DirkDirkin Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 Hi everyone....... Im just new here and seeking some advice. I have an "ancient" audio system - Arcam Alpha 2 amp (think it was the replacement for the A&R A60) a pair of Ditton 250 3way speakers, and a Phillips 650 CD player Am thinking about maybe replacing the speakers and CD player and keeping the Arcam. Was thinking along the lines of a pair of Warfedale Diamond bookshelfs and a nice new CD player Listen to mainly music such as Crowded House, REM, Radiohead and TalkTalk..... Any ideas Attached files
Electra Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 Whats your budget? How large is your room? What listening volume do you tend to desire? Oh.. and welcome to our little corner of the interweb.
DirkDirkin Posted July 3, 2010 Author Posted July 3, 2010 Thanks for the welcome! Budget probably $2500 - listen at moderate volumes (bout 10o'clock) moving to a new apartment so just your average size lounge
Ta Moko Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 Hi Dirk, To second Too Tall’s greeting - Welcome to the forum. If you already have a PC/Laptop and a collection of digital music files have you considered the possibility of not replacing your CD player – i.e using the PC as your source? This will allow you considerably more options in the speaker department with your available budget? Just a suggestion?
DirkDirkin Posted July 3, 2010 Author Posted July 3, 2010 Hi, good point. I may just do that - however was under the impression that a CD player would give me a better overall sound quality
Brian Ono Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 How about these http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Speakers-and-stands/Other/auction-300779297.htm
chiba Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 I bought a pair of Diamond 9.1s from Trademe, but they'll be going back there. They're decent enough, but they're not... special, so they'll be going back up for sale. On your budget I'm sure you can do better. Last week you missed two sets of Castle Durhams that only made around $250 a set - they'd have been a good pairing with your Arcam, I'm sure.
Luckiestmanalive Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 DirkDirkin;126663 wrote: Hi, good point. I may just do that - however was under the impression that a CD player would give me a better overall sound quality Others that have already ditched their CD player might be able to advise you how much you might need to spend to equal a decent CD player. Eventually, I envisaged going that way but although I've read around this forum that some PC+DAC combinations get close to a player like mine (Rega Apollo) I haven't been convinced to change just yet. So if you want to buy what may turn out to be your last CD player then I'd recommend the Rega Apollo - I'm not sure what they retail for at the moment - maybe some change out of $1500?
DirkDirkin Posted July 3, 2010 Author Posted July 3, 2010 Papa Hemi;126670 wrote: Ha! Ha! Ha! Welcome Dirk. You sound jovial!
Papa Hemi Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 I got the house to myself and a stack of vinyl, why wouldn't I be happy?
Electra Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 Many of us, some with very expensive and high end systems, have ditched CD players, and have moved to computer based playback, and often, a turntable. A Squeezebox, and external DAC are going to give results superior to similarly priced or even considerably more expensive CD players. Need a computer thats left on all the time though...
Shane Hanify Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 DirkDirkin;126663 wrote: Hi, good point. I may just do that - however was under the impression that a CD player would give me a better overall sound quality It does. Unless you spend quite a bit on a decent DAC. Then it's a lot closer. I have both -the convenience of the PC and the instant library of music is great, but for those quiet listening sessions I can't go past the CDP. Not only does it beat the PC, you don't have the annoying whirring of fans happening either. With your room I'd go a reasonable CD player (900 - 1500) and a set of standmounts. Cheers, Shane.
Ta Moko Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 DirkDirkin;126663 wrote: Hi, good point. I may just do that - however was under the impression that a CD player would give me a better overall sound quality Hi Dirk, In general terms I’m still a big fan of the good ol’ CD player too. But if I was building a system from the amp up right now I’d be asking myself a few key questions such as... 1) does my current CD collection (either in terms of enjoyment factor or size) justify the expense of a replacement CD player especially given how the future of the format is shaping up at present & 2) will splitting my budget between a cheaper CD player & cheaper speakers achieve better overall sound quality than spending on better speakers and perhaps an inexpensive DAC? Hi-Res music files (a must for good quality replay) don’t cost any more than the time & effort required to re-rip your existing discs. In other words I’d be surprised if you couldn’t muster entirely listenable quality with a PC based system – just see too_talls comments in post #12. If you had planned on a big budget CD player we wouldn’t be having this discussion at all – there’d be no contest – CD player hands down. But at the price you’re looking at I’d say it could be a more close run thing. Just out of interest – does that old Phillips player of yours still work? Assuming it has a digital out it could be used as a transport routed via a DAC that your PC could share – sorta killing two birds with one stone?
