This month AudioEnz has asked five dealers to put together a system with two constraints; the price should be around $4000 and the system should be designed to work in a small room. Here's what ur dealers came up with:
Totally Wired, Dunedin
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| Quad CDP-2 CD player |
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| Quad 11L Active loudspeaker |
It took about 2 seconds to decide what to choose for the $4k system challenge. Which means we are either incredibly narrow-minded or may just have found something that actually stands out... But first let’s talk about speakers.
Going ‘active’ has always been regarded as the ultimate in dynamic (ie box) speaker performance. Why do we want to go down the active track anyway? First off, there is always some compromise involved in matching amps to speakers – having the amps specifically designed to match would have to sound better (and also be safer). Next we consider the crossover – all conventional speakers have these and this is another area of compromise – by their very nature they consume an amps power and are nowhere near as accurate as you’d like to think - if you could place the crossover before the amplifiers a whole lot of problems simply go away.
There is an arena where active speakers are considered the norm and that is within recording studios – especially for monitoring. In this setting you have an absolute need for accuracy.
If you have two outwardly identical speakers, one conventional and driven by a competent power amplifier and one active, the latter will sound considerably better – more dynamic, detailed and extended. Up until now this really wasn’t a comparison you could readily make. And any active options were, on the face of it, quite expensive.
The new Quad 11L and 12L Active speakers ($1400 and $1700 a pair) stand this equation on its head. Featuring Quad’s unique ‘current dumping’ topology with 40 watts for the treble plus 60 for the bass in each speaker. Add balanced and RCA inputs, protection and level control to the back panel and you have something rather more sophisticated flexible than your average speaker.
Taking the elegance of the active speakers to the logical conclusion, we look to Quads CDP-2 upsampling CD player ($2000) as a source – the trick here being that it features a full range volume control. That isn’t the end of this particular story – the Quad CDP2 also has an array of digital inputs with allow you to plug in other components (DVD players, Set top boxes and probably the next generation of iPod) and benefit from the slick upsampling circuitry that makes the CDP2 sound as it does.
So there you have it – a fully functional system from Quad with just a CD player and speakers.
In 2005 Michael Wong had some fairly positive things to say about the Quad CDP based system at $5700. Today for just $3400 we can do a considerably better job with the CDP-2 and 11L actives. We’ve undershot the arbitrary $4k by a good margin – this leaves plenty for interconnecting cables (rather than conventional speaker cables) and stands if required.
While it would have been just as easy to take a more conventional route – for instance the Rotel RCD06/RA05 amp pairing with the Image Studio Reference would be my first pick – this minimalistic and uncompromising approach from Quad allows us to not only have a CD player that would normally not feature in a system at this price level, but to also experience the accuracy and detail that comes with active speaker operation.
In the future you may well want more analogue inputs and control. The Quad 99 preamplifier ($1600) would be a comprehensively featured and logical choice but the simplicity of Perreaux’s new SXP2 passive preamplifier ($700) could also appeal.
Your final question might be 11L active or 12L active? Simple answer – get the 12Ls if you can, but if you are pushing your budget, the 11Ls will never let you down.—John Ransley
Quad CDP-2 CD player | $2000 |
Quad 11L active loudspeakers | $1400 |
Total | $3400 |
The Listening Post, Christchurch
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| Audiolab 8000CD CD player |
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| Audiolab 8000S amplifier |
When it comes to smaller rooms, it is important to find the right balance of size and quality. Floorstanding speakers can be imposing in an small lounge, not only because of their physical size, but also because the sound can quickly become overwhelming. Bass certainly needs to be handled carefully so as not to become boomy at certain frequencies, but non-existent at others.
To this end, I have gone with Paradigm's new Mini Monitor bookshelf speakers. These are just the right size, both in stature and sound. They are clear and even in tone, yet have no issues when pushed hard. The Mini Monitors image well, have resolutely solid cabinets, and their own modern/ retro styling which suits a diverse range of lounges.
To drive these, team up the Audiolab 8000CD CD player with the 8000S amplifier. The 8000CD has real definition in the top end, and is flexible enough to handle most musical tastes. The hitherto unheard triangle at the back of the orchestra becomes obvious - it was there all along! Drum and bass tracks benefit from the crispness on offer, and the presentation of acoustic music is impressive.
The Audiolab 8000S is the next piece in the puzzle. At 60 Watts RMS per channel, it has what it takes to bathe a small room in audio glory. The 8000S offers superb control over the Mini Monitors. Simplicity is the key here: no tone controls, just volume, source selection and a balanced and direct response. The same remote that operates the amp also operates the CD player, so that you only need one remote - effectively, you have one spare.
