I currently have a Denon DCM-340 player that is pretty old and want to upgrade. My receiver is an Onkyo SR-701 and my speakers are Angstrom 2, 4, 8's with the 6C centre channel. These are CDN made speakers. I was looking at the Cambridge Audio Azur 640C, NAD C542, Arcam Diva CD73, and the Rega Apollo. I don't want to spend more than $850 US ($1000 CDN) including taxes so that will probably eliminate the Arcam and Rega. I don't know how much of a price diff there is from these 2 over the other 2? Any suggestions would be appreciated? Is there any ohter receiver I should possibly be looking at? Lemme know. Thanks.
I have to agree with Art here that you probably will not benefit from the extra money spent on an NAD 542 or Cambridge 640 over the NAD C525bee without changing your receiver (the 525 alone is a huge step above your current Denon). And when you do get the new CD player, I would use stereo interconnects (analog) and forego using a digital connection. You will get better sound.
Thanks for the replies, it is much appreciated. Well I'm all for saving money but is my receiver really that weak? What would you suggest would be a logical step up from that reciever where i would benefit from one of those CD players? Maybe I should be looking at upgrading my receiver as well? Anyone have some suggestions? Thanks.
cambridge 540A v2 or 640A v2 w/cambridge 640C v2 would be well matched and the 640's would run you somewhere around $1200 or so the 540A with 640C somewhat less
I'm a little confused here. Is it the NAD C525bee or NAD C325bee that would be a good match for my receiver? Are there any other CD players that I should be looking at, i'm not particular to one brand at all. Also if my receiver would need to be upgraded are there any suggestions for that where I wouldn't have to spend a fortune or is it a big jump in price to get to a better level?
The 525BEE is a CD player. The 325BEE is an integrated amp.
Also, I agree with everyone else here who's said that you'd be wasting money spending more on a CD player if you're going to keep the current receiver. The 325BEE was mentioned as a low cost replacement for the Onkyo. However, its only a stereo amp (2 channels) rather than a surround sound receiver. If you're only interested in stereo sound, the 325BEE is a great jumping off point and would run circles around your current receiver.
Ahhh oaky gotcha! Just to add to my original post, I'm using the Onkyo SR701 receiver to power the subs, rears and centre channel only. I have an Acoustat Trans Twin Nova 200 power amplifier (it's old but works and the dealer I bought it from still insists it's a decent power amp) that is powering the 2 fronts. So in this case I would take it the NAD 325Bee would not be needed for my system?
Anyone, would it be necessary to add the NAD 325Bee Intergrated amp if I'm using my Acoustat Trans Twin Nova 200 power amp for the front speakers, would it be an upgrade over this amp??? To replace my Onkyo SR 701 it would probably cost quite a few$$$ if I wanted to stay with a more than 2 channel receiver? Thanks again for the replies.
Okay I had a chance to hear the NAD C525bee, NAD C542, Arcam CD73T, and the Cambridge Audio Azur 640C cd players today. They were tested through the NAD C732 integrated amp and Monitor Audio BR1 speakers with all the same cable and at the same volume. There was a notable difference between the NAD C525bee($450CDN) and the NAD C542($700CDN). I could not reallly notice a big difference between the NAD C542 and the Arcam CD73T ($960.00CDN) cd players though. Last was the Cambridge Audio Azur 640C which I really didn't care for at all, it sounded bland to me. So with that said the dealer recommended me to go with the Arcam CD73T, obviously the most expensive one, even with using my current Onkyo SR701 a/v receiver which he said was comparable to the NAD C732 Integrated amp. He said it's the source going in (cd player)and not the receiver that would make a big difference, garbage in, garbage out. He recommended not to upgrade the receiver a little bit and go with a cheaper cd player but get a better cd player which would be fine with my receiver. i don't know if I can justify the extra $260 for the Arcam when the NADC542 sounded equal to me? I could use he extra $260 to spend on a better receiver. Any thoughts on this????
If you could not hear a difference between the C542 and CD73T then go with the NAD. It's a damn fine player that easily competes with more expensive players. Some even believe it is superior to the Arcam. But this is subjective of course and everyone heres things in a different way.
I dispute the Onkyo receiver being comapable to the NAD C372 integrated amp. And I agree with NADz - though I have just traded my C542 for a Rega Apollo - twice the price though.