Richer sounds system 5 a good buy?

[danoliver1]

Looking to buy a new 2 channel hifi system soon and saw this.
Is this deal any good ca 840a, 840c and a pair of kef iq7s for £1500.
http://www.richersounds.co.uk/inform...st=hifisystems
Can anthing else compare for the money?

[cwilson]

Yes, but which you prefer is down to your ears, and the sound you are looking for. If you want a one shop solution try and hear the above cambridge/Kef combo, which is good with something like a Rega apollo/Brio and R3-R5's. Just as good, but with a different presentation. I am equally sure that a rotel CD and amp with some B&W speakers could give you a very good sound at the price. Its as much about what you want as who makes the kit. Grab a handful of CD's that you know well, and wander around a few shops, give your ears a treat.

[russraff]

The value is there as you are getting free speakers with the deal. I have actually just bought (I had another thread on here asking about the CDP quality re high end DVD player) the HIFI Choice system that is the 740 amp and CD player and the same iQ7 speakers for £990.

I have had the 640 series in the past and liked their sound, albeit through some Epos M12.2's, so didn't mind the stretch to the 740 without an audition. What I will say is that CA is a rather forward sounding marque, like Cyrus though not quire as dry (or expensive). I can't fully commit to the KEF iQ7's quality as they haven't nearly run in, but the KEF speakers are a little soft and lacking high end detail at the moment. The bass is great though and a big step up from the older big Q series speakers (like the Q7 with racetrack bass drivers).

There are, as others have said, alternatives, for £1500 but you will need to take a hit on source and amp quality to make way for the speakers - all things being equal.

Russell

[Ightenhill]

Its not a good deal till you hear it in your own house and it sounds good to your ears..

[russraff]

This is true. I do believe that RS offer a 30 day return policy on the 740 and 840, so you can try and return if they don't impress. I guess this is to re-assure folk of the expenditure of higher value ranges, given RS's budget reputation and some store's lack of demo facilities.

Russell

[LadFromWales85]

I would have probably gone for the system had I been able to listen to it. I know theres the 30 day satisfaction gurantee, but the store is over 50 miles away, and I'd be carting it back on the train (with a friend or two of course!)

The store (Chester) had the iQ7's positioned on each side of the entrance, outside of which is a junction, so not particularly quiet, and it all sounded awful! As well as that, the demo 840A had a volume dial issue it'd turn up on its own randomly!

All this and I want a V2 840A really, as the original will drop in price once the V2 is out...

[cwilson]

walk past richer sounds,down the street a bit, (over the railway bridge) then on the Right you'll see accoustica. Call and see (hear) what they can offer for around the £1500 mark. Start out with a Rega Apollo, Brio and R3's, or if you need a remote for the amp try a Maia. They may well have some ex dem Naim stuff at the moment as well.

[LadFromWales85]

I loved my Naim 200/202, but moving house killed me financially, and they were the most expensive things I owned

Didn't know that there was an Acoustica just up the road from RS, I'd have popped in when I went to Chester to get my CA 640R. But I bought it to cut down, I didn't want to spend £1500 again. I do miss my kit, and regret selling them, but if I didn't, I'd probably be homeless now!

[iocat]

I demoed this system at Richer sounds last year and found I didn’t like the speakers at all - poor sound stage, sounded a bit chaotic somehow (could have been the poor demo room though). I thought the amp and CD could be great with better speakers so I negotiated a deal on the CDp and amp and ordered a pair of Monitor Audio RS6 Speakers from sevenoaks.

Although initially impressed, I ended up feeling the sound was too bright and forward and have since settled with Spendor s8e speakers.

This combo is truly wonderful, the CD player in particular is very detailed without sounding harsh.

Make sure you either wait for the soon to be available 840a V2 or get a very big discount on the old model!