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Andrew can the CXA81 drive speakers like Monitor Audio Silver 300 ? It has less power than the AXR100 but the AXR100 doesn't have Pre Out so you can't connect another amp to it ? whereas the CXA81 does have a Pre Amp out. It's just that Cambridge doesn't make another affordable amp or power amp to boost the CXA81 with extra power. Can you direct me some help with this. Please Andrew ?
That’s the kind of video your followers might want to see more. As an audiophile and high end audio businessman with more than 4 decades of experience from Tehran Iran; it’s always nice and satisfying to guide my clients and therefore their hard earned money 💰 to a budget based mixed brands system building and watching the smile on their faces the moment they listen 👂 to what their money bought for them. It takes passion and patience to get there but it’s definitely worth it because one will end up having a loyal clientele that won’t stop recommending yours truly to their friends. Of course other clients with bigger budget will as well benefit from this method. It’s all about keeping people in one’s mind and making them happy 😃. Thanks 🙏🏼 Andrew and Kristi. ❤❤
It's pretty refreshing to hear these words from a Audiophiles mouth, because to tell you the Truth I'm pretty Sick and Tired of the Normal Audiophiles that Scoff at Equipment such as this ! Thank You and Keep it Real! Audiophiles come in ALL INCOME RANGES and Deserve Respect just as the Audiophiles and their 350 K Systems----
100% agree with Kristi on this one here!!! The fun part of the hobby is creating different experiences of the music or movies you like. My dad tought me from very young. So now i mix and match components to change the sound because that is what is fun. Swithcing between my Revel F206(3500$) and my Dali Zensor 7 (700$) and putting an old 600$ Denon preamp in front of my Mark Levinson 5805 (8500 $) just to have tone controls and a "Different" sound - that is what it is all about - Great video.... Absolutely love it!!
I started out with Cambridge in the 70s after I graduated from college. I loved the company and their amps. I was poor and I could afford their equipment with my DIY speakers. I can still see it sitting on my homemade concrete block rack with my cheap turntable. I was a happy camper. My system today is still made up of speakers (5.1) I made along with my Sony STR AZ5000ES but I will always remember and love my Cambridge systems. Thanks Andrew and Kristi for keeping us in the real world.
Absolutely LOVE Kristi's perspective on these.... Frankly, a HUGE VALUE ADD ! At the end of the day, only you can decide how much you want to spend on this hobby and be satisfied with it... It's the free market at work...
I think the gear is something you need to grow on. Iam only starting my HiFi journey and I don’t think I would be able to actually hear too much differences between a 2k and 20k rig. Thx for being so informative and educational
Couldn't agree more with the discussion about people 'taking sides'. The analogy to photography, especially because of the sense that the market is shrinking is right on-point.
I agree totally. I have two complete systems One in over 15k. The other is under 2500. Both have there place, Both sound great... Real good. Yes the higher dollar has different dynamics and details. But you'd almost never know, unless you were standing in front of both comparing.
And therein lies the rub as they say, unless you're A/B-ing them directly, our aural memory will go with the flow --money be darned. Appreciate you sharing!
Andrew this was a great video and Kristi's take was SPOT ON!! She did a pure mic drop! That being said. My surround sound system that's hooked up to my LG C1 didnt cost a fortune and I don't care because it sounds great to the wife and I and that's all that matters. If it puts me into the heart of the movie that's all I need.
I really like how the hole point of the video wasn’t to do a A B comparison between an expensive rig and a cheap one, just a good sounding one suggestion. Very nice video.
For someone who really loves music, there's enjoyment in a million dollar system and there's enjoyment in a single dash-speaker mono AM radio. If you love the music you're hearing, it takes you somewhere. Sometimes the system guides where it takes you. Hearing tinny mono country-western takes me back to listening to George Jones with my dad when I was a kid. Listening to Fleetwood Mac on a million dollar system reminds me of the control room and console where they recorded the track (I've recorded there, nowhere near The Chain). There's something to enjoy in every system. If you love music, and not just the equipment, you'll find that thing.
Very enjoyable and professional video. Kristi makes a huge point! Always judge a system on its musical presentation and personal enjoyment level, not the price tag. Long live hi fi!
Enjoyed Kristi's take (agreeing with the wife is the key to a long and happy life ) .....as an older guy (cough) I think internet forums have exacerbated the "heat" and produce a signal to noise ratio I can only describe as dismaying. In earlier years you had to go the the letters column of a magazine to witness the shootouts so it was easier to avoid. As a photography enthusiast I see the same vitriol with gear choices....if you shoot Fujifilm (as I do) you are definitely on the outer.....bottom line : we have different musical tastes, different budgets, different rooms and different *hearing*....I've just retired, upgraded my system to Pro-ject/Rotel/Rotel/Dynaudio and am very happy with the setup which will do me for (??) years.....I can happily listen to someone else's system who has different criteria to me, I get why they made their choice and it doesn't bother me....and yeah, it's really that simple ....cheers from OZ :-)
Kristi and Andrew - I love you guys !!!! You hit the nail on the head in your "wrap up". I am sooooo happy and soooo satisfied with my $1200 system (and that includes my 4K TV for home theater....not just music listening). $600 for two 2nd gen Apple HomePods (gets me not only stereo...but Dolby Atmos entertainment) $129 for Apple TV 4K streaming box & lastly $500 for a 65" LG 4K UHD TV....all totaling $1200+...for everything...INCLUDING THE TV ! I love it and my wife loves it.....would I commit murder to get a B&O A9 for $3600? Hell yeah I would.....but I have a family to support and like you guys....a life outside of music listening and movie watching. All in all......I couldn't be happier with my HomePods. Thank you for all your efforts to bring sanity into this hobby. I love you guys !!!!
Agree 100% with you both. Audio and what is perceived “better” is something very personal and there simply isn’t a right or wrong and it’s definitely not dictated by price, brand image or marketing but by how it makes YOU feel.
"Specs don't tell the whole story" so glad to hear you say that and recommend a 25W per channel amp. So many people are obsessed with power. I have three systems in my home doing different jobs in different rooms. The one I enjoy the sound of most is a twenty-something year old marantz PM4200 (35W per channel) with Tannoy M1 speakers.
My ladyfriend wanted a vinyl rig for her place, so I got her an RT-85, paired with an NAD 3045 and my hand-me-down Cambridge Audio SX-60s. That inspired me to do some eBaying for a small two-channel for our parlor, a Pro-ject T1, an Elac EA101, and a 2.1 Kanto kit. Keep this kind of content coming! ✌️
Glad you did something like this. When I started thinking of getting back into HiFi I was concerned about not spending enough and your saying only one needs to be satisfied was very helpful on turning the noise.
I would go... Amp: Cambridge AXR100 £450 Streamer: Wiim Mini £80 Speakers: Q Acoustics 3030i £250 Great system for less than £800 (so less than $1000 I guess) 👍👍👍
I really like it when reviewers do these full system builds. It can be daunting especially for begginers how many options there are. I really think you should do more at different price points or with different goals i.e. TV based streaming, vinyl focused or system for bassheads.
Thanks for another solid video. I deeply appreciate the discussion, inspired by Kristi, at the end. Your channel draws the audiophiles but your tag line, to me, represents those of us who are music lovers first. I want a system that allows me to hear detailed, balanced music that seems natural and is not fatiguing. Thanks for pointing out what is possible along the price point continuum.
This is in response to the incredibly well said discussion at the end. I fell into the hifi world by originally looking for a good pair of cheap wireless earbuds. Six years later and I have a couple of headphone systems and stereo systems. I will say that I am not rich so I am always looking for a bang for the buck deal. That being said this is about my two headphone systems. My main system with the headphones included is around $1,800 and I love it. It takes me away and fills me with joy when I listen to it. My budget system, hooked up to my desk top is around $350. I just recently added a Schiit Loki and got the system sounding amazing. As good as my main system, no way. But If I had never built my main system and only built my budget one, I have no doubt I would experience the same amount of joy. I don’t think you measure joy with money. Money can make finding joy easier but I don’t think it is exact quotient. I love when you too get into this part of the hobby. You both rock and thank you for making the hobby a better experience.
