CA Minx Series - first impression

[kanna.sridharan]

I just bought the CA Minx S222 package consisting of a pair MINX 21 and the X200 sub for my computer. The computer has a ASUS Xonar Essence STX sound card.

Just wanted to share my initial experience... first with some pictures..

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I wanted a speaker package which was small and powerful, a lot of active options, but I had to put the amp to use, so decided to go with the Minx....

I'm really impressed with the clarity, big sound stage and the sub blends in beautifully... These may not impress audiophiles and is no match to a proper B/S, but where space matters, I think they really do well... Had auditioned the BOSE, but the wow factor was missing. I actually never go to audition these before I bought them, but I'm never going to regret..

It's playing a bit harsh now, but every other review says it takes a while to run in and smooths out eventually... I'm hoping for the best..

Stand for the amp is getting ready, so the sub would be placed below & I get some leg room..

 

[jaudere]

Looking good. What was the price?

 

[kanna.sridharan]

I paid 36K for the package...

 

[musicbee]

Sure does look good. 36K seems on the higher side for computer speakers though...

Have you heard others like AudioEngine, Swans, etc.? How do they compare to the CA?

 

[iaudio]

kanna sridharan, Congrats on your purchase. Is the black amp shown bundled with the speakers?

 

[kanna.sridharan]

kanna sridharan, Congrats on your purchase. Is the black amp shown bundled with the speakers?

Thanks. The price was for the speaker package only...

These are not computer speakers, they are for HT/stereo setups, they require an amplifier.

I had bought the amp from a forum member to improvise my HT setup, but it has taken me to a different route..

 

[sachin_k5]

Your HT setup looks quite good (from signature) ! Will this really add value?

 

[jaudere]

36K only for speakers? looks quite pricey. It has to sound audiophile grade at that price.

 

[kanna.sridharan]

Your HT setup looks quite good (from signature) ! Will this really add value?

I had the CA 650A powering the Dia 9.2 the source being the Marantz amp, I had problems with the volume control. When the volume in the AVR is raised the CA amp's volume would also raise along, fed up with it I took it off the setup. Was looking to upgrade my computer speakers to the leagues of the KRK, but then I wanted something small and ended up buying these...

36K only for speakers? looks quite pricey. It has to sound audiophile grade at that price.

36K for the satellite and the sub which is active (digital 200W), the satellites can handle 75W of full range and if a HPF is placed can be driven upto 200W. It sounds amazing, much better than Bose AM5 which I had auditioned, this maybe pricier by 14K, but I think it has more control for music, the mids which were really disappointing in the BOSE, is spot on this setup, the sub is a 6.5" driver and blends in perfectly even though they are crossed at around 120Hz. For near field listening, it doesnt hurt. You have to hear it to believe. I've ordered for the speaker desktop stands, which would fix my sound imaging issue, which is actually low by 2".

Well all this from my little experience in the hifi field, learning a lot as days go by, its getting to be a costly experience, all worth it..

 

[cmsajith]

For the same price you could have got a far better speaker.

 

[corElement]

For the same price you could have got a far better speaker.

I really don't wanna pop the OP's happy bubble but I kind of have to agree with cmsajith. 36k for speakers was a good budget to get a

kef q300 or quad 11 bookshelf.

You even had the perfect amp to drive either.

But it doesn't matter now. If you're satisfied that's all that counts.

 

[jaudere]

I would say, as long as you are satisfied, nothing else matters. Enjoy the set up. If the satellites can handle full range signal upto 70watts without HPF , then they must be of really good quality. So small speakers usually cannot handle full range signal. Only thing, the sub placement seems bit odd. How have you connected sub to the main amp? Or you have given the sub out directly from your CPU? In addition, request to all members. Lets not say that KEF Q300 or Quad 11L2 are better than these sonically unless and until we listen to these nice looking speakers. No doubt they look pricey (I thought them to be pricey because I had never heard of them and 'usually' 2.1 system is not so costly) but it does not mean that they are worse than the Quads/Kef bookshelves mentioned. @ cmsajith and cor, hope you have heard them (I mean CA minx) before coming to that conclusion.

 

[kanna.sridharan]

For the same price you could have got a far better speaker.

maybe... I'll live with this for now...

did u get the pics for the sub...

 

[kaushik]

evry one has space 4 bookshelf..
small space?go dnm and tamp combo<16k
little more
kef300+t-amp<30k
kef100+t-amp<25k(!)

i hope buyer did not hope that CA will do magic in2.1

 

[kanna.sridharan]

I really don't wanna pop the OP's happy bubble but I kind of have to agree with cmsajith. 36k for speakers was a good budget to get a kef q300 or quad 11 bookshelf.