Omegaspeedy Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 Low Orbit;126719 wrote: It does. Unless you spend quite a bit on a decent DAC. Then it's a lot closer. I have both -the convenience of the PC and the instant library of music is great, but for those quiet listening sessions I can't go past the CDP. Not only does it beat the PC, you don't have the annoying whirring of fans happening either. With your room I'd go a reasonable CD player (900 - 1500) and a set of standmounts. Cheers, Shane. Totally agree here with Low Orbit. A GOOD (expensive DAC) might beat a good CD player all setup right but a mid priced ($1500) CD player will be hard to beat. A friend of mine has just bought the latest OPPO BDP-83SE NuForce Edition player and it 's bloody good to say the least ON AUDIO!! and you get to watch movies on it too. If you need a new blue Ray player as well you can get it all at the same time:) Leave the computer/DAC stuff to the explorers and let them lay the tracks in the woods for us later when it's worth while:)
nixon76 Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 omegaspeedy;126826 wrote: Leave the computer/DAC stuff to the explorers and let them lay the tracks in the woods for us later when it's worth while:) Wise man.
kaka Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 omegaspeedy;126826 wrote: Leave the computer/DAC stuff to the explorers and let them lay the tracks in the woods for us later when it's worth while:) On the computer audio front it's looking to me that mac with a firewire dac is better than mac or pc with USB-SPDIF converters. Possibly the async USB devices that are starting to hit the marketplace will get a lot closer. It didn't take long listening to Antipodes Rosetta firewire-SPDIF converter to figure that out. Trails are being blazed, and products are evolving ...
Omegaspeedy Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 kaka;126831 wrote: On the computer audio front it's looking to me that mac with a firewire dac is better than mac or pc with USB-SPDIF converters. Possibly the async USB devices that are starting to hit the marketplace will get a lot closer. It didn't take long listening to Antipodes Rosetta firewire-SPDIF converter to figure that out. Trails are being blazed, and products are evolving ... Yes Antipodes really is a pioneer and I respect EVERYTHING he has to say. When I say 'leave it to the Explorers' I mean leave it to guys like Antipodes because they don't do it by half pie. If he says try this because it works better than an $XX CD player then it's time to move!
tkr001 Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 omegaspeedy;126826 wrote: Totally agree here with Low Orbit. A GOOD (expensive DAC) might beat a good CD player all setup right but a mid priced ($1500) CD player will be hard to beat. A friend of mine has just bought the latest OPPO BDP-83SE NuForce Edition player and it 's bloody good to say the least ON AUDIO!! and you get to watch movies on it too. If you need a new blue Ray player as well you can get it all at the same time:) Leave the computer/DAC stuff to the explorers and let them lay the tracks in the woods for us later when it's worth while:) Sorry James but I just can't agree with you. A $1500 DAC and cheap crap DVD player as a transport sounded noticably better to all present compared to a $8K CD player when I trialled it in shop with Neil. Server based music isn't difficult!
Omegaspeedy Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 tkr001;126836 wrote: Sorry James but I just can't agree with you. A $1500 DAC and cheap crap DVD player as a transport sounded noticably better to all present compared to a $8K CD player when I trialled it in shop with Neil. Server based music isn't difficult! In interest sake Tony, what was the CD player? Hopefully not an MF as I found it lacking also! Any way glad you have found it good. You should share your experiences so those like myself who still have trouble with computer based music can make a decision based on others experiences.
tkr001 Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 I prefer not to name it openly but have pm'd you. It was not a MF. I don't think I could go back to a CD Player now, the convenience of server based music is too great. I am not one for the tactile experience, I just like to listen without getting up.
Shane Hanify Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 tkr001;126836 wrote: Sorry James but I just can't agree with you. A $1500 DAC and cheap crap DVD player as a transport sounded noticably better to all present compared to a $8K CD player when I trialled it in shop with Neil. Server based music isn't difficult! I'd hate to be that CDP Er. Server based not difficult? CD playback. Turn CD player on, choose CD, hit play. Server. Turn PC / Mac on. Wait to boot. Choose program. Decide what you want to listen to or hit random. Of course if it's a standalone box like an Olive for example then it's a different story, but until PC's are (almost) instant on and run near silent *and* trounce standalone CDP's without having to tie a couple of thousand dollars worth of box to them to do so then I'm still in the CDP camp for my main listening. Cheers, Shane.
Shane Hanify Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 nixon76;126842 wrote: What was the OP again? Speaker advice I believe. This side topic addresses the source - which I believe was a secondary ask Cheers, Shane.
Luckiestmanalive Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 I see there are pairs of Diamond 9.1s on Trade Me in Chch and Queenstown but if you want a possible step up and don't mind the freight cost from Wellington then these Tannoy Sensys DC1s might be a good buy... http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Speakers-and-stands/Floor-speakers/auction-300262619.htm But be quick because the auction ends later today! Or you could look at a pair of shiny, new Monitor Audio RX-1s - see this thread here: http://www.audioenz.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=10493
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