Finally the day had arrived. Yesterday me, my wife and Dheeraj (one of the member of Hifivision) visited Bass N Treble for audition, where we met Mr. Denny Joseph, owner and really very nice person. We were there approximately for 1.5 hour, Denny listen all our queries and answered them well. I think that we cannot get such a detailed audition in any other store.
We went there for audition Wharfdale & Norge 1000 combo, as this is most recommended combo for a start. We asked same with Denny and he told that he have only one Norge amp that is 2060 and that is the last one, as they stopped stocking Norge :sad:. Because as per him, Norge is not at that level so that he should recommend that to his customer.
So let me start the whole story of our audition. We start with about Dennys view for Norge. Denny said that Norge is a good amp but only to start but as listening grows by time then you will feel that there is something missing, and when you listen a good system then you will start chasing for new one. Then you will sold old Norge and buy another new system, and by this you will waste more money. Second thing he mentioned that there is distortion with Norge in high volume (more that 50%) and then it will sound harsh. He told that he will play some other amps along with Norge and then you will able to feel that difference and will realize why he is not recommnding Norge.
When I asked about specification of the other system that he have, then he answered 40 watts rms per channel (just :sad
. Then my question was, does that able to drive wharfdale 9.2 as that is a power hungry speakers. He replied that it will not only easily drive wharf 9.2 but also able to drive much more powerful speakers then that. He also stated that 40 % of the volume is sufficient to drive wharf 9.2 to blow anything.
I brought some of my CDs for audition and I gave him first Abhijeet Pohankars - Pia Bawri and ask to play title song (my all time favorite). He used Panasonic DVD player (not remember the model #) as source.
Then he connect Wharf 9.2 with AudioLabs (not remember the model #) he sets the volume at 40% and start playing CD. Then demo was full of music. Music was that loud enough that we have to shout to listened each other. Combo was sounded awesome, very detailed and extremely pleasant. Each and every beat & string is clear to our ears. Vocals are very real.
Then he connected Wharf 9.2 with Norge2060 and played same song. Combo was sounding good but something was missing. But being novice we were able to find difference. But as volume increase more than 50% combination was sounding bit harsh.
We asked the price of audioLabs amp, then Denny smiled and updated that this was a discontinued model and the equivalent model was costing more than 1 lakh. Then denny updates that he is not recommending Audiolabs to us he just want to introduce us with good sounds. He said that he will recommend Marantz over Norge. And we have to increase our budget lil bit. He said that listen Marantz with wharf 9.2 then rethink about this combo. He told that right now he have Marantz PM6003 and gave audition with that. But for us he will recommend Marantz PM5003 and that will comfortably drive wharf 9.2 . Price of Marantz PM6003 is 25k and Marantz PM5003 is 20k.
He connected wharf 9.2 with Marantz PM6003 and played Pia Bawri. This combo was sounding awesome far better than Norge and very detailed. Then Played Black Friday-Bandeh (Indian Ocean). Dere Straits and some other rock and Jazz numbers. All songs are sounding so fresh, as I am listening them for first time However I listen them every day.
We asked Denny that does he have Denon Amp? he told that he did not keep Denon amps as it is bit bright and Marantz is more musical than any other amps in this range. I asked how about Denon AVR he told that Denon AVR are extremely good, but for music its not in comparison with stereo amps. Then he connected Denon 1910 with wharf9.2, 9CS, for surround he uses some satellites speakers (forget the name) Polk Audio sub (wharf SW150 was out of stock) he played movie G.I. Joe The Rise Of Cobra this combination was awesome effect are really good. When we played music on 1910 on pure stereo mode with just wharf 9.2 it was sounding good. But I can say that this was not as detailed as Norge2060 so no comparison with Marantz.
Conclusion:
- AudioLabs + Wharfdale9.2: Extremely Musical very detailed sound. But very expensive. So out of the league.
- Marantz + Wharfdale9.2: Extremely Musical very detailed sound. Just have to increase budget lil bit. You will not regret for spending more.
- Norge + Wharfdale9.2: Sounds Good and musical but not as detailed as with audioLabs and Marantz but Good when volume is less than 50%. You will opt this if you havent listen Marantz. But still far better than SONY and other relevant brands.
-Denon + Wharfdale9.2, 9CS, for surround (9.0 or 9DFS) & Sub Wharfdale SW150 (as recommended by Denny): Excellent setup for movies even good for music but lacking with compare to stereo amps.
