Cambridge Audio vs. NAD - newbie

[mpact]

I am a newbie and never a audio-holic.... However, I like listening to good quality music - whether in car (Bose), in computer (SB Xi-Fi, AL 5001), or at home - Denon S-301.

I have spent $$ on compact system, mini-system only - because of the term convenience. Now I wanted to do a bit more, with some budget wanted to go with some entry level equipments - a good CD player, a Amp, a pair of speakers - for CD only. I enjoy 80-90s CD the most. I have some SACD, LPCD but not too many compared to my collection of CDs.

I have something in mind, like Cambridge Audio 640 A and 640 C, or NAD 325 and 525 BEE. Not sure about speakers. I am OPEN to look into used market too.

Any suggestions welcome. I will be listening in my basement office. With limited space for placement -
1. Speakers (unless floor stand) need to place on a shelf "higher than my sitting "ear" level.
2. Speakers can only be 5 feet apart max
3. Sitting on my work desk 5 ft away from speakers, the only "obstacle" in between is a 22" LCD monitor.

With such constraints - should I go back to mini-systems?

 

[Lordoftherings]

Mini-systems are not for serious audio listening.

The Cambridge 640c, I believe is a nice CD player.

A pair of small PSB speakers will do you good.

And a small NAD integrated amp will suit perfectly.

Do you have a certain budget?

Bob

 

[mpact]

Thanks. My budget would be $1000-$1500 CAD, and I don't mind looking into used market. Since I plan to listen to music while working on my computer, I won't turn up volume too high (most of the time).

A few questions about speakers (suggestion welcome)
1. Is floorspeaker always better than bookshelf?
2. What is 8ohms? Is the number of ohms the bigger the better?
3. What about input power?
4. Frequency Response - do I have to find something 50Hz to 20000Hz?

 

[jostenmeat]

1. Is floorspeaker always better than bookshelf?

No, it is not always better.

2. What is 8ohms? Is the number of ohms the bigger the better?

impedance. the lower it gets, the more demanding the speaker becomes. However, I wouldn't worry about it.

3. What about input power

As you will be pretty close to the speakers, I would not worry about maximum power. There is no way you will hurt the speakers by playing them too quietly.

4. Frequency Response - do I have to find something 50Hz to 20000Hz?

No. A sub added to the mix can take care of that.


Just find the speakers that sound best to you. I would rather take the speaker that is more difficult to drive, with a smaller freq response, if it happens to sound more transparent. Just go from there.

last tip: if the speakers are considerably higher than your ears, angle them downwards. It may help to flip the speakers upside down so that the tweeters are closer to the same plane as your ears. However, don't put them horizontally.

Some speakers have keyholes to allow easy wall mounting, or you can also look at something like Auralex mopads to angle them a bit, while also helping to decouple them from the resonant shelves.

EDIT: btw, I own both Cambridge and NAD, and yet I still urge you to only consider the speakers first and foremost. Forget the supporting electronics for now. Completely.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Ok, you are Canadian, like me.

PSB speakers are Canadian made, look at the Image B15 and B25, these are compact speakers, and retails for $379 and $479/pair respectively.

Also, Paradigm speakers are Canadian made and also very good. Check the Paradigm Reference Studio 20 (excellent speaker, retails for $499 each). These will last you a lifetime, and have superb low frequency extension down to 35hz.
For another great speaker, check the Paradigm Mini Monitor, they retails for $219 each. Also check the Titan Monitor, it retails for $279 each.

So, all these models are compact speakers and all the prices are MSRP USA $.

Me, I will pick the Paradigm Reference Studio 20.
Then it will be just so much fun to pick a second hand Integrated Amp and CD player of great quality for the money left over. And with these speakers, the sound will always be excellent. And I'm sure you can get a good deal from a Paradigm dealer in Canada, close to where you live.
Go listen to them, and let me know their sale price and their sound to your own ears.
Then, I'll help you out for what is a reasonable deal on them, plus a good integrated amp and CD player to match them. Trust me, one of my dealer is a Paradigm dealer, so I know his cost. But this will be only between you and me.

