I've been using the same sound system I put together some 20 years ago and its time for a fresh start.
I'm thinking of getting the NAD C320BEE amplifier and wondered if anyone could recommend a good pair of speakers to complement it.
I'm looking to spend up to £200. I mainly listen to pop, R&B and chill-out music and the room into which the system will be placed is average in size. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I'm thinking of getting the NAD C320BEE amplifier and wondered if anyone could recommend a good pair of speakers to complement it.
I'm looking to spend up to £200. I mainly listen to pop, R&B and chill-out music and the room into which the system will be placed is average in size. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Don't. Use the money you would have spent on both speaker and amp to buy active speakers. You then need a simple volume control to put between the CD player and the speakers. If you can do a little diy, get a V-Buffer volume control from Greg Ball, put it in a little box and run it off a regulated wall-wart.
If you don’t feel up to that there are many people on this forum who could for a bit of cash, myself included.
http://www.diyhifi.org/amplifierguru/guru_010b.htm
Active speakers in the £200-400 price range
http://www.dv247.com/invt/21216/
http://www.dv247.com/invt/32836/
http://www.dv247.com/invt/27532/
http://www.dv247.com/invt/30729/
http://www.dv247.com/invt/9490/
and many more...
If you don’t feel up to that there are many people on this forum who could for a bit of cash, myself included.
http://www.diyhifi.org/amplifierguru/guru_010b.htm
Active speakers in the £200-400 price range
http://www.dv247.com/invt/21216/
http://www.dv247.com/invt/32836/
http://www.dv247.com/invt/27532/
http://www.dv247.com/invt/30729/
http://www.dv247.com/invt/9490/
and many more...
Hey m0tion, thanks for the clarification.
I just had a look at your website and its clear you belong to the growing number of people who are able to literally build their own systems from scratch. I belong to the small number who are technically challenged and have to resort to manufactured separates..LOL!
If you were to buy a ready made system, do you think the NAD C320 BEE amp, together with Tannoy Sensys 1 speakers is a good combo? What cable would you use to connect them.
I really am very grateful for all the advice you have given me.
I just had a look at your website and its clear you belong to the growing number of people who are able to literally build their own systems from scratch. I belong to the small number who are technically challenged and have to resort to manufactured separates..LOL!
If you were to buy a ready made system, do you think the NAD C320 BEE amp, together with Tannoy Sensys 1 speakers is a good combo? What cable would you use to connect them.
I really am very grateful for all the advice you have given me.
Oh, I see. Some how I had imagined that this would be a DIY audio project. How silly of me.
Just giving you a hard time
.
Ok, so here is the thing. I don't have any experience with either of those pieces of equipment (although I have heard nice things about the C320BEE). So, obviously the best thing to do would be to listen to them before you bought them. Thats not always possible, I know, I bought a pair of Alon IV speakers sight unseen (worked out fine, they're great). This might seem a little simple, but here is what I'd do to compare pieces of audio equipment sight unseen. Make sure it has all the technical "features" you want and then compare the equipment by weight. In my experience the better sounding, better built equipment always weighs more. Like I said, I know it's simple, but if you think about it it's a pretty reasonable indicator of quality.
And you should hook them up with plain old oxygen-free copper (14ga is plenty if the cables are less than 3m). Terminate them with whatever you like (I prefer banana plugs), or just clamp the bare cable down. If you spend more than 20 quid including connectors you spent too much.
Just giving you a hard time
.Ok, so here is the thing. I don't have any experience with either of those pieces of equipment (although I have heard nice things about the C320BEE). So, obviously the best thing to do would be to listen to them before you bought them. Thats not always possible, I know, I bought a pair of Alon IV speakers sight unseen (worked out fine, they're great). This might seem a little simple, but here is what I'd do to compare pieces of audio equipment sight unseen. Make sure it has all the technical "features" you want and then compare the equipment by weight. In my experience the better sounding, better built equipment always weighs more. Like I said, I know it's simple, but if you think about it it's a pretty reasonable indicator of quality.
And you should hook them up with plain old oxygen-free copper (14ga is plenty if the cables are less than 3m). Terminate them with whatever you like (I prefer banana plugs), or just clamp the bare cable down. If you spend more than 20 quid including connectors you spent too much.
Oh, its all too much to take in, I need to lie down in dark room!!
Seriously though, thank you very much for all your help and advice. I love this forum - I would have been so lost without your speedy responses to my lame questions.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Josh....from the other side of the pond!
Seriously though, thank you very much for all your help and advice. I love this forum - I would have been so lost without your speedy responses to my lame questions.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Josh....from the other side of the pond!
