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| HIFI REVIEWS |
26 / 04 / 07 |
Group test: Real hi-fi separates systems | | | |
Sometimes, the parameters change. “Find four CD/amp/speaker systems for £1,000” Was the original brief. So here are four such systems, all priced around two grand. That's often the way, here.
You see, the selection process is a bit different from usual, at least for a reviewer. We went shopping, with imaginary money. But we went to a couple of real bricks-and-mortar dealers (Infidelity and (Sevenoaks), both based in Kingston-upon-Thames, for sheer convenience) on a real Saturday, played real CDs through real loudspeakers and made real conclusions… just like real people. These aren't systems dreamed up by PR people, you can buy this stuff.
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The Audiophile Party Animal system
Infidelity's £1,925 fun-filled separates system comprised classic Brit-fi systems in combination. The source was a top-loading Rega Apollo CD player, hooked to a Naim Nait 5i amplifier and then to a pair of Rega R5 floorstander loudspeakers.
People have been selling Rega/Naim/Rega systems consistently for the last two decades; the products may change but the ethos stays the same.
These products have the right brand names and the audiophile's dream of the absolute minimum of superfluous features (you want a headphone socket, buy a headphone amplifier… we gave you a remote, what more do you want). But these products keep being sold for good reason… this stuff sounds fantastic.
Don't expect clarity, definition, and all those niceties that hi-fi buffs place great stead by; these are not genteel products. Instead, this is the system that presents music red in tooth and claw.
You find yourself playing Led Zep at balls-out levels and Beethoven piano turns visceral and full of drama. Which is how it should be, come to think of it.
That said, the sound of the Rega/Naim/Rega system can be refined and civilised, but it's fundamentally about the passion and drama that drives people to make and listen to music. Background sounds? Forget it!
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Plus points
It's always a party when these three get together
Minus points
Not the most tonally accurate system around |  |
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The style system
A trio of electronics and small, elegant standmount speakers form Sevenoaks' cool-looking £2,197 system. The Musical Fidelity X-RAY v8 CD player and X-T100 valve amp can't quite make their minds up whether they are separates or a single entity, as they share the same TRIPLE-X power supply (supplied with the amp).
You can buy a separate PSU and a new beefy one will be available soon, but you can't use the CD player on its own without either PSU or amp. But as they work well together, this isn't much of a limitation.
The speakers are B&W's elegant little CM1 bookshelves, beautifully finished with metal driver surrounds highlighting the aluminium dome tweeter and yellow Kevlar bass cone. Build quality on all four components is exemplary.
The look is crisp and controlled, and so is the sound. Although small, the speakers deliver surprisingly deep bass and an open midrange that makes speech very easy to understand.
Ultimately, the loudspeakers hold the electronics back somewhat, as they don't deliver the free-sounding high frequencies or the fast-paced bass of the Monitor Audio speakers (also tried on this system).
The electronics sound smoother and more inviting than any here and if you want elegance with good sound, this is the top-dollar choice.
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Plus points
Elegant looks and electronics capable of making an inviting, powerful sound
Minus points
Expensive. Loudspeaker more style than substance | |
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The intellectual's system
Arcam and Focal form Infidelity's second and final system. It comprises an Arcam CD192 CD player with the new-ish A70 integrated amplifier, both from Arcam's DiVA range.
These are coupled with the excellent Focal Chorus 806V standmount loudspeakers. Top of the DiVA range, the CD192 features Arcam's unique upsampling multi-DAC module, while the A70 has a clever computer-controlled architecture, cleverly disguised as a perfectly normal hi-fi amp.
The Focal 806V is the entry point to its middle range and is designed specifically for rooms smaller than 20 square metres.
Unlike the Naim and Rega system, this line-up has a very different presentation, more head than heart. Curiously, the loudspeakers take about 5-10 minutes to settle down - no idea why - but you can hear the sound expanding as you listen to the first couple of tracks.
Once that lead-in time has elapsed, this is the system that delivers the best stereo sound, the most detail, the most vocal articulation and the most tonally accurate sound of the bunch.
No, it's not as visceral and exciting as the Naim and Rega system, or as sweet sounding as the Cyrus/Monitor Audio rig, but this is the first call for those who want to hear what happened in the studio without emphasis.
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Plus points
Sophisticated, grown-up sound for those after hearing all that's happening on their recordings
Minus points
Weirdly, loudspeakers take a few minutes to warm up from cold | |
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The upgrader's system
Sevenoaks basic £1,697 system offers a lot of upward mobility, but it gets the basics right from the outset. The core of the system is a pair of 'singing shoeboxes'; the Cyrus CD6S CD player and 6vs2 integrated amplifier.
These half-size products take up less room, but offer no less passion than other electronic components in the group. They are also both upgradable, up to their respective Cyrus 8 spec and then still further, with the addition of PSX-R power supplies. This all makes an already clean sound, cleaner still.
There's no upgrade path for the cute little RS5 loudspeakers, but if something's this good, who cares? The system falls neatly between the sheer analysis of the Arcam/Focal and the fun factor of the Rega/Naim/Rega system, with a pacy, tight and detailed sound that just makes you nod your head and say 'sweeeet' a lot.
The Cyrus system is not one to switch on and off regularly - the products seem to need hours to warm up after being removed from the juice - which is hardly environmentally chummy.
There is also a distinct loudness ceiling to the RS5. Headbangers need not apply, but the rest of us get some of the best sounds around.
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Plus points
Civilised and upgradable system that sounds like it should cost twice as much
Minus points
No roof-raising loudness on offer. Amps need forever to warm up | |
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We expected a winner - we got four. Each one very different to the rest and each one capable of delivering music with grace and charm all of its very own. Even the weakest of the quartet could easily be the strongest with subtle changes that were quickly played in demonstration. It shows that there's no one single answer in hi-fi. It also shows the absolute importance of the dealer demonstration - anyone could have put together a different system out of these parts and come up with something much less entertaining. Even if it costs a little more, those Saturday afternoon hours can pay dividends.
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| | Discuss this article, 1 of 20 messages, read more: |  D Berkmen | |
| Posted: 30/04/07 11:12:30 30 | Interesting test, seems that the speakers held back the electronics in most cases..
I think that you missed an opportunity here to try systems out where the speaker spend is 50%+ of total outlay. Starting with a £1k speaker could have delivered an very interesting comparison - what do you think? |
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