Rate the following 2 channel setups

**dsmith** · 17 February 2003, 21:07 Monday

So, John, you want to impress your girlfriend, eh? LOL

Seriously, the Arcam FMJ32 CD player has gotten great reviews, and I think you will want to stick with it. Not familiar with Cyrus or the Mackie speakers, unless these are the Mackie studio monitors. Studio monitors are designed for nearfield listening, and don't always sound all that great in a residential environment as they don't have a wide soundfield. B&W is always a safe bet, but the new Wharfedale Pacifica has gotten great reviews. I assume ATC speakers are beyond yoru budget? Keep in mind active speakers require power outlets nearby, or an extension cord. I would not count on the active speakers having the best amps you can find.

Here is my recommended two-channel setup:

Speakers - Digital Phase AP-2.1 (floor standing) or AP-.7 (bookshelf) These are my speakers, of course
Innersound ESL amp - I am using this amp with my AP-2.1s
Innersound Line Stage preamp - I don't have it but from reviews it is top notch, and based on my experience with the ESL amp it should be a great preamp.
Cary Audio Designs 306/200 CD player and DAC - this is the one I would buy if I had $5,000 US to spend. The 303/200 is close in performance and costs $3,000. Both have a digital input to use the DACs with other digital sources. The Arcam FMJ 32 would be a leading candidate also because of its Ring DAC.

I don't know if any of this stuff is available in Britain, but you can check with their website for distributors.

The best bet is to let the lady listen to these setups, or at least the speakers if she can - after all it is her ears that will need to be happy.

Good luck.

Don

**sfdoddsy** · 18 February 2003, 00:33 Tuesday

I like active speakers, so I would go Option 1 of those you've mentioned. Also I've never liked any speaker made by Mission (Cyrus) so that would make the choice even easier.

Steve

Steve's DIY Dipoles

**David Meek** · 18 February 2003, 10:04 Tuesday

John, can't help you on the speakers, but the Arcam FMJ32 and the Rotel are both fine units, so system # 1 would be my choice based on those two components.

Let's see, 3K pounds would be what? About $4,000 US?

David - HTGuide flunky
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**John LaCava** · 18 February 2003, 17:51 Tuesday

David: £3000 is more like $4770. Prices are high in the UK, in many cases we get robbed compared to you guys across the pond.

Don: The Mackie speakers are indeed thier near/mid field studio monitors, HR824. These particular models have a very wide soundstage compared to others of the breed and make for excellent off axis as well as on axis listening. I'd highly recommend them for all but the largest living-room setups. My UK living room in my apartment smallish by US standards, but medium sized by European standards, ~10' X 14'. I'd say the room is a bit too small to really appreciate these monitors and I look forward to getting more space for them. Its not that I'll sit any further away from them, I won't, about 10 feet back from them is just about perfect. But I just don't have the space to get them positioned symentrical and they have very little breathing room away from the wall which means I need to attenuate the bass by 1 lvl (-3db I think) to keep it from getting too low heavy. I know if I had more room to work with the positioning I could improve the stereo imaging and bass response, but even as they are, with suboptimal positioning, they sound much better than the other passive/amp combos I tried in the same ~£1100 price range. The clarity and control of these exhibit is breathe taking and I find the dynamics (high highs layered elegantly over low lows) simply astonishing. I added these other setups to give her some points of comparison, since ultimately it is her money, I assure you it will be her ears that have the final say, but I plan on having a lot of fun just the same! I'll take a look into some of the stuff you mentioned.

Steve: Funny you should say that because I've never liked any mission speakers either, nor did I know the Cyrus' were made by mission. I thought that compared to the B & W DM 603 S3 floorstanders the Cyrus CSL 70 were far more tight and controlled. The S3 had sloppy base and under-pronouced highs, I thought. Though what I considered sloppy others might find ambient

. The CSL 70 were perhaps too hyped on the highs and therefore very crips, but the bass was both deep and controlled I was surprised since its more or less a glorified bookshelf. I will say that the S3 had superior preformance on Vocal heavy material with great handling in the mids, but I scored the CSL 70 better over all due to impact, control, and dynamics. The monitor audio silver 8i, were probably the most well rounded speakers in my trial able to preform convincingly on all my source material which included Jazz, Rock, Dub, and World. I only mention these ones because they were the passives that made my short list before I opted for the active Mackies. FYI I also use the Tannoy Active Reveal monitors as rear channels in my 4 speaker setup, Active center channel are few. The Tannoys are good as rears but of little other use, not enough bass or handling to go as mains, but respectable for the price. I'm looking at the Mackie HR 626 as a center, but its too expensive right now and I need a bigger living room to justify.

Keep em coming.

Cheers,
John

Rate the following 2 channel setups

Rate the following 2 channel setups

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