I currently have Denon 3802, Pioneer 535DVD, HSU VTF 2 sub and M3Ti speakers for my HT.
I am thinking of buying an amp & M22Ti speaker that will be used mainly for music playing CDs. I listen to all sorts of music at a medium level volume in a mid size room. I just want to sit & enjoy the music the best I can ie clarity, detail, impact.

I assume the amp to get will be a lot better than 3802 for music.
Has anyone had a listen to Arcam A85 Diva or NAD340 amp.

Any suggestions on how to set up a musical system at around $3000 USD?

thanks
Armand

Hello Armand

I have a pair of Michaura M55s, very similar to the Axiom M22s in my stereo system. I have an Antique Sound Labs MG S1 15DT integrated tube amp, 5 watts per channel in triode. These can be found for between $600-750 new, $400-500 used. I upgraded it with a Coincident power cord, 1962 GE 12AX7 tubes and a pair of Svetlana KT88s. My source is an Ah! Njoeb Tjoeb tube output CD player with upgraded power cord, British Ediswan tube upgrades, and a pair of OP amp Burr Brown 627s. Interconnects are Maple Audio (also Canadian) Ambiance, speaker wire are the strangely thin Mapleshade Clearview Double Golden Helix Plus cables. I upgraded the resistors in the Michaura speakers with Caddocs and the capacitors with big Jensen paper/oil caps. To fill in between 35Hz and 60Hz I use a little Velodyne 8" sub.

This system is way under $3,000, the upgraded Ah! CDP the most expensive component. It is unbelievably sweet, accurate, fluid, realistic and musical sounding.

BTW, if you're uneasy about the 5 watt per channel part, this strange combination plays music at normal listening levels without any problem whatsoever. The M22tis are very efficient and will be no problem for the ASL 5wpc.

Sounds better for 2 channel than my 130 watt per channel Onkyo 797 driving a pair of M60 like Michaura M665s with Klipsch LF10 sub with Toshiba SD9200 DVD Audio Player (which sounds pretty darn amazing in its own right).

Anyway, something to think about.

Armand, I don't believe that you'll get an amp any better than the 3802 for music, much less "a lot better". See discussion under "Receiver Recommendations?" in Home Theater.

Armand

if you ask me it is a waste of time buying something 'better' than the Denon 3802 for music

Denon makes very high quality products, you would have to spend tons of money to get something noticeably better, and that money is much wiser spend elsewhere.

i have a Denon 1602 and I find it great for music.

If your music setup is for a different room, obviously you will need another source of amplification (unless you are happy with the Denon 3802...I can't remember if it does a second zone or not).

I'm going to avoid re-opening the standard can of worms about the Denon 3802. I will simply state that I did a head-to-head audition of the 3802 and Arcam AVR100, and the Arcam was IMHO a hands-down winner with music by a large margin. I was also unhappy with the Denon's music performance versus an Onkyo receiver, though the comparison was much closer. Even magazines like What HiFi admit that the Denon 3802's Achilles heel is music, though it is a fantastic home theater receiver.

$3000 is a TON of money for a good stereo setup (even Canadian dollars), and it's even quite a lot for a multichannel music system. With Axiom speakers at moderate volumes, something like the Arcam 85 is probably a bit of overkill. NAD integrateds are certainly well regarded on the net, but you have a ton of choices...Rega, Naim, Rotel, Myryad, Arcam, Roksan, Jolida, Antique Soundlabs, and literally dozens of other companies make mid-priced CD players and amps that are very highly regarded. Read reviews on audiovideoreviews.com, tnt-audio.com and enjoythemusic.com to get some ideas. People on audioasylum.com can be a great help as well. Lastly, audition, audition, audition.

For speakers, you can't go wrong with the M22s unless you like a laid-back sound or listen to a lot of pop music, in which case M3s are the way to go.

Hi Armand

I have an A85 Diva driving M80's. I couldn't be happier with the choice. I was looking at Denon for home theater and decided to go two channel for now instead(because I listen to music way more than watch movies). I didn't listen to Arcam and Denon head to head like fhw has, but he is not alone in saying that Arcam is qualitatively superior for music.

Ed

You could buy a pair of Norh Le Amp monoblocks for $500 and connect them to the pre-outs on your reciever...this would give you a nice upgrade w/o setting up a separate 2-channel system.

If you compared a decent $300-$400 integrated amp (NAD C350 or Cambridge Audio A500) you would be quite surprised how much more musical it is compared to your reciever.

conj,

I guess I would have to try on a blind test.

However, I cannot justify that expense right now!

That is certainly a good budget for your needs.

There have been many good suggestions in the thread regarding products. Aloow me to add a few names:
- Vecteur ( a French company that makes excellent amps and CD players)
- Creek (in the same area as some of the mid fi European lines)
- Audio Refinement ( the mid fi line from SimAudio - who make excellent hifi products)
- Roksan

I would think you have a good list of products to search through. Keep in mind that you should use at least a balanced approach to spending your money - or in other words, don't spend it all on the amp, and have little left for a quality CD. Also remember to purchase decent interconnects.

$3000 is plenty of money to get a great sytem. If looking at separate amp and pre amps I'd look at the CIAudio pre amp. $250 I believe, and it has received some very good reviews.
Last year I picked up the m22's a demo California Audio Labs Cd player, and a demo Audio Aero Integrated amp (tube pre amp, solid state amp). Total, with $100 interconnect and basic monster cable bulk speaker wire, was under $1500.
There's some awesome integrated amps out there for around $1000-1500. Creek, Musical Fidelity, Arcam

I'm thinking about purchasing ASL wave8 mono blocs, with an output of 8watts. What do ypu think of using MZero's, M1's or M2's? I'm just looking for something that will give some nice easy listening and background music.

Thank you everyone for all the great recommendations.
I forgot to mention in my email that I am from Down Under Australia. We have most of the gears you guys have mentioned but there might be few that we don't have here.
But I will definitely start ringing all these HiFI shops to ask about these brands.
thanks

Armand

if your a aussie look at aksa amps(made down under)
there kits sound incredable

I'd also take a look at Plinius and Perreaux integrateds. They're both New Zealand companies that produce some great sounding products.

www.pliniusaudio.com
www.perreaux.com