Rs.15,000 setup reviewed: Cambridge Audio S30, Topping TP20, NuForce Icon uDAC

psychotropic

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Ladies and Gentlemun, Play It Clear is back and this time I've reviewed the ultra-budget Rs. 15,000 setup of CA S30 speakers, Topping TP20 amp and the NuForce Icon uDAC. Have a look and let me know your thoughts.

Click Here.

Can you think of a source+amp+speaker combination for this price that can rival this? Do let me know!
 
Hey srikarkav, My friend managed to get the last pair of S30s that Palani had with him. I genuinely hope CA ensures greater supply of these speakers. They are a tremendous value!
 
Vinay, I had just seen the link to your blog in one of your previous posts and was wondering when the next update was coming.

Good to see you review an affordable system. I hope people give this a shot rather than going for the so called 3000W PMPO Super Muddy Bass systems.

Oh and I guess I have to get Yodhakaa now!
 
Wonderful review and it was really helpful... I am planning for a stereo set up and this review helped me get closer..
 
A very well written review!

Would the DAC make any difference if the source was a Squeezebox? Does the DAC make a big difference in your setup? How did this setup fare in terms of low and low-mid bass?
 
Excellent review!

I wish I had known about this combo before I bought my Audioengine A2s.

Looking forward to more such reviews!
 
Excellent review!

I wish I had known about this combo before I bought my Audioengine A2s.

Looking forward to more such reviews!

Psycho, could you please post your impressions of the S30/Topping combo, compared with the A2's when you have time?
 
Actually, this combination also makes sense for those people considering the Audioengines (the 2 or the 5), because the price is bang between the cost of the 2 and the 5. This combination is head and shoulders above the Audioengine 2. The A2s are great for their size and price, but never feels like it could be your main system. In a pinch, this combination could easily serve as your main system and give you much musical pleasure. Of course my memory of the A2 is from ages ago when I owned it, so I can't do an A-B comparison, but from rough memory I can say that the fact that this combination goes down much lower is a decided advantage. It does a great job in the midrange, it's a genuine strength, and while the A2s also shine in that area, i suspect this combination will easily better them. Can't remember enough about the A2s high frequency performance or its dynamic range to compare here.

The A5s I haven't heard, but I would imagine that this combination would at least match, if not exceed the A5s that cost about 33% more than this does. And of course there's the flexibility that it offers. If you get tired of the S30s, you can upgrade your speakers to much more expensive ones such as the Usher S520 or the Odysseys that I have and it works perfectly together, you can't really do that with the A2 or the A5.

I would actually love to pair the Topping with the Odyssy Syren and listen to it once. the 1 lakh (or thereabouts) per pair floorstanders and the 3600 rupee amp should be an interesting combination because the Syrens are quite easy to drive.
 
Very interesting review, and an interesting blog in general: will be visiting again.

My question is: is there no made-in-India contender for the speakers in this budget setup?
 
Went ahead and bought the TP20 from indeed-hifi, primarily driven by psychotropic's posts (this and the TP20 review). Dropped the idea of a separate, NAD/Marantz low budget Amp for now, given the widespread appreciation for the topping all around.

Now will be looking at speakers :
Is the Cambridge Audio still available somewhere in Bangalore somewhere ?
What are some other options in the similar price range, so that I can invest a bit more on the speakers (say upto 15k) and would also sound good in case I upgrade to a 15-20k Amp or AVR ?

Will get the DAC next, after the speakers ! Probably the one reviewed here. Is primeabgb the best place to get this, or are there better deals (primeabgb lists it at 3900 + shipping).

Thanks !
 
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Went ahead and bought the TP20 from indeed-hifi, primarily driven by psychotropic's posts (this and the TP20 review). Dropped the idea of a separate, NAD/Marantz low budget Amp for now, given the widespread appreciation for the topping all around.

Now will be looking at speakers :
Is the Cambridge Audio still available somewhere in Bangalore somewhere ?
What are some other options in the similar price range, so that I can invest a bit more (say 10-12k) and would also sound good in case I upgrade to a 15-20k Amp or AVR ?

Will get the DAC next, after the speakers ! Probably the one reviewed here.

Thanks !

Try Audio Planet , Koramangla. You may get CA S30s or Monitor Audio M1 or M2s in your budget.
 
^^ Thanks Kittu. BTW are your speakers still available ? Now that I am not going for the NAD/Marantz, might want to give the monitors a shot !

Sure , why not bring your topping along with you ? nice to see how it pairs with M1s....To your questions they are available still .:)
 
Hi abhinav,
Did you manage to find out matching speakers for Topping. I also got bitten by this Topping bug(courtesy Psyco and Avidhyarthi) & have ordered this. now looking for 15K range BS speakers which matches with this Topping. I am thinking of auditioning this with PSB Alpha after I have received this amp. Given my budget, Ushers 520 seems out of my range otherwise I may settle for JBL.
Any other suggestions after your experience please let me know.
Cheers
 
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