Hi,

I have set my mind to below budget stereo system:

stereo amp: NAD C352
cd player : NAD C542
speaker : B&W 602 S3 or Paradigm Studio 20 or Monitor Audio Bronze B2
interconnect : Van den hul the name or QED QUNEX 2
speaker cable : Chord Carnival Silver Plus Biwire

The question is how can i find these item in KL or Johor?

Any KL people can help?

In additoin, how is the system sounds like?

I haven't decide the speaker yet and need go for more audition recently. Any recon show room in KL as i will wen to KL next week for holiday? Any reconmendation on speaker in that price range? (<RM1500)

Thanks in advance.

very good in overal.very well bodied bass and mid

If you're in Johor, would it be too much trouble (taxes, support) to get them in Singapore?

Is your budget of 5K based on actual research, or is it a shot in the dark?

I don't know the price exactly for the Paradigm Studio 20s in KL but the comparison is this:
Paradigm Atom US$189 per pair, SG$289 in Singapore and RM 1,071 in KL. (I just called Asai Sound last week, and was quite shocked)
Studio 20 is SG$1,200 in Singapore, and Mini Monitor is $500

B&W 602S3 is SG$475 each (i.e. SG$950/pr) or RM1,270 each (RM2,540/pr)


I think you may be able to make the budget if some of the items you want are on the used market.

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Aug 2 2005, 10:16 PM

U can get the DM602 S3 for RM2000-2100 (or maybe <2k) if you know the right contacts....try HI Way Laser.....they offer better prices than Monsoon.

The MA B2 are good for the price, always a keeper.

The Quad 11L, 12L, Epos M5 etc are actually a notch above the B&W but only your ears will tell & of course the separates matching.

I m using the NADC352CT/Marantz CD7300/Grado SR80/Quad 12L-Epos M12.2 & the classic integrated Pioneer A400(a legend in its time 8-10 years ago - Japanese product, this one is used but in pristine condition...looks almost new to the uninitiated).

If u r used to NADC352 sound, u will find the Pioneer A400 sound a margin on the bright side but more exciting.

Cheers

You can find NADs at the Music Room at One Utama (old wing). 2nd floor. There is currently a sale on at the Music Room. http://www.mormarks.com/musicroom.htm

B&W at Hiway Laser as mentioned above. See http://www.hiwaylaser.com .

cheers
jediknight61

How bout my audio setup as per my signature...? It is quite near to your budget and can easily found in KL.

PM me if you need assistance.

the 1 at music room is still selling old stock,they are the old disti for nad.now the new disti is extreme audio

It will be difficult for you to find a supplier who can paired up your configuration for you to have a listen. Most suppliers will set-up whatever they carry and you will be better off listening to their set-up. Of course, you can go to different suppliers to get what you want but you will run the risk of not liking the final sound.

Personally, I am using a NAD amplifier, Denon CD Player and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 with QED Silver Anniversary cables and DNM interconnects. All these are rated 4 or 5 stars in WhatHifi but somehow, the final sound just don't come out right.

Thanks for everybody replies.

I am back from KL trip and bring back only Marantz 5400 CD player for my yamaha av receiver which is 4 year old in my living room. They sounds great with my rm300 japanese interconnect with JBL speaker. They sounds ok since the living set are not meant for serious sounds.

Check the one utama for nad, the cd player is sold out and the c352 cost rm1600 for old stock/display set which i found is not worth for the money. (since kef shop from aldephi is only only SGH 750++ for new set). They are asking for rm2000 for nad c352 and 542 cdp sepately which add up 4000+ in total.

One great news is that i got the chance to listen to epos m12.2 (around 2.6k) really sounds good. To my ear, it even sounds better than paradigm studio 20. m12.2 just sounds natural but too back it is currently out of stock.

I had listen b&w 602 and paradigm studio 20 and monitor audio b2, they are just ok and to my ear, some are not very natural regardless they are paired with tube-amp/arcam solo/integrated amp and good interconnect/speaker cable.

Just my opinion only and nothing more.

Will thinking to get epos m12.2 and listen to m5.

And I will not believe what-hifi and take it as a guideline, and use my ear as the final judgement.

Anyone know any good interconnect for cd player and subwoofer?

hi guys...
a n00bie to the home stereo setup...

just went to a few places (namely moonsoon in midvalley - very expensive, and the music room - ok priced for old stock)

currently, narrowed down to the below :

amp - maybe the nad 352ct (think it's 1.6k in music room) or even maybe a nad (150w one - 2.5k)
cd player - currently, can anyone recommend cos so far most sound the same.. maybe nad c542/521bee (where to find and how much?)
bookshelves - just demoed the b&w (way off budget for the ones i like) and psb (not bad for the price - 1k+ for image series).. or anymore recommendations ?

additional info :
1. i listen to quite a number of genre of music - R&B, pop, easy listening, jazz, blues ... (no classical so far).
2. i prefer a sub (cos i like some bass especially for R&B and jazz)
3. hopefully not over 7k budget...


so if i could all you sifus for help :
1. anywhere else i can demo or even buy from (good places -reasonabled price and good advise
2. what kind of interconnects / cables should i use?
3. the setup above good enough ??
4. i've heard much about the A.E. being really good but haven't demoed them... are they better than psb ? or are psb really good already (according to sales person)


finally, thank you all for your help!! much appreciated

+ one more thing... i might be able to squeeze some more money if the system can do A/V for my room as well..
but if i've been told if i do A/V on the same set.. will seriously jeopardize the stereo.. so better to leave it separate...

