What do I do next? A hifi question

[Salmonofdoubt]

In the middle of last year I decided I wanted to start collecting vinyl. What I seem to have done instead is accumulate a large quantity of hifi kit for a relatively small amount of money.

Currently I'm using a NAD C300, Project Debut II, Project Phono box and a pair of Monitor audio bronze 2 speakers.

I listen to an lot of music through Spotify and have ordered a Yamaha wxad10 from richer sounds, because that will tie in nicely with the Yamaha speakers I have in other rooms.

I've also got a pair of floorstanding Eltax concept 400 speakers hooked up to my TV via a DAC and a tangent amp.

I like the warm sound of the NAD, and the floorstanders give a nice extra bit of bass over the monitors.

But I'm now wondering if I should cancel the streamer and instead replace the two amps with a Yamaha RN303D OR 602D. Both have built in DACs would allow me to switch between speakers depending on the source, integrate with the other speakers I have, stream and I think the 602 would also mean I didn't need a phono stage.

Would I be better off keeping things seperate or cutting down the number of boxes? Also has anyone lived with any of Yamaha's integrated amps, because while I could ask RS to set them up for me I don't think my ears are sensitive enough to hear differences quickly.

[Miserablegit]

Cancel the streamer and buy the 602.
Then you can compare the sound of the Yamaha at home with the rest of your kit. You can also compare the phono stage of the Yamaha with the external one and see which you prefer.
If you end up preferring the Yamaha the surplus kit can go on eBay or, as I tend to do, can be used in another room.
I have a 602 and am perfectly happy with it. It’s not the main system but is great for a study

[Ultuous]

Another one with a 602 here - bought on a whim from RS in the summer after my old amp died. It does everything I could need and I got an unexpected jump in sound quality too!

[Salmonofdoubt]

I didn't think anyone was going to reply to this thread. But earlier today I spoke to RS and have ordered a 602.

Just need to fathom out a position for my speakers, and possibly build a pair of stands.

[Miserablegit]

Thanks for the update - I think these forums are less busy and so questions can fall off the first page quite quickly.
I like Nad kit as well - still have my first 3020 working.
There was a slight firmware issue on the 602 in that mine wouldn’t update if the source direct switch was pressed. If you have that problem then just make sure source direct is not pressed! I think it was fixed in a later update
Enjoy

[Tony1963]

Miserablegit said:

Thanks for the update - I think these forums are less busy and so questions can fall off the first page quite quickly.

Surely on a less busy forum questions would take longer to fall off the first page?

[Salmonofdoubt]

Miserablegit said:

Thanks for the update - I think these forums are less busy and so questions can fall off the first page quite quickly.
I like Nad kit as well - still have my first 3020 working.
There was a slight firmware issue on the 602 in that mine wouldn’t update if the source direct switch was pressed. If you have that problem then just make sure source direct is not pressed! I think it was fixed in a later update
Enjoy

The only issue I'd read about with all of the musiccast amps was the wi-fi set up being tricky but I'll be using an ethernet cable.

I'm looking forward to being able to switch speakers without any cable swapping. I've already started looking for an upgrade for the floorstanders hifi is addictive.

[Ahonen]

I bought the Yamaha N803D in November. Honestly it's terrific and does everything we want - we don't do Spotify or the like but we listen to loads of internet radio stations, CDs and vinyl. This weekend we finally got around to using the Musiccast app to control it, which works flawlessly.

I still can't believe it was less than £500 - ours was an open box one from RS, which someone returned because it was too big.

[troika]

Ahonen said:

I bought the Yamaha N803D in November. Honestly it's terrific and does everything we want - we don't do Spotify or the like but we listen to loads of internet radio stations, CDs and vinyl. This weekend we finally got around to using the Musiccast app to control it, which works flawlessly.

I still can't believe it was less than £500 - ours was an open box one from RS, which someone returned because it was too big.

Brilliant bit of kit (I’ve also got an 803). Honestly, it’s really not very far behind a Linn Majik DSM at £2,500 or my Naim rig at multiples of that. In fact, I’m very tempted to sell the Naim stuff and buy another 803.

