Sound quality on my MCR603 and BX2's
The MCR603 sounded excellent with the Kefs. However the BX2's are starting to improve! Maybe they do dramatically improve the more you run them in after all they have only been used for 3 days.
I'll give them a couple of weeks constant use and see what happens.
I bought the MCR603 to downsize from the ageingTEAC Reference 600 seperates I already had.
The Marantz CD6004/PM6004 combination sounds way better than the MCR603. That's the only thing I wanted to say........... 
The MCR603 sounded excellent with the Kefs. However the BX2's are starting to improve! Maybe they do dramatically improve the more you run them in after all they have only been used for 3 days.
I'll give them a couple of weeks constant use and see what happens.
In my experience the BX2 take a very long time to run in, more than most other speakers i owned.
The MCR603 sounded excellent with the Kefs. However the BX2's are starting to improve! Maybe they do dramatically improve the more you run them in after all they have only been used for 3 days.
I'll give them a couple of weeks constant use and see what happens.
3 days; is that it lol
Yes, they'll REALLY improve with a lot more time through them... Give them 50-100 hours and you'll notice a massive difference in them. My RX2's too ages to settle and run in; even with just 200-250 hours on them (and that's buying them ex demo) I still think there's more to come! 
The Marantz CD6004/PM6004 combination sounds way better than the MCR603. That's the only thing I wanted to say...........
i don't agree but then again its horses for courses...
I demo'd the CR603 side by side with an Arcam 18 & CD17 combo as well as the Marantz 6004 combo with MA RX1s and B&W 685's and I thought the CR603 came out on top every time; even the guys at Audio T where impressed!
but different rooms give different sounds so maybe it's just a case of different ears
In my experience the BX2 take a very long time to run in, more than most other speakers i owned.
Agree 100%.
I listened to the CR-603 with MA RX1, MA RX2 and B&W 685 and felt that it outperformed any combination of Marantz PM6003, Rega Brio R, Rega DAC and Arcam DAC. Was very close to buying it. Its a great system in my opinion
i have to agree! It sounded excellent when I hooked up the Kef q35.2's to it. the kefs sounded good from the day i bought them so maybe I'm just not used to having to run speakers in to get good sound.
Well..........5 days and probably about 60 hours on the BX2's now. Bass has improved dramatically, no boom now. The clarity and general musicality compared to to my old Kef's is not improving much though. They just sound boring. Guess thats down to the tweeters?? as from what I gather tweeters don't improve with running in??
If they are still the same by the weekend when they should have 100-150 hours on them I'm off to audition a few others!!
Well..........5 days and probably about 60 hours on the BX2's now. Bass has improved dramatically, no boom now. The clarity and general musicality compared to to my old Kef's is not improving much though. They just sound boring. Guess thats down to the tweeters?? as from what I gather tweeters don't improve with running in??
If they are still the same by the weekend when they should have 100-150 hours on them I'm off to audition a few others!!
On that I'd say give them time still; 60hours isnt a lot for new, stiff speakers!
However I do know what you mean re the boring sound; some speakers can be like that but it's all about what youre used to!
If you are going to look again then I can highly recommend the B&W 685's and the MA RX1's. They are worlds apart, IMO, when it comes to the MCR603 and in comparison to the BX2's. The RX1's have got some great technology in them and they're superb speakers. I only went for the RX2's as I was offered them ex-demo in gloss black for the same price as black oak RX1's!
If you can accomodate the RX2's then go for them! Phenomenal is the word I'd use to describe them; with the right electronics; they're VERY hard to beat under £1k IMO!
Not sure on your budget but some ex-demo KEF R100's would work very well with the CR603 as well; fantastic little speakers with a soundstage and bass punch that goes well beyond their size and price tag!
I'd agree that the BX2s needs plenty of running in but, having previously owned B2s, BR2s, and BX2s, I'd say that the BX2s are technically very competent but, unlike, the original B2s, they just aren't particularly involving to listen to. The B&W 685s and the MA RX series are far more involving speakers and would be well worth an audition with the Marantz unit. You may also want to try some Focal 706v if you can find a dealer with a pair to dem. They work very well with Marantz and are extremely musical and involving, if slightly on the bright side in the wrong system/room. One thing I would say is, don't be tempted by the smaller B&W 686. I had a pair before the 685s and they just aren't in the same league. The 685s are a supremely balanced, clean and involving sounding design, whereas the 686s have a boomy, bloated bass and consequently lose those qualities.
I'd agree that the BX2s needs plenty of running in but, having previously owned B2s, BR2s, and BX2s, I'd say that the BX2s are technically very competent but, unlike, the original B2s, they just aren't particularly involving to listen to. The B&W 685s and the MA RX series are far more involving speakers and would be well worth an audition with the Marantz unit. You may also want to try some Focal 706v if you can find a dealer with a pair to dem. They work very well with Marantz and are extremely musical and involving, if slightly on the bright side in the wrong system/room. One thing I would say is, don't be tempted by the smaller B&W 686. I had a pair before the 685s and they just aren't in the same league. The 685s are a supremely balanced, clean and involving sounding design, whereas the 686s have a boomy, bloated bass and consequently lose those qualities.
That's exactly what I'm finding with the BX2s when playing CDs through my Solo Mini - it appears to do everything right - but it's not very musical, it's unfathomably not very engaging. Having said that, things improve considerably when playing CDs through my CA-751BD! After a year I'm now discovering its delights! Previously through my 685s there was nothing in it, between the 2 players I thought, but is seems to tame the BX2s.
Yes I could accomodate the RX2's so I'll try to get a demo with them. I also want to hear the Kef q300's. Have you tried your LS50's with the marantz?? I'd love to know how they sound together plus how they compare to your RX2's when paired together?
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I think the Monitor Audio BX2 are great speakers but I'm not a fan of the MCR603. Buy a budget separates system to hear what the BX2 can do.