wat do u guys think ?

tq!!!

is the c352 for 1.6k really not worth the money ?
i mean .. else from going all the way down to sg to buy new ...

how much did u get the marantz for and where from ?

tq!!!

today i just listen to a 4.3k setup.consist of nad 320bee amp,nad 521bee cd player and ae-aegis evo 1 speakers.as for the nad u mentioned.the nad 352 in music room.i believe thats the last unit they clearing.a display set.a new set from the new local distributor is around 2.4k.the diff between nad 542 and the 521bee cd players is the bit rate and the special funtion.

nad - 542 (rm 2.1k - 2.5k)
1)24 bit proccessing
2)come with microsoft hdcd decoder.

nad - 541 (rm 1.3-1.4k)
1)20 bit proccessing
2)without hdcd decoder

judge from the spec above.u might think the sound will be a lot different.i tested both of them b4.u might or might not accept the diff for the price u pay.who knows u can live with the cheaper 1. did u try the b&w 601 or the 602?
the diff between both ae and b&w are the bass.thats the most obvious diff i can hear.not to say the highs are the same .i find ae speakers work best on strings and acoustic instrument.as for the vocals and bass is still good though.here is what i like about b&w speakers,u might attracted to it at the very first time u listen to it.good speakers.fully imported and a very good price tag .b&w's bass are soft compare to the hard bass ae.b&w bass are good for almost all kind of music.as for the cables and the psb speakers u asked,i'll answer u in my next post tired of typing

................to be continued

I have auditioned the NAD C542 B4. C542 produce good vocal and i must say it definitely produce wondeful strings and acoustic equipments sound. However, bass is a lilttle laid back although it does carry enough weight.

If you are looking for a good deal on NAD or interconnects or anything on AV stuffs (no promise here) PM me. Of course, it is brand new with guarantee ler.

tq for all the advises..

for the cd player, i think price does matter for me.. cos i'd rather invest in a better set of bookshelves...

amp i think i'll go with the 1.6k one if they still have it cos 800bux different is quite alot...
or does anybody have a place where i can quote a brand new one ?

for speakers.. i'd like to listen to more advises before barging out and demoing everything i see.

B&W i think i can demo in midvalley, but where can i demo the AE ?

how about Epos ELS3 or if you can raise the budget, audition the Dynaudio 42

how about a 2nd cdp to further flow the budget to bookshelves.

Perhaps u should also try the wonderful ATC SCM7 (RM3000), a well hidden secret of mini monitors, the sound is simply astoudingly natural with lush mids and surprisingly punchy lows but extension is limited by physical size of the midbass though, extremely suitable for a small study or bed room (if meant for ur living area, please go for the bigger ATC SCM12 but this would be beyond your budget RM6000). ATC is world class mind you, no audio mags worth its salt should criticise ATC speakers much apart from the real plain Jane looks.

Can try out the MA Silver S1 or S2 or the newer RS1 bookshelf, the MA B2 is the bargain of the whole line (tried it & liked it).

Epos, ah the lower profile company that makes great speakers for the moolah, would recommend the M12.2 and for a smaller room the M5, difference in sound is there but not night vs day to justify the almost RM800-1K difference in $$
More cost-effective would be the ELS3, check them out, nearly every audio mag/website has some mention of them.

Quad, don't u just love the glazing finish on these babies, the 11L are no surprise for regular fans of What HiFi S&V, the 12L adds more bass & larger sound stage.

Latest entry, Nbien speakers NX-6 (RM5600) or the smaller siblings sound quite remarkable for the price.

Wharfedale, what else apart from the diamond 9.1 for as low as RM800+ (new)

Mordaunt short (MS), for the MS914 floorstander (~RM1600+)

B&W of course, how to forget these classy ones, the DM602 S3 seems to be the worthy one, money for a big chunk of sound transducer, but this is not shielded mind you(pls don't put them too close to your CRT/TV), this goes head to head in terms of size against the Focal-JM Labs 707S(which is not available in M'sia according to Asia Sound Ltd)......602S3 remain a tried and tested one throughout quite a few years.....I suppose you can't go wrong if u like its sound

JPW 202 bookshelf with a curve(convex) metallic grille, sounds very musical for its RM1500+ price)

Amps(solid state): NAD C352CT/320BEE/Rotel RA-02 or 03(new)/Rotel RA-1062/ Marantz PM7200/Cambridge Audio 640A or wait for the coming 740A($$$)/ Naim (another world class, still affordable)/ Creek A50iR or 5350SE

Sorry...tired need to go for now....the rest are as suggested by others...and Supra cables(I ditched my QED Silver Anniversary some time ago) or the Chord Carnival....but this depends...if your system is laid back...use silver based cables, if it's already bright, use bronze/tin based or coated ones.

Cheers

ATC SCM7 for just RM3000!!?? A pair??? Really??? Can give hint where they selling this in KL anot?

the list price for the speakers is around rm 4750.if u got a good contacts with the store owner they will eventually give u that kind of price.so be nice to the taukeh just jk just jk

LOL.. RM4750.. just when i thought my upgradetits had kicked in.. maybe i should start being nicer to Omegaminx since he can get at that price

This post has been edited by Categg: Aug 17 2005, 11:22 AM