what price to pay?

Hi Neo and Dinyaar, Thanks for the advice on the Dynaudio 52...but its way over my budget. (Maybe will search for a good deal/ secondhand Dynaudio 42)
I dont want to exceed 70K, Say 25-30K for speakers, and 20-25K for Amp and 20K for CD player.
Will check out the NAD+ PSB at Lacozy. Infact calling them right away to check on the NAD352BEE, if i get a good deal then the Amp too is decided.......but i am back to square 1 on the speakers MA BR2/PSB Image 25/Dyna 42
Also will check out the Marantz 6002 CD Player..Dinyaar where should i look for it at 20K?

I dont think I will be able to hear this combination at one place, so i guess, will decide on the speakers and Amp...byu them....and then take them to the amp dealer.

Finally, yes i shall hear it and decide.

If the dyna's exceed your budget than I would suggest you check the tannoy fusion2 or their studio monitors reveal 6. They are both highly underrated the studio monitors come only in maroon finish & without the grills. Sadly there is no dealer in mumbai & hopefully it will be rectified shortly. I second dinyaar on the CA bit but I’m not totally against them. Also don’t go short on cables & interconnects.
All the best.

I agree with the above recommendations, but wanted to add that CA is not really that bad I am using a CA 640 in my bedroom. It is a laid back amp with a bit more details than NAD in the high frequencies, but lacks the warmth and power of NAD. So you could try it out for yourself and decide.

Regards,
Sharad

Thanks all for all the help, will keep in mind the cables and interconnects.... Will keep youll updated as i get about hearing the different combinations and quotes. Is it worth waiting and looking for good deals during the AV MAx exhibition at Mumbai?

For the Spk QED silver anniversary XT & QED Quenex 3 intertconnects seem a good bargain for your budget. If you buy a bi wirable design try to get a biwire spk cable.
You may also try the KEF IQ5se, havent heard them my self but a couple of my friends liked them. You can find them at pro fx at atria.
I've have never come across bargain at expo's, i feel you are better of bargaining at showrooms as they'll have more time for you.
All the best.

Thanks NEO, will keep youll updated on what i pick and the prices too.

Hi all, heard the NAD 352 with the MA Bronze BR2 & Marantz 6002 CDP.... was disappointed (too warm....not much clarity and at higher volumes it just could not deliver), guess its the BR2 to blame ...so heard them with the Quad 12L...(yes, the price is much higher than what we discussed earlier). It sounded much better than what i heard earlier. Then changed the amp to Marantz 7001...and it sounded like a different world. Very clear and bright. Can anybody tell me what went wrong with the NAD 352? I had expected a lot more. I will give it another try with the PSB speakers....just in case .
Will also listen to CA later in the week.

Hi,
Frankly what u say about the sound at higher volumes not being good is a trait of all budget HIFI. Most of the small integrateds from various manufacturers sound sweet at modest volumes but cant remain clean when u turn up the knob. In my opinion u actually can use at best only half the volume control rest (if the amp allows!!!!!!) is pure distortion.
The BR2 is a decent budget speaker but it will sound boxy. The quad has different qualities but even the Nad/quad combo refuses to go loud clean. I personally like to have a big amp even with small standmounts. I feel i get great control and a neutral presentation at various volume levels.
I guess u can try the MA silver book shelf, i dont like the kefs in that range too much, quad is a better bet.
As for the amp the 352 is decent for the price. I dont think u will find the 355 any better. Most of these amps have low damping factors and struggle when cranked. I would say the same applies to most amps from various brands. In my opinion the arcam is better than NAD,Rotel,Marantz in that price range. I guess u can audition the Rotel/B&W combo at AVI and compare to what u heard.(Thought this combo will be costlier).
Dont be in a hurry and hear as much as u can. I know the drill can sometimes get frustrating but take the time and make the effort and really explore all options and u can always rely on me to confuse u further!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha
Best regards.

Hi Dinyaar, as a newbee, I really appreciate the advice given....it does not add to the confusion but on the other help me narrow down on the best without going through the same grind that youll must have been through.

The lesson i learnt yesterday was,
(a) Hear what you intend buying and dont go only by the reviews.
(b) For every budget there is the good/ better and best, if you hear the next higher level the lower one would thereafter sound muddy.
(c) Its the speakers that matter a lot and make the biggest difference in the steup...so that here a major portion of my budget will go.(35-45K)

What next, Split my budget of 70K between the Speakers and Amp, the CDP can come later after a bonus = more hard work at office.

To narrow down on the Speakers; will hear the NAD 352 again with MA Silver RS1 and PSB Image25. Read about the Epos M12.2 and Dyna audiance 52...can you tell me about them, sound, dealers etc and add to my confusion.
What about Advance Acoustic amps?... where and which model of Arcam should i look for?....this hunt seems to be getting more and more interesting and challenging....I have some time at hand and will hearout my options. Any help from you all who have heard most of these brands is greatly appreciated.

Hi,

Reviews do help. The important thing here is unbiased views/reviews.

I do not agree when magazines say u should split ur budget 3 way or spend say 2L on a cdp if i spent 2 on an amp. Others may disagree. In most of my set ups in the past the speakers have been better/costlier( need not always go together) than my electronics and i have never been unhappy.

Dynaudio s are generally good speakers, with good detail and solid bass.(even the stand mounts) Have not owned one for some time but from what i recall are 4 ohms and a very demanding drive. So if u are going for a dyna u will need a robust amp. Ya i prefer a dyna to a quad or an MA speaker but then a dyna is also more expensive. The MA silver series is a great bang for the buck and so are the quads(are now made in china) but most of these sound boxy and have their pro s and cons. Go with the sound u like then try getting the best amplification. I think the cdp from marantz is a good choice and one that is pretty unfussy to partner. Spend on the electronics now and cables u can keep for later. I mean u buy basic ICS and speaker wire to get started and as finances permit explore and see if u like the differences and feel the outlay is justified. The epos u mention is a sweet tonal speaker but wont go loud with any conviction. Another thing to budget will be a decent speaker stand as putting on stools,shelves will give u a boomy bass.(can make a functional metal stand with a little effort for less than 5K)
Lastly avoid advance accoustics amps and i doubt u will like the PSB speakers. I like the image 45 for the price but most of my friends dont, they feel it lacks excitement and lacks detail. As regards the Arcam i am sorry they are priced much higher than the NAD/Marantz amps and not worth the local price. I thought the A 70 would be 35 K or so but i hear its 50 plus!!!
Always there to add to ur confusion!!!!!!
Regards.