I now have a huge dilemma

[gus6464]

I have been scouring audiogon all day for a good integrated and I found an Arcam but the seller hasn't responded back so I don't think he wants to sell to me for some reason. Right now I have a pair of Epos ELS-3 with an old Sony AVR that is powering the speakers just fine.

So in my continuing search through the gon I stumbled across a pair of Dali Ikon 2 at a ridiculous price, and now I don't know what to do. What do you guys think? Which would be the better buy, speakers or amplification? I emailed the seller to see if they are available and they probably are since the ad was posted hours ago. What do I do?

 

[3db]

I have been scouring audiogon all day for a good integrated and I found an Arcam but the seller hasn't responded back so I don't think he wants to sell to me for some reason. Right now I have a pair of Epos ELS-3 with an old Sony AVR that is powering the speakers just fine.

So in my continuing search through the gon I stumbled across a pair of Dali Ikon 2 at a ridiculous price, and now I don't know what to do. What do you guys think? Which would be the better buy, speakers or amplification? I emailed the seller to see if they are available and they probably are since the ad was posted hours ago. What do I do?

Whats your game plan? What are you trying to achieve with these upgrades?
Do you find something lacking in your system as it stands?

 

[gus6464]

Whats your game plan? What are you trying to achieve with these upgrades?
Do you find something lacking in your system as it stands?

Well my game plan is to have the best 2ch system I can afford. My sony receiver has been working perfectly but I have been wondering if different electronics could improve my system. And as speakers are concerned the Epos sound good but there is that little detail in the midrange that they lack. I have been unsure if either new amplification or just new speakers will give me what I am looking for. I have heard the Ikon before and they sound superb but I haven't been able to afford them brand new.

 

[jinjuku]

Well my game plan is to have the best 2ch system I can afford. My sony receiver has been working perfectly but I have been wondering if different electronics could improve my system. And as speakers are concerned the Epos sound good but there is that little detail in the midrange that they lack. I have been unsure if either new amplification or just new speakers will give me what I am looking for. I have heard the Ikon before and they sound superb but I haven't been able to afford them brand new.

Speakers are obviously going to make the biggest difference. What are your budgets (speaker/amp)?

There has been another thread to this affect.

 

[gus6464]

Speakers are obviously going to make the biggest difference. What are your budgets (speaker/amp)?

There has been another thread to this affect.

I have no budget per se, it's just what I can afford at the time. I had $500-600 budget for the amp and I was trying to pull the trigger on the Arcam but seller never responded. Then I happened to stumble across the Dali at such a damn good price that it was just too hard to pass up. I went ahead and bought the Dali as that will improve my system dramatically compared to the integrated amp but I still want to get one.

 

[3db]

I have no budget per se, it's just what I can afford at the time. I had $500-600 budget for the amp and I was trying to pull the trigger on the Arcam but seller never responded. Then I happened to stumble across the Dali at such a damn good price that it was just too hard to pass up. I went ahead and bought the Dali as that will improve my system dramatically compared to the integrated amp but I still want to get one.

Congrats. Let us know if you experience an improvement in sound over your other speakers. Maybe you'll be able to keep the Sony.

 

[gus6464]

Congrats. Let us know if you experience an improvement in sound over your other speakers. Maybe you'll be able to keep the Sony.

Thanks, the Arcam seller responded back today so now I want to get it too lol. Since the A80 has a phono port I can sell my Bellari phono pre for $200 and get another $200 for the Epos so that will cover the price of the Arcam which is $400. What do you guys think? After this I would have to spend a lot more than $1000 to be able to better the system.

 

[Guangui]

My main system for 10 yrs. was a Sony HTIB that came with Sony SS-U2000 bookshelves (8" two-way), a center (two 3-1/2" mids), a pair of cube (3-1/2" mids) rears, and an STR-DG125 receiver. My first upgrade purchase was to change the receiver to a Marantz SR-5001; just by doing that the Sony POS speakers took a different sound, better SQ. That's what made me start looking for speakers, until I decided for my current set.

I see that you pulled the trigger on the Dali, so this comment might be pointless, but your Epos were a good set of speakers, by changing the Sony to an Arcam or a similar amp/receiver SQ would have improved dramatically.

 

[gus6464]

My main system for 10 yrs. was a Sony HTIB that came with Sony SS-U2000 bookshelves (8" two-way), a center (two 3-1/2" mids), a pair of cube (3-1/2" mids) rears, and an STR-DG125 receiver. My first upgrade purchase was to change the receiver to a Marantz SR-5001; just by doing that the Sony POS speakers took a different sound, better SQ. That's what made me start looking for speakers, until I decided for my current set.