I feel you guys strike a balance between cost, looks and performance that few reviewers take into consideration! The one thing I'd change in that system is instead of Cambridge streamer id go with the wiim pro or mini (dependant upon needs) and perhaps I'd put more cash into the speakers or amp. In my mind you can always change out dacs and streamers etc but the speakers and the amp are really a foundation you want to stick with for the long haul!
The price tag vs. value discussion for audio components is fascinating to me. I've been struggling with this as I try to set up a couple of different systems for my new house. The challenge I face is that, in the absence of an ability to actually listen and judge the quality of audio systems, I have to use price tag as an indicator of product quality. Reviews like yours help add a dimension to the assessment, but it's still very hard to determine the best purchase, if you've never actually been able to hear the gear.
The NAD D3020 is a great little amp and it pairs well with a number of affordable speakers, such as the Elac B6’s. That plus a Wiim pro streamer and you’re all in under $1000. The NAD has the advantage of having a subwoofer output, so a 2.1 system is easily reachable under $1500.
I went to a hi-fi show last November and went round all the rooms as you do. I listened to systems costing over £100,000 and many systems at around £30,000, but one of the most enjoyable listens was a Rega 1 system. Rega P1, with amp and speakers which were £1,000. A few other people at the show made similar comments. So, it's definitely not just about cost, it's often about synergies and the music being an enjoyable listen, rather than how much detail you can hear, or soundstage etc. Great video.
I've had my moment of epiphany! This same system with the AX series is what I came up with following your past reviews these last 2 years! I've got a limited budget with spousal approval and this is the system that has brought us musical joy. I think I have learned well Obi-Wan. 😁
Another beautiful presentation! Owned KEF R500 loudspeakers for years. Had an old PIONEER amplifier and wanted to save some money for a decent amplifier for my KEF's. Always thought a HEGEL amplifier was the best combination for these speakers. Then, after a comparison in the same store, have chosen CAMBRIDGE AUDIO CX SERIES. Every favorite song sounded much better with the CX-A81 than with the HEGEL 120 or even the 190! The CXN-V2 is a wonderful DAC for me and the CXC plays my large collection of CDs beautifully. I have been using SONOS for years in the other rooms of my home. To switch to BLUSOUND which is better is too expensive for me. So stick with SONOS. But my SONOS PORT sounds much better through my CXN-V2! I am extremely satisfied with my CAMBRIDGE CX set to really listen to music.
I like all of your videos and I really want to give my kudos to Kristi as well. Her questions or comments are very logical and helpful. Also, your sweet conversations uplift the vibes which makes your followers stick to your channel forever (I might be too subjective here).
Thank you Kristi & Andrew. More for the talk afterwards. This is how I feel about Hifi and TH-cam Reviews. Just enjoy what you have and don´t pick on others who do not share your opinion and STOP being nasty in the comments. :-) Thank you.
Glad you guys mentioned the AXR100. While I often think I’d like to upgrade at some point, my AXR100 has a feature I’ve become addicted to… tone controls that can be accessed with the REMOTE CONTROL! Being able to adjust tone on the fly from my listening chair is a game changer! The Heaven 11 Billie amp I’m looking at doesn’t have tone controls at all. Now I can add a Schitt tone control but… no remote. So, I’m sticking with what I got till I can figure out a workaround.
Kristi , Just Made the same comments on two pages today and one of them called me out for it. Heres what ive said All Along, that a 500k System That 95% of Audiophiles can not Ever expect to own compared to a 25k System fully dialed in, Does not Sound 20 Times Better nor would it have the ability to with the Awesome Equipment that is available today! Keep up the good work and Catering to the 95%!
I very much appreciate your kind words but I think you may have misunderstood my point. To begin, I assure you that I am not "catering" to any specific demographic. While I know there are plenty of cases that support your theory, what is the point of arguing it one way or the other? It just creates a divide and puts someone else on the defensive. Ultimately putting one side against the other, arguing endlessly until one either feels right or just gives up and leaves. If we continue to do this to each other, at some point there will be nothing left to argue over.
I also think that for the average middle income or upper middle income person it is sometimes hard to understand just how many people there are that can easily afford those super high end systems. I noticed also that no one argues like this about boats. My eye opening experience was several decades ago while on an electric boat cruise around New Port Harbor, in California, while on a business trip. I couldn’t believe how many incredibly expensive yachts there were. Some not much smaller than cruise ships. It was past my comprehension at that time that so many people could afford so large of a boat and not only could they, they bought one. Multiply that by every harbor around the country and you start to get the idea. Yet, I did not hear one person say my bass boat will do 90% of what those yachts will do., or that those people will be eating cat food in a year or two. 😀. Mostly, it was just like, cool, that would be nice.
Thank you for reigniting my love of HIFI, you two create inteligent watchable content and your constant remidner that the only one who has to be happy with the sound is us, is so right, and in many ways is repeated in Kristi's comments today!
My set is a Marantz PM6006 UK Edition, a Chromecast Audio and a pair of Dynaudio Emit 10's. A great listen. I like Moon and ATC but I'm enjoying myself.
Great video! Appreciate the dac comments-it’s exhausting, kind of like the cable debate. For me, part of the fun is getting great sound at minimal cost. However, I still keep the Q acoustic 3030i’s in play. Fun speaker.
Love the recommendations for new gear. In this price range I would lean towards a tier higher gear that is second hand but obviously that is buyer beware. Love all you guys do!
Andrew, good review. I have a few observations. 1) Your room is a masterpiece, a true thing of beauty. 2)Videos like this one do a world of good for people trying to put together a system. Another option for the DAC/streamer is the Paradigm PW Link for $200 (new old stock and still available from Paradigm directly). The Link includes Play-Fi (yes, it's gapless and it works), ARC room correction, and an optical input. It's the missing link for any system not just what was outlined. As for cost let me add this thought. With the advent of CD-quality streaming what can be thought of as entry-level has made a huge leap forward in terms of clarity, so it's unfair to call lower-priced components entry-level by just attaching a dollar value to them. I think a better way to think about the amount of money invested comes down to what kind of listener you are. I play music in the living room and let it waft through the condo, and so for me, anything beyond my A11 Tribute and KEF LS 50 Metas is overkill as I'm not going to focus intently on the music. However, if I were going to concentrate intently on the music, then I'd surely have what could be termed high-end and go for every last ounce of detail. You are correct about the hobby shrinking. I spend a lot of time looking at economic data and see firsthand that people are willing to spend more on services and experiences than products. That's why I think you're seeing KEF invest so much into their powered speakers because with almost zero effort someone can have a truly great sounding system.
I think you are right when you don't need a 10k set to enjoy music, mine is not even half that but with every CD/TVserie/film I put on I have a BIG smile on my face. And among the things I really love that I use are the Concept 50's that i demoed after your review. Keep up the great work!
These reviews are as refreshing as Mountain Dew!!! Wow, just keep it up. We should all be able to come together as audiophiles. Kristi said it best, can we reach a point where we all get along?? I heard $600,000 systems at pacific audio fest this last weekend, and I went home and sat down in front of my $10,000 system and it was fantastic and i was just as happy… GREAT REVIEW!! Love it. Whatever makes you press the power button and sink into your seat and enjoy. Cheers.
Thank you so much, ABX! We 100% agree. One of the best things I ever did in my audio journey was to start over from scratch where I chose for a period to only use a soundbar. It allowed me to recalibrate my way of thinking and adjust back to many see as relatable and normal.
_Of course_ you can enjoy modestly priced systems if you make your choices carefully. I can unashamedly say I've done that in the past myself. Still, IMO, the sweet spot comes in a tad more expensive -- around £4000 ($5000) -- especially if you're not averse to a little DIY on the speaker front. This is the cost of my main system, with open baffle speakers that when purchased commercially cost three times as much as the home-assembled ones -- more in fact than the rest of the gear put together. For me, they (and importantly, what speaker cables are used) really make the system while simultaneously allowing potential for improvements in ancillary gear if and when the urge arises and funds allow. A certain TH-cam reviewer I could mention has an obsession about spending as much as one can possibly afford, and another about finding ways to spend as little as possible. Though I rather enjoy both their channels, I think they're each in their own way a bit elitist. One thing I like about this channel is that it mixes things up and covers a wide spectrum of possibilities. It helped me zero in on the speakers I've come to love so much. As Andrew himself said, the open baffles do some things as well or better than many other speakers regardless of price. IMO, never was a truer word spoken -- I've heard much more expensive speakers that are less satisfying, at least to my ears.
