Have your say & ask the experts!

First Complete Stereo System

10 replies [Last post]
g777o
g777o's picture
Offline
Joined: 12 Mar 2012
Posts: 17

After finding myself listening to 90% music vs 10% Movies, I've stopped using my Onkyo 509 and put together a dedicated stereo System.

B&W 685 Standmounts with Atacama Nexus Stands

Rotel RC 995 Pre Amp

Rotel RB 991 Power Amp

Arcam rDac

Sonos ZP90 (Controlled by CR100/iPad/Samsung GS2)

Cheap JVC CD Player used as transport with the rDac for those occasions when I get a new CD and can't wait to rip it.

Western Digital 2TB Nas Drive.

I previously used a RA-02 Integrated with the 685s and found this a good match,  upgrading to the 991 & 995 has really transformed the system like I could have never imagined.

 

 

 

 

 

__________________

Sonos ZP90 - Arcam rDac - Rotel RC 995 - Rotel RB 991 - Kef LS50

Onkyo 509 - Kef 2005 - BK 400 DF

Graham Slee Solo ;  Sennheiser 650 - Audio Technica ATH-M50S - AKG K450 - Shure SE215

CnoEvil
CnoEvil's picture
Offline
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 9041
RE: First Complete Stereo System

One's first complete system is always memorable.....enjoy!

BTW. Welcome to the forum.

__________________

"Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again."  André Gide

plastic penguin
plastic penguin's picture
Offline
Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Posts: 13197
RE: First Complete Stereo System

Very nice indeed. Smile

__________________

Leema Pulse MKII-S; Naim CD5i MKII; Denon TU-260L MKII; MA RS6 speakers; Pro-ject Xpression 1; loads of different cables...

 

Formerly known as plastic penguin

simonlewis
simonlewis's picture
Offline
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 2171
RE: First Complete Stereo System

Very nice system, i have the same speaker stands as you but mine are covered in dust, which is why i've not put any photo's up yet. Wink

__________________

formerly known as slewis ---

simon's system

BenLaw
BenLaw's picture
Offline
Joined: 21 Nov 2010
Posts: 4258
RE: First Complete Stereo System

Great looking system, congratulations  Smile Your speakers look to have fairly extreme toe in, have you experimented with having them slightly straighter?

__________________

HiFi   /   A/V   /   Bedroom

WishTree
WishTree's picture
Offline
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 887
RE: First Complete Stereo System

Though not the first system, I used to have the same speakers and amp at one point of time. great combination! The 15XX sereis of Rotel did not get me excite but the older versions both 10XX as well as 9XX are very good.

Have fun!

__________________

My System  |

HiFi: Oppo BDP-105 | Jolida JD-1501BRC | AG Strada | B&W 608 | Toshiba-46TL933G

HT: Sony BDP-S790 | Marantz SR6006 | Wharfedale DX-1 7.1 | Sony-55EX725

g777o
g777o's picture
Offline
Joined: 12 Mar 2012
Posts: 17
RE: First Complete Stereo System

Thanks for the positive comments, glad you like the set up.

I will experiment with the toe in angle, I got the amps and dac all in the last week ( had the speakers for around 6 weeks) so I'm just getting used to the fuller sound, the grip on the bass now is phenomenal.

The fixed power cables on both amps have been altered to an IEC connection, this gives me further upgrade options.

I also purchased a Tacima 6 socket mains cable, as the previous lead I used has LEDs, which I am told is not best for hifi.

 

__________________

Sonos ZP90 - Arcam rDac - Rotel RC 995 - Rotel RB 991 - Kef LS50

Onkyo 509 - Kef 2005 - BK 400 DF

Graham Slee Solo ;  Sennheiser 650 - Audio Technica ATH-M50S - AKG K450 - Shure SE215

BenLaw
BenLaw's picture
Offline
Joined: 21 Nov 2010
Posts: 4258
RE: First Complete Stereo System

Well it looks like you've got enough room or close to it to have your speakers and listening position as an equilateral triangle, which is great. I tend to find if you can see a sliver of the inner side of each speaker from your listening position it is a good place to start. slightly further toed in is likely to sharpen things up a touch and pointing them slightly wider may improve soundstage. Have a play around, it's the best simple upgrade you can do 

__________________

HiFi   /   A/V   /   Bedroom

mleongkc
mleongkc's picture
Offline
Joined: 19 Jun 2012
Posts: 8
RE: First Complete Stereo System

Hi,

I recently just got the B&W 685s and while not fully run-in, I'm enjoying the sounds and looks already! Your setup looks great. I'm curious about you using the rDac for ripping new CDs, or did you mean the JVC CD player, since ripped MP3 still in digital format?

__________________

Information provided for sharing product experience:

Denon 4810AVR | Mordaunt-Short speakers | B&W 685 on STAV24 | Audiolab 8200DQ:8200P:8000CDE | Marantz CD5001 | Pioneer BDP-120 | Panasonic DMP-BDT320 | DNM speaker cables

jaxwired
jaxwired's picture
Offline
Joined: 7 Feb 2009
Posts: 1699
RE: First Complete Stereo System

Very nice for your first system!  I'm a sucker for stand mounted speakers.  I don't know why, but to me they look much sexier than floorstanders.  Well done!

__________________

iTunes Lossless -> Airport Express -> Benchmark DAC2 HGC -> Belles 150a REF V2 -> Dynaudio Focus 340-> Chord Cables

The_Lhc
The_Lhc's picture
Offline
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Posts: 11215
RE: First Complete Stereo System

mleongkc wrote:
I'm curious about you using the rDac for ripping new CDs, or did you mean the JVC CD player, since ripped MP3 still in digital format?

That isn't what he meant, he meant if he buys a CD and is too impatient to rip it on his computer he plays the CD through the CD player into the rDac. You can't use an rDac to rip CDs.

__________________

No signature worth mentioning...