Recommendations for speaker upgrade

[sluzbenik]

Hi folks, I just found this forum and am pleased to see such a place for fellow Arcam fans.

I have an Arcam A75, B&W 602S3s and a Rotel RCD-961, and some cheap speaker wire (Ultralink "audiophile reference grade" which the dealer threw in when I declined some insane cable with a box on it). I am looking to upgrade my speakers at this point I think, and possibily the CD player. I really, really liked the Arcam cd-72 but just couldn't justify the purchase for the difference in sound quality at the time. Now that we have stuff like the Squeezebox, I'm wondering whether to bother with a CD player at all or go for an external DAC. Any lossless format transmitted digitally should sound as good as the most hi-end transports, and face it, it's more convenient....What I would really like is a DAC that sounds like an Arcam CD player. Or better yet an Arcam with digital inputs on it so I could still have a CD player around.

I quite like my B&Ws, and if I could find some used 800 series I might go with that, but I'd love more suggestions in my price range ($900-1500) that the A75 can power without a problem.

I am not much a believer in cables, but I really would like to get some nice looking bi-wire cable and if I have to pay for it, I guess I'll just suck it up.

As for listening, I do still enjoy quite a bit of rock, but I also listen to rather esoteric atmospheric stuff (Trail of the Dead, strange electronic music (mum, Aphex Twin, Maurmari, etc) and am starting to enjoy jazz again now that I have gotten some good recommendations (recent Yuseef Lateef album - GREAT!)

[Dankeech]

Most popular makes with the Arcam crowd would be PMC & Monitor Audio. I can vouch for Monitor Audio RS series in my setup - I love it.

I also hear great things about PMC speakers. I cannot remember model numbers, but what are you looking for - Floorstanders, or Standmount speakers?

Dan.

[sluzbenik]

I suppose in terms of space it doesn't make much difference, and my understanding is a better pair of bookshelves can be had for the same price than a floorstander. In any case, when I auditioned the B&Ws, both my wife and I agreed we though the bass and mid-range of the 602 series floorstanders was much muddier, so now I might have a bias against them.

Thanks for those brands, there's just so much out there. I remember being impressed by some Paradigm Studios but went with the B&Ws for the extra bass.

[Dankeech]

Ok, lets look at standmounts.

I'll have to go by prices over here, so I'm assuming you're talking US $. 2 of those to £1 sterling.

Therefore Monitor Audio RS1's come in about $700rrp. They do have the edge over their big brothers the RS6's which I also have. For the size they produce some real clarity and work very well at least with my AVR250. Also they partner well imho with Musical fidelity and guessing with pure Arcam hifi equipment they will sound better still. MA RS1 standmounts info found here

Next series up is the Monitor Audio GS series, the cream of the crop of monitor audio's current line-up.. The standmounts are the GS10's and carry similiarity with the RS series, except for uprated drivers, more rigid cabinet and higher quality crossover amongst other things. Linkage found here

You'd expect to pay 1500-1600$ equivalent retail over here for a pair. Apparently they are pretty amazing, though I'm yet to hear them.

Pretty sure I've read somewhere on the forums that Arcam themselves use and recommend PMC speakers.
Here's their site

A user here (a regular on the Arcam forum) - Crustyloafer runs a PMC setup, and iirc sings praises of PMC partnering with Arcam, as do quite a few others here. I'm yet to hear any myself but definitely think that some PMC's should be on your demo list. Think that the PMC DB1's should be in the upper level of your budget, at approx £650 here, $1300 US$ or so and is probably well worth your time seeing if a demo can be had.

Hope this helps. Sorry some of it's advice by proxy, but hope helpful anyway. I'd definitely use a proper retailer and get some demo's. Don't forget to ask the retailer if they know of anything you should demo too in your budget. They may have something available not yet suggested that your prefer to the suggestions given. As usual, I highly recommend that you get the dealer to set up and arcam amp etc to demo the speakers so you have a clearer idea how the speakers would pair up in your setup.

