Need Help With Choosing new Amp & Speakers

okay, I've got £2000 budget for new amp, speakers and 20m of cable.

i have no idea about cables,
there's few speakers i was thinking about,

ACOUSTIC ENERGY AELITE 3
EPOS M22
Kef IQ7
BW DM603 S3
BW DM604 *
Monitor Audio Silver RS8
Paradigm Monitor 9



As for amps, i was thinking about NAD c372 but I'm very open for suggestions.

 

Are you the real Robin van Persie?

Choosing speakers is a very personal and subjective thing, so listen to all the speakers above and choose the one you like most. A suitable amplifier will then follow out of that (listen to a few and find out).

From the list above, I would pick the Epos M22, but that's me. Anyone else would probably pick a different one... I don't think the NAD is a particularly inspiring amp.

 

For amps, I'd get an Alesis RA500 power amp for £150. They are very good indeed and I can show you some very easy modifications to up its performance again. http://www.alesis.com/products/ra500/

For a pre-amp I'd get a Promitheus TVC for £170 (apparently its nearly as good as the Music First which is basically what I use) http://www.promitheusaudio.com/tvc.htm

And that leaves over £1600 to spend on some sound speakers

Something like the Dali Helicon 300 or 400 if its in budget (not sure of exact price). http://www.dali.dk/uk/

In the budget you have I seriously doubt you can get anything better than the Alesis amp and Promitheus pre-amp as they are (the Alesis at least) a stupendous bargain. If you want though, a valve pre-amp like the Icon Audio would do nicely I expect. http://www.iconaudio.co.uk/ProductRange.htm

Oh, for cables I'd use anything really, as un inspiring as that may be. Personally I use solid-core lighting cable from B&Q on the speakers and 'Musiflex' for the interconnects.

 

Tenson,

I notice you used to use active PMCs. How come you decided to swap them for the Dalis, and how do the 2 compare?

 

Hi,

I did have PMC AML1's but I didn't swap them for Dali's - I am just recommending them as whenever I have heard them, they sounded great. I would still prefer the AML1's to the Helicon series but then for the price and the fact the PMC's were active, I should really.

 

I see, my mistake.

What did you replace the PMCs with and why? If you don't mind me asking, of course.

 

Home made speakers Thinking of getting some AML1's?

 

any good?

 

Yup, they are working well

...but I need to get a knob for my pre-amp!

 

What pre amp?

 

Home made, lol! It has a custom built 24 position knob from Grayhill. But no, I didn't tell them to put a D shaft on it Still, I probably wouldn't have thought it was going to be an issue.

 

Thanks for replys guys, .

 

Yeah, they're on my wishlist. I just wish they were a little (lot) cheaper!

 

Well, keep an eye on the sound on sound classifieds they come up now and then. They are fully worth the money the ask though.

 

try the new castle, minny satelittes..nando

 

Oh, you lucky man:£2k for new amp/speakers/cable.Spend it wisely, not quickly! Search reviews, and then search again(one only REALLY understands the 2nd time.)
I see from your comment about the NAD C372 that you seek high power(NAD consistently produce amps that "wipe the floor with their competitors " when it comes to power output).Well, its NOT just about power, it's also about the way your amplifier controls the speakers (GRIP). The better an amplifier controls the speakers, the better the sound. The load a speaker presents to the amplifier varies throughout the sonic spectrum, so it's a constantly changing load.Enough of this - you might be getting bored with technobabble. Here's my personal recommendation, take it or leave it, but at least think about it; buy the EPOS speakers, and then buy CREEK amplification(vice versa will do).
I replaced an integrated amplifier with a CREEK pre/power combination(2nd hand) ,and the difference was night and day. The power output of the pre/power was 70W.I then read an article(three,in fact, and they all agreed) which recommended adding a 2nd power amp, and bridging each one(power increases from 70W to 240W) to form a monoblock. Now, each power amp drives only one speaker, biwired. WOW, enough said.You may have to buy 2nd hand(CREEK don't make power amplifiers anymore) but the search is worth it. Good hunting whatever you decide.

 

Amphion ion loudspeakers
Amphion Helium 2

Great speakers both about £600. I heard them at the Heathrow show in the Audiocraft room.

 

Ahh so that’s what they were. The Ion was not at all bad. No bass though (not surprisingly for its size!)