C445_framset.htm
NAD C521BEE CD Player
However, after putting this conundrum up in another forum, most people responded in saying that I would be better off spending a small amount of money on the separates (<£400) and the balance on a much better set of speakers.
One person even suggested the Acoustis Solutions setup for £230 from Argos.
Acoustic Solutions SP101 Integrated Amplifier
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5129199.htm
Acoustic Solutions SP111 DAB/FM Tuner
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5127249.htm
Acoustic Solutions SP122 CD Player
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5131314.htm
Anyone have any thoughts on my conundrum? I get the feeling that the Acoustic Solutions SP101 amp just won't do a more expensive pair of floorstanders like the B&W DM603 any justice. http://www.hifix.co.uk/shop.lasso?shop=B-W
If I spend up to £600 on a pair of floorstanders, then maybe £360 on the Cambridge Audio Classic series might seem a more viable option:
Cambridge Audio Classic A5 Integrated Amplifier (£120) http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-A5-SIL
Cambridge Audio Classic D100 CD Player (£120) http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-D100-SIL
Cambridge Audio Classic DAB300 Tuner (£120)
http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-DAB300-S
As an outside thought I was considering replacing the CD player in my proposed setup for a hard disk player. There are a few problems with the ones I know of:
Acoustic Solutions SP150 (£200). http://www.acousticsolutions.net/product.asp?ID=208 Lacks connectivity, appears a little cheap, small hard disk means compression, and would mean buying the rest of an Acoustic Solutions setup. http://www.acousticsolutions.net/catlist.asp?Cat=Separates
Cambridge Audio Azur 640H (£600). http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=39&Title=Azur+640H Expensive, amounting to £1300 with the 640A V2 and the 640T V2.
Yamaha CDR-HD1500 (£500). http://www.yamaha-uk.com/hifi_components/?product_id=111 Great piece of kit, but Yamaha seem to be distinctly lacking in other silver/titanium audio separates. One of these might go well with a Yamaha A/V Receiver with DAB/FM, but I would expect the stereo amplifying quality to be worse than with standalone stereo separates. http://www.yamaha-uk.com/av_amps_receivers/?product_id=128
Are there any more available hard disk options?
Any help on the above would be gratefully received.
TIA.
1) Integrated amplifier
2) DAB/FM tuner (extra bands welcome)
3) CD player
4) Pair of floor-standing speakers
I'm extremely anal when it comes to appearance, so I want the separates to be the same colour/finish, style and manufacturer. They need to be available in silver/titanium, as all-black won't go with the room. The speakers will need to be beech, maple or cherry to fit in with the furniture. The room this will go in is approx 28 x 12 feet.
I originally shortlisted the following combinations which can be had for £600 to £750, sparing the rest for interconnects and speakers in the league of the Acoustic Energy Aegis Evo 3: http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo-1.cfm/Product_ID/1278
The proposed combinations were:
Cambridge Audio Azur 640A V2 Integrated Amplifier
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=105&Title=Azur+640A+%28Version+2%29
Cambridge Audio Azur 640T V2 DAB/FM tuner
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=135&Title=Azur+640T+V2
Cambridge Audio Azur 640C V2 CD Player
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=99&Title=Azur+640C+%28Version+2%29
Denon PMA-700AE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_main.php?main=prod&ver=&MID=3&sub=2&action=detail&Pid=286
Denon TU-1800DAB DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_main.php?main=prod&ver=&MID=3&sub=2&action=detail&Pid=230
Denon DCD-700AE CD Player
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_main.php?main=prod&ver=&MID=3&sub=2&action=detail&Pid=287
Harman/Kardon HK 970 Integrated Amplifier
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?cat=AMP&prod=HK%20970/230&sType=C
Harman/Kardon TU 970 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?cat=TUN&prod=TU970/230&sType=C
Harman/Kardon HD 970 CD Player
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?cat=CDP&prod=HD%20970/230&sType=C
Marantz PM4001OSE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.Product&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3520&series=comp&type=ose
Marantz ST7001 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.Product&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3525&series=comp&type=tun
Marantz CD5001OSE CD Player
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.Product&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3524&series=comp&type=ose
NAD C325BEE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.nadelectronics.com/hifi_amplifiers/C325BEE_framset.htm
NAD C445 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.nadelectronics.com/tuners/C445_framset.htm
NAD C521BEE CD Player
However, after putting this conundrum up in another forum, most people responded in saying that I would be better off spending a small amount of money on the separates (<£400) and the balance on a much better set of speakers.
One person even suggested the Acoustis Solutions setup for £230 from Argos.
Acoustic Solutions SP101 Integrated Amplifier
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5129199.htm
Acoustic Solutions SP111 DAB/FM Tuner
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5127249.htm
Acoustic Solutions SP122 CD Player
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5131314.htm
Anyone have any thoughts on my conundrum? I get the feeling that the Acoustic Solutions SP101 amp just won't do a more expensive pair of floorstanders like the B&W DM603 any justice. http://www.hifix.co.uk/shop.lasso?shop=B-W
If I spend up to £600 on a pair of floorstanders, then maybe £360 on the Cambridge Audio Classic series might seem a more viable option:
Cambridge Audio Classic A5 Integrated Amplifier (£120) http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-A5-SIL
Cambridge Audio Classic D100 CD Player (£120) http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-D100-SIL
Cambridge Audio Classic DAB300 Tuner (£120)
http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-DAB300-S
As an outside thought I was considering replacing the CD player in my proposed setup for a hard disk player. There are a few problems with the ones I know of:
Acoustic Solutions SP150 (£200). http://www.acousticsolutions.net/product.asp?ID=208 Lacks connectivity, appears a little cheap, small hard disk means compression, and would mean buying the rest of an Acoustic Solutions setup. http://www.acousticsolutions.net/catlist.asp?Cat=Separates
Cambridge Audio Azur 640H (£600). http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=39&Title=Azur+640H Expensive, amounting to £1300 with the 640A V2 and the 640T V2.
Yamaha CDR-HD1500 (£500). http://www.yamaha-uk.com/hifi_components/?product_id=111 Great piece of kit, but Yamaha seem to be distinctly lacking in other silver/titanium audio separates. One of these might go well with a Yamaha A/V Receiver with DAB/FM, but I would expect the stereo amplifying quality to be worse than with standalone stereo separates. http://www.yamaha-uk.com/av_amps_receivers/?product_id=128
Are there any more available hard disk options?
Any help on the above would be gratefully received.
TIA.