Uncle, people said their main source is the laptop lah.

Like what ktek explained, flac is entirely dependent on whom doing the encoding. Yes, flac is lossless but do remember the saying "Garbage In Garage Out". If the audio is encoded 120khz as compared to a CD quality of 44100khz, you will get 120khz. Playing the CD on your laptop is one option but if you are doing so, might as well get a CD player as your source (which is what hushymushy is trying to get you to do instead of relying on the laptop as the source).

I am also a bass-head so I agreed with you on getting the subwoofer but a lot of purist here are against the subwoofer because what a sub does is actually accentuating the bass and the overall sound is not what the musician is trying to impress to the listeners but what we want to hear. Yes, getting a good stand for the speakers will tighten the bass up a lot but a subwoofer will pump it up to levels which any speaker stand can never achieve. In fact, certain amps can reproduce music/sound with a heavier and lower bass than others...Krell for instance. Nice, tight and way way low bass which vibrates other furniture in the same room (my kind of music).

Yes...welcome to the Marantz family circle. When I first bought my Marantz PM & CD6005 and coupled it with the BMB sub, the sound really rocks. Very surprising as I expected less from a budget system. Anyway, congrats!!!

Floorstanders are perfectly okay. Which speakers?

You could try using some spike on your speakers (or does your speakers already have them)? That usually tighten up the bass a bit. Speaker wires also affects the sound coming out from the speakers. Maybe you could borrow a few and test them with your speakers. Also, what amp are you using? Could you have accidentally engaged your "Loudness" button?

Ah ha! The PM6005 "HAS" a loudness button. Could that button had been mistakenly depressed? As far as I know, the Paradigm Monitor 7 v.6 is not bass oriented. In fact I auditioned it for my first hifi and found the bass lacking which is why I opted for the Dynaudio DM2/7 and then hooked it up to a BMB subwoofer cos the PM6005 has a dedicated sub-out.

You sure you did not accidentally engage the Loudness button?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/910eo11nzm69ayy/U...tled-1.jpg?dl=0

This post has been edited by GI Jie: Apr 22 2015, 11:07 PM

Ya...still on hold now until my new place is ready, maybe in September after the renovations. By the time I get it (imported) it will be in November and it will take a few months to burn that monster in, which means that it will be ready for listening sometime next year...hahahahahaha

Might not get Aida though...perhaps the Magico M5 (frigging huge) or the Dynaudio Evidence Master (nice and slender) or the Evidence Platinum.
Most probably the Dynaudio cos I can get CMY to import it in for me (and I DO like Dynaudio).

This post has been edited by GI Jie: May 2 2015, 02:33 AM

Terlalu besarlah bro...I like small unobtrusive speakers that deliver a big sound.
Leaning towards the Dynaudio instead of Magico even though these 2 are priced in "almost" the same range.
So it will be between Aida and Evidence Master

This post has been edited by GI Jie: May 2 2015, 01:38 PM

Bro, I don't have a BIG house like yours lah... that's why my preference is leaning towards the Dynaudio Evidence Master. Secondly, I REALLY am NOT looking forward to dealing with our friend from Perfect Hifi at Wisma MPL again. Thirdly, I REALLY like Dynaudio. Maybe my Guarneri will sound better on its stands (hee..hee... I have not collected it yet) or after I have finally burned it in. Or after I have burned in all my components and connectors but the Marantz + Dynaudio seems to sound better than Krell + Guarneri.

Aiyah...all you SF fans ah...

Walanei!!! Looks exactly like my HP printer!!!

Tube input...MOSFET output...interesting. Class AB?

Another thing, I just sold my soul and in exchange got the Sharp LC-80LE960X tv and looking for a good sound bar. Any recommendations? I have auditioned the Sonos and the Sharp. Not much choice here in KL ler... Oh, the monster will be in Harvey Norman as I am only taking delivery in end August. Takes 3 weeks to order it in together with the mounting bracket (sold separately) if I am lucky (4-5 weeks if I am not) which means that I still got quite a few months to make my choice. Have to have a sound bar cos the tv output is only 2.1ch (10W + 10W + 15W subwoofer).

Goldmund too clinical lah...no life of its own. As for sound bars...yeah, I gotta check out the JBL. Utopia? By Focal? Where can audition ler?
BTW where can get Esoteric CD player here?

This post has been edited by GI Jie: May 5 2015, 11:38 PM

Ya. Contacted them oredy. No stocks for all models. K-01 about 60K+. I prefer the K-05 (about 25K). They are checking if there are stocks in Kiasuland. Takes 3 weeks to bring it in. These are the older models. The new models have an "x" behind its model numbers i.e. K-01x etc. Same audio circuitry except the new one have more connections

Just got a call from them. No stocks in Kiasuland as well. Takes 2 months to order it in. Ordering the K-05 model.

Ya, did some research last nite and I am ordering the newer K-05X model. Full price 27,560 including GST. 50% deposit. Minimum 2 months to get in (if I am lucky) cos the K-05X is the newest model from the new "X" series. Model not even up on the US Esoteric website yet. Spoke to Lim of Absolute Sound and he told me that TEAC Japan only produces 1 model every month due to lack of production line for the Esoteric products, alternating between models every month. Oh yes, the K-01X retails for over 75K (excluding GST). The base model K-07 (old model) sells for just under 3K (excluding GST).

M5 (the Monster)...not Q5. Retails for over quarter mil. Crazy. Aida also not cheap ler....

This post has been edited by GI Jie: May 7 2015, 12:03 PM

OIC...thanks for the heads up but not considering Magico as an option