Buying first 2 channel system - Need advice. (1 Viewer)

[Brian Tutas]

I'm in the market to buy my first 2 channel system. The setup I've found consists of:

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Speakers: B&W CDM 9NT

Amp/Pre-amp/Tuner: All Rotel
RB-1080(200X2)/RC-1070/RT-940

CD/DVD: Pioneer Elite DV-C36 (5 disc changer)

Subwoofer: To be purchased at a later date.

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Mainly, this is a 2 channel system split between cd's and radio. I plan to watch an occasional dvd using the auxiliary input. However, I need to buy a tv, which a few months away.

My concerns are:

1) Amp: Originally, I had the RB-1070 (130x2) selected, but think the extra power will perform better.

2) CD/DVD: This is a progressive scan dvd, which is overkill, considering I don't have a tv. But when I do, should it be digital to utilize the progressive scan technology? Any suggestions on a different 5 disc cd/dvd changer?

3) Price? The price I was quoted (before cables or tax) is $4,500. Basically, the quote was retail price minus 10 percent.

All comments are appreciated.

 

[John Royster]

CD/SACD.
I've heard many great things about the sony 555es and 9000es players. Although at that price you should listen to a multitude (hopefully with your rotel/B&W setup) and pick.
Just auditioned some CDM9NT a few days ago. Great speakers. pianos sound like....well pianos.

 

[chung_sotheby]

A couple of things:
Rotel gear is a great starting point for hi-fi. It performs well above its price point. All of the gear you mentioned should leave you very satisfied. I owned the RC1070 for a while, and I never knew how great of a preamp it was until I sold it and tried listening to my CD player through a Denon 3802. It blew the Denon away in 2 channel peformance. Cleaner, more relaxed, and a huge soundstage. In terms of the dvd player, progressive scan only deals with the video side of the DVD player, and the only way to see the difference in progressive scan is to buy a television which is capable of 540 progressive lines of resolution. So your television will probably have to be an HDTV to handle the progressive signal. Otherwise, you are better off getting a cheaper 1 disc dvd player and then investing is a good 5 disc cd player. But beware, a lot of 5 disc DVD/CD players dont read CDR/RW's, and their internal dacs are awful, so you are better off buying a dedicated cd player. ANd lastly, you could get a much better price than $4500 for this setup. If this is coming from an authorized dealer, look to get about 20% off the entire lot, especially if you are buying it all at once. You can find better prices on the internet for almost all these components, except for maybe the B&W's.

 

[Jay Morrissette]

I haven't done very much research on 2 channel systems so take what I say with a grain of salt , but I would consider looking for used gear. Quality components will last a very long time and audiophiles are always upgrading things.
look in the classified section here and also on the www.avsforum.com
I think you will get a lot more quality for the money on used gear.
~Jay

 

[Mark Austin]

It sounds like a very nice system. I too after having an HT for several years am considering scrapping the HT system for an elite 2 channel system. Thinking about the Sonus faber Guaneri Homage, and some tubes.

 

[John Tompkins]

Brian,

Have you ever tried or heard a good tube pre for two channel music ? not to steer you in another direction but Ive had many solid state pre's and processors and to me a tube pre sounds much better then even a VERY expensive solid state pre like the Bryston bp-25..just a thought

 

[Mike Bledsoe]

DEAR BRIAN
One thing is for sure more power is always better. As I have answered for someone else, your progressive scan dvd player will have to be hooked to a progressive scan tv thru
the component inputs to make use of that feature.

 

[Brandon Blair]

If you want to check out some great tube equipment you've got to listen to some electronics by Conrad-Johnson. Some of it can get a little up in price, its some great quality stuff. I've heard that for their upcoming aniversary they will be producing a 750 watt/ch tube amp. I have no idea how they'll accomplish it, but it should defenitely be interesting.

 

[Martice]

Go HERE for used audio gear and 2-channel discussion as well as HERE for more of the same.

 

[Saurav]

One thing is for sure more power is always better.

Not necessarily. Higher sensitivity speakers need less amplifier power to play at the same SPL levels. For the same number of dollars spent, I would take fewer high-quality watts over more low-quality watts any day, of course assuming I had the minimum needed to reach the SPL levels I want.

 

[Darrel McBane]

VTL might match up well with the SF. Vandersteen 5s and VTL tube Amps and Preamp would also be a good starter two channel system.

 

[chung_sotheby]

i think what mike was trying to say is that more QUALITY power is always better. Sure, anyone would take a Mcintosh 50 watt over an Audiosource 200 watt, but if you decide to prevent amp clipping it is smart to get a higher powered amp. It is always better to have spare power with a quality amp so you dont damage your speakers.

 

[Wayne McRae]

Brian.I'm going to chime in here and say that 10% off a purchase like that is BULL****.I would think 20-25% should be more in line when you spend that much of your hard earned money.Assuming that it is hard earnedGo back and tell your salesperson that you are considering a package from another store and you need them to sharpen their pencil if they want the sale.

 

[Saurav]

It is always better to have spare power with a quality amp so you dont damage your speakers.

That is certainly true. The speakers I'm currently interested in can hit 100dB+ with under 10W of power, so this is less important for me than it could be for somebody else.

 

[chung_sotheby]

Saurav, I totally agree with you on all points. People should decide on speakers and then the matching amp, not the other way around. When I said to get a higher powered amp, I was assuming that the listener already had a set of satisfactory speakers, and was looking to purchase a new amp to match the speakers.

 

[Saurav]

OK, that makes more sense.

 

[KeithR]

Don't know of anyone who has gone tubes, and returned to ss (unless for lifestyle non-sonic reasons)

Once you listen to them you are hooked...

 

[Martice]

Don't know of anyone who has gone tubes, and returned to ss (unless for lifestyle non-sonic reasons)

I agree with the above statement. I used to own a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 and although not the warmest of tube preamps it performed quite well in my system. I thought that I was missing the ultra details that SS provides and purchased a Adcom GFP-750 and it too was a nice piece of gear but was the exact opposite of what the Sonic Frontiers offered. I plan on going back to tubes but along the way I inserted a Sony TA-P9000es preamp and all I can tell you is that it is one hell of a performer. It sounds much better than the Adcom pre and at the price it's truely a steal. After letting it play all day for the last 48 hours it really sounds absolutely wonderful.

Will it keep me from going back to tubes? Only time will tell but for what it's worth, It so far has the potential to be the best preamp that I've had in my system.