@4:07 I’m not OCD, and Andrew and Kristi’s room makes any of mine look like a pen inside of a petting zoo. But I was a carpenter for nearly 15 years and that wood slat at the top left of the screen is short circuiting my brain 😂 Honestly, I don’t think it would be so distracting if the room wasn’t so impeccable
Cheaper systems can sound great, especially at lower volumes in a small room. I also think a good value second system can cause less anxiety over the sound and what you paid - you can just focus more on the music.
I would recommend searching the used market, I am putting together a nice system right now buying used and saving roughly two thousand dollars. Zu Audio Dirty Weekend speakers, Parasound A23+ amplifier, PS Audio Gaincell preamp/DAC, that entire system $2800. I already have the KLH Model 5's, and one thing I would do different if I could go back in time, would be to purchase a quality high efficiency speaker like the Zu's. You can run these speakers with a 9 volt battery, which saves you quite a bit in regards to amplification. It opens up your options to a lot of gear.
Thanks for bringing the topic round again you guys. I dont hear the same thing as other people. It would be crazy to think that my sense of taste is exactly the same as everyone else. So if my setup is just right for me, then thats all that matters. Great video for the budget and keep up the great content!
The M16's are an excellent speaker. I had them and liked the sound so much I upgraded to M106's. Now will upgrade to F208's and possibly even some PerformaBe series.
Totally agree with your perspective that each side needs to respect each other and not be envious or judgmental due to their gear. I have been listening to music since I was a kid and noticed that, you can enjoy music and the experience of cranking it up, and be completely happy… until you hear something better, LOL! Right now, I am perfectly happy cranking the SMSL AO 200 paired with the DO 200 MK II and the Jamo Concert 9 Series C 93 ii and matching 10” subwoofer at 75-85 decibels. I realize, that there is always something that sounds better. You have to decide when to stop and be happy with your gear for a while and not be compelled to keep buying the next shiny thing (hard to do). I would love to try out different speakers, DACs, and amplifiers, but at some point, I just need to be happy with what I have. Now, if I won the lottery, we’ll, then I would really consider more expensive alternatives!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I do love seeing and watching reviews of high-end gear. I just wish their was a place to go and just get a sense of what a true high-end system sounds like. Of course, that might be a double-edged sword. I will never forget hearing a demo of the B&O Beolab 8000 back in the early 90’s at an Audio Advice store. I was just blown away!
For $2000 I got 2 year old Kef R3's in mint condition, 240 Watt Yamaha Receiver, Twin 250 Watt Yamaha Active Subs, Yamaha NS-C444 Center Speaker. Sounds as good as some new $7-8K Systems.
Nice video. Thank you both. Based on my experience, only 4 elements define the music hearing experience: 1. the music(Genre, quality and mix) 2. speakers 3. room 4. how does the listeners feel / how is the listener impacted by the first 3 elements? Amp is dictated by the speakers and plays no other role and the rest is not important in the experience. The experience of buying Polk Audio R700 taught me a lot and was an eye opening process.
Hey!! This video was the bomb! 🔥💣. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it! You provided great, practical insights that the "blue-collar audiophile" can appreciate. (No, your system does not need to be $25,000.) More videos like this please 😁. ❤️. By the way, great editing work!
Bravo on the hifi expense comments. I even get tired of ratios amps should be such a percentage of speaker. Synergy for the money you are willing to budget and prioritizing the origin country of said products is more how I look at it. I prefer to avoid chifi but the Eversolo is very tempting. I went Bluesound over the Eversolo for my streamer as I prefer to send the money to Canada if possible.
Cambridge Audio MXN10, BasX TA1 and Transpuls 1500...the higher sensitivity and frequency response of the Transpuls makes the 100wpc of the amp very usable, and you don't need to invest in a sub...great I/O flexibility and still within the budget (barely...lol)
$2,500 is the right price for a decent audio system. Back when I was in high school in the late 80’s, the rage was rack / cabinet systems for a sweet spot of $1K which is about $2,500 today.
I love this video and Kristi’s comments were spot on! I am one of those that gets caught up in the whole “pricier has to be better” even though I will never be one to venture into the pricier category. I try to remind myself, when I watch these videos and read my Stereophile magazine, that in the end, what sounds good is up to what I believe sounds good and what is perfect for me. Thank you for everyrhing!!!
I strongly agree in certain cases. Is it better to have the more expensive thing? Yes, but in the walk of life is that one thing going to leave you financially disabled?. Unfortunately this world has always been built on looking down at the poor and looking up to the rich just because I can't afford my dream speakers and I have all budget gear. It doesn't mean that the person that has those speakers are better than me. I argue this all the time with my buddies. I have a 15-year-old Lexus. She's clean. She rides smooth as shea butter.. and to me she's still at work of art. It's a timeless look that Lexus came out with that I love. There's no need for me to start another car payment just so that people look at me as if I have it. Could I afford a new one? Of course I can. I make six figures a year. I kill myself to make that money. My job isn't easy but I don't need it and I enjoy my sound system just the way it is and I enjoy every movie i watch physical media of course😂 I hope that one day maybe in the future we can all just get along and maybe that rich guy that has the high-fi equipment should come to a person like me who has budget equipment and they might be blown away just by how it sounds how it set up and everything. Anyways, I'm done rambling nobody's. Probably really going to finish reading this comment. Much love to both of you. I will see you on Sunday
Ive used a pair of Sony 1995 hifi speakers (25w x2) and compared to my 2015 Sony Soundbar (330w with sub) and what I’ve noticed is bookshelf speakers make dialogue in films so much easier to distinguish than my soundbar. While the soundbar has dialogue modes and clear audio+ settings, there is something about the bigger diameter of the speaker driver and fuller mid range you just struggle to achieve with many soundbars with their sleek form factor. Next year I hope to upgrade my system to probably a Sonos system or a WiiM amp and Bowers and Wilkins speakers. Just need to do a listening test.
1) I think that you're right about the "deteriorating" state of hi-fi. I have pretty much walked away from high end audio, because of the attitude of audiophiles. 2) About putting together systems. If mixing and matching brands is not an issue, how about including the Yamaha A-S301 integrated amplifier in the mix.
I am really hoping they do a video on the Marantz Cinema 70s. To me it looks like the the perfect all-in-one. I currently have a Yamaha A-S501 2ch. integrated amp with my Airplay capable TV connected to via Optical. the DAC on the Yamaha is pretty good, but having to rely on my TV for streaming is problematic. I've been eyeing the EverSolo DMP-A6 as a DAC upgrade and streaming solution. But at the same time I need to add extra HDMI inputs, and the EverSolo is really hard to come by right now. So I think for a couple hundred more I can just pick up the Marantz 70s, and even recoup some of that extra money by selling the Yamaha. #Future-Fi lol
Great video Andrew and Kristi! Andrew you have talked at length in the past about the law of diminishing returns, which I wholeheartedly agree with. I appreciate how you both call out the difference between “better” and “incrementally better”. Love the channel thank you!!
I always like these videos so well done. Mine is Cambridge AXR100, Emovtiva Tzero+ towers with a Kanto sub 8. PS none of it required two hundred hours of burn in 😂.
Good video and an interesting conversation starter. So many product categories -- hifi, watches, autos, whiskey, clothing...you name it -- have taken the notion of luxury goods / experience to an extreme where the brands are intentionally pursuing a smaller pool of buyers who have the means to spend without limits rather than a mass market. I believe that on a macro level it's a reflection of the growing income disparity / concentration of wealth in our economy, but whatever the reason, so many things are becoming segmenteed in a way that only the most fortunate can afford to participate in new products. As we have become more tribal as a society, we've also become a lot nastier towards the other group, no matter which end of the spectrum one might represent.
Like the suggestions ! All I would say is get an integrated with a DAC and Phono . The Yamaha AS 300 60w / ch is a good start ! Then Wiim mini streamer into AS 300 DAC, add speakers maybe Klipsch or Elac and you’re on your way ! Super affordable and decent sounding!
I think the Revels appear to be a class act at their price point. I can see your experience at play here- great look and surprisingly good sound at an affordable price point. This was a fun video.
