what price to pay?

Hi all, i have been reading various reviews over the last 2 weeks to finally norrow down on

(a) Cambridge Audio 540 V2 amp and CD player with Monitor
Audio Bronze BR2 speakers.



(b) NAD 352 Amp / Marantz 6002 CD Player with Monotor Audio
Bronze BR 2 Speakers.

having done this, the meat of the matter for a working class music lover, what is the fair price to pay for these combinations in India? also is it possible to demo these in Mumbai?

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks

Both the Cambridge Audio 540A V2 amp and Monitor Audio Bronze BR2 are around the 18.5k mark each. The 540C V2 CD player is about 17.5k, and the 640C V2 around 21.3k. You can get the CAs from FX Entertainment (Fx Entertainment) and the MA from Nova Audio (NOVA AUDIO PVT. LTD.). You may be able to to audition the CA at your closest dealership.

Thanks Particleman, for the leads. Anybody who can help me with the NAD and Marantz prices. There is an AV show at Mumbai 22-24 Mar 08, would there be discounts/ offers there on these products?

Hi,
For Nad in mumbai contact lakozy@ 23697001/2. The C352 is now replaced by the C355. The price was about 28K and the price of the marantz should be about 20K. The MA BR 2 should be 18/19 K. If u can get a C352 (they may have some left over stock)take it at a discounted rate. I dont think there will much much difference in the sound.
Regards.

Thanks Dinyaar/ Particleman, BTW i called Nova today and they quoted about 21.5 for the BR2. at them...will try elsewhere.
Which combination would you choose personally if you had a budget of say 60-70K.
Are the Dynaudio bookshelves a lot better than the MA/MS?

Hi,]
For MA also call boomerang(26194452) and check prices. Ya Dynaudio makes some super speakers but my opinion is that some of the lower ranges somehow dont have the dyna sound. This is solely my opinion. I had a Contour 1.3 SE and i loved it and have heard quite a few of the newer ranges and i would not long to own any of them. I guess MA is great VFM
Regards

Kool, then its MA for speakers. One decision taken
Step 2.
Will the NAD 315 or CA 540 V2 drive these speakers efficiently?

Or should i once and for all spend some more money and get the NAD 352.
Step 3.
As for the CD player i guess it will be a CA with CA amp/ Marantz 6002 with NAD amp. right?

I've been using the dyna 52 for some time now & i've yet to come across a spk with a better (true) tonality & balance. I aslo feel the 52SE is a real bargain. I've heard the MA but ve not liked them over the dyna.
Yes the more expensive dyna's sound better. All dyna req good clean power a NAD/ CA would work but would not extract the dyna true potential.
Give a listen before deciding.
Hearing is believing.
All the best.
Cheers.

Pity. Sumaria used to stock Monitor Audio and charged about 18.5 for the BR2 and 30-ish for the BR5. When I checked last week they seemed to have stopped selling MA and now have Klipsch reference series.

The MA silver series might suit you better with a budget of 70k. The RS bookshelf should be in the low 30's. As suggested you should listen to see if you like it. At this budget you should also consider PSB Image. If you are visiting Lakozy at Chowpatty for the NAD you can listen to the PSB at the same place. Being from "sister companies" like Cambridge Audio & Mordaunt-Short, NAD & PSB go together quite well.

Dinyaar's suggestion of the NAD C352 is an excellent one. It will be able to drive a wide variety of speakers without a problem.

The CA 540A V2 is a bit lacking in power if you wish to connect it to the likes of the Dynaudio and MA silver series. Consider the 640A V2 if at all. In the end its up to your taste.

Hi,
Try the Dyna by all means and see if u like them.
I would look at a C352 as a minimum for start up amplification. Am not being snooty but i truly feel u need a little more power than the 515 to do justice to most speakers. At least there is no straining and a sense of effortlessness. Also as i mentioned since its discontinued u should get one for 25 or less from Lakozy and he had a few when i spoke to him last month.
The dyna really requires power. Believe me when i had the 1.3SE i had tried it with tons of amplifiers way beyond the speakers power handling and the bigger amps really made the speaker shine.
I will give u my opinion on CA. I would only look at CDP s from that brand if i am pushed. Amps never. And even a cdp i would prefer a marantz. But this is my opinion and u should trust ur ears. As u can figure i am not a CA fan at all.
Best regards.