2. amps-preamps
  3. 1239427659

which - adcom, cambridge audio, outlaw, rotel

Hi. So, I'm in the odd position of having only speakers, having just sold my Marantz SR7000 A/V receiver two weeks after buying it off of CL because it didn't sound very good for rock and hip hop, but was great for jazz, pop, and classical. The plain vanilla JVC DVD player also went. The speakers are Paradigm Studio 20s on stands also from CL.

This is a two-channel music only system in my medium sized living room. Only sources will be CD and flac player (maybe through outboard DAC). i don't listen to radio.

I like clarity but not cold sound, and occasionally rock the house with hip hop or rock, mostly it is lighter stuff at low to moderate volumes.

Now, I've ordered a Cambridge Audio Azur 340A (only $200 from audio advisor), and am involved in auctions/trades for the following:

ADCOM GTP-400 preamp & ADCOM GFA-535 amp for $200 (both)
Pioneer Elite PD-M53 CD player (trade)
Rotel RCC-955 CD player (auction)
Cambridge Audio Azur 640C v2 (auction)
Outlaw Audio 1050 receiver (auction)

Based on the speakers and my listening habits, which should I pursue? Is there any new equipment that would put all of this in the shade at a total price of say $600 for integrated amp or amp/pre-amp and CD player.

I can afford considerably more, but cannot at this point justify small fortunes to listen to music. I am terminally cheap! :) See if you can convince me to spend more if there's a good price/quality balance involved.

Thanks.
vivaslb

Showing 9 responses by vivaslb

vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
Thanks, I'll check those out.
vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
Thanks for the extensive and detailed response Johnnyb53. I will check out the Onkyo. Funnily enough, I have an Integra DTR 4.5 in my HT system, but haven't really considered neither Integra nor Onkyo, partially for aesthetic reasons. I would prefer something low-profile and understated, even though my wife favors the big, bold, shiny black receivers, like the Marantz SR 7000 that I had in this system.

Any other ideas for receivers or integrated amps that look like the NADs or Cambridge Audio or Rotel? I like clean design but sound trumps.

Thanks,
Keith

vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
Johnnyb53 - Just saw a deal for a McIntosh 4100. How would you compare it with the Onkyo?

Keith
vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
I did get an Onkyo A-9555 from accessories4less.com. Unfortunately, there seems to be something wrong with it. I only used it as an amp, and when doing so, it only produces sound with the "pure direct" on. This is with using an mp3 player connected to tape, line, or MD; or a DVD/CD player connected to CD.

I spoke to Onkyo and they seemed to think it was defective, so it is going back.

With the "pure direct" engaged, it sounded good, but I wasn't blown away, compared to the Marantz SR-7000 that was in there before. This could be partly due to the fact that the defect biased me against the amp. I listened to some old school rap, Public Enemy, and the power of the bass lines was pretty evident. Also listened to some Bruce Cockburn and the sound was great, but again, I probably wouldn't have been able to distinguish it from the Marantz. Granted, the sources being a Sansadisk mp3 player and a standard JVC DVD player (borrowed from my HT room) likely didn't provide very discriminating inputs.

vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
Forgot to say that I was a little disappointed that the Onkyo doesn't have any inputs besides plastic RCA binding posts, so no digital inputs at all.

I also ordered a Cambridge Audio 340A which is about to be unboxed. The adventure continues ... Will keep this thread posted.
vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
The defective Onkyo is going back, and I don't think I want another refurbished one which is all that accessories4less has. Correct re Cambridge 340A not having digital inputs either.

This particular Onkyo had been factory reconditioned, so I don't know if it had been "broken in" for the 100 hrs. you suggest, but it must have had some use, for it to have reached the factory reconditioned stage, no?

Let's see how the Cambridge does. Haven't been able to do any serious listening, but the Public Enemy (on CD) sounded good.
vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
Listened to Suzanne Vega, Sarah Vaughn, and Madredeus today, and the Cambridge Audio is looking like a keeper so far. The defective Onkyo went to the UPS store today.

Now, I need a CD player that is twice the height of the slim consumer DVD/CD players. Any ideas? I know height isn't the best reason to choose a component, but we have a certain aesthetic goal in terms of filling the space, and I'd want one also about the same size as the Cambridge Audio. Not allowed to recommend Cambridge Audio, too obvious.
vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
Thanks Johnnyb53 for sticking with this adventure. For aesthetic reasons, chose the Onix CD-5 from av123. It has the size I was looking for, and is hefty enough to support the Cambridge Audio Azur 340A on top of it. It also seems to be well regarded. Looking forward to testing it. Of possible interest, is the JVC-XVN650 DVD player that I've been using as a source has been having occasional skips and breaks with some CDs that are pretty new. Looking forward to getting the Onix and hooking it up. I was pretty pleased that Mark, the guy I spoke to, and owner/founder of av123 and Audio Alchemy was complimentary about the Paradigm Studio 20 speakers I have. I'm pretty mid fi but good to see that my random lucky buy off of Craigslist is well regarded. My ears did not fail me. Hard for a long-time Klipsch fan to admit it, but the Paradigm Studio 20's are a lot better. I'd say better than the B&W 685 I auditioned at a hifi store.
vivaslb OP
34 posts
 
So, 6 months down the line, and I'm not really digging the Cambridge Audio for brash alternative rock (REM's latest album Accelerate, for example). I ordered a 15w/channel Sansui AU-101 from ebay just for fun and because I think it looks cool, and now have opportunities to get the Cambridge Audio 640 used for $265 or the Onkyo A-9555 (also used) for $360. Johnnyb53, I know you're all over the Onkyo, so wanted to check if that was still the case?
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