Soldato
Someone else thread got me thinking about how my current system had evolved over time and I thought it might be useful for people to see it in one or two ways
Stereo Speakers: KEF Q30s > KEF 103/4s
Stereo Amp: Marantz PM50 > Used AV amp > Audiolab 8000A
AV amp: Marantz SR4200 > Marantz SR5400 > Denon 2805
Centre Speaker: KEF Q95C > KEF 100C > KEF 200C
Surround Speakers: KEF Q85s > KEF Coda > KEF Q30s
Sub: KEF PSW1000 > MS309
CD Player: ARCAM Alpha 5+ > Rega Planet
Turntable: REGA Planer II
My journey into hifi started with a AMSTRAD vertical record deck,/ radio/ dual tape deck, my first hifi after playing with my parents old Dansette record player to death. This abomination was quite frankly the worst hifi I have ever owned but one which I probably had the most fun with. The vinyl was placed vertically and screw to the turntable, the arm hanging down and tracking across the record using a motor. Although a bit a novelty the whole thing was made from paper mache and recycled paper-clips.
This was followed by a non discript AWIA (before AWIA were really pants) midi system which saw me in to my teens.
My first separates were bought not longer after I started my own job:
KEF Q30s (new)
Marantz PM50 something (2end hand)
ARCAM Alpha 5+ (new)
later a REGA Planer II was added to this for vinyl (2end hand)
God I loved those KEFs, I sat and listened to loads of speakers and the KEFs had a dimension that nothing short of £1000s could touch, not only that, they were made in my home town, how could I resist? Since then KEF have been my speaker manufacturer of choice and I've not found anything else which I like as much. My dream is some Model 4s (one day, they will be mine!)
Looking back its amazing how long this little lot lasted me and none of my friends had anything which could touch them during that time. It was only when out of interest I decided to put the pre outs of my stereo SKY box in to my amp and speakers that I started a chain reaction which led to the financial sink hole which is my AV room.
Not content with stereo I decided that AV sound would be fun and that coupled with the fact I found a cheap Marantz AV amp in Richer's open box sale (I'd always liked the Marantz AV stereo amp) led to my first AV set up, the
Q30s on front duties, some KEF Q60s (2nd hand) for the rear and a KEF Q95C (2nd hand) for the centre. Out of loyalty I suck with KEF for the sub too, in hind sight not my best decision.
This didn't change too much apart from the rear speakers which went through three different small KEFs after the the cat had an accident in the Q60s, then some small KEF bookshelf's blew on me before I bought the little Codas.
My next stint of upgradeitis really started when I decided to turn the cellar into an AV room and I got a bit over enthusiastic and started buying stuff even before the builders can to quote. This ultimately led to the biggest bargain I ever got, a brand new Marantz SR 5400, Programmable Marantz remote AND a SQART SCART all for £150!!!.
Until the cellar was ready the SR5400 was on duty in the living room and was gradually joined by all the cellar kit prior to transplant, some KEF 103/4s (Bloody brilliant), an Audiolab 8000A (knocked my socks off) and a Kef 100C. The Q30s were relegated to the back for the surround channels
During the time I acumulated the AV gear I started listening to music on my system and realised that the quailty left something to be desired. Although adequte for AV the music lacked something and that something was punch, the answer was to add the 8000A and direct CD input to that rather than through the AV amp. The lift this gave was unbelievable and led me to the conclusion that you CAN have you AV cake and eat your stereo cake too
Eventually this all went to the finished cellar with my newly acquired AE700 projector and my PC, so down here we had
KEF 103/4s
KEF 100C
KEF Q30s
Marantz SR5400
Audiolab 8000A
ARCAM Alpha 5+
Upstairs the old SR4200 powered a set of newly acquired Canton CD1s with a CD50 centre upgrade which still proves very satisfactory
Downstairs there have been a few changes, there's now a Denon 2805 in place of the Marantz AV as sold to me both performance wise and financially by DRZ over MSN
.
My ARCAM went phut and the drawer died so I searched for a new and interesting CD player. The Rega Planet caught my eye straight away due to its outrageous styling and notoriously smooth sound and I search for one second hand for a while before finding one at a bargain £150. I only wish I had bought the REGA Jupiter and Io which sold on Ebay for a staggering £200 the week before.
My last upgrade was to change the KEF 100C for a 200C, one of the most critically acclaimed centres of the last 10 years which someone sold to me on Ebay for the staggeringly cheap price of £144 LOL!
So that is the story of my hifi exodus, a long and expensive (to me) journey from AMSTRAD novelty rubbish to respectable home cinema, hope you enjoyed it, LOL
We now have two systems
DVD: Pioneer 575A
AV amp: Denon 2805
Stereo Amp: Audiolab 8000A
Fronts: KEF 103/4
Centre: KEF 200C
Sub: MS309
Rears KEF Q30s (still a place in my main room and my heart for the old girls)
CD: Rega Planet
Turntable: Rega Planer II
and upstairs
Speakers: Canton CD1 w/ CD50 centre
AV amp: Marantz 5400
The future holds the lure of another Audiolab 8000A to power the centre and maybe a Denon 3805 or similar, and of course a Blu Ray or HDDVD player to the cellar.
