cambridge audio 540R for DALI Ikon 6 anyone please?

[mustaine]

Hi, i own a Cambridge audio 540R V2 receiver and i am thinking of buying the Dali Ikon6 or Ikon7 speakers. do you think my receiver will drive well these speakers?

I have read reviews saying that the midrange and tremble of the Ikons are forward so electronics should be matched with care? i assume that this means that the receiver should be warm sounding instead of bright.

Is the 540R warm or bright sounding?
Is the 540R suitable for the Ikons 6 and 7 or should i buy another receiver?

many thanks

 

[mustaine]

I forgot to mention that i listen to music at moderate levels. Clarity and detail are more important to me.

thanks

 

[rnatalli]

The 540R has a pretty robust amp section and should drive those Dali's without issue. Don't worry about bright vs. warm sounding receivers. Modern receivers sound 95% identical anyways when properly calibrated and levels are matched. But if it makes you happy, out-of-the-box, CA receivers sound neutral to bright.

 

[gus6464]

Whoever said the midrange on the Dali is forward must have been smoking something at the time. I own the Ikon 2 and the midrange is anything but forward. While I agree that the upper treble range can get hot at times it still doesn't mean that they sound bad. I have heard a lot of different speakers and the Ikon series performs above it's price class in terms of air and separation.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

A reciever does not have a "sound". The concept of a "warm" or "bright" reciever is a myth. All that matters is that it has enough power and is stable into the impedance presented by the speakers.

 

[rnatalli]

To OP: I was being sarcastic in my original statement saying that the 540R will sound neutral to bright. The reality is as others have already stated, once you have them dialed in, it's unlikely you'll hear differences between a dozen different $500 receivers so long as you aren't driving them to clipping.

That said, there are cases where amps introduce sound. For example, Lonnie at Emotiva has stated they intentionally tuned the amp in the DMR-1 to sound a certain way. I also think subtle differences can be detected comparing class D to class AB amps although my recent experiences with class D make me think the technology has come far enough that you may not hear differences any longer.

 

[mustaine]

thanks for your replies you ve been very helpful

2 questions:

1. will the 540R drive the ikons7 as efficicently as with the Ikons6 as you say? or do u think the Ikons6 are more suitable for such a "small amp"?

2. would you reccommend the cambridge audio 540C and 640C cd players for rock and classical music? and which shall i choose? is the 640c a better unit or is it better if i match the 540C with my 540R?

thanks

 

[bandphan]

thanks for your replies you ve been very helpful

2 questions:

1. will the 540R drive the ikons7 as efficicently as with the Ikons6 as you say? or do u think the Ikons6 are more suitable for such a "small amp"?

2. would you reccommend the cambridge audio 540C and 640C cd players for rock and classical music? and which shall i choose? is the 640c a better unit or is it better if i match the 540C with my 540R?

thanks

1.y
2.they dont care what music the play

 

[mustaine]

i am sorry u got me confused there LOL i am new to forums and i still havent learned some things

1. is it yes the 540R will drive the ikons7 as efficicently as with the Ikons6 or yes the the Ikons6 are more suitable for such a "small amp"?

2. is the 640c a better unit or is it better if i match the 540C with my 540R?

thanks

P.S. sorry for being a pain in the...

 

[bandphan]

i am sorry u got me confused there LOL i am new to forums and i still havent learned some things

1. is it yes the 540R will drive the ikons7 as efficicently as with the Ikons6 or yes the the Ikons6 are more suitable for such a "small amp"?

2. is the 640c a better unit or is it better if i match the 540C with my 540R?

thanks

P.S. sorry for being a pain in the...

1. the amp is fine for either
2. CD players dont care what they are matched with, get the one that has the features you need Heck buy any cd player for that fact, doesnt have to be CA, unless Joe Schmoe has gotten to ya

 

[Joe Schmoe]

thanks for your replies you ve been very helpful

2 questions:

1. will the 540R drive the ikons7 as efficicently as with the Ikons6 as you say? or do u think the Ikons6 are more suitable for such a "small amp"?

2. would you reccommend the cambridge audio 540C and 640C cd players for rock and classical music? and which shall i choose? is the 640c a better unit or is it better if i match the 540C with my 540R?

thanks

I have the less expensive 340A and 340C. The only speakers that the "small" amp will not drive to their full potential are exceptionally inefficient speakers such as electrostatics. The CD player is too good for the cost of moving up in the line to be justified. There is nothing special about matching the model numbers, as all Azur components look and sound good together (and can all be controlled by the same remote.)