4 reference hifi systems [spkrs+amps] to audition

[anm]

Hi Guys,
Keeping in line with the tradition of "4 CDP's to buy" etc, I need your help to audition 4 very good systems.
Instead of asking for 4 best speakers, and 4 best amps, I would like suggestions on speaker+amp as one system that go very well with each other. Preferably, a matching source. Personally I would prefer a computer based source like mac-mini (mach2?) + great DAC, instead of a disc spinner.

Budget ~ 2 lakhs for speaker+amp. I may break down purchase due to budget restrictions, but I want to decide on the system before making any purchase.

Lyrita is one such system oriented setup and is first in my list, and is about half the budget.

I need to audition these setups in Delhi/ NCR, actually setup at forum members' houses. So guys, if you are really happy (ok, I mean reasonably happy) with your setup, please feel free to invite me.


Systems I wish to audition, besides lyrita:

1. Malvai's thiel setup
2. Ashok's setup. Though I have been at his place once, but I had to run back immediately.
3. Lakozy for NAD+PSB setups


Please invite me, above 3.

Need more invites from more NCR members
.
Wishlist but not easy, and much out of budget:

Ajay124's setup in Chandigarh
Prem's setup in Mumbai
Dr Bass' setup (dunno where)
Manu from Punjab's setup for bass
ARN's setup
Absolute Phase's setup - though have been there but then did not have a budget in mind so auditions were random.
Abhishek (cary audio) setup

Any other dealer suggestions are welcome too.

 

[malvai]

Hi Guys,
Keeping in line with the tradition of "4 CDP's to buy" etc, I need your help to audition 4 very good systems.
Instead of asking for 4 best speakers, and 4 best amps, I would like suggestions on speaker+amp as one system that go very well with each other. Preferably, a matching source. Personally I would prefer a computer based source like mac-mini (mach2?) + great DAC, instead of a disc spinner.

Budget ~ 2 lakhs for speaker+amp. I may break down purchase due to budget restrictions, but I want to decide on the system before making any purchase.

Lyrita is one such system oriented setup and is first in my list, and is about half the budget.

I need to audition these setups in Delhi/ NCR, actually setup at forum members' houses. So guys, if you are really happy (ok, I mean reasonably happy) with your setup, please feel free to invite me.


Systems I wish to audition, besides lyrita:

1. Malvai's thiel setup
2. Ashok's setup. Though I have been at his place once, but I had to run back immediately.
3. Lakozy for NAD+PSB setups


Please invite me, above 3.

Need more invites from more NCR members
.
Wishlist but not easy, and much out of budget:

Ajay124's setup in Chandigarh
Prem's setup in Mumbai
Dr Bass' setup (dunno where)
Manu from Punjab's setup for bass
ARN's setup
Absolute Phase's setup - though have been there but then did not have a budget in mind so auditions were random.
Abhishek (cary audio) setup

Any other dealer suggestions are welcome too.

I don't have Thiel anymore... been listening to my music on my B&W Matrix 801 S3's for over 6 months!

plus, both the 801's and the earlier Thiel 2.4's cost way more than 2L...

nevertheless, you are most welcome to come over and listen to some music anytime! bring your discs too!

 

[anm]

My listening room is my living room.

Front wall is 20 ft wide along which I would keep both speakers. Room length is ~30ft, height ~10 ft.

Listening position is about 7-8 ft from wall - leaves out very little space after keeping spkrs away from back wall.

 

[anm]

thanks Manav. Actually I have mixed up a few things here. I want to audition reference systems like yours and Prem's, even though they are out of my budget These will act as true reference systems.

 

[Bluu]

Catch a flight to Bangalore. There are a lot of members and dealers here with high quality gear. RoC, Dr Bass, Stevieboy, Sridhar, Jochen and you are welcome to visit my place as well

 

[anm]

Thanks, would definitely like to visit b'lore but wud like to exhaust ncr first. Actual systems at home are my first priority than setups at dealers.

 

[Bluu]

Of course, it only makes sense that you exhaust options closer to home first. However, Bangalore offers not only good home demo options from fellow members but also some dealer options which are unavailable anywhere else in the country.

 

[ajay124]

anm

You already have the most important ingredient for cooking a hifi feast. The room! 20x30 feet is perfect! The next crucial step would be to put aside 30K for a 3 kva Emerson Leibert online UPS, and dedicated 4 mm cables running to power sockets behind the audio rack. Direct plug - in is essential. No extension boards or surge (they don't!) protectors. I would vouch for this as an essential upgrade. I think Manav would also agree.

Source: Cd, Flac or Vinyl? You should be absolutely certain before you blow up a chunk of your precious budget.

