my DREAM system. oh, maybe one day...

yes, unfortunately came back from a short break to a flooded flat. looks like a valve was broken during some appliance installation work earlier and it was dripping for several days without us noticing. came back - kitchen flooded, living room half flooded and still have to find what the damage is downstairs!!!

Sorry to hear that's happened - hassle no-one needs! Hope you get it sorted easily and quickly...

A year or so since the new system and I was thinking what would I do differently if I was doing it now (not that I am unhappy with the system, on the contrary. It would have been a slightly different way of achieving the same)

 

So, if I was doing it today I could have gone for:

 

-          Nas + Squeezebox Touch instead of MacMini

-          Small pre-amp with remote instead of Benchmark dac/preamp

-          ATC 100s or 150s and no sub instead of ATC 50s + sub

 

Reasons:

-          SB touch is more user friendly, especially for others at home who do not want to fiddle with the mac computer (however, SB touch would mean that I have to manage the library from another computer). a nas would also allow more options for general back up and sharing at home)

-          Sb touch already has a dac and it does not sound much different from the benchmark. SB + preamp is also much cheaper than MacMini + benchmark.

-          In the new flat I realised that the speakers can have better bass response so a sub is less necessary (although still nice to have!)

 

For the second system:

-          still use SB touch (playing from nas)

-          AVI ADM 9t instead of Denon DM38 + passive speakers

 

Reasons:

-          less boxes and higher sound quality with the ADMs.

Very interesting AlmaataKZ. What would be the rough price difference between the two approaches? And have you given any further thought to changes to your second system?

the main system woudl be a grand or 1.5 cheaper depending on the preamp and not considering sub/speakers options.

on the second system the plan is to have a demo of AVI ADMs - some time in November maybe.

It's interesting to hear that the Squeezebox Touch sounds almost good a £1.5K Benchmark DAC. I've quite tempted to get a SB Touch myself, I don't really need one but they do look very cool and it would be more convenient.

Do you think that the ATC 100's or 150's might have too much bass in your new flat? I would have thought that the ATC 50 + sub would be better because you can adjust the bass depending on what your listening to.

It'll be interesting to see how well these compare to the ATC's.

I tend not to adjust the sub settings once set-up.

... and finally, after almost 3 months of beeing away, I can enjoy the music again. Took some days off so the music does not stop playing!

and, I finally got to audition some small speakers for the second system. Been off to Bartlett's HiFi today and had demos of (in order of demo):

Active - AVI ADM 9T, abt 1,000 gbp

Passive - PMC OB1i, abt 1,000 gbp

Active - Adam Artist 3, abt 600 gbp

Active - Dynaudio Focus 110 A, abt 1,600 gbp

Impressions:

the ADMs sound excellent. I read a lot of people say they are short on bass, but I was quite impressed with the opposite - good powerful sound. excellent dynamics. comparing to my current active ATC 50s - not much of a compromise if any (given the size). vey impressive. on the large side and heavy. Finish quality I would say compared to the others is not as good (OK overall but some plastic details are cheap looking).

next, the PMC - I wanted to see any contrast with a passive speaker and also on bass (as transmission lines are supposed to be bassy). once again, impressive sound for the size, good dynamics, but a bit boomy to my taste. Good looks and finish quality.

next, Adam Artist 3 - again, excellent dynamics and, unexpectedly for the small size, good bass. Excellent finish quality (although I could do without the lights and wish the knobs were more refined)

next, Dynaudio Focus 110a - excellent sound but a bit boomy. moving away from wall helped a bit. excellent finish.

So, my choice based on auditioning: the ADMs.

Choice on reflection: Dunno yet. on coming back home and visualising the ADMs where they would go I realised that they are probably too big... which makes me think - Artist 3? ...

Anything else I should try?

Perhaps you could cover up the lights on the Adams?

Why would the ADMs be too big?

maybe lights are ok. the speakers would be powered via an ir remote controlled socket so the light will be only on when playing.

the adms woudl look a bit too imposing / hanging over on top of a tall chest of drawers... according to my other half... I actually agree.

Those Adams look amazingly like the original Wharfedale Diamonds, other than the odd-looking tweeter.

Try auditioning Focal's active SMC range - 40/50/60. The 40s can be head for less than 500 quid for two. They're tiny and built like a tank and produce incredibly big sound for the size, with neutral and precise presentation. Similarly important is their great looks. Needless to say I got me a pair, to use with SB Touch in the bedroom.

Really pleased with this setup.

Actually it's Focal's CMS 40/50/65 range...

http://www.focalprofessional.com/en/cms-line/index.php

(Just to avoid confusion.)

Thanks! Will check the Focals out.

Of course! Thanks chebby.