I’d love to try that system!! and it’s your channel who put me back on the hifi journey (thank you for that). So I would go: dac (I don’t have enough experience so I would take the same you proposed) amp: decware ufo speakers: caintuck speaker betsy subwoofer: rel t5x or emotiva se8 to fit in budget. cables: canare (pro audio cables)
You can buy all of these products used or refurbished. Speakers can be substantially upgraded, especially used or floor samples. Used speakers will really upgrade your kit as the savings can be as much as 50% of new ones.
I'm running a Cambridge axr100 and a pair of Klipsch RP 8000f Mark II (just bought on sale for 599.99 each at crutchfield) about 1800 bucks for all, and use Amazon music on my phone which plays HD files. Couldn't be happier! Add a sub, turntable,CD player, or a streamer if you want!
Hi Andrew. First off, I want to thank you so much for your incredible videos. I’m still a newbie, if you will for 3 years now, but your videos in particular have been a big part of where I’ve gotten my knowledge from. But I have a big problem. In the past I have seen stereo system speaker’s & how they would move in and out with the sound. I learned the term for it: Extrusion. I built a DIY kit. It’s the CSS Criton 1td. I’ve had them for 2 years and they’ve never had any extrusion. I have seen a review by Tharbamar in which he showcased the same speakers and recorded how they sounded, and how they appeared; once again, those had extrusion taped the playing with sound. They sounded ethereal to me. The speaker extruded like crazy. My speakers won’t extrude. CSS Audio says they are fine as they are. I say they are defective. Terry, one of the owners refuses to send me new woofers first. I have to shoulder and suffer for 2 weeks without while I send them for testing. I have untreatable depression. Beside my wife, HiFi is a lifeline for me. Music is almost everything to me. Plz can you provide feedback about the extrusion problem. I thank you very much in advance. Terry Cain
Really appreciate the support, Terry. In regards to your CSS speakers and how they differ from what you've seen on this other channel, based on what I can gather, it appears the reviewer was playing very bass heavy tracks at extreme volumes in order to find or reach the woofer's maximum travel. If you are not seeing your woofers do this during normal listening, that's actually perfectly normal. What I believe you were seeing in the video was a stress test. I can tell you any of our bookshelf speakers, even when listening at higher volumes, it is rare that we see our woofers move that what I saw in the video I watched. It is my opinion, that your speakers are functioning properly and that you don't need to be anxious about their performance. Now, if when you hear bass notes through your speakers you also hear buzzing or rattling, that is different and that may be a problem that CSS should help you with. If you are hoping to replicate the visuals of a sound demo you witnessed on another channel, I would advise you not to do that.
That's a cool setup Andrew, thanks for sharing this. I enjoy the reviews of the high end gear even knowing I wouldn't spend that much on a system. That gear doesn't diminish the joy of my Cinema 60 / Def-Tech system. I have no worries living vicariously through the gear you get to play with. 👍
Great review and agree with the closing remarks. People get too wrapped up in cost vs what they see as good sound. The only thing I'd change in the systems is instead of the Emotiva amp I'd use two Outlaw M2220's. They would be around the same cost as the Emotiva but provide true separate power supplies and rails. You would definitely need the Z8 or something similar though for volume control and processing capabilities.
I bought a chinese amp on Amazon and built some speakers for the PC from two cheap Rockford Fosgate Power car audio coaxes that was left over. Total cost about $350... My girl was like "you are crazy to spend so much on SOUND"! Got pair of Klipsch The Fives for a great price for the TV so she counts the price for them too... What I wanted to say was that man, people really have different values recording what HiFi is. Many think that a JBL BT speaker is awesome! Either way, if she only knew my GPU cost more than my car! 🙈😂 The Fives is bloody perfect for the TV though. The "smart" bass boost at low volumes really do wonders in movies where the DSP can be like "we have margins to rumble so lets rumble!". Still small 4,5 inch elements so at higher volumes they need a sub. Anyway, Im only writing as an excuse to not begin looking up whats wrong with the washing machine... life calls!
I became a recovering audioholic in the 1990s, when buying a pair of B&W 805 Matrix, the Adcom preamp and 545ii power amp, and a $300 Denon CD player made my system sound awful when I played most of my CDs. I dabbled with records/turntable (Rega Planar 3), but ultimately came to the conclusion I liked listening to CDs. I switched to the Paradigm Atom, an integrated from AMC (like NAD), and Sony's least expensive SACD player. There didn't turn out to be very many SACDs I was interested in, and then music became something I could listen to on my computer. So I burned most of my CDs to iTunes on two external hard drives, and that's how I've mostly been listening to music over the past dozen years. I decided in April last year to listen to my CDs again, and I bought another pair of Atoms, which you had described as one of the ten most important speakers in an earlier review. Plus I'd liked my original pair, which I had sold. I still listen to music on my computer mostly (B&W MM1 speakers--love 'em), but I do like to play CDs sometimes when I want to fill the room with music.
Love the review and I love the comments about how much it costs (premium price tags vs more affordable options) and how you, the consumer value the way your setup sounds. So many options and you don't have to pay silly amounts of money to truly enjoy your listening experience.
THANKS☝I am curious that the 2 main music sources that I use are: 1. FM Radio - sound quality is better than DAB. My automatic choice is to listen to BBC Radio 3 until 9am and again after meeting at 9.30am 2. CD - over the last 30 (or 40?) years I have built up my music library with 1,000s of CDs. Some music only once but say Mahler - about 5 cycles of his symphonies - still collecting......... Your system doesn't seem to handle either?? Do no other hi-fi enthusiasts listen to the radio or their carefully built up library?☝
I do listen to FM radio when I do not bother what piece of music Ishall load next in my cd player;saying that means I do STILL collect cds and my collection of 1660+ cds is growing , 6of ordered cds are about to reach my house this week:)
Hello Andrew and Kristi. Another great and fun video. I am also messaginv. While watching your video. I got a pop-ups saying you guys missed me, come back. I am sorry about leaving, but I got hit pretty hard with fraud on the internet. It cost me a lot of money. I do miss being a member of the channel, but I can't take any more chances using my card out there anymore. You two are great, keep it coming much success
I'm not sure what you mean by the pop up that we "missed you". That's not something we have engaged anywhere. Please make sure you are not engaging with anyone on Telegram. That is not us. They are scam accounts out to defraud you.
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My initial impression was that you would need more efficient speakers with the AXA 25. Interesting to learn that isn't necessarily so. Cool.
Andrew can the CXA81 drive speakers like Monitor Audio Silver 300 ? It has less power than the AXR100 but the AXR100 doesn't have Pre Out so you can't connect another amp to it ? whereas the CXA81 does have a Pre Amp out. It's just that Cambridge doesn't make another affordable amp or power amp to boost the CXA81 with extra power. Can you direct me some help with this. Please Andrew ?
That’s the kind of video your followers might want to see more. As an audiophile and high end audio businessman with more than 4 decades of experience from Tehran Iran; it’s always nice and satisfying to guide my clients and therefore their hard earned money 💰 to a budget based mixed brands system building and watching the smile on their faces the moment they listen 👂 to what their money bought for them. It takes passion and patience to get there but it’s definitely worth it because one will end up having a loyal clientele that won’t stop recommending yours truly to their friends. Of course other clients with bigger budget will as well benefit from this method. It’s all about keeping people in one’s mind and making them happy 😃. Thanks 🙏🏼 Andrew and Kristi. ❤❤
thank you sir for your post. That is very reassuring. Your hard work is much appreciated.
👍👍👍
It's pretty refreshing to hear these words from a Audiophiles mouth, because to tell you the Truth I'm pretty Sick and Tired of the Normal Audiophiles that Scoff at Equipment such as this ! Thank You and Keep it Real! Audiophiles come in ALL INCOME RANGES and Deserve Respect just as the Audiophiles and their 350 K Systems----
100% agree with Kristi on this one here!!! The fun part of the hobby is creating different experiences of the music or movies you like. My dad tought me from very young. So now i mix and match components to change the sound because that is what is fun. Swithcing between my Revel F206(3500$) and my Dali Zensor 7 (700$) and putting an old 600$ Denon preamp in front of my Mark Levinson 5805 (8500 $) just to have tone controls and a "Different" sound - that is what it is all about - Great video.... Absolutely love it!!