Dan.

[LOXjet]

Originally Posted by Dankeech

Next series up is the Monitor Audio GS series, the cream of the crop of monitor audio's current line-up.. The standmounts are the GS10's and carry similiarity with the RS series, except for uprated drivers, more rigid cabinet and higher quality crossover amongst other things. Linkage found here

I second that, I really can't recommend these enough...

Hooked upto my DV139 & AVR350 they sound truly stunning.

I originally demoed the RS range (which are good to start off with) then out of curiosity asked to hear the GS range... BIG mistake, I was hooked and bang went my budget

[Canti1982]

Best not listen to the Platinum range released in march (edit may) then

At £4500 a pair it could be a lottery job.

for more details check out my post here http://www.avforums.com/forums/showt...72#post4060572

[LOXjet]

Originally Posted by Canti1982

Best not listen to the Platinum range released in march then

Quick, hold me down and cut up my credit card!!

[gpa]

I also recommend both the RS range and the GS range truly a must for you to demo, I'm too poor to be able to afford the PMC range Good luck

[avexplorer]

Hi folks,

honestly recomendations and reviews are fine only to the extent of broad guidelines, but having said that it is possible that what appeals to ur ears the most and u finally land up picking, is a brand that didn't figure in your list prepared based on those reviews. I say this 'coz thats what happened to me...

To pick up a pair of speakers for my AVR-350 & DV-137, I had prepared a list of brands, essentially based on reviews and opinions, which included all of what has figured in this & other threads ...the MAs (RS & GS), PMC, B&W, Focal, EPOS, AE, ELAC, Dali, Dyna Audio...and probably a few more. Strangely, the brand that I was blown away by was a not so much so a name that is associated with ARCAMs...they were the ProAc Studio 140s.

Though the ProAc Studio 110s & 140s are considered to pair well with Primare equipment and have won quite a few awards, I found them to be extremely cold, analytical and unappealing. I'm not sure if any one else has tried this, but to me the ARCAMs & the ProAc Studios delivered a warm, natural, enveloping sound...a feeling of u being soaked in music. It probably doesnot have that initial WOW factor as many other brands do and after an hour of listening u tend to get fatigued. Instead the ProAcs are very very intoxicating...like shots of tequila...u dont really know how many u had before u know u had few too many. I have spent hours listening to them at a stretch until my wife had to virtually throw me out of the listening room.

I have completed the entire 5.1 setup with Studio 110 for surrounds, Studio center and ER1 for sub. Cant help it...just cant listen to anything else.

[mpmct]

Originally Posted by Canti1982

Best not listen to the Platinum range released in march (edit may) then

At £4500 a pair it could be a lottery job.

for more details check out my post here http://www.avforums.com/forums/showt...72#post4060572

drooling, drooling, drooling.

they are sooooo much more beautiful than the GS series,
as handsome as the GS series are.

*how* could they sound better though?
assuming they must. but how???

drooling, drooling, drooling.

[BAD Dave]

I have just ordered Arcam DV-137 DVD player & AVR-350 amp.
I tested them with Monitor Audio Silver RS6/LCR/RS1 speakers (a bit bright for my taste), Totem Arro & Stack (very nice) & PMC (full & rich, just awesome!!).

I went OTT and bought FB1 floorstanders for fronts, TB2 centre & GB1 floorstanders for rear. The GB1 would probably suffice as fronts and DB1 would probably be more sensible rears (unless of course you make the mistake I made and listen first to the big floorstanders all round. In which case )

My advice is: Do not buy MA without listening to PMC as well

Can't wait to get them!

Hope this helps. Tread carefully with PMC, they are dangerously good!

David

[Crustyloafer]

Originally Posted by BAD Dave

Hope this helps. Tread carefully with PMC, they are dangerously good!

Oh aren't they just. Don't worry Dave I will be on the phone as soon as your speakers arrive.