Thats it
Feel free to add your stories
MB
Stereo Speakers: KEF Q30s > KEF 103/4s
Stereo Amp: Marantz PM50 > Used AV amp > Audiolab 8000A
AV amp: Marantz SR4200 > Marantz SR5400 > Denon 2805
Centre Speaker: KEF Q95C > KEF 100C > KEF 200C
Surround Speakers: KEF Q85s > KEF Coda > KEF Q30s
Sub: KEF PSW1000 > MS309
CD Player: ARCAM Alpha 5+ > Rega Planet
Turntable: REGA Planer II
My journey into hifi started with a AMSTRAD vertical record deck,/ radio/ dual tape deck, my first hifi after playing with my parents old Dansette record player to death. This abomination was quite frankly the worst hifi I have ever owned but one which I probably had the most fun with. The vinyl was placed vertically and screw to the turntable, the arm hanging down and tracking across the record using a motor. Although a bit a novelty the whole thing was made from paper mache and recycled paper-clips.
This was followed by a non discript AWIA (before AWIA were really pants) midi system which saw me in to my teens.
My first separates were bought not longer after I started my own job:
KEF Q30s (new)
Marantz PM50 something (2end hand)
ARCAM Alpha 5+ (new)
later a REGA Planer II was added to this for vinyl (2end hand)
God I loved those KEFs, I sat and listened to loads of speakers and the KEFs had a dimension that nothing short of £1000s could touch, not only that, they were made in my home town, how could I resist? Since then KEF have been my speaker manufacturer of choice and I've not found anything else which I like as much. My dream is some Model 4s (one day, they will be mine!)
Looking back its amazing how long this little lot lasted me and none of my friends had anything which could touch them during that time. It was only when out of interest I decided to put the pre outs of my stereo SKY box in to my amp and speakers that I started a chain reaction which led to the financial sink hole which is my AV room.
Not content with stereo I decided that AV sound would be fun and that coupled with the fact I found a cheap Marantz AV amp in Richer's open box sale (I'd always liked the Marantz AV stereo amp) led to my first AV set up, the
Q30s on front duties, some KEF Q60s (2nd hand) for the rear and a KEF Q95C (2nd hand) for the centre. Out of loyalty I suck with KEF for the sub too, in hind sight not my best decision.
This didn't change too much apart from the rear speakers which went through three different small KEFs after the the cat had an accident in the Q60s, then some small KEF bookshelf's blew on me before I bought the little Codas.
My next stint of upgradeitis really started when I decided to turn the cellar into an AV room and I got a bit over enthusiastic and started buying stuff even before the builders can to quote. This ultimately led to the biggest bargain I ever got, a brand new Marantz SR 5400, Programmable Marantz remote AND a SQART SCART all for £150!!!.
Until the cellar was ready the SR5400 was on duty in the living room and was gradually joined by all the cellar kit prior to transplant, some KEF 103/4s (Bloody brilliant), an Audiolab 8000A (knocked my socks off) and a Kef 100C. The Q30s were relegated to the back for the surround channels
During the time I acumulated the AV gear I started listening to music on my system and realised that the quailty left something to be desired. Although adequte for AV the music lacked something and that something was punch, the answer was to add the 8000A and direct CD input to that rather than through the AV amp. The lift this gave was unbelievable and led me to the conclusion that you CAN have you AV cake and eat your stereo cake too
Eventually this all went to the finished cellar with my newly acquired AE700 projector and my PC, so down here we had
KEF 103/4s
KEF 100C
KEF Q30s
Marantz SR5400
Audiolab 8000A
ARCAM Alpha 5+
Upstairs the old SR4200 powered a set of newly acquired Canton CD1s with a CD50 centre upgrade which still proves very satisfactory
Downstairs there have been a few changes, there's now a Denon 2805 in place of the Marantz AV as sold to me both performance wise and financially by DRZ over MSN
.My ARCAM went phut and the drawer died so I searched for a new and interesting CD player. The Rega Planet caught my eye straight away due to its outrageous styling and notoriously smooth sound and I search for one second hand for a while before finding one at a bargain £150. I only wish I had bought the REGA Jupiter and Io which sold on Ebay for a staggering £200 the week before.
My last upgrade was to change the KEF 100C for a 200C, one of the most critically acclaimed centres of the last 10 years which someone sold to me on Ebay for the staggeringly cheap price of £144 LOL!
So that is the story of my hifi exodus, a long and expensive (to me) journey from AMSTRAD novelty rubbish to respectable home cinema, hope you enjoyed it, LOL
We now have two systems
DVD: Pioneer 575A
AV amp: Denon 2805
Stereo Amp: Audiolab 8000A
Fronts: KEF 103/4
Centre: KEF 200C
Sub: MS309
Rears KEF Q30s (still a place in my main room and my heart for the old girls)
CD: Rega Planet
Turntable: Rega Planer II
and upstairs
Speakers: Canton CD1 w/ CD50 centre
AV amp: Marantz 5400
The future holds the lure of another Audiolab 8000A to power the centre and maybe a Denon 3805 or similar, and of course a Blu Ray or HDDVD player to the cellar.
Thats it
Feel free to add your stories
MB
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