But do take some of your favorite CDs at the store and take the time to listen to your favorite tunes.

For your info, the Reference Studio 20 are 8.25" wide, by 15" high & 12.75" deep.
They weights 21.5 pounds each. They are rated at 8-ohm impedance and a high sensitivity of 90db. So they will match any integrated amplifier of your choosing, like 30 watts per channel will be plenty.

The Paradigm Titan is 18.5" high and weights 22 pounds each.

The Paradigm Mini Monitor is 7.5" wide, by 13.9" high & 11.81" deep. It weights 17 pounds each, it is rated also at 8 ohms with a high sensitivity of 92db. It plays down to 40hz. It is a great speaker too.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[mpact]

Thanks jostenmeat & lordoftherings. I will try to audition speakers and feel which ones sounds best to me.

I like Paradigm too, I have CT 110 as my HT 5.1 speakers - they are great for movies and concerts!

 

[mpact]

An update on the placement - my room is about 10 x 16ft. There are bookshelfs, CD-shelf on the walls.

jostenmeat suggested to angle the speakers a bit (if it is higher than my ears). Or if it is better to use a stand? (if i use a stand, it has to be closer to my desk though). Thanks!

 

[mpact]

Thanks Bob. I will check out Paradigm Studio 20 once more with my own CDs, and also try to audition the used Monitor 7 (if available).

I think I prefer an integrated amplifier to a AV receiver - I don't plan to hook it up to TV/DVD.

 

[Lordoftherings]

An update on the placement - my room is about 10 x 16ft. There are bookshelfs, CD-shelf on the walls.

jostenmeat suggested to angle the speakers a bit (if it is higher than my ears). Or if it is better to use a stand? (if i use a stand, it has to be closer to my desk though). Thanks!

A stand, always.

Is your room a computer room or a living room?

And like I said before, the Reference Studio 20 is a great speaker, asnd as you told me in your PM, the price is cool.

The Monitor 7 are couple hundred cheaper but they are bigger too, without having more bass. The 20s are more sophisticated with better drivers and better build, it is the better of the two, for sure. But it is your money too, and the price for the Monitor 7 is very sweet indeed. Tough decision, you have to liten to them, preferably in your own room.
But if it was me, I'll be more inclined to seriously audition the Reference Studio 20.

As for stands, they absolutely need stands. For me it's no problem. I always build my own. Don't skip on stands, they are an integral part of the speakers and do contibute to their sound.
That's why you might be better off with trhe Monitor 7, and save on stands, plus save an additional $200 roughly. At less than $500 cdn for the pair, the 7s make a lot of sense too.

Trust your ears first.

Bob

 

[Lordoftherings]

You can find some great deals on the use market for a good integrated amp.

Just stick with well known brands; "Bryston", Rotel, NAD, Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Marantz and the likes.

For a CD player; Rotel, Cambridge, Arcam, "Simaudio", Denon, Marantz, Integra, NAD, "Primare" and the likes.

I bet that you can find some models that used to be listed for 2 to $3,000 for less than a couple hundred or so.

The tougher part is the speakers.
The fun part is the source.
The easy part is the amplification.
The serious part is the preamplification.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[mpact]

Thanks.

I checked with the seller of the used Monitor 7 speaker - one dust cap has a dent (see attached), maybe that's why it is selling at such a price? Will that affect the sound (since he is outside Toronto, no audition available).

 

[Lordoftherings]

Thanks.

I checked with the seller of the used Monitor 7 speaker - one dust cap has a dent (see attached), maybe that's why it is selling at such a price? Will that affect the sound (since he is outside Toronto, no audition available).

It is damaged, so with speakers, you don't want that, period. And yes it will affect the sound somehow without matching the other one.
Just call Paradigm and ask them what that will do to the sound and the discrepancy now between the two speakers. And while you're at it, ask them too if they will replace the damaged driver (dust cap) for free, if you send it to them.

Bob