$1130 system for a musician, please :
As a musician you would be thrilled with the sound of the Jean Marie Reynaud Twin Mk IIIs loudspeakers at around $800 new. Maybe a second hand Arcam Alpha 10 (the preamp section is of lesser quality than the power amp section, but you can use a outboard preamp with the Arcam - something for down the track). Gee, I just described my bedroom system. ;-) Regards, |
A pair of closeout Soliloquy 5.0's from Underwood HiFi here on Audiogon, http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1087265953, and the best used Creek or Rotel integrated you can find for the other $600. |
Know you mentioned "integrated amp"... But why? How about a radically different recommendation? Consider: 1) Used Mackie HR824 powered studio monitors (ebay). Pro-audio gear used in MANY professional studios. The CD you are listening to was probably mixed on these, so you would be hearing it just as the artist intended. Also makes a great audiophile home speaker. These speakers have the amplifiers built into them (actually they are bi-amp'ed). They allow RCA (unbalanced) or XLR (balanced) connections. Excellent highs, mids, and bass... no sub required. Easy to tune to your room via switches on the back panel. Do a google search on 'Mackie HR824 review'. 2) Used Cal Audio CL-15 CDP. This excellent CD player has a preamp built into it. Comes in RCA or XLR versions. Excellent internal DAC as a 'digital-in', allowing you to attach another digital device. This very simple system could fit your budget (used) and would be VERY difficult to beat for the money. Check it out! |
I am also a musician with similar tastes, although I rarely listen to piano. I have made a hobby of auditioning budget gear. I have decided while there is a very real difference between good budget gear and the high priced, it is not enough of a difference for me personally. That being said, I have settled on the following. (Prices are new, you can do much better on Audiogon) Integrated Amp: NAD C320Bee ($399) Speakers: PSB Image 2B ($399) PSB Subzero ($329) I am very pleased with this system and I believe it will do me well for a quite a while. While I was hesitant to add the sub, it was the final step to getting the sound I wanted. It is rarely heard, but it seems to free up the monitors to handle the mid and high's with more detail. You need good stands for the monitors. I tried without and there was quite a difference. I made my own because, for the money, I didn't think what was available was worth it. Hope this helps. |
I personally would buy some floorstanders instead of stand-mounted spks. I have always more pleased w/soft domed tweeters as well, especially if your electronics are not on the warm stand. Not having heard the new NAD C-320 Int. amp, it seems like a fair price for what you're getting. My own personal experience w/int. amps is that the most musical one I've ever owned is the Kora Explore 90Si (w/telefunkens replacing stock JAN/phillips tubes). Another superb older int. amps are 80's Sony "ACT" "Legato" models which for the $ are unbeatable. The bargain in floorstanders are IMO older Snell's. Very musical/easy to drive/and real wood veneers cabinents. If I were to buy a floorstander, I would also consider the Mission Freedom 752. (I'm basing this on what I've heard about them.) Not long ago here there was a set of MINT condition ones for $449! Man was I tempted to buy them! Good luck in your search. |
