Suggested Hi-Fi system for a near-midlife crisis!

I think you are looking at this the wrong way. For a proper mid-life crisis you don't need a new Hi-Fi. What you need is a sports car.

Of course if you can afford both...

Or if you're really wealthy, go for a mistress! 

 

Cheaper than a divorce 

I heard a good hitman would be cheaper than a divorce, too  

1

Your luck is in you have just found one

Don't believe anyone that tells you that Electrocompaniet amplifiers are slow  or lacking in any way with fast paced music .

In fact it is the total opposite , they excel with dynamic and complex music but because they are so good at keeping their composure when most other amplifiers start to compress and clip that the effortless sound delivery gets confused with a lack of pace .

Most amplifiers even powerful ones turn complex and dynamic music into an aggressive ball of mush  when the volume is turned up because they cannot keep up with the large current swings and transient response that is required to keep things in order .

Electrocompaniet amplifiers deliver much more current than most amplifiers due to their unique power supply design and have incredible transient power delivery and response combined with virtually zero timing induced distortion so they never get caught out .

But as always it is best to try one for yourself and see if they suit your taste

If you want a complex and dynamic piece of music to test out an amplifier try this .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg52OSGmg7g

I put this track on when people say that Electrocompaniet amps sound slow or no good for complex music and believe me they always regret saying it after they have put their skin back on

 

Reading back through the thread I see you are considering ATC SCM40's .

If you do like the Electrocompaniet ECI5 amp after audition then I would suggest as an alternative a pair of PMC OB1i's .

PMC speakers seem to work very well with Electrocompaniet amps and play to each others strengths creating something more than the sum of the parts .

Here is a good review comparing the ATC's and PMC's that is quite interesting .

http://hi-fi-avenue.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/british-sound-with-unbritish-...

 

Thanks for your input and thoughts on EC amps, always good to hear from an owner and a nice summing up too lol.

Naturally i will try to demo an EC5mk2 and make my own mind up it may not be for me of course.  I do like a wide open soundstage for when i sit down and 'listen' to my music as i do with some kinds of music.  I wont deny a love for some prog and complex stuff and i much enjoy picking this music apart.  At the same time i love prog's nemesis and want to listen to the Clash or the Jam and just rock out so like a tight focused sound.  I guess i am going to prove hard to please, though i would say the importance to play the former style of music well is more important than the ability to play the latter!

Alot of my albums arent perfect recordings either so making them as listenable as poss would be a bonus.  For example i love the first couple of Velvet Underground albums but they can sound pretty nasty due to the (possibly deliberate) distortion.

And to the man who mentioned sports car....  having been told that 40 is mid-life i'll have to put it off abit longer.

Thanks again all.

Read that review.  I dont really want to spend £4500 on the speakers alone i'm afraid.  £3k is the max and ideally £2.5.  I have rounded it down to ATCSCM40, MA GX300, Kef R900, Proac D18 or Studio 40.  I like the thought of dedicated mid and bass drivers of the ATC40, i am betting they will let me hear the electronics properly too and the sound i like from the amp/cdp will not be coloured by the speakers.  Being sealed though i have concerns over their bass but at their price i can afford a decent sub to compensate.

Cant believe how i get so little low rich bass from the MA RX6's (in a 6x6m room), they are much better for movies than music i think.

The sealed centre channel RXC produces more low end sound even though its sealed and half the volume in size!

Unless you get really unlucky and the hitman and the wife hit it off. Then you have a very expensive divorce with a good hitman to 'expedite' the maintenance payments!

You're a funny dude, Chebby!

If you are looking at ~£2.5k, then have a look at the ATC SCM20SL. I really liked the SCM19 and prefered it to the SCM40, on everything including bass extension. The SCM20SL looks to have a better tweeter over the one in the entry range.

Looking online cant find this speaker for less than £3800!

So the SCM19s bass driver manages to deliver more than the smaller assembly woofer unit in the twice size box!?

Add them to the list then at £1800 this is more to my sensibilities!

There are always second hand or Ex demo OB1i's that would probably fall within your budget  .    

A little bit over budget but you might  be able to do a deal .

 

http://www.hifix.co.uk/floor-standing-speakers/pmc/ob1i.html

 

Should also consider different sources too as well and have found Leema Acoustics Antila IIS Eco ex demo at £2200 from £3200.

Also like the look of Unison Research Unico CDE Twin player.  Maybe suit a valve amp like the Pathos better?!

So many choices and yet so difficult to hear them all!