I started out with Cambridge in the 70s after I graduated from college. I loved the company and their amps. I was poor and I could afford their equipment with my DIY speakers. I can still see it sitting on my homemade concrete block rack with my cheap turntable. I was a happy camper. My system today is still made up of speakers (5.1) I made along with my Sony STR AZ5000ES but I will always remember and love my Cambridge systems. Thanks Andrew and Kristi for keeping us in the real world.
Absolutely LOVE Kristi's perspective on these.... Frankly, a HUGE VALUE ADD ! At the end of the day, only you can decide how much you want to spend on this hobby and be satisfied with it... It's the free market at work...
Thank you! I sincerely appreciate your kind words.
I think the gear is something you need to grow on. Iam only starting my HiFi journey and I don’t think I would be able to actually hear too much differences between a 2k and 20k rig.
Thx for being so informative and educational
Couldn't agree more with the discussion about people 'taking sides'. The analogy to photography, especially because of the sense that the market is shrinking is right on-point.
I agree totally. I have two complete systems One in over 15k.
The other is under 2500.
Both have there place, Both sound great... Real good. Yes the higher dollar has different dynamics and details. But you'd almost never know, unless you were standing in front of both comparing.
And therein lies the rub as they say, unless you're A/B-ing them directly, our aural memory will go with the flow --money be darned. Appreciate you sharing!
Andrew this was a great video and Kristi's take was SPOT ON!! She did a pure mic drop! That being said. My surround sound system that's hooked up to my LG C1 didnt cost a fortune and I don't care because it sounds great to the wife and I and that's all that matters. If it puts me into the heart of the movie that's all I need.
I really like how the hole point of the video wasn’t to do a A B comparison between an expensive rig and a cheap one, just a good sounding one suggestion.
Very nice video.
For someone who really loves music, there's enjoyment in a million dollar system and there's enjoyment in a single dash-speaker mono AM radio. If you love the music you're hearing, it takes you somewhere. Sometimes the system guides where it takes you. Hearing tinny mono country-western takes me back to listening to George Jones with my dad when I was a kid. Listening to Fleetwood Mac on a million dollar system reminds me of the control room and console where they recorded the track (I've recorded there, nowhere near The Chain). There's something to enjoy in every system. If you love music, and not just the equipment, you'll find that thing.
Very enjoyable and professional video. Kristi makes a huge point! Always judge a system on its musical presentation and personal enjoyment level, not the price tag. Long live hi fi!
Enjoyed Kristi's take (agreeing with the wife is the key to a long and happy life ) .....as an older guy (cough) I think internet forums have exacerbated the "heat" and produce a signal to noise ratio I can only describe as dismaying. In earlier years you had to go the the letters column of a magazine to witness the shootouts so it was easier to avoid. As a photography enthusiast I see the same vitriol with gear choices....if you shoot Fujifilm (as I do) you are definitely on the outer.....bottom line : we have different musical tastes, different budgets, different rooms and different *hearing*....I've just retired, upgraded my system to Pro-ject/Rotel/Rotel/Dynaudio and am very happy with the setup which will do me for (??) years.....I can happily listen to someone else's system who has different criteria to me, I get why they made their choice and it doesn't bother me....and yeah, it's really that simple ....cheers from OZ :-)
Andrew, youve taught me so much, like the speakers are the most important source in the audio chain. I’m beginning to see the light.
Thank you
Kristi and Andrew - I love you guys !!!! You hit the nail on the head in your "wrap up". I am sooooo happy and soooo satisfied with my $1200 system (and that includes my 4K TV for home theater....not just music listening). $600 for two 2nd gen Apple HomePods (gets me not only stereo...but Dolby Atmos entertainment) $129 for Apple TV 4K streaming box & lastly $500 for a 65" LG 4K UHD TV....all totaling $1200+...for everything...INCLUDING THE TV ! I love it and my wife loves it.....would I commit murder to get a B&O A9 for $3600? Hell yeah I would.....but I have a family to support and like you guys....a life outside of music listening and movie watching. All in all......I couldn't be happier with my HomePods. Thank you for all your efforts to bring sanity into this hobby. I love you guys !!!!
Agree 100% with you both. Audio and what is perceived “better” is something very personal and there simply isn’t a right or wrong and it’s definitely not dictated by price, brand image or marketing but by how it makes YOU feel.
"Specs don't tell the whole story" so glad to hear you say that and recommend a 25W per channel amp. So many people are obsessed with power. I have three systems in my home doing different jobs in different rooms. The one I enjoy the sound of most is a twenty-something year old marantz PM4200 (35W per channel) with Tannoy M1 speakers.
My ladyfriend wanted a vinyl rig for her place, so I got her an RT-85, paired with an NAD 3045 and my hand-me-down Cambridge Audio SX-60s. That inspired me to do some eBaying for a small two-channel for our parlor, a Pro-ject T1, an Elac EA101, and a 2.1 Kanto kit.
Keep this kind of content coming! ✌️
Kristi's take was perfect. I would have titled the video "how to start digging a rabbit hole for under $2500"
Glad you did something like this. When I started thinking of getting back into HiFi I was concerned about not spending enough and your saying only one needs to be satisfied was very helpful on turning the noise.
I would go...
Amp: Cambridge AXR100 £450
Streamer: Wiim Mini £80
Speakers: Q Acoustics 3030i £250
Great system for less than £800 (so less than $1000 I guess) 👍👍👍
I really like it when reviewers do these full system builds. It can be daunting especially for begginers how many options there are. I really think you should do more at different price points or with different goals i.e. TV based streaming, vinyl focused or system for bassheads.
Noted!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews how do you typically budget split between electronics and speakers?
Thanks for another solid video. I deeply appreciate the discussion, inspired by Kristi, at the end. Your channel draws the audiophiles but your tag line, to me, represents those of us who are music lovers first. I want a system that allows me to hear detailed, balanced music that seems natural and is not fatiguing. Thanks for pointing out what is possible along the price point continuum.
This is in response to the incredibly well said discussion at the end. I fell into the hifi world by originally looking for a good pair of cheap wireless earbuds. Six years later and I have a couple of headphone systems and stereo systems. I will say that I am not rich so I am always looking for a bang for the buck deal. That being said this is about my two headphone systems. My main system with the headphones included is around $1,800 and I love it. It takes me away and fills me with joy when I listen to it. My budget system, hooked up to my desk top is around $350. I just recently added a Schiit Loki and got the system sounding amazing. As good as my main system, no way. But If I had never built my main system and only built my budget one, I have no doubt I would experience the same amount of joy. I don’t think you measure joy with money. Money can make finding joy easier but I don’t think it is exact quotient. I love when you too get into this part of the hobby. You both rock and thank you for making the hobby a better experience.
Thank you so much for the kinds words and support, @davdidit6! We hope to see you on the next video!
I feel you guys strike a balance between cost, looks and performance that few reviewers take into consideration! The one thing I'd change in that system is instead of Cambridge streamer id go with the wiim pro or mini (dependant upon needs) and perhaps I'd put more cash into the speakers or amp. In my mind you can always change out dacs and streamers etc but the speakers and the amp are really a foundation you want to stick with for the long haul!
That's definitely another way to go. Thank you for watching!
The price tag vs. value discussion for audio components is fascinating to me. I've been struggling with this as I try to set up a couple of different systems for my new house. The challenge I face is that, in the absence of an ability to actually listen and judge the quality of audio systems, I have to use price tag as an indicator of product quality. Reviews like yours help add a dimension to the assessment, but it's still very hard to determine the best purchase, if you've never actually been able to hear the gear.
I cannot agree more!
The NAD D3020 is a great little amp and it pairs well with a number of affordable speakers, such as the Elac B6’s. That plus a Wiim pro streamer and you’re all in under $1000. The NAD has the advantage of having a subwoofer output, so a 2.1 system is easily reachable under $1500.
Some great commentary. In the end it's about the enjoyment of the music...no matter what the price of your gear.
All I can say is thank you. The blue collar audiophile, like me applaud you for this outstanding review. Greatly appreciated.
Anyone with a smaller room, the AXR85 is probably your sweet spot, lovely bit of kit and save $100
The AX/AXR line is really solid! If anyone is curious about the AXR85, you can check it out here bit.ly/3H3iQ32 and amzn.to/2RQjLPL.
I love my AXR85!
