discover
Prominent Member
Okay so I went into my local AV shop this afternoon to hear a few combinations of CD players and stereo amps.
The speakers used in all 3 setups were the Monitor Audio RX6.
First I heard a combination of the Pioneer PD-30 & Pioneer A-30 -
Both units seemed really well built, nice brushed metal finish and looked a great match. Nice signature blue LED lighting across both units.
The PD-30 weighed a tonne!
This sounded really good to me, bass sounded tight and fast, mid range was clear and times slightly heavy and the treble was crisp and sharp.
A Fantastic CD/amp package for £599. I was really impressed by this.
Next up I heard a combination of an Arcam FMJ CD37 & FMJ A18 -
Both units were finished in black or dark grey as it appears. Was not too keen on the finish as it looked a little dull but hey it's only a colour.
The display on the CD37 was bright and clear and could be seen a mile away.
I was surprised by the depth of the CD37, It was huge! Shame they didn't have the matching A38 to demo. The combined weight seemed around the same if not slightly heavier than the Pioneer.
To my ears, the Arcam system just didn't have the powerful mid range the Pioneer expressed. It had a kinda flat sound almost like heavy bass and treble but nothing inbetween. The treble was a little clearer, maybe a little too over emphasised at times. The bass sounded clean too, infact it sounded very similar to the Pioneer.
Also a great package but this costs £1,799 - £1,100 more expensive than the Pioneer!
Lastly I heard the Cyrus CD6 2SE & 6A Amp.
I never got to feel the weight of these but they looked stunning, really well built.
As soon as I hit play on the CD6, I noticed it had everything the Pioneer and Arcam had but it was a little more refined. The bass was solid, the mids that the arcam was hiding was back in the picture and treble was crisp, just right. Wasn't too high or sharp as the other too and it just seemed like it got the balance right however the actual sound overall sounded the same to me across all three systems.
Total system costs £1,299.
So I heard a £600, £1,300 and an £1800 system yet to my ears THEY ALL SOUNDED THE SAME! The Cyrus was better but only hairline better. The difference wasn't obvious by any means.
I preferred the sound of a £600 system compared to an £1800 Arcam system.
Why is the Arcam so highly overpriced?? I've only read good stuff about arcam on the net but when I heard this system I was a little disappointed if I'm being honest.
I was surprised by the Pioneer PD-30 & A-30 combo, that really was superb value for money. Even if I had the £1800, I would no doubt buy the Pioneer setup hands down!
So what was the moral of the story???
Does anyone know, because I certainly don't!
One thing I have learnt is the importance of matching the right amp with the right speakers and expensive CD players are just a hype (to my ears)
I apologise in advance to anyone with any of the kit I heard that's taken offense. Of course I never meant it in that way, I'm just expressing what I felt.
The speakers used in all 3 setups were the Monitor Audio RX6.
First I heard a combination of the Pioneer PD-30 & Pioneer A-30 -
Both units seemed really well built, nice brushed metal finish and looked a great match. Nice signature blue LED lighting across both units.
The PD-30 weighed a tonne!
This sounded really good to me, bass sounded tight and fast, mid range was clear and times slightly heavy and the treble was crisp and sharp.
A Fantastic CD/amp package for £599. I was really impressed by this.
Next up I heard a combination of an Arcam FMJ CD37 & FMJ A18 -
Both units were finished in black or dark grey as it appears. Was not too keen on the finish as it looked a little dull but hey it's only a colour.
The display on the CD37 was bright and clear and could be seen a mile away.
I was surprised by the depth of the CD37, It was huge! Shame they didn't have the matching A38 to demo. The combined weight seemed around the same if not slightly heavier than the Pioneer.
To my ears, the Arcam system just didn't have the powerful mid range the Pioneer expressed. It had a kinda flat sound almost like heavy bass and treble but nothing inbetween. The treble was a little clearer, maybe a little too over emphasised at times. The bass sounded clean too, infact it sounded very similar to the Pioneer.
Also a great package but this costs £1,799 - £1,100 more expensive than the Pioneer!
Lastly I heard the Cyrus CD6 2SE & 6A Amp.
I never got to feel the weight of these but they looked stunning, really well built.
As soon as I hit play on the CD6, I noticed it had everything the Pioneer and Arcam had but it was a little more refined. The bass was solid, the mids that the arcam was hiding was back in the picture and treble was crisp, just right. Wasn't too high or sharp as the other too and it just seemed like it got the balance right however the actual sound overall sounded the same to me across all three systems.
Total system costs £1,299.
So I heard a £600, £1,300 and an £1800 system yet to my ears THEY ALL SOUNDED THE SAME! The Cyrus was better but only hairline better. The difference wasn't obvious by any means.
I preferred the sound of a £600 system compared to an £1800 Arcam system.
Why is the Arcam so highly overpriced?? I've only read good stuff about arcam on the net but when I heard this system I was a little disappointed if I'm being honest.
I was surprised by the Pioneer PD-30 & A-30 combo, that really was superb value for money. Even if I had the £1800, I would no doubt buy the Pioneer setup hands down!
So what was the moral of the story???
Does anyone know, because I certainly don't!
One thing I have learnt is the importance of matching the right amp with the right speakers and expensive CD players are just a hype (to my ears)
I apologise in advance to anyone with any of the kit I heard that's taken offense. Of course I never meant it in that way, I'm just expressing what I felt.