Dear All,
Today I spent some time auditioning some stereo systems. Here is what I could get and what I felt about them.
1. Klipsh Reference Series with Marantz Amp as PreAmp and Roksan Caspian Power Amp + Marantz CDP.
The sound stage and stereo imaging was good. The bass was missing and it was sounding pretty bright. Was no where comparable to Marantz + Jamo D590 I heard last week in the bass department. And it I don't think its any better than the KEF iQ7 I have.
2. MA RX-8 with Music Fidelity Integrated Amp + CA CDP
MA RX-8 with Cambridge Audio 651 Integrated Amp (Low wattage) + A tube based CDP
MS Messo 6 with both the above amps
The bass was pretty good given the smaller bass drivers (6.5"). And it was sounding very "detailed". I confused it with bright, but when we did a A-B comparison with MS Mezzo speakers that are very "warm", I could immediately feel that something is missing in MS Mezzo. Well I used to like the "warm" sounding setup, how ever the amount of detailing with MA RX-8 was something good to listen to. However, I think that long hours of listening would cause a listening fatigue. It was pretty good to hear at loud volumes. Well I felt that the clarity, instruments and vocal separation seems to have messed up with loud volumes. I felt the level of refinement is gone. I felt they are kind of got "mixed" up when the volume was turned up. It just started sounding LOUD that's all. I don't know if its just with me, but when I listen to Rock music at some PUBs, they are very loud, at the same time they are very refined and you never feel that the sound is getting mixed up. The vocals are very clear and separated from the instruments.
4. B&W 683 with Denon 2312 AVR.
As expected, it was nothing great to write about. I wanted to try B&W with a stereo amp. The dealer didn't have a stereo amp. I didnt spend much time there as it was sounding similar to my setup albeit for some more bass. But that bass didn't sound good for stereo music.
5. Quad 22L2 with Marantz AVR with a regular DVD player
6. Quad 22L2 with NAD with a regular DVD player
In both the cases, I found the vocals were clear and nicely separated from instruments. The setup sounded good with low volumes. But again when I increased the volume, the same story happened, everything sounded mixed up. No clear separation. I do listen to my music at a high volume. I couldn't find the Quad 22L2 to be a major improvement over my Kef iQ7. But the dealer was raving about this speaker and was saying they are not run-in and if the amplification and transport + DAC is better, they will produce wonders. However, I feel my Kef iQ7 can also produce the same "wonders" if I feed it with a good stereo amp and better transport + DAC.
Now I agree 101% with what coreElement said. He was accurate on saying that its not Kef iQ7 that is the weak link in my setup, but the Denon 2310. I think Kef iQ7 is really capable, may not be as good as MA RX8 or B&W 683, but i don't think I wont get an exceptional improvement in sound quality upgrading to MA RX8 or B&W 683.
I think if I need an upgrade, I need to go a level up and increase my budget and get Zu Omen floor standers and a tube pre amp and a tube amp. I am yet to speak with Lyrita about their tube amps and their own speakers. Seem like they also make high efficient speakers to work with tube amps. The only issue is I will have to travel to Delhi to audition both Zu and Lyrita as I can't get them in Bangalore
.
However, I do feel that Jamo D590 is indeed an upgrade to Kef iQ7, mainly for their bass output. But the fact that its a discontinued model and Cinebels is still asking for the MRP is putting me off from considering this option.
I think if I go for Jamo D590 and get a Marantz Pearl KI Lite / Roksan Kandy K2 amp, I will have a decent stereo setup.
I would like to ask the same question once again. What are the other speakers with a budget of 1-1.5L that can perform as good as Jamo D590 that still sounds refined at loud volumes?
Thanks,
John.
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. Sad that I cant audition them in Bangalore!