Capping this system off are the WireWorld Equinox interconnects, and QED Silver Anniversary XT speaker cable. These offer both excellent value for money and a step up from entry level cables, giving smooth results.—J. Lewars
Audiolab 8000CD CD Player | $1299 |
Audiolab 8000S integrated amp | $1299 |
Paradigm Mini Monitor bookshelf speakers | $899 |
WireWorld Equinox Interconnects 0.5m | $299 |
QED Silver Anniversary XT, 5m @$20/m | $100 |
QED Banana plugs x 8 | $80 |
Total | $3976 |
The Real Music Company, Wellington
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| Rega Apollo CD player |
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| Rega Brio amplifier |
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| Rega R3 loudspeakers |
One of the main features we search for on building an audio system to any budget is system symmetry. That is the relationship between each box should always be a happy one, without one component being either way out of its companions class or just not the best spend of a given budget.
Given the brief for this short article is to provide a complete system for around the $4,000 mark suitable for a small room, we have a marvellous opportunity to provide a complete system from a supplier that has taken care of the matching questions for us if they can provide all three components, the source, the amplifier and the speakers. One such company is Rega Research Ltd.
Rega have carved their very successful niche in the UK and world market by refusing to accept audio theories without doing the research from the ground up themselves and continuing to take nothing for granted, stopping to ask ‘Why?’ at each step. This has lead to their now famous Rega Planar turntables, and a full range of electronics and speakers.
Basing any system around the Rega Apollo CD player ($1,650) is a great start. Following the source first principle we are yet to find a CD player under the Naim CD5i level that performs at anything like the level of musicality the Apollo can bring to your collection. Information is apparent in abundance but it is always knitted together in a highly involving manner. Equals more fun.
Partner this with another Rega bargain, the no-frills Rega Brio 3 integrated amplifier, and you at once have an assured combination that punches way above its price level. The Brio being an ideal amplifier for those where music is the priority over features. By this I mean it has no remote, no A-B speaker switching, no tone controls, so is completely stripped down to maximise sound for the given budget. This means you do not have to pay for features that you may never use. Being Rega there is also an excellent phono stage included so a future additional source will be hassle free. Rega also offer the ability to add a headphone amplifier if desired.
Speakers for a small room often have people thinking bookshelf of stand mounted small box designs. To optimise a system these types of speakers should be placed on good quality stands that means the both additional expense and the placement of the speakers on the floor. The Rega R1 at $895 works very well in these situations. The floor standing Rega R3 at $1,575 a pair provides an immediate alternative that allows positioning against a rear wall and the benefits of introducing another mid-bass driver and alleviating the need for stand purchasing. Options like these are why we recommend a demonstration (as always) so you can be sure it will work for you.
Tidy every thing up with a Chord Co Cobra 3 interconnect and Chord Carnival speaker wire and years of listening pleasure await.—Allan MacFarlane
Rega Apollo CD player | $1650 |
Rega Brio 3 amplifier | $1075 |
Rega R3 | $1575 |
Chord Co Cobra 3 | $165 |
Chord Carnival 5m @$8/m | $40 |
Total | $4505 |
Eastern Hi-Fi, Newmarket, Auckland
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| Denon DCD-700 CD player |
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| Denon PMA-700 amplifier |
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| Project Debut 3 turntable |
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| Kef iQ3 |
We all have our favourites when it comes to putting a system together for someone, and of course one man’s trash is another’s treasure, but there are a few staple products that can always be counted on to produce great results.
One of these is the Kef iQ3 bookshelf speaker, which is what I’ve chosen to build this system around. I feel that at this price point you can get a better result from a decent stand mounted speaker rather than dilute any of the designer’s budget into trying to make a big cabinet actually sound any good. Also using a smaller speaker allows for more flexibility in placement, as it’s generally easier to get a small speaker to sound good in most rooms. Of course we always ask our customers about their rooms to ensure a satisfactory outcome.
The iQ3 was very popular in the listening test a couple of issues ago, and was in fact most of the participant’s speaker of choice from the selection available. The iQ3 uses Kef’s uni-Q driver arrangement where the tweeter is mounted where the dust cap would normally be on the woofer. This creates a ‘point-source’ type of configuration, which is always going to allow for a more natural representation of actual instruments and works particularly well with acoustic music. As stated in the listening panel review, the Kef’s look a lot more expensive than they are, the quality of finish of these products is fantastic.
A speaker of this size is never going to plumb subterranean depths in the bass department, but what is there is articulate and rhythmic. A bookshelf speaker should never (or should that be hardly ever) be put on a bookshelf, and I would recommend the use of a pair of the great Sound Creations speaker stands.
The electronics to go with these great little speakers are the new Denon PMA-700 Integrated amp and the matching DCD-700 CD player. These beasties are part of the new releases that show Denon takes two channel seriously. They are also made in Japan, not China, which may count for something these days! The cost to performance ratio is crazy with these two machines.