Amp: Solid State or Tube. Integrated or Pre Power? Again be sure before you commit yourself.

Speakers: For a 20x30 feet room, you should look for powerful and heavy floorstanders. If you want to listen to orchestral music, the cabinet needs to be well built, weighty, inert and silent. Minimum 30 kg per speaker. The first thing I look for in a box speaker now is the weight. Anything less than 40 (well built) kilos is instantly rejected! If I buy another conventional box speaker, then the box has to be very special. Of course the rest of the specs are equally important, but speakers should have solid furniture grade cabinets, and amp and cdp's should have extremely solid and inert metal casings. Plastic in an amp, cdp or dac is bad news.

New or Used? You can move higher up the hifi ladder by opting for all used components. But there are risks involved. You have to be absolutely sure that the seller is reliable.

Cables and IC's. Minimum 10 % of your budget. It is reasonably safe to opt for used cables and IC's. There is less chance of getting a faulty product. They are easy to ship and if you are buying used, try to request a home audition before paying up. I am extremely happy with the (used) Transparent Audio's I bought. I have never desired any other cables or IC's since I got them. If I ever upgrade, then it would be to move higher up the Transparent Audio chain.

You are welcome to come over for an audition whenever you want. Not just for the hifi. But also for listening to some potent orchestral music which has the power to light a fire in the speakers belly.

There was a Sonus Faber Domus Grand Piano available in NCR for 115K. No harm in auditioning it, if it is still available.

 

[Bluu]

^ Excellent advice! Well written sir!

 

[prem]

Hi anm

Burson DAC $1000
Zu Omen Speakers $1875
Dayens Ampino Amp with capacitor upgrade $550


All of the above landed here should be less than 2 lakhs. And you will have a very good system.

 

[anm]

thanks everyone.
Source digital would be hdd based. Analog - TT.
Any guys in NCR who really love their system.

 

[anm]

Hi anm

Burson DAC $1000
Zu Omen Speakers $1875
Dayens Ampino Amp with capacitor upgrade $550


All of the above landed here should be less than 2 lakhs. And you will have a very good system.

prem - did you mean this Burson dac HD Audio DAC ? This doesn't seem to be up for sale.

 

[prem]

Hi Anm

The Burson stand alone DAC is under development. Should be ready in a couple of months. Right now you get a dac/headphone/pre combo. In all probability i will be buying the dac when i get into hard disk drive audio. In case you want to buy their dac/pre then go for Ampino monoblocs.

The Ampino Zu combination is really good. I have not heard the Ampino with the Zu Omen but with a more expensive Zu and it was awesome.

 

[gvenu]

Hi anm,

Welcome to my house in Bangalore for an audition of Acoustic Portrait system

Regards,
Venu

 

[anm]

Delhi NCR guys!!! Waiting eagerly for your invitations
Will try to be at Malvai's place in a couple of weeks.

 

[rana_kirti]

Best speakers i've ever heard is the PSB Synchrony 2B. They were powered by a NAD 355.

Check up with Lakozy Delhi. Ashish is a wonderful AV Dealer. He's more like a host welcoming guests home. :thumbsup:

 

[dillihifi]

Hi anm,

Nice initiative that you have undertaken. Well I would also like to visit manav (i.e if manav does not mind). If you do tie up with him keep me also in the loop that I can also listen to some outstanding gear.

 

[malvai]

Hi anm,

Nice initiative that you have undertaken. Well I would also like to visit manav (i.e if manav does not mind). If you do tie up with him keep me also in the loop that I can also listen to some outstanding gear.

you're most welcome to come over! I really do not mind!

 

[audiodelic]

Well ive been to some auditions in delhi to some stores:

PSB Synchrony One: Nice neutral monitor type, fatigue free smooth sound ... i bet this speakers measures very well, not laid back nor forward just there with the right balance.
Listen at lakozy.

Paradigm Studio 100: If you like forward sound with a little exciting treble ... definitely worth a listen.Listen at q acoustics dealer in delhi. He has 3l sonus faber luito also.

Monitor Audio RX6: Transparent mid range sound with a great tweeter also, bass is very controlled and british sounding, but its great for the asking price. Listen at bass n treble.

Focal Chorus 826V: Warm Inviting sound, very flattering presentation but natural/transparent to a good extent, best tweeter of the lot also. I really like this speaker, it might not measure the most flat in the graphs but sure does make music sound heavenly insightful. Listen at sight and sound, mblock, gk1.

 

[ravin]

@ ajay124
Where are you putting up in Chandigarh?
I studied in St. Stephen's (sector 8A)('89 batch)