[MFP]

Can anyone tell me if they think that amp and CD player will do any justice to those speakers, and whether they think it's worth spending the extra £500 for the EB1s over getting the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s basically free in a package?

[scorpion88]

Originally Posted by MFP

Can anyone tell me if they think that amp and CD player will do any justice to those speakers, and whether they think it's worth spending the extra £500 for the EB1s over getting the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s basically free in a package?

I have only heard the Wharferdale 9.0's bought as a present for someone and hooked up to my CA 640a as an experiment and they held their own until I cranked things up a bit. The 10.1's should cope with the marantz gear and that is a good package price and should sound good.

I personally would find it difficult to justify another £500 for the EB1's, which I don't think you can demo and the cost makes the overall system a bit disproportionate IMO. I previously have owned the Marantz PM4200 amp connected to a pair of £150 Tannoys and found the result excellent.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Scorpion

[MFP]

Originally Posted by scorpion88

I personally would find it difficult to justify another £500 for the EB1's, which I don't think you can demo and the cost makes the overall system a bit disproportionate IMO.

That's kind of what I am wondering about. Though if I were to become under the impression that they'd give any noticable kind of improvement over the Wharfedales, I'd find it hard not to consider it.

[scorpion88]

Originally Posted by MFP

That's kind of what I am wondering about. Though if I were to become under the impression that they'd give any noticable kind of improvement over the Wharfedales, I'd find it hard not to consider it.

There are a lot of good speakers in this price range some of which you can demo in store with the Marantz Electronics.

Like wise the same applies to alternatives to the Marantz Electronics in this range which may suit the EB1's bettter.

Try and audition with familiar CD's if you can before committing to purchase.

Cheers

[MFP]

Originally Posted by scorpion88

There are a lot of good speakers in this price range some of which you can demo in store with the Marantz Electronics.

Like wise the same applies to alternatives to the Marantz Electronics in this range which may suit the EB1's bettter.

Try and audition with familiar CD's if you can before committing to purchase.

Cheers

True enough, though supposedly the money goes further with the EB1s due to them being sold direct. I don't first hand know how well they go with the Marantz stuff (obviously), though I did see them all recommended together in an article in Stuff magazine. The lower price system included a Nad CDP and amp and the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s and the other was the Marantz gear with the EB1s. Not a regular reader of Stuff, though, so have no idea how much stock to put in their audio recommendations.

Thanks for your comments.

[MFP]

I listened to the Marantz kit today, with the Wharfedales and also with some Mordaunts they had in the shop. Have to say it was nice, but I was far from blown away. I also tried Cambridge Audio 650c gear, and found the definition better but the sound less warm and pleasant.

Then I had a listen to an Arcam Solo Mini (with Arcam Muso speakers), and, despite the size of the speakers, thought it was a night and day improvement over the other two.

So now I'm thinking of getting the Arcam, and maybe pairing it with the EB1s (the Musos just felt too small for a living room and for film watching).

Any thoughts?

[scorpion88]

Originally Posted by MFP

I listened to the Marantz kit today, with the Wharfedales and also with some Mordaunts they had in the shop. Have to say it was nice, but I was far from blown away. I also tried Cambridge Audio 650c gear, and found the definition better but the sound less warm and pleasant.

Then I had a listen to an Arcam Solo Mini (with Arcam Muso speakers), and, despite the size of the speakers, thought it was a night and day improvement over the other two.

So now I'm thinking of getting the Arcam, and maybe pairing it with the EB1s (the Musos just felt too small for a living room and for film watching).

Any thoughts?

Hi Again, Never heard any Arcam kit but generally gets rave reviews both the separates and 'all in ones'.

The EB1's won a group test in What Hi Fi some months ago so could be a 'match made in heaven'. WHF recommend Nad Gear as a 'match up' so Arcam theoretically should be fine.

BTW, do you know which Mordaunt Speakers you heard as I have the Mezzo 2's and find them excellent.

All the Best

Scorpion