Downsizing
Sat, Mar 12 2011, 8:34PM
I have recently moved to a much smaller house [retirement reasons] and now find my system much too large for the accommodation available. Large Nottingham Analogue turntable, Icon valve amplifier, Marantz stereo SACD player, Denon tuner and large Revolver floorstanding loudspeakers. I am very happy with the system, built up over a number of years. But now it's just too big for my new house. I need to downsize but without loss of quality. Any suggestions as to where I might start? Clearly I can buy new speakers which are smaller but would like to get rid of the separates, which are taking up too much room.
Are all-in-one systems going to reduce the quality greatly? Any suggestions please.....?
Tue, Mar 15 2011, 5:10PM
#2
RE: Downsizing
Thanks for your reply, 33lp. I agree with you about the speakers which, though beautiful, are just too large for the space available. The room is too small to let realistic levels of bass develop. I need to get some smaller floorstanding speakers. The same goes for the turntable and amplifier, I'm afraid. I wonder if the Naim Uniti, Aura Note Premier, Arcam Solo or one of the Linn packages might fit the bill. Or there's the new range from Quad, which are all quite modest in size.
However, I have no hi-fi dealers of any quality within easy striking distance so am limited to what I can hear demonstrated. Hence my question.
Mon, Mar 21 2011, 9:42PM
#3
RE: Downsizing
Clearly I can buy new speakers which are smaller but would like to get rid of the separates, which are taking up too much room.
Are all-in-one systems going to reduce the quality greatly? Any suggestions please.....?
How about AVI ADM9Ts?. Active 2-way speakers with built in DAC, remote controlled pre-amp & 325watts p/ch of amplification.
Or the forthcoming ADM40s. Floorstander with (I think) 750watts amplification and a built in sub-woofer which is remote controllable to adjust for different rooms.
The problem may be getting to listen to them. There aren't many dealers stocking them - they're mostly sold online. AVI is based in Nailsworth in Gloucestershire and I'm sure you can go there to listen to them.
Robin
Sun, Mar 27 2011, 7:23AM
#4
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
Thanks for that suggestion - one I hadn't thought of till now.
I did hear a pair of the original ADM9s a couple or so years ago in someone else's house and they sounded good. I may be making a trip to AVI in the near future. Their website looks very interesting and potentially just what I need.
Sun, Mar 27 2011, 9:40AM
#5
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
Thanks for that suggestion - one I hadn't thought of till now.
I think they (ADM9T) are superb. I expect the ADM40s will be amazing.
I have a Logitech Squeezebox plugged in to mine. The Squeezebox sits on the speaker stand's "foot". It's about as minimalist/space-saving as you can get. (Obviously, there's a computer in another room!)
I haven't got the matching sub-woofer yet. I find the bass is quite adequate in my modest listening room (<13"x11"), even on Mahler (In fact Mahler/Shostakovich symphonies have provided some of the most "fun" I've had since buying the speakers). I probably will buy one eventually, just for that extra ambience it provides.
Tue, Mar 29 2011, 8:10AM
#6
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
Phileas,
I have looked on the AVI website but there is no mention of ADM40 speakers.
Is this a new model or am I missing something?
Tue, Mar 29 2011, 9:36AM
#7
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
Phileas,
I have looked on the AVI website but there is no mention of ADM40 speakers.
Is this a new model or am I missing something?
As far as I know, the speakers in question only exist in prototype form, but have been heavily hyped on a forum website linked to the manufacturer's own site.
Tue, Mar 29 2011, 3:59PM
#8
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
Thank you. I was beginning to think I was looking on the wrong website!
I can't decide now between the Naim Uniti-type of option or the AVI route.
Any suggestions - other than travelling a long way to listen [I live in N E Lincolnshire and there are no dealers within a wide radius of home]?
Tue, Mar 29 2011, 5:27PM
#9
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
Either option is valid: personally I would go for the Uniti and some decent speakers, but others are equally as passionate about the active speakers route.
But really you do need to listen before spending this amount of money on a system, though this is made trickier by AVI's direct sales route.
Tue, Mar 29 2011, 6:10PM
#10
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
(Andrew: Apologies for my earlier transgression)
Spadger
I think you can listen to the protoype ADM40s at the factory.
The Naim Uniti type option seems to imply passive speakers.
For me, the most important reason for going with ADM9Ts was the technical superiority of active over passive speakers. There are, of course, other manufacturers of active speakers (although none seem to offer the combination of price/performance/features/domestic-acceptability of the ADMs).
I have to say that the Naim Uniti has a rather stingy power output for £2000+. And then, of course, you have to find speakers that give the right "synergy"!
Anyway, perhaps I'd better stop there!
Wed, Mar 30 2011, 10:16AM
#11
RE: Downsizing
Thank you to all who have replied to my queries. I do feel that I am much further on than I was before I posted the questions. One final comment, my Revolver Cygnis loudspeakers are very efficient, so 50 wpc from the Naim would be more than enough to drive them to high levels. I would probably downsize to a smaller pair of Revolvers, as I like their sound and all speakers in the range are reasonably efficient. However, if I were to go down the AVI route, that wouldn't of course be the issue. I guess that it is a trip to AVI and a Naim dealer in the near future to decide on the ultimate route, but thank you again for pointing me in the right direction.
Wed, Mar 30 2011, 1:49PM
#12
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
For me, the most important reason for going with ADM9Ts was the technical superiority of active over passive speakers.
I have to say that the Naim Uniti has a rather stingy power output for £2000+.
Both statements, though presented as fact, are of course matters of opinion.
Wed, Mar 30 2011, 6:46PM
#13
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
For me, the most important reason for going with ADM9Ts was the technical superiority of active over passive speakers.
I have to say that the Naim Uniti has a rather stingy power output for £2000+.
Both statements, though presented as fact, are of course matters of opinion.
Well, everything I've read suggests to me the first statement is demonstrably true. It's just engineering. Of course, the realisation of the concept requires competent execution which is not guaranteed in the real world.
I suppose the second statement depends on the interpretation of stingy. Perhaps I should have said relatively stingy. I notice a similar Marantz offering at £500 has 60w/ch.
Thu, Mar 31 2011, 10:47AM
#14
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
Well, everything I've read suggests to me the first statement is demonstrably true.
Sort of depends where you read, I suppose.
I suppose the second statement
depends on the interpretation of stingy. Perhaps I should have said
relatively stingy. I notice a similar Marantz offering at £500 has
60w/ch.
depends on the interpretation of stingy. Perhaps I should have said
relatively stingy. I notice a similar Marantz offering at £500 has
60w/ch.
Indeed, but there's rather more to it than merely how many Watts you get for your money.
Thu, Mar 31 2011, 9:25PM
#15
RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing RE: Downsizing
Sort of depends where you read, I suppose.
You can say that about anything.
Indeed, but there's rather more to it than merely how many Watts you get for your money.
There is?
You may well find that the large speakers are too overwhelming for a smaller room and would be the place to start but can you really bear to part with a Nottingham Analogue turntable and Icon valve amp? Surely no all-in-one can equal these!