I see that you pulled the trigger on the Dali, so this comment might be pointless, but your Epos were a good set of speakers, by changing the Sony to an Arcam or a similar amp/receiver SQ would have improved dramatically.

I was just skeptical as everyone here touts that power is power and there is no difference in that regard. So I wasn't sure if by going to the Arcam would help my SQ much over the Sony. I am trying to convince my wife that I need the Arcam and that once I get I will no longer need to upgrade anything in my system.

 

[3db]

I was just skeptical as everyone here touts that power is power and there is no difference in that regard. So I wasn't sure if by going to the Arcam would help my SQ much over the Sony. I am trying to convince my wife that I need the Arcam and that once I get I will no longer need to upgrade anything in my system.

We don't believe you!!

 

[silversurfer]

After a while, my thinking is to have amplification ready to drive any speaker I buy or want to try in my system. Sure, there is a point of diminishing returns, but it helps alleviate the "what ifs".

 

[3db]

After a while, my thinking is to have amplification ready to drive any speaker I buy or want to try in my system. Sure, there is a point of diminishing returns, but it helps alleviate the "what ifs".

I hear ya. Could take it to the extreme and have it powerful enough to bosst a car with a dead battery.

 

[Guangui]

I am trying to convince my wife that I need the Arcam and that once I get I will no longer need to upgrade anything in my system.

Are you trying to fool your wife, or yourself? Next upgrade, and believe me it will happen, make sure to include a gift for the wife...

 

[gus6464]

Ok so in this thread they are telling this guy that an amp is an amp and there is not difference in SQ and that it's all speakers.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41138

Then in mine you guys are telling me that it's the Sony's fault why my Epos don't sound better and that replacing it would help my system. What gives? The only 2 receivers I have tested side by side are my Sony and my new Yamaha 661. Between the two I didn't find a difference in SQ but I used all analog so didn't test the DACs or anything.

 

[Guangui]

My position is that there is difference. The best way to find out, is try for yourself. Go to an audio store, hear speakers connected to a lower end receiver/amp, then hear the same speakers connected to a higher end receiver/amp; there will be noticeable differences. Sometimes there are difference between brands. For example, hear an Onkyo 605 vs. a Marantz SR4001/02, two very popular receivers; you will notice some SQ characteristics exclusive to each one of them, may not be characteristics that may heavily influence your decision as which one to buy, but still slightly noticeable differences.

 

[jinjuku]

Ok so in this thread they are telling this guy that an amp is an amp and there is not difference in SQ and that it's all speakers.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41138

Then in mine you guys are telling me that it's the Sony's fault why my Epos don't sound better and that replacing it would help my system. What gives? The only 2 receivers I have tested side by side are my Sony and my new Yamaha 661. Between the two I didn't find a difference in SQ but I used all analog so didn't test the DACs or anything.

I think with a lot of receivers you are not going to hear a noticeable difference. When making a purchasing decision I just make sure to buy a decent receiver.

I am not saying that there aren't differences out there. An example I like to use is the the Miller vs Budweiser commercial where they are out there asking which has MORE taste.

They didn't ask which tasted better, they asked which had 'more taste'. I can brew a batch of shite beer that has 'more' taste. I would simply hop the hell out of it. It would indeed have 'more' taste.

Just because a higher cost separate amp sounds 'different' doesn't mean it sounds better.

 

[gus6464]

I think with a lot of receivers you are not going to hear a noticeable difference. When making a purchasing decision I just make sure to buy a decent receiver.

I am not saying that there aren't differences out there. An example I like to use is the the Miller vs Budweiser commercial where they are out there asking which has MORE taste.

They didn't ask which tasted better, they asked which had 'more taste'. I can brew a batch of shite beer that has 'more' taste. I would simply hop the hell out of it. It would indeed have 'more' taste.

Just because a higher cost separate amp sounds 'different' doesn't mean it sounds better.

Ok I see what you mean and really for the price I paid for the Arcam I don't think I could have done better. But all the new gear arrives on tuesday and wednesday so I will be able to do a truly A/B then. My friend will be coming in the next week to check out the Dali's so I will try and convince him to bring down his B&W 685 so we can have a mini shootout between them and the Epos. Unless someone wants to have a shootout in Austin, San Antonio area?