You even had the perfect amp to drive either.

But it doesn't matter now. If you're satisfied that's all that counts.

I was goin thru another thread which mentioned about the KEF's, my main concern was the size... thanks a lot for the suggestions, would do more homework before my next buy...

I would say, as long as you are satisfied, nothing else matters. Enjoy the set up. If the satellites can handle full range signal upto 70watts without HPF , then they must be of really good quality. So small speakers usually cannot handle full range signal. Only thing, the sub placement seems bit odd. How have you connected sub to the main amp? Or you have given the sub out directly from your CPU? In addition, request to all members. Lets not say that KEF Q300 or Quad 11L2 are better than these sonically unless and until we listen to these nice looking speakers. No doubt they look pricey (I thought them to be pricey because I had never heard of them and 'usually' 2.1 system is not so costly) but it does not mean that they are worse than the Quads/Kef bookshelves mentioned. @ cmsajith and cor, hope you have heard them (I mean CA minx) before coming to that conclusion.

A glass stand for the amp is in the making would be ready by tomorrow, the sub would be placed below, will post pics once they r in place. The sub is connected to the pre outs of the CA 650A.
I had an option to go with a lesser priced minx 11 + x200 for 29K, but felt the double driver would benefit more, will give a detailed report after more listening in a few weeks time.
I'm no expert in this field, its just that before I could buy these I couldn't find reviews from any Indian buyers, but had a lot of praise from overseas forums, wanted to share my experience.. will post more in the near future..


Thanks to all...

 

[cmsajith]

I would say, as long as you are satisfied, nothing else matters. Enjoy the set up. If the satellites can handle full range signal upto 70watts without HPF , then they must be of really good quality. So small speakers usually cannot handle full range signal. Only thing, the sub placement seems bit odd. How have you connected sub to the main amp? Or you have given the sub out directly from your CPU? In addition, request to all members. Lets not say that KEF Q300 or Quad 11L2 are better than these sonically unless and until we listen to these nice looking speakers. No doubt they look pricey (I thought them to be pricey because I had never heard of them and 'usually' 2.1 system is not so costly) but it does not mean that they are worse than the Quads/Kef bookshelves mentioned. @ cmsajith and cor, hope you have heard them (I mean CA minx) before coming to that conclusion.

I had heard CA S30 speakers paired with CA 651 amp and I didnt like the forward sound. The same forward sound was felt in another CA combo, dont remember the spk model. Compared to the forward sound from the CA speakers, I would prefer sound with good body from a proper bookshelf. You can find a lot of BS speakers in this price range.

 

[cmsajith]

did u get the pics for the sub...

OT, Yes, I got it. Please PM me once you get the shipping details.

 

[jaudere]

I had heard CA S30 speakers paired with CA 651 amp and I didnt like the forward sound. The same forward sound was felt in another CA combo, dont remember the spk model. Compared to the forward sound from the CA speakers, I would prefer sound with good body from a proper bookshelf. You can find a lot of BS speakers in this price range.

I am not denying that there are a lot of good BS speakers in that price range and personally would have gone KEF/Quad way but I sincerely feel that any speaker at any price range should not be ticked off without audition. Secondly. cA S30 costs about 8-9k. This one is 36k, with active sub. So comparing it with sound signature of S30 is not correct. Besdies that active sub should give much more full bodied sound than S30 even if it goes upto 50hz. @ OP, please do read about speaker placement. It looks like your satellites as well as sub are in a place closed from 4 sides, with very smooth walls. Standing waves and boominess is going to be a problem. you can improve your sound vastly with better placement of satellites as well as sub.

 

[kanna.sridharan]

Help me Decide between these two to power up the Minx speakers..

1. CA 651A (38K)
2. Yamaha A-S500 (27.5K)

anyother options are also appreciated, but should have a pre-out / sub out. budget around 30K.

 

[sribuddy]

Hi KS,

Good to see a minx owner amidst the jungle (of BS and FS) hyeah:.

Not to highjack the thread but wanted to comment on Minx.

I too have Minx setup 3*minx 21 and 2* minx 10. i dont have minx sub. But I really like what small speakers can do. I must say, there is a perfect synergy when watching movies. The speakers speak to each other literally. and a matching sub such as x200, will only make the system sound better.

You can go for CA amp.