Me and My wife decided to choose Marantz PM5003 and wharf9.2 combo and will think later for my home theater setup (not in near future). And I think same was the choice of Dheeraj as well.
Your suggestion are welcome.
We went there for audition Wharfdale & Norge 1000 combo, as this is most recommended combo for a start. We asked same with Denny and he told that he have only one Norge amp that is 2060 and that is the last one, as they stopped stocking Norge :sad:. Because as per him, Norge is not at that level so that he should recommend that to his customer.
So let me start the whole story of our audition. We start with about Dennys view for Norge. Denny said that Norge is a good amp but only to start but as listening grows by time then you will feel that there is something missing, and when you listen a good system then you will start chasing for new one. Then you will sold old Norge and buy another new system, and by this you will waste more money. Second thing he mentioned that there is distortion with Norge in high volume (more that 50%) and then it will sound harsh. He told that he will play some other amps along with Norge and then you will able to feel that difference and will realize why he is not recommnding Norge.
When I asked about specification of the other system that he have, then he answered 40 watts rms per channel (just :sad
. Then my question was, does that able to drive wharfdale 9.2 as that is a power hungry speakers. He replied that it will not only easily drive wharf 9.2 but also able to drive much more powerful speakers then that. He also stated that 40 % of the volume is sufficient to drive wharf 9.2 to blow anything.I brought some of my CDs for audition and I gave him first Abhijeet Pohankars - Pia Bawri and ask to play title song (my all time favorite). He used Panasonic DVD player (not remember the model #) as source.
Then he connect Wharf 9.2 with AudioLabs (not remember the model #) he sets the volume at 40% and start playing CD. Then demo was full of music. Music was that loud enough that we have to shout to listened each other. Combo was sounded awesome, very detailed and extremely pleasant. Each and every beat & string is clear to our ears. Vocals are very real.
Then he connected Wharf 9.2 with Norge2060 and played same song. Combo was sounding good but something was missing. But being novice we were able to find difference. But as volume increase more than 50% combination was sounding bit harsh
.We asked the price of audioLabs amp, then Denny smiled and updated that this was a discontinued model and the equivalent model was costing more than 1 lakh
. Then denny updates that he is not recommending Audiolabs to us he just want to introduce us with good sounds. He said that he will recommend Marantz over Norge. And we have to increase our budget lil bit. He said that listen Marantz with wharf 9.2 then rethink about this combo. He told that right now he have Marantz PM6003 and gave audition with that. But for us he will recommend Marantz PM5003 and that will comfortably drive wharf 9.2 . Price of Marantz PM6003 is 25k and Marantz PM5003 is 20k.He connected wharf 9.2 with Marantz PM6003 and played Pia Bawri. This combo was sounding awesome far better than Norge and very detailed. Then Played Black Friday-Bandeh (Indian Ocean). Dere Straits and some other rock and Jazz numbers. All songs are sounding so fresh, as I am listening them for first time However I listen them every day.
We asked Denny that does he have Denon Amp? he told that he did not keep Denon amps as it is bit bright and Marantz is more musical than any other amps in this range. I asked how about Denon AVR he told that Denon AVR are extremely good, but for music its not in comparison with stereo amps. Then he connected Denon 1910 with wharf9.2, 9CS, for surround he uses some satellites speakers (forget the name) Polk Audio sub (wharf SW150 was out of stock) he played movie G.I. Joe The Rise Of Cobra this combination was awesome effect are really good. When we played music on 1910 on pure stereo mode with just wharf 9.2 it was sounding good. But I can say that this was not as detailed as Norge2060 so no comparison with Marantz.
Conclusion:
- AudioLabs + Wharfdale9.2: Extremely Musical very detailed sound. But very expensive. So out of the league.
- Marantz + Wharfdale9.2: Extremely Musical very detailed sound. Just have to increase budget lil bit. You will not regret for spending more.
- Norge + Wharfdale9.2: Sounds Good and musical but not as detailed as with audioLabs and Marantz but Good when volume is less than 50%. You will opt this if you havent listen Marantz. But still far better than SONY and other relevant brands.
-Denon + Wharfdale9.2, 9CS, for surround (9.0 or 9DFS) & Sub Wharfdale SW150 (as recommended by Denny): Excellent setup for movies even good for music but lacking with compare to stereo amps.
Me and My wife decided to choose Marantz PM5003 and wharf9.2 combo and will think later for my home theater setup (not in near future). And I think same was the choice of Dheeraj as well.
Your suggestion are welcome.
