Hello guys,
I currently have a Kenwood C1 and M1, or a Cambridge Audio Topaz SR10. The differences between the two are pretty minor from what I am hearing coming out of my speakers so I currently use the Topaz as it has a remote. My DAC is a SMSL C200, my Phono stage is a Clearaudio nano v2 and I use a Technics 1210 MK5.
I loved the Kenwood stack and it was a noticeable upgrade from my previous NAD 3155.
The speakers I use are Audio Physics Yara 2 compacts, they are not optimally placed at all, they sit above a wall to wall desk on fairly cheap wall mounts, and one speaker is basically in a corner. I can do up to 4 or 5 inches away from the back wall and the corner speaker is about 6 inches away from the side wall.
The reason I want to upgrade is because I am having some issues with the Kenwood, it recently blew the tweeters on my B&W CDM1 SE's, and I also find all my speakers fatiguing. People advised me that if I find the B&W's and the Audio Physics fatiguing, its probably the amp that needs a change. I personally think it is also due to placement of the speakers. They are about 4.5' apart and angled in a bit as I listen from the back of my room but also from the desk when I am at my computer. They are most fatiguing when I am sitting at the desk. The only speakers I do not find fatiguing at all are Totem Mites, and I had these powered by the Kenwood stack. The only problem is that they lack bass, and I can't always have the subwoofer on as it is somehow louder in the rest of my house than in my room at listening levels.
I found a Cambridge CXA60 and a Simaudio Moon i.5 (not i-5) (its apparently the same as the 220i, I do not know why it has two names).
The Simaudio moon will cost me 100 CAD more plus shipping, the CXA60 would not require shipping.
I bought the Audio Physics Yara 2 speakers because I found the B&W's too fatiguing in my small room, and I did not get a good soundstage illusion from them with the very improper positioning I have to use. The Yara 2 do much better with soundstage in my setup but are still somehow fatiguing.
What kind of upgrades could i expect from the two integrated amps I can purchase and which one would you guys reccomend? Would buying something cheaper also be an option? I would be spending 100 to 200 CAD more on the amplifier then on the speakers themselves so I do not know if that is money well spent or not.
Some people also recommended tube pre amps to lessen the listening fatigue, but I do not have room for a tube preamp as my amps are hanging from the underside of my desk, and the desk space is taken up by the Turntable and computer system.
Thanks a lot!
I currently have a Kenwood C1 and M1, or a Cambridge Audio Topaz SR10. The differences between the two are pretty minor from what I am hearing coming out of my speakers so I currently use the Topaz as it has a remote. My DAC is a SMSL C200, my Phono stage is a Clearaudio nano v2 and I use a Technics 1210 MK5.
I loved the Kenwood stack and it was a noticeable upgrade from my previous NAD 3155.
The speakers I use are Audio Physics Yara 2 compacts, they are not optimally placed at all, they sit above a wall to wall desk on fairly cheap wall mounts, and one speaker is basically in a corner. I can do up to 4 or 5 inches away from the back wall and the corner speaker is about 6 inches away from the side wall.
The reason I want to upgrade is because I am having some issues with the Kenwood, it recently blew the tweeters on my B&W CDM1 SE's, and I also find all my speakers fatiguing. People advised me that if I find the B&W's and the Audio Physics fatiguing, its probably the amp that needs a change. I personally think it is also due to placement of the speakers. They are about 4.5' apart and angled in a bit as I listen from the back of my room but also from the desk when I am at my computer. They are most fatiguing when I am sitting at the desk. The only speakers I do not find fatiguing at all are Totem Mites, and I had these powered by the Kenwood stack. The only problem is that they lack bass, and I can't always have the subwoofer on as it is somehow louder in the rest of my house than in my room at listening levels.
I found a Cambridge CXA60 and a Simaudio Moon i.5 (not i-5) (its apparently the same as the 220i, I do not know why it has two names).
The Simaudio moon will cost me 100 CAD more plus shipping, the CXA60 would not require shipping.
I bought the Audio Physics Yara 2 speakers because I found the B&W's too fatiguing in my small room, and I did not get a good soundstage illusion from them with the very improper positioning I have to use. The Yara 2 do much better with soundstage in my setup but are still somehow fatiguing.
What kind of upgrades could i expect from the two integrated amps I can purchase and which one would you guys reccomend? Would buying something cheaper also be an option? I would be spending 100 to 200 CAD more on the amplifier then on the speakers themselves so I do not know if that is money well spent or not.
Some people also recommended tube pre amps to lessen the listening fatigue, but I do not have room for a tube preamp as my amps are hanging from the underside of my desk, and the desk space is taken up by the Turntable and computer system.
Thanks a lot!
Edit : I was offered the Cambridge CXA60 for 450CAD. This seems like a reasonable deal as I would have to pay shipping on the Simaudio Moon I.5 which would probably put the price 200CAD above the CXA60. Is a 200CAD price difference worth it for the Simaudio Moon? And if I can lower the price to 600 with shipping or maybe even 550 with shipping, would it be worth the 100CAD price difference? Thanks