Kristi is the Goat for that take, really true and it all boils down to consumerism and a need people have to be “correct”
I went to a hi-fi show last November and went round all the rooms as you do. I listened to systems costing over £100,000 and many systems at around £30,000, but one of the most enjoyable listens was a Rega 1 system. Rega P1, with amp and speakers which were £1,000. A few other people at the show made similar comments. So, it's definitely not just about cost, it's often about synergies and the music being an enjoyable listen, rather than how much detail you can hear, or soundstage etc. Great video.
did you hear NVA at that show?
@@thepuma2012 If NVA stands for Non-Value-Added, then yes heard a fair bit.🤣
I've had my moment of epiphany! This same system with the AX series is what I came up with following your past reviews these last 2 years! I've got a limited budget with spousal approval and this is the system that has brought us musical joy. I think I have learned well Obi-Wan. 😁
That AXA line is fantastic! So glad to hear you're loving yours!
Christy, great way to see through the BS. super insightful perspective, only someone that is outside can see. 👌👍
Another beautiful presentation! Owned KEF R500 loudspeakers for years. Had an old PIONEER amplifier and wanted to save some money for a decent amplifier for my KEF's. Always thought a HEGEL amplifier was the best combination for these speakers. Then, after a comparison in the same store, have chosen CAMBRIDGE AUDIO CX SERIES. Every favorite song sounded much better with the CX-A81 than with the HEGEL 120 or even the 190! The CXN-V2 is a wonderful DAC for me and the CXC plays my large collection of CDs beautifully. I have been using SONOS for years in the other rooms of my home. To switch to BLUSOUND which is better is too expensive for me. So stick with SONOS. But my SONOS PORT sounds much better through my CXN-V2! I am extremely satisfied with my CAMBRIDGE CX set to really listen to music.
I like all of your videos and I really want to give my kudos to Kristi as well. Her questions or comments are very logical and helpful. Also, your sweet conversations uplift the vibes which makes your followers stick to your channel forever (I might be too subjective here).
Thank you for taking the time to say this. We sincerely appreciate your comment.
Thank you Kristi & Andrew. More for the talk afterwards. This is how I feel about Hifi and TH-cam Reviews. Just enjoy what you have and don´t pick on others who do not share your opinion and STOP being nasty in the comments. :-) Thank you.
Glad you guys mentioned the AXR100. While I often think I’d like to upgrade at some point, my AXR100 has a feature I’ve become addicted to… tone controls that can be accessed with the REMOTE CONTROL! Being able to adjust tone on the fly from my listening chair is a game changer!
The Heaven 11 Billie amp I’m looking at doesn’t have tone controls at all. Now I can add a Schitt tone control but… no remote. So, I’m sticking with what I got till I can figure out a workaround.
Couldn't you hook up the Billie to the AXR 100s pre out?
Kristi , Just Made the same comments on two pages today and one of them called me out for it.
Heres what ive said All Along, that a 500k System That 95% of Audiophiles can not Ever expect to own compared to a 25k System fully dialed in, Does not Sound 20 Times Better nor would it have the ability to with the Awesome Equipment that is available today! Keep up the good work and Catering to the 95%!
I very much appreciate your kind words but I think you may have misunderstood my point. To begin, I assure you that I am not "catering" to any specific demographic. While I know there are plenty of cases that support your theory, what is the point of arguing it one way or the other? It just creates a divide and puts someone else on the defensive. Ultimately putting one side against the other, arguing endlessly until one either feels right or just gives up and leaves. If we continue to do this to each other, at some point there will be nothing left to argue over.
@KristiWright alright you got me there, But You guys are one of the Best Channels on the All Audiophile Levels, and it is Much Appreciated 👌 👍!
I also think that for the average middle income or upper middle income person it is sometimes hard to understand just how many people there are that can easily afford those super high end systems. I noticed also that no one argues like this about boats. My eye opening experience was several decades ago while on an electric boat cruise around New Port Harbor, in California, while on a business trip. I couldn’t believe how many incredibly expensive yachts there were. Some not much smaller than cruise ships. It was past my comprehension at that time that so many people could afford so large of a boat and not only could they, they bought one. Multiply that by every harbor around the country and you start to get the idea. Yet, I did not hear one person say my bass boat will do 90% of what those yachts will do., or that those people will be eating cat food in a year or two. 😀. Mostly, it was just like, cool, that would be nice.
Thank you for reigniting my love of HIFI, you two create inteligent watchable content and your constant remidner that the only one who has to be happy with the sound is us, is so right, and in many ways is repeated in Kristi's comments today!
My set is a Marantz PM6006 UK Edition, a Chromecast Audio and a pair of Dynaudio Emit 10's. A great listen. I like Moon and ATC but I'm enjoying myself.
Just insane how good the offerings are today @ very affordable price points.
Great video! Appreciate the dac comments-it’s exhausting, kind of like the cable debate. For me, part of the fun is getting great sound at minimal cost. However, I still keep the Q acoustic 3030i’s in play. Fun speaker.
Q makes GREAT speakers and they would definitely be a welcomed addition to ANY of these amplifier suggestions!
Love the recommendations for new gear. In this price range I would lean towards a tier higher gear that is second hand but obviously that is buyer beware. Love all you guys do!
Andrew, good review. I have a few observations. 1) Your room is a masterpiece, a true thing of beauty. 2)Videos like this one do a world of good for people trying to put together a system. Another option for the DAC/streamer is the Paradigm PW Link for $200 (new old stock and still available from Paradigm directly). The Link includes Play-Fi (yes, it's gapless and it works), ARC room correction, and an optical input. It's the missing link for any system not just what was outlined. As for cost let me add this thought. With the advent of CD-quality streaming what can be thought of as entry-level has made a huge leap forward in terms of clarity, so it's unfair to call lower-priced components entry-level by just attaching a dollar value to them. I think a better way to think about the amount of money invested comes down to what kind of listener you are. I play music in the living room and let it waft through the condo, and so for me, anything beyond my A11 Tribute and KEF LS 50 Metas is overkill as I'm not going to focus intently on the music. However, if I were going to concentrate intently on the music, then I'd surely have what could be termed high-end and go for every last ounce of detail. You are correct about the hobby shrinking. I spend a lot of time looking at economic data and see firsthand that people are willing to spend more on services and experiences than products. That's why I think you're seeing KEF invest so much into their powered speakers because with almost zero effort someone can have a truly great sounding system.
Totally agree with folk needing to chill, think the only change I would make is would use a Cambridge cxn so it's also a dac for TV.
I think you are right when you don't need a 10k set to enjoy music, mine is not even half that but with every CD/TVserie/film I put on I have a BIG smile on my face. And among the things I really love that I use are the Concept 50's that i demoed after your review. Keep up the great work!
Once again, Kristi and Andrew are doing their level best to save this wonderful hobby.
😇
These reviews are as refreshing as Mountain Dew!!! Wow, just keep it up. We should all be able to come together as audiophiles. Kristi said it best, can we reach a point where we all get along?? I heard $600,000 systems at pacific audio fest this last weekend, and I went home and sat down in front of my $10,000 system and it was fantastic and i was just as happy… GREAT REVIEW!! Love it. Whatever makes you press the power button and sink into your seat and enjoy. Cheers.
Thank you so much, ABX! We 100% agree. One of the best things I ever did in my audio journey was to start over from scratch where I chose for a period to only use a soundbar. It allowed me to recalibrate my way of thinking and adjust back to many see as relatable and normal.
Thank you!! By the way, you should add your (first) name to your "about" tab!
@@KristiWright Ohhh good call, My name is James.. :) I am in Seattle. :)
@@abxaudiophiles Nice to "meet" you, James!
_Of course_ you can enjoy modestly priced systems if you make your choices carefully. I can unashamedly say I've done that in the past myself.
Still, IMO, the sweet spot comes in a tad more expensive -- around £4000 ($5000) -- especially if you're not averse to a little DIY on the speaker front. This is the cost of my main system, with open baffle speakers that when purchased commercially cost three times as much as the home-assembled ones -- more in fact than the rest of the gear put together. For me, they (and importantly, what speaker cables are used) really make the system while simultaneously allowing potential for improvements in ancillary gear if and when the urge arises and funds allow.
A certain TH-cam reviewer I could mention has an obsession about spending as much as one can possibly afford, and another about finding ways to spend as little as possible. Though I rather enjoy both their channels, I think they're each in their own way a bit elitist.
