New blood

Posted by: Rockingdoc on 10 July 2001

Some friends of mine are ready to buy their first real HiFi. They own a Rega3 only, so are looking for a CD player amp and speakers.
They are still reeling with the price of true audio, and I can't persuade them beyond the cost of absolute entry level Naim.
I find it difficult to fairly assess bottom end Naim, but they won't trust their own ears and want an "expert" opinion.
They are close friends so I will have to live with the results of the decision for a long time. I doubt if they will get into upgrading.
Should it be a Naim system at all, and what about the speakers?

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Stephen Bennett

Sounds like Mr Browns kinda mag......

Rocking, how much do they want to spend? How about used? I just sold an Arcam Alpha CD/32.5/110/Rega EL8 system for £450 including NAC A4 cables. When I installed it I realised just how well it made music. In fact, in some ways, I prefered it to my current system.

Anyway bangs for bucks.....

Used
CD 3, CD3.5
New
Rega Planet
Arcam Alpha 7

Around the £450 -£550 mark. I'm wary of used CD players unless you trust the seller to make good if it fails soon after you buy it! Naim sellers usually are....

Amps

Used 32.5/110 or even a 90. With MM or MC boards for the Rega. Don't go anywhere else! Ok. maybe a 45 or 62.

Around £300-350

New? never bought a new amp!

Speakers

I like the Regas (El8, Kytes)

Around £80 to £150

I'm sure others have speaker suggestions!

Regards

Stephen

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Rockingdoc

They won't consider second-hand, budget GBP 1k to 1.5k at present but might be pushed up a bit.
The real problem is that I am going to be forced to listen to this system at least one evening a week for the rest of my life!

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Stephen Bennett

You have to make them see the benefit of used Naim Amps. Can your conscience cope with failing?

Regards

Stephen

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Bruce Woodhouse

The Rega planet CD is a rather wonderful thing for the cost, I have a colleague who has one in a very nicely balanced system with an old Audiolab amp and some sweet AEGIS one speakers. The system seems to have a real synergy and is always listenable if hardly reaching the heights of top end audio. I suspect the amp could be improved upon but I'm not sure what I'd suggest. Don't forget cables and especially stands for the speakers.

Regards Bruce

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Stephen Bennett

It's amazing what you could get for this money! Try....

Used Cd 3 / New Rega Planet /CD 3.5 if you are lucky (like me!) £450
Used 32.5/110 350
New Intro IIs 800

OK, £100 over, but what a bloody system!

You could probably get all this from a dealers with a warranty & ex dem speakers if you are lucky. Why not call a couple of dealers & see what they have in stock? If you can persuade your friends to go used on the amps at least, they will be getting a Much better system than for new.

Regards

Stephen

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Andrew Randle

Rockin'

1k-1.5k. Not much to buy a new system with. For that kind of money you're probably best taking them to Richer Sounds.

Sadly, in recent years, Hi-Fi has jumped in price. However, I could recommend trying out a Creek CD Player and Creek Amplifier system. Maybe one of the cheaper Exposure components would suit too. These can be compared at Grahams Hi-Fi.

Loudspeakers? Tannoy tend to do some of the best cheaper models - sadly Royd have priced themselves out of your friends' reach.

Audionote are also about to do a nice small speaker at about £200.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Tony L

quote:
Some friends of mine are ready to buy their first real HiFi. They own a Rega3 only, so are looking for a CD player amp and speakers.
They are still reeling with the price of true audio, and I can't persuade them beyond the cost of absolute entry level Naim.

If buying new I would go for the new Exposure CD player (700ish), a Densen Beat integrated amp at 600 and probably a pair of Linn Kan III assuming they sound similar to the Tukan, or some little Royds.

If they could be persuaded second hand my choice would be for a CD2 (750 - 900), Nait 2 (200) Kan I or II (150 - 250).

Tony.

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Rockingdoc

Yes, because they think my system sounds wonderful, but can't actually cope with what it cost.

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Nigel Cavendish

...second hand then they should go to a good dealer to audition what they can afford.

cheers

Nigel

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Rico

all of these systems have mreit, but Tony's suggested CD2/Nait2/KanI-or-II would kick ass.

Not only that, but it has loads of 2's - that's gotta be good for summat.

Rico - all your base are belong to us.

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Alco

My thoughts exactly,Rico

And if funs are really tight, they could even try out a Marantz CD-63KI first,and upgrade at a later date when funds allow.

I tried the CD63KI/Nait-2 with some Monitor Audio Studio-2. The system costed about 1000,- UKP and sounded great for that kinda money.

but ofcourse a CD2/Nait2/Kan-2's would be a very nice start! or a s/h CD-3.5 with flatcap
(see my story/pictures at www.hifi.nl and then click at "De set van de week"

o,..forgot..it's in Dutch! sorry.

See Y'all

Greetings,
Alco.

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Don Atkinson

Difficult one!!

Really good friends of ours have a Technics system. YES - Technics! plus B&W speakers.

The speakers cost £800 and the CD/Tape/Amp under £700. He runs the system bi-wired and has it all neatly stacked in one of those glass-fronted cabinets with all the wires neatly dressed out of sight down the back.

Sounds absolutely bl***y marvellous, always. I often have to put mine on as soon as I get back, just to proove to myself that mine really is slightly better. Even then I am still impressed with theirs !!

If you think this approach might help I'll get exact model numbers for you

Cheers,

Don

Posted on: 10 July 2001 by Chris Dolan

Surely the best advice you can give is the recommendation of a good dealer......making sure they sell naim and rega.

Chris

Posted on: 11 July 2001 by Rockingdoc

You are right, of course, then the dealer can take the blame if they aren't happy. I'll still be dragged along to the dem. to look wise.

Posted on: 11 July 2001 by Stephen Bennett

If you ask your dealer to contact you when something comes up as ex dem or used with warranty - that will help. Are they in a hurry?

You can also tell them that no one has ever bought a used naim Amp and regretted it - and they can sell it for the same price, usually.

stephen

Posted on: 11 July 2001 by Chris Dolan

Rockingdoc

quote:
I'll still be dragged along to the dem. to look wise.

I went with my brother-in-law to choose a "starter" system a little while ago. It was a brilliant experience.

He chose a Rega Planar 3 / Nait 2 (ex dem) / Royd Minstrels / Rotel CD Player (can't remember the model number).

It is a great system and he chose it with minimal input from me.

Chris

Posted on: 11 July 2001 by Steve Toy

I'd go down the Rega route also:
Planet 498 GBP
Brio 298 GBP
Alyas 300 GBP
Rega shelf for turntable 38 GBP
3 shelf Quadraspire table c230 GBP
Chord Silver Siren interconnect 70 GBP - I know this works well in this particular system.
Naim NacA5 cable - depends on required length, say 100 GBP including plugs.
I'm 4 quid under budget!
Alternatively:
The Densen Beat B100 integrated (700 GBP BTW, not 600 Tony

) is well worth it over the Brio - sounds more natural - but you'd need to use a different interconnect though, a Nordost Black Night or Solar Wind would be better.

It's always a nice day for it, have a good one
Steve

Posted on: 12 July 2001 by Steve Toy

The NAD c350 sounds woolly compared to the Brio.

It's always a nice day for it, have a good one
Steve