2. amps-preamps
  3. 1016478410

semi-budget sys - under 1450

Apologies if you've seen this on audiorevew.com...

Speakers I'm down to:
B&W 602S3s or Paradigm Studio 20s or 40s
Integrateds:
NAD C370 (sounds worse, but hey, it's 105 watts)
Rotel RA1060 (what I thought I wanted until some damn aimable salesman my age played my wife and I the
Arcam A75 (which is my current fav but a stretch for my wallet - only 50 watts, but lordy what soundstaging - it's uncanny)

play mostly rock, nice nice soundtrack) and left-field electronica (no boom-boom-boom-boom, thanks) and just enough jazz to make me listen close to cymbals and timbre while demoing.

if i get the paradigm studio 20s and arcam a75 for purity, i would have to add a subwoofer at some point. if i get the B&Ws and anything else, I'm gonna wanna bi-amp (unless it's the NAD, in which case I would probably just sell/trade-in it) I think. what would you do? throw more speakers at me if you want but let's try to control my urges to build a $2000 core system instead of a $1400-1500 dollar one. thanks everyone!
cbinkleye862

Showing 2 responses by ohlala

ohlala
1,248 posts
 
My approach is different from your approach, but i have decided to add anyways under "what would you do?".

I would not get the NAD if i did not like it. I would get the Arcam if I did. Monitors just do not need that much power, especially when quality is compromised. I also do not understand biamping a ~$700 monitor. It's just more of the same, but not really more. Because you like seem to really like the Arcam, I am not thirlled by adding this but a used Classe CAP-100 or 80 (both rated at 100w) is in your budget.

And BTW-FYI-the 105w rating of the C370 is very conservative.

Good luck, hope you have fun buying and listening.
ohlala
1,248 posts
 
Thanks, Grandpad...made my day.
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