One thing I like about this channel is that it mixes things up and covers a wide spectrum of possibilities. It helped me zero in on the speakers I've come to love so much. As Andrew himself said, the open baffles do some things as well or better than many other speakers regardless of price. IMO, never was a truer word spoken -- I've heard much more expensive speakers that are less satisfying, at least to my ears.
Love this! This is how we all got started. Let the HIFI hobby win!
@4:07 I’m not OCD, and Andrew and Kristi’s room makes any of mine look like a pen inside of a petting zoo. But I was a carpenter for nearly 15 years and that wood slat at the top left of the screen is short circuiting my brain 😂 Honestly, I don’t think it would be so distracting if the room wasn’t so impeccable
Cheaper systems can sound great, especially at lower volumes in a small room. I also think a good value second system can cause less anxiety over the sound and what you paid - you can just focus more on the music.
I would recommend searching the used market, I am putting together a nice system right now buying used and saving roughly two thousand dollars. Zu Audio Dirty Weekend speakers, Parasound A23+ amplifier, PS Audio Gaincell preamp/DAC, that entire system $2800. I already have the KLH Model 5's, and one thing I would do different if I could go back in time, would be to purchase a quality high efficiency speaker like the Zu's. You can run these speakers with a 9 volt battery, which saves you quite a bit in regards to amplification. It opens up your options to a lot of gear.
Thanks for bringing the topic round again you guys. I dont hear the same thing as other people. It would be crazy to think that my sense of taste is exactly the same as everyone else. So if my setup is just right for me, then thats all that matters. Great video for the budget and keep up the great content!
The M16's are an excellent speaker. I had them and liked the sound so much I upgraded to M106's. Now will upgrade to F208's and possibly even some PerformaBe series.
Totally agree with your perspective that each side needs to respect each other and not be envious or judgmental due to their gear. I have been listening to music since I was a kid and noticed that, you can enjoy music and the experience of cranking it up, and be completely happy… until you hear something better, LOL! Right now, I am perfectly happy cranking the SMSL AO 200 paired with the DO 200 MK II and the Jamo Concert 9 Series C 93 ii and matching 10” subwoofer at 75-85 decibels. I realize, that there is always something that sounds better. You have to decide when to stop and be happy with your gear for a while and not be compelled to keep buying the next shiny thing (hard to do). I would love to try out different speakers, DACs, and amplifiers, but at some point, I just need to be happy with what I have. Now, if I won the lottery, we’ll, then I would really consider more expensive alternatives!
I appreciate you sharing!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I do love seeing and watching reviews of high-end gear. I just wish their was a place to go and just get a sense of what a true high-end system sounds like. Of course, that might be a double-edged sword. I will never forget hearing a demo of the B&O Beolab 8000 back in the early 90’s at an Audio Advice store. I was just blown away!
For $2000 I got 2 year old Kef R3's in mint condition, 240 Watt Yamaha Receiver, Twin 250 Watt Yamaha Active Subs, Yamaha NS-C444 Center Speaker. Sounds as good as some new $7-8K Systems.
I shopped at Crutchfield. Yamaha RS-202. $119. Elac debut B6 $180. Cheap Sony Blu-ray $100. So far so good!
You are off to a great start.
Yes yes Kristi
And Andrew you guys have always said it's what makes Y O U happy... For what ever reason ;-D
Nice video. Thank you both. Based on my experience, only 4 elements define the music hearing experience: 1. the music(Genre, quality and mix) 2. speakers 3. room 4. how does the listeners feel / how is the listener impacted by the first 3 elements? Amp is dictated by the speakers and plays no other role and the rest is not important in the experience. The experience of buying Polk Audio R700 taught me a lot and was an eye opening process.
Hey!! This video was the bomb! 🔥💣. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it! You provided great, practical insights that the "blue-collar audiophile" can appreciate. (No, your system does not need to be $25,000.) More videos like this please 😁. ❤️. By the way, great editing work!
Bravo on the hifi expense comments. I even get tired of ratios amps should be such a percentage of speaker. Synergy for the money you are willing to budget and prioritizing the origin country of said products is more how I look at it. I prefer to avoid chifi but the Eversolo is very tempting. I went Bluesound over the Eversolo for my streamer as I prefer to send the money to Canada if possible.
Cambridge Audio MXN10, BasX TA1 and Transpuls 1500...the higher sensitivity and frequency response of the Transpuls makes the 100wpc of the amp very usable, and you don't need to invest in a sub...great I/O flexibility and still within the budget (barely...lol)
$2,500 is the right price for a decent audio system. Back when I was in high school in the late 80’s, the rage was rack / cabinet systems for a sweet spot of $1K which is about $2,500 today.
You can do damn good for $1,500 to $2,000 as well - still using those same $700 Revel Speakers, or Emit 10...
Great, thorough, accurate, and well done review. I also very much enjoyed the discussion at the end, you both are spot on.
Best video you two have done
I love this video and Kristi’s comments were spot on! I am one of those that gets caught up in the whole “pricier has to be better” even though I will never be one to venture into the pricier category. I try to remind myself, when I watch these videos and read my Stereophile magazine, that in the end, what sounds good is up to what I believe sounds good and what is perfect for me. Thank you for everyrhing!!!
I strongly agree in certain cases. Is it better to have the more expensive thing? Yes, but in the walk of life is that one thing going to leave you financially disabled?. Unfortunately this world has always been built on looking down at the poor and looking up to the rich just because I can't afford my dream speakers and I have all budget gear. It doesn't mean that the person that has those speakers are better than me. I argue this all the time with my buddies. I have a 15-year-old Lexus. She's clean. She rides smooth as shea butter.. and to me she's still at work of art. It's a timeless look that Lexus came out with that I love. There's no need for me to start another car payment just so that people look at me as if I have it. Could I afford a new one? Of course I can. I make six figures a year. I kill myself to make that money. My job isn't easy but I don't need it and I enjoy my sound system just the way it is and I enjoy every movie i watch physical media of course😂 I hope that one day maybe in the future we can all just get along and maybe that rich guy that has the high-fi equipment should come to a person like me who has budget equipment and they might be blown away just by how it sounds how it set up and everything. Anyways, I'm done rambling nobody's. Probably really going to finish reading this comment. Much love to both of you. I will see you on Sunday
Onkyo A-9010 (now A-9110) + ELAC UF52 👌
Love your videos und your vibe!
Great review as always. Love Christie’s point about the money issue !
Ive used a pair of Sony 1995 hifi speakers (25w x2) and compared to my 2015 Sony Soundbar (330w with sub) and what I’ve noticed is bookshelf speakers make dialogue in films so much easier to distinguish than my soundbar. While the soundbar has dialogue modes and clear audio+ settings, there is something about the bigger diameter of the speaker driver and fuller mid range you just struggle to achieve with many soundbars with their sleek form factor. Next year I hope to upgrade my system to probably a Sonos system or a WiiM amp and Bowers and Wilkins speakers. Just need to do a listening test.
1) I think that you're right about the "deteriorating" state of hi-fi. I have pretty much walked away from high end audio, because of the attitude of audiophiles. 2) About putting together systems. If mixing and matching brands is not an issue, how about including the Yamaha A-S301 integrated amplifier in the mix.
I tend to like all-in-one solutions. My combo today would be:
Marantz CINEMA 70s + Revel M16
I think it opens a lot of possibilities
I am really hoping they do a video on the Marantz Cinema 70s. To me it looks like the the perfect all-in-one. I currently have a Yamaha A-S501 2ch. integrated amp with my Airplay capable TV connected to via Optical. the DAC on the Yamaha is pretty good, but having to rely on my TV for streaming is problematic. I've been eyeing the EverSolo DMP-A6 as a DAC upgrade and streaming solution. But at the same time I need to add extra HDMI inputs, and the EverSolo is really hard to come by right now. So I think for a couple hundred more I can just pick up the Marantz 70s, and even recoup some of that extra money by selling the Yamaha. #Future-Fi lol
Great video Andrew and Kristi! Andrew you have talked at length in the past about the law of diminishing returns, which I wholeheartedly agree with. I appreciate how you both call out the difference between “better” and “incrementally better”. Love the channel thank you!!
Thank you so much!
I always like these videos so well done. Mine is Cambridge AXR100, Emovtiva Tzero+ towers with a Kanto sub 8. PS none of it required two hundred hours of burn in 😂.
