Spec me a sound set up, for this budget

I found the audiolab stuff a little dry when I demo'd it, i went for cyrus III amp in the end. Still really detailed but a little more musical. I know what your mean about the Arcam, I listened to an alpha 8 and 9, didnt really like either. to warm and cuddly for my tastes

heres what I picked up second hand

Cyrus III amp - £180ish I think, cant remember
Marantz cd62mk2 KI sig CD player - £120
B&W CDM1 Speakers - £210


thinking of upgrading the amp by adding a PSXR or even power amp soon. but for the price I got all the gear, it really does sound great.

If you are after new then I would look at the £350 rotel amp, and the £250 cambridge audio cd player.

Speaker wise I would love a set of the Monitor Audio RS6, look just amazing and sound lush too, but they are slightly over budget at £600
 
i demoed a fair bit off stuff today.

Firstly, i'd tell you that the monitor audio rs6 are not that good, especially when next to the b&w cm1 standmounts, which cost about £100 less. the cm1 is more enveloping, has deeper and nicer bass. The detail is similar, but the cm1 still wins out there too.

My main findings today were discovered by having a demo at audio t, as well as sevenoaks where i was yesterday and today. At audio t, they have the rega range. I loved it. I was only on the rega R3 floor standers, which are their cheaper floorstanders at £500, and i was having such a good time. They had so much detail and separation. I seem to find that idioteque by radiohead is a great track to really test a speaker, and it really shone with it. When i was using the rega speakers, i was also using the rega brio amp (cheaper at £330) and then the rega mira amp (£600) both were excellent, but the mira was obviously better, and i don't think i will be able to resist getting it now. I was using a rega apollo cd player as well (£500) I guess they must be very good in general rega, because this wasn't there mroe expensive stuff, and i was really enjoying what i heard. I recommend rega to you people to demo. It is likely what i will end up going for.

Overall, that is seemingly going to cost me speakers (£500), amp (£600), cd player (£500). All new. I wouldn't know how to get this stuff 2nd hand, and to be honest i am the kind of guy who likes to knw his stuff is brand new, so may just have to fork out for this.

I still recommend listening to b&w cm1's coupled with an audiolabs 8000s. It is a pleasure. I just prefer the rega, as i find it more detailed and tighter bass.
 
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devilkazuya said:
I still recommend listening to b&w cm1's coupled with an audiolabs 8000s. It is a pleasure. I just prefer the rega, as i find it more detailed and tighter bass.
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yeah Rega is nice stuff. As for Audiolab & B&W...I would put the blame on the speakers themselves (B&W bass is a little bit uncontrolled and bloaty) Had Rega myself (Planet)
 
heh. Haven't changed stuff that much. The Planet was £475 so of the same range the Apollo, just an earlier version. Sold it because upgraded to Tag DAC20 (wouldn't have bothered but I now use iriver H140 with it as well) Tag DAC only cost £350 :D and I got one for a mate for £235 ! :eek: :D bit pointless having a DAC with that Rega CD P, had lock on problems with the digital out on the Rega so went back to Marantz CD-63SE. Planets also suffered from noisy spindle.

My opinon would be the Regas have a laid back sound, that usually means slightly warmer bass, this wouldn't match well with speakers that are prounced bass. Audiolab has a cleaner sound but if the speakers are prounced in the bass area it won't fit it.

Room depending of course.
 
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