The amp puts out 50 watts into the Kef’s 8 ohm load, which is more than sufficient. This output doubles to 100 watts into 4 ohms, which indicates a robust power supply. It is laden with features that are fairly typical of most amps at this price, defeatable tone controls, A-B speaker switching and a headphone socket. Around the back there are plenty of inputs to keep most people happy, including a nice MM phono stage. Interestingly it also sports a pair of pre-outs, from which you could hook up a subwoofer if you were so inclined. Nice to have the option though.
I always find that a really good budget component makes you forget about what it cost and lets you get on with enjoying the music, and this is exactly what the Denon does. It just gets out of the way, and you can’t ask much more than that. This amp provides powerful, accurate musical performances that really highlight what a bargain it is.
The matching CD player is no slouch either. The sounds from this machine are what I would call expansive, and it amazing to realise the level of performance you can get from a relatively modest product these days. Interestingly the player has a pitch control, which can be useful if playing along with live instruments. Also included is a headphone out with its own volume, and of course the standard digital outs via coaxial and toslink connections.
Finally I would recommend a Project Debut 3 turntable. The Debut is amazing value for money. It’s remarkable how many people are getting back into vinyl, and with a phono stage as good as the Denon’s is, it would be a waste not to take advantage of it. We actually get more requests for turntables than CD players by a country mile!
Hook everything together with the excellent Audioquest cables, (and for this system I would recommend biwiring the speakers with Type 8 and a King Cobra interconnect) and you’re away laughing.
This system is amazingly good for the money, it excels with all genres of music, but really shines with acoustic stuff, like Chris Isaak, Norah Jones and simple classical recordings.
Its almost as if no one told this system that its supposed to be a budget one!—Neil Young
Denon DCD-700 | $849 |
Denon PMA-700 | $899 |
Project Debut 3 | $499 |
Kef iQ3 | $899 |
AudioQuest King Cobra 0.5m | $179 |
AudioQuest Type 8 5x$40/m plus terminations | $320 |
Total | $3645 |
The Listening Post, Hamilton
The key to putting together any musically satisfying system at $4000 is balancing your compromises. The simple, and I guess obvious truth, is that at $4000, what ever you buy is going to have limitations. The trick is to choose a combination of equipment whose compromises are in the areas that are least important to you.
For some people that means putting together a system that can’t do deep bass, but sounds magical through the midrange. For another person, it could be choosing a system that can rearrange your internal organs, but which might not let you hear exactly what the second violins are doing during the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth.
Obviously in the space we have we can’t cover all the bases, so the system we’re recommending is one which consistently impresses us with its ability to sound “real”. “Real” means that instrumental and vocal textures sound like what we hear live. “Real” means that it has adequate authority and speed in the bass to handle a variety of music, not just chamber, acoustic or small ensemble jazz. “Real” means you can suspend your disbelief and imagine you’re at the performance. “Real” means you get the musical message, and feel the emotion of the performer. No mean feat for $4000 if you ask us.
We’re going to start with the Cambridge Audio 640C V2 CD player. This little honey is smooth, sweet, and remarkable engaging for $2000. Now the bit we really love is its $999. In the words of What Hi Fi? Sound and Vision “..if we could give a product six stars, then these CD players would get them.”
The matching Cambridge Audio 640A V2 amplifier is a natural partner for the 640c V2 CD player, and has that same smooth, rich presentation. This multi award-winning amplifier is also $999, and like its disc spinning cousin, is a little ripper.
When it comes to speakers, the Jamo E875’s open, detailed, and more natural presentation are a wonderful compliment to the body and warmth provided by the Cambridge Audio electronics. We know Jamo will be replacing these in the next quarter, so you can pick up a pair of these at $1495 till the new model arrives. This is $500 under their retail price of $1995. We don’t know what the new model will be like yet, but we can tell you that E875’s are something very special for $1495. Two of The Listening Post team run this series of speaker in their own home systems. I can think of no higher recommendation than that.
That leaves us $500 for good Analysis Plus interconnects and speaker cables to ensure the electronics and speakers can deliver their best. Once again, we’ve chosen Analysis Plus for their very neutral, natural, and honest presentation.
The end result is a system whose compromises very rarely get in the way of the musical message. It’s a system which presents musical textures and timbres in a natural fashion, allowing you relate to a performance, not just listen to a hi-fi. We think that’s pretty cool for $4000.— Romesh Anandaraja
Cambridge Audio 640C V2 | $999 |
Cambridge Audio 640A V2 | $999 |
Jamo E875 | $1495 |
Analysis Plus interconnects |
http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2007/systems_4k.shtml