If something needs 200 hours to "break in" then I expect to be compensated for the time spent NOT listening to my purchase. 😅
@@KristiWright No kidding!!!
Good video and an interesting conversation starter. So many product categories -- hifi, watches, autos, whiskey, clothing...you name it -- have taken the notion of luxury goods / experience to an extreme where the brands are intentionally pursuing a smaller pool of buyers who have the means to spend without limits rather than a mass market. I believe that on a macro level it's a reflection of the growing income disparity / concentration of wealth in our economy, but whatever the reason, so many things are becoming segmenteed in a way that only the most fortunate can afford to participate in new products. As we have become more tribal as a society, we've also become a lot nastier towards the other group, no matter which end of the spectrum one might represent.
Like the suggestions ! All I would say is get an integrated with a DAC and Phono . The Yamaha AS 300 60w / ch is a good start ! Then Wiim mini streamer into AS 300 DAC, add speakers maybe Klipsch or Elac and you’re on your way ! Super affordable and decent sounding!
Amen Kristi 🙏🏻
You should make more of these on Different price ranges between 2-10 thousand IMO
Love the new tunes used on this one.
Awesome video and the recommendations are much appreciated by people who are looking to purchase an audio setup.
I think the Revels appear to be a class act at their price point. I can see your experience at play here- great look and surprisingly good sound at an affordable price point. This was a fun video.
I’d love to try that system!! and it’s your channel who put me back on the hifi journey (thank you for that). So I would go:
dac (I don’t have enough experience so I would take the same you proposed)
amp: decware ufo
speakers: caintuck speaker betsy
subwoofer: rel t5x or emotiva se8 to fit in budget.
cables: canare (pro audio cables)
Nice. With so many options, im sure some folks may not know where to start. Cheers!
You can buy all of these products used or refurbished. Speakers can be substantially upgraded, especially used or floor samples. Used speakers will really upgrade your kit as the savings can be as much as 50% of new ones.
Speakers stands are nice and Christy is right about price.
I'm running a Cambridge axr100 and a pair of Klipsch RP 8000f Mark II (just bought on sale for 599.99 each at crutchfield) about 1800 bucks for all, and use Amazon music on my phone which plays HD files. Couldn't be happier! Add a sub, turntable,CD player, or a streamer if you want!
Hi Andrew. First off, I want to thank you so much for your incredible videos. I’m still a newbie, if you will for 3 years now, but your videos in particular have been a big part of where I’ve gotten my knowledge from.
But I have a big problem. In the past I have seen stereo system speaker’s & how they would move in and out with the sound. I learned the term for it: Extrusion. I built a DIY kit. It’s the CSS Criton 1td. I’ve had them for 2 years and they’ve never had any extrusion. I have seen a review by Tharbamar in which he showcased the same speakers and recorded how they sounded, and how they appeared; once again, those had extrusion taped the playing with sound. They sounded ethereal to me. The speaker extruded like crazy. My speakers won’t extrude. CSS Audio says they are fine as they are. I say they are defective. Terry, one of the owners refuses to send me new woofers first. I have to shoulder and suffer for 2 weeks without while I send them for testing. I have untreatable depression. Beside my wife, HiFi is a lifeline for me. Music is almost everything to me. Plz can you provide feedback about the extrusion problem. I thank you very much in advance. Terry Cain
Really appreciate the support, Terry. In regards to your CSS speakers and how they differ from what you've seen on this other channel, based on what I can gather, it appears the reviewer was playing very bass heavy tracks at extreme volumes in order to find or reach the woofer's maximum travel. If you are not seeing your woofers do this during normal listening, that's actually perfectly normal. What I believe you were seeing in the video was a stress test. I can tell you any of our bookshelf speakers, even when listening at higher volumes, it is rare that we see our woofers move that what I saw in the video I watched. It is my opinion, that your speakers are functioning properly and that you don't need to be anxious about their performance. Now, if when you hear bass notes through your speakers you also hear buzzing or rattling, that is different and that may be a problem that CSS should help you with. If you are hoping to replicate the visuals of a sound demo you witnessed on another channel, I would advise you not to do that.
Omg Middle Kids got a shout out!! Love them 😊 you guys have the best taste in music.
We LOVE them and have seen them several times live.
That's a cool setup Andrew, thanks for sharing this.
I enjoy the reviews of the high end gear even knowing I wouldn't spend that much on a system. That gear doesn't diminish the joy of my Cinema 60 / Def-Tech system. I have no worries living vicariously through the gear you get to play with. 👍
Thanks for joining us!
Enjoyed this video!
Do this again for a 5.1 AV setup please
Great review and agree with the closing remarks. People get too wrapped up in cost vs what they see as good sound.
The only thing I'd change in the systems is instead of the Emotiva amp I'd use two Outlaw M2220's. They would be around the same cost as the Emotiva but provide true separate power supplies and rails. You would definitely need the Z8 or something similar though for volume control and processing capabilities.
I just wished Cambridge would make more brushed black products. Silver isn't always the easiest to coordinate.
I bought a chinese amp on Amazon and built some speakers for the PC from two cheap Rockford Fosgate Power car audio coaxes that was left over. Total cost about $350... My girl was like "you are crazy to spend so much on SOUND"!
Got pair of Klipsch The Fives for a great price for the TV so she counts the price for them too... What I wanted to say was that man, people really have different values recording what HiFi is. Many think that a JBL BT speaker is awesome!
Either way, if she only knew my GPU cost more than my car! 🙈😂
The Fives is bloody perfect for the TV though. The "smart" bass boost at low volumes really do wonders in movies where the DSP can be like "we have margins to rumble so lets rumble!". Still small 4,5 inch elements so at higher volumes they need a sub.
Anyway, Im only writing as an excuse to not begin looking up whats wrong with the washing machine... life calls!
Cambridge AXA25 rocks with the Acoustic Energy AE109 Mk2. You get the heft and scintillating highs that blew me away!
I became a recovering audioholic in the 1990s, when buying a pair of B&W 805 Matrix, the Adcom preamp and 545ii power amp, and a $300 Denon CD player made my system sound awful when I played most of my CDs. I dabbled with records/turntable (Rega Planar 3), but ultimately came to the conclusion I liked listening to CDs. I switched to the Paradigm Atom, an integrated from AMC (like NAD), and Sony's least expensive SACD player.
There didn't turn out to be very many SACDs I was interested in, and then music became something I could listen to on my computer. So I burned most of my CDs to iTunes on two external hard drives, and that's how I've mostly been listening to music over the past dozen years.
I decided in April last year to listen to my CDs again, and I bought another pair of Atoms, which you had described as one of the ten most important speakers in an earlier review. Plus I'd liked my original pair, which I had sold.
I still listen to music on my computer mostly (B&W MM1 speakers--love 'em), but I do like to play CDs sometimes when I want to fill the room with music.
Love the review and I love the comments about how much it costs (premium price tags vs more affordable options) and how you, the consumer value the way your setup sounds. So many options and you don't have to pay silly amounts of money to truly enjoy your listening experience.
Hi Eric, did you happen to catch the conversation at the end?
@@KristiWright Yes I sure did. Very spot on.
THANKS☝I am curious that the 2 main music sources that I use are:
1. FM Radio - sound quality is better than DAB. My automatic choice is to listen to BBC Radio 3 until 9am and again after meeting at 9.30am
2. CD - over the last 30 (or 40?) years I have built up my music library with 1,000s of CDs. Some music only once but say Mahler - about 5 cycles of his symphonies - still collecting.........
Your system doesn't seem to handle either?? Do no other hi-fi enthusiasts listen to the radio or their carefully built up library?☝
I do listen to FM radio when I do not bother what piece of music Ishall load next in my cd player;saying that means I do STILL collect cds and my collection of 1660+ cds is growing , 6of ordered cds are about to reach my house this week:)
Hello Andrew and Kristi. Another great and fun video. I am also messaginv. While watching your video. I got a pop-ups saying you guys missed me, come back. I am sorry about leaving, but I got hit pretty hard with fraud on the internet. It cost me a lot of money. I do miss being a member of the channel, but I can't take any more chances using my card out there anymore. You two are great, keep it coming much success
I'm not sure what you mean by the pop up that we "missed you". That's not something we have engaged anywhere. Please make sure you are not engaging with anyone on Telegram. That is not us. They are scam accounts out to defraud you.