Sorry, forgot to add that it has to be an integrated due to space limitations. From what I've read, the Harbeths favor SS over tubes. |
BTW, someone local is selling a Primaluna Prologue Premium integrated for $1500. Has anyone tried it with Harbeth? |
@roberjerman: Thanks for the advice. I actually owned a Peachtree Nova 125 for almost two years. It never really impressed me. It was a bit too sparkly on the top for my taste. Also had some quality issues. Finally replaced it with a Parasound. The difference was night and day. Now admittedly, this was almost 5 years ago. It is possible that Peachtree has made improvements since then.
@yogiboy This is interesting. For some reason I always thought that Harbeths go well with SS. I think even Alan Shaw recommends SS over tubes. But TBH, I've always been intrigued by tubes. Maybe it's worth a try. Thanks for recommending Rogue Audio. I'll check it out. They have several models on sale @ audiogon. Which one would you recommend? |
@yogiboy The Atlas Magnum ... the retail price is $2395. The listing is for $1895, i.e. the price is less than <25% of the original price. When buying used, I try to find deals around 40% off of the retail price. Yeah, I'm cheap like that , lol! Otherwise, it sounds like a really nice piece of equipment. Thanks for the suggestion.
@ryder Your analysis is spot on. I really like the Naim sound, but you're absolutely right that their lower end equipment is under powered. The Unitiqute, when brand new, was listed for $2400. Given the quality issues with the display (more widespread than you would think), and the lack of sufficient power, especially in comparison to competitors, I'm just surprised that people still buy their lower to mid end gear at those prices. TBH, I'm kinda bummed out after the quality issues. Appreciate your suggestions.
I'm seriously considering purchasing a used tube integrated. Given that I have zero experience with tube gear, I'll do my due diligence and do some research before jumping in the pool.
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Thanks for the suggestions everyone. At this point, I am quite certain that I will drive down the tube route this time around, followed by a fast, small and musical sub. Keeping an eye on the deals here and local craigslist.
The Rogue Cronus, and Rogue Audio in general, seems like a good choice. Naim is out for good, what a disappointment.
Now I just have to wait for that bonus check to arrive :) |
I originally started this thread more than 6 months ago, but had to put aside the purchase because of unexpected expenses. I'm finally ready to pull the trigger on a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnus II, sold by a local seller. A few questions …
1. Has anyone paired the Cronus with Harbeth speakers, specifically P3esr's? If so, how would you describe the sound?
2. Can the amp drive the P3esr's to their full potential? Although, my room is not that big (see details in earlier threads), I want to make sure it is sufficient for future needs. I plan to keep the P3esrs for a very long time.
3. I'm planning to use the Cambridge Audio Azur 851D DAC with the Cronus Magnus. Anyone sees any issues with this pairing? I'm hoping I can bypass the pre-amp function of the Azur and only use the DAC.
4. The seller is willing to sell the amp for $1400, which seems like a good price, especially considering that I save an extra $100 on shipping, since it's local. Do you guys think the price is reasonable?
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@yogiboy Thanks for your response. I'm really loving the P3esr's at the moment. Initially, I was not impressed by the bass response, but things have improved considerably after around 200 hours of listening. These speakers are definitely keepers. Once you get used to the midrange magic, it's hard to enjoy other speakers. I'm really hoping the Cronus Magnum will take things up a notch or two.
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I finally made the purchase yesterday! Happy to report that the improvement in SQ is substantial. I just can't believe how much bigger and better the Harbeth's are sounding right now. I'm finally beginning to see why people love the P3esr's so much. Without a doubt the Cronus Magnum has taken my music to a whole new level.
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Ok now that I have the basics (amp + speakers) under control, I'm trying to see what improvements I can pursue going forward. Let me share what I think those areas should be, as well as my concerns …
Apple TV -- I'm currently using Apple TV as a streamer. Some folks have suggested moving up to a more purpose-built device like the Bluesound Node. My question is if it's worth the price if I already use a DAC (Cambridge Audio Azur 851D) which is (subjectively) better than the one found in the Bluesound. So if you take the DAC out of the equation, is it worth spending money on the Bluesound purely as a streamer?
DAC -- Should I look into upgrading my DAC first? The Azur 851D is a good DAC, but it's about 4 years old now. I wonder if there are better DACs out there that might noticeably improve the sound quality? I don't mind spending up to $2000 for a used device, but cannot justify anything higher. Or should I stay with my current DAC?
Subwoofer -- Several of you have suggested adding a subwoofer. For now, I'm happy with the bass response I'm getting. Besides, I've never had any luck integrating a sub with my KEF LS50 wireless. I can never tune it to my satisfaction. But let's say it's worth trying, what would you guys recommend? My preference is to have something that is musical, sealed and with a small footprint.
Cables -- I'm currently using silver wires (Clear Day) -- btw, I recently found out that Paul (the owner) has passed away. May he rest in peace. He was a fantastic guy and spent at least two hours on the phone with me a few years ago before I made the purchase. Having said that, I wonder if silver cables are the best option here. Suggestions?
Lastly, given that I will be making one change at a time as funds permit, it would be helpful to lay out a rough roadmap in terms of priority.
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