I'm using the new NAD C720 BEE 50 watt per channel receiver and this is unlike any other 50 watt per channel I've ever owned or heard. I'm also using a Hughes AK-500 Sound Retriever which is no longer made and makes a world of difference. I'm also using the Oppo Universal DVD Player which plays everything well. The speakers are the Athena LS 500B's 6.5" 2 way's along with the Athena AS-P4100 Subwoofer which for the price is a hard to beat combo. Round it up by using all Cobalt Cables with the exception of the Monster cable for the subwoofer. The retail is higher than what it can be purchased for and at my price of $1463 it sounds great and there's nothing that will come close in this price range!
System edited: I owned the Athena AS-F2.1's and liked the look and sound of Revel F 12's. I bought the Revel's but went back to the Athena AS-F2.1's because the bass was more extended and all around deeper. I really liked the look of the Athena LS 500B's since owning a pair of Monitor Audio Silver RS6's in another room. I bought the Athena LS 500B's and all I can say is WOW! The image better than the Athena AS-f2's, Revel F12's and Monitor Audio Silver RS6's. The also have as good of midrange detail as the Revels' & Athena AS-F2's and are better than the Monitor Audio Silver RS6's in that area. Now the bass... All I can say is ureal! More bass extension and slam than any of the three pair mentioned. A true audiophile tower speaker for the price of generic bookshelf model. You couldn't ask for more...
Nice system you have there, I was thinking about getting a sub for mine but after adding the viper speaker cables there was no need (plenty of bass just from changing cables).
Very nice looking system. With the addition of the Revel speakers do you still need the sub? I previously owned the NAD C-541i cdp and believe it is one of the true bargains. Especially liked the HDCD capability.
I 'v since upgraded to the NAD 542 HDCD player, the NAD T 534 DVD Player and that's it. The system still knocks my socks off. At 50 watts per channel it's truly amazing. I also purchased a Outlaw Audio RR2150 and the NAD is still my pick.
System edited: I originally had this system listed with the Athena AS-F1's as my main speakers but decided I needed a upgrade. I had a pair of Thiel CS-2's I couldn't seem to sell so a local dealer took them in on trade for the Revel's. What a great move upward from the Thiel's and the Athena's. The Revel's are unreal for the price as I compared them against the JMLABS Focal Cobalt 816's and well you see the out come...
I know the drill. Thing is I am worse than you. No good local shops here for Hi-Fi. so all I can do is search and then buy from overseas without ever hearing. I must admit that this has served me well though and I have only been slightly dissapointed once, and that was with a pair of interconnects.
Hope not to blemish my track record in buying good stuff!
This isn't my first system more like my 35th! I'm like most who can't spend the large sum to get everything at once so I buy & sell until I finally get what I think will do. My next mistake is going back to my local hi fi store to look around and you know what happens next...
Not bad at all!! I wish my first stab at a real system could be this good. I started out with a Hafler pre connected to a semi gutted (the transformer was replaced with an even cheaper one and some internal work was done on it) Pioneer A35, with some Bose Freestyles and cheapo wire all around. My source was a panasonic disc man circa 1996!!
Then got an upgrade to B&W 601 S1s, then got a downgrade in source to a sony changer, then an upgrade with a DAC and then to a portable cd player with digital out, then to Adcom power, which was a major upgrade. The next major upgrades were the cables and then a decent source, and then speakers.
But my journey was long and laborious and drawn out. All because I can't listen first.
The key to all systems though is your personal satisfaction! so once you are satisfied, then you are fine.