Joshkun said:
Nothing except the cable part. If you think you need anything more than 14 - 16ga. lamp cord it means you already have an extremely good set-up and still have the urge to spend money. Cables are so far down the list, I find it very unusual how much time is spent discussing them. You have many things to consider about the system before you even consider cables.
m0tion said:
The terminations can be more important than the wire. All these boutique cables don't mean a hoot unless you have good terminations. If you are serious, run the cable right through the box and solder directly to the XO. From the XO, solder directly to the drivers.
Banana plugs are fine but the advantage of them is not the sound, it's the ability to plug and unplug. Bare, non-tinned ends are better at the amp as the surface area of connection is greater. Don't forget to remove the ends once or twice a year, cut and strip a new connection.
Hi,
The budget Gale speaker cable (69p/m) works very well for what it
costs. You could lash out on the 99p/m stuff, but do not spend more.
The Tannoys I recommended simply because they are < 1/2 price.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1213
The NAD at £160, there is not a lot of other choices, but for less consider :
http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-A5BLK
Me ? I'd search out a second-hand Marantz PM7200, as it has a
class A mode and a decent built in phono stage, but thats me.
/sreten.
The budget Gale speaker cable (69p/m) works very well for what it
costs. You could lash out on the 99p/m stuff, but do not spend more.
The Tannoys I recommended simply because they are < 1/2 price.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1213
The NAD at £160, there is not a lot of other choices, but for less consider :
http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-A5BLK
Me ? I'd search out a second-hand Marantz PM7200, as it has a
class A mode and a decent built in phono stage, but thats me.
/sreten.
Joshkun said:
What speakers do you have?
I personally don't like the first Tannoys by sreten ( I have some mx2 and they don't have the power under certain circumstances - finishings are fine) I would go with the Reveal's instead. The Alesis MONITOR ONE ACTIVE MK2 has what I call a great look (maybe a good sound too - dB Sensit.). Do you consider building from a kit or re-using your old speakers? The new (old) Seas-Dynaco Kit for £214.99, sorry no cabinet included (179£).
Re: Re: Speaker Recommendation Please
Hi,
You can't simply transfer experience with the MX2's to other models.
The bass units in the Reveals and the Sensys's seem to be the same.
Still for £220 (Richer Sounds) the active Reveal 5A's are great value.
Not particularly practical for a number of sources though.
/sreten.
Inductor said:
Hi,
You can't simply transfer experience with the MX2's to other models.
The bass units in the Reveals and the Sensys's seem to be the same.
Still for £220 (Richer Sounds) the active Reveal 5A's are great value.
Not particularly practical for a number of sources though.
/sreten.
Re: Re: Re: Speaker Recommendation Please
Sorry.
I know how to use my small byt of experience tankyou. You tranfer yours and I tranfer mine. Now, we can compare?! but I don't think that's what you want. Did you test the mx2 so that you know a little bit of what I am talking about? I think the main focus here is not that anyway. You maybe right, is just a problem of attitude. So, technically I canot tranfer my experience, Thanks! it's so sad...
sreten said:You can't simply transfer experience ...
Sorry.
I know how to use my small byt of experience tankyou. You tranfer yours and I tranfer mine. Now, we can compare?! but I don't think that's what you want. Did you test the mx2 so that you know a little bit of what I am talking about? I think the main focus here is not that anyway. You maybe right, is just a problem of attitude. So, technically I canot tranfer my experience, Thanks! it's so sad...
This is a new speaker developed by Troels, who we all know as a fine designer
Unfortunately the site is in danish, but I am sure they speak english
Looks damm fine to me
A pair with all components will cost you 274 Pound, plus expencives - and cabinets and assembling is DIY
http://www.jumon-audio.dk/byggesaet.html
Unfortunately the site is in danish, but I am sure they speak english
Looks damm fine to me
A pair with all components will cost you 274 Pound, plus expencives - and cabinets and assembling is DIY
http://www.jumon-audio.dk/byggesaet.html
Attachments
Thanks for all the recommendations and advice.
Just to clarify. Firstly, I don't intend to build my own speakers because I'm not technically minded. Secondly, I can't use my current speakers - which by the way are KEF Coda - because one of them has blown. And third, for what I'm prepared to pay I don't expect to get the most perfect sound in the world. All I'm after is a decent pair of speakers that will improve on the sound coming out of my current speakers (not hard given they're ready for the scrap heap)!
Thanks
Just to clarify. Firstly, I don't intend to build my own speakers because I'm not technically minded. Secondly, I can't use my current speakers - which by the way are KEF Coda - because one of them has blown. And third, for what I'm prepared to pay I don't expect to get the most perfect sound in the world. All I'm after is a decent pair of speakers that will improve on the sound coming out of my current speakers (not hard given they're ready for the scrap heap)!
Thanks
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