I'm in the market for a separates system with a budget of approx £1000.
That seems to be pocket money to many of you here, but it will be the
most I've spent on a system to date. What I will need is:
1) Integrated amplifier
2) DAB/FM tuner (extra bands welcome)
3) CD player
4) Pair of floor-standing speakers
I'm extremely anal when it comes to appearance, so I want the separates
to be the same colour/finish, style and manufacturer. They need to be
available in silver/titanium, as all-black won't go with the room. The
speakers will need to be beech, maple or cherry to fit in with the
furniture.
I've shortlisted the following combinations which can be had for £600 to
£750, sparing the rest for speakers and interconnects,
Cambridge Audio Azur 640A V2 Integrated Amplifier
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summar...Version+2%2 9
Cambridge Audio Azur 640T V2 DAB/FM tuner
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summar...e=Azur+640T+V2
Cambridge Audio Azur 640C V2 CD Player
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summar...28Version+2%29
Denon PMA-700AE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_m...detail&Pid=286
Denon TU-1800DAB DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_m...detail&Pid=230
Denon DCD-700AE CD Player
http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_m...detail&Pid=287
Harman/Kardon HK 970 Integrated Amplifier
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_...70/230&sType=C
Harman/Kardon TU 970 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_...70/230&sType=C
Harman/Kardon HD 970 CD Player
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_...70/230&sType=C
Marantz PM4001OSE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm...=comp&type=ose
Marantz ST7001 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm...=comp&type=tun
Marantz CD5001OSE CD Player
http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm...=comp&type=ose
NAD C325BEE Integrated Amplifier
http://www.nadelectronics.com/hifi_a...EE_framset.htm
NAD C445 DAB/FM/AM Tuner
http://www.nadelectronics.com/tuners/C445_framset.htm
NAD C521BEE CD Player
Anyone have any thoughts on my conundrum? Are there any other worthy
manufacturers that I should add to the list?
Now on to the speakers. If I look at £200 to £300 for a good pair, what
would you suggest? Bear in mind that the choice constricts itself if I
go for a £750 system. Some inspiration:
http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/subcategory.asp?id=29
http://www.hifistore.co.uk/category.php?qsCat=FLOORSPK2
http://www.hifi4less.com/section.php/16/0
http://www.richersounds.com/productl... NG&sort=price
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p.../sort/asc/sc/1
As an outside thought I'm considering replacing the CD player in my
proposed setup for a hard disk player. There are a few problems with
the ones I know of:
Acoustic Solutions SP150 (£200).
http://www.acousticsolutions.net/product.asp?ID=208 Lacks connectivity,
appears a little cheap, small hard disk means compression, and would
mean buying the rest of an Acoustic Solutions setup.
http://www.acousticsolutions.net/cat...?Cat=Separates
Cambridge Audio Azur 640H (£600).
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summar...itle=Azur+640H
Expensive, amounting to £1300 with the 640A V2 and the 640T V2.
Yamaha CDR-HD1500 (£500).
http://www.yamaha-uk.com/hifi_compon...product_id=111 Great piece of
kit, but Yamaha seem to be distinctly lacking in other silver/titanium
audio separates. One of these might go well with a Yamaha A/V Receiver
with DAB/FM, but I would expect the stereo amplifying quality to be
worse than with standalone stereo separates.
http://www.yamaha-uk.com/av_amps_rec...product_id=128
Are there any more available hard disk options?
Any help on the above would be gratefully received.
TIA.