[Salmonofdoubt]

Very happy with the 602. Got it set up last week, had a little trouble getting the MusicCast apps to see it, but it’s now spot on. I already liked the way the app worked it’s just a shame Tidal doesn’t integrate as seamlessly as Spotify.
One thing it did do was massively show up the shortcomings of my floor standing speakers. I did toy with adding a sub but think replacing the speakers with one good quality pair of floor standers will suit me better.

[Miserablegit]

Glad to hear it is working out.
They are great pieces of kit for the money

[dvshannow]

Tony1963 said:

Miserablegit said:

Thanks for the update - I think these forums are less busy and so questions can fall off the first page quite quickly.

Surely on a less busy forum questions would take longer to fall off the first page?

Yes one would think so

[TameRacingDriver]

troika said:

Brilliant bit of kit (I’ve also got an 803). Honestly, it’s really not very far behind a Linn Majik DSM at £2,500 or my Naim rig at multiples of that. In fact, I’m very tempted to sell the Naim stuff and buy another 803.

Quite surprised by that comment, given that in What HiFi, their review of the 803 states that it is “Not accomplished with rhythm or timing”, especially as that is the raison de etre of Linn and Naim stuff....

https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/r-n803d/review

[Ahonen]

TameRacingDriver said:

troika said:

Brilliant bit of kit (I’ve also got an 803). Honestly, it’s really not very far behind a Linn Majik DSM at £2,500 or my Naim rig at multiples of that. In fact, I’m very tempted to sell the Naim stuff and buy another 803.

Quite surprised by that comment, given that in What HiFi, their review of the 803 states that it is “Not accomplished with rhythm or timing”, especially as that is the raison de etre of Linn and Naim stuff....

https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/r-n803d/review

Yeah I read that too and it bears absolutely zero resemblance to our experience with ours. I assume WhatHifi reviewers' ears are better tuned to such things that mine but compared to the Arcam Solo it replaced (which was absolutely fine, but the CD player broke so it's now our TV amp) the sound from the 803 is a really good step forward.

Edited to add that I also read the AV Forums review before buying (https://www.avforums.com/reviews/yamaha-r-n803d-network-receiver-review.14282) which was much more positive.

Edited by Ahonen on Wednesday 19th February 19:30

[troika]

TameRacingDriver said:

troika said:

Brilliant bit of kit (I’ve also got an 803). Honestly, it’s really not very far behind a Linn Majik DSM at £2,500 or my Naim rig at multiples of that. In fact, I’m very tempted to sell the Naim stuff and buy another 803.

Quite surprised by that comment, given that in What HiFi, their review of the 803 states that it is “Not accomplished with rhythm or timing”, especially as that is the raison de etre of Linn and Naim stuff....

https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/r-n803d/review

Have you listed to the aforementioned amps? Up until very recently I was running £20K of Naim amps (now downsized to about £5K’s worth to reduce the box count). Yes, it sounds very, very good, as one would expect. However, the (relatively) little Yamaha really isn’t a millions miles behind. Huge law of diminishing returns apply. The Linn is fantastic VFM at £2.5K but the 803 really is very close indeed in terms of performance.

Ignore What Hifi. Reviews tend to correlate very strongly to the volume of advertising. Only your ears will tell you.

Edited by troika on Wednesday 19th February 19:42

[gizlaroc]

Salmonofdoubt said:

One thing it did do was massively show up the shortcomings of my floor standing speakers.

Have you tried the Monitor Audios Bronze 2's back in there?

They are an amazing speaker when driven properly. Different league to the Eltax.

[TameRacingDriver]

troika said:

Have you listed to the aforementioned amps? Up until very recently I was running £20K of Naim amps (now downsized to about £5K’s worth to reduce the box count). Yes, it sounds very, very good, as one would expect. However, the (relatively) little Yamaha really isn’t a millions miles behind. Huge law of diminishing returns apply. The Linn is fantastic VFM at £2.5K but the 803 really is very close indeed in terms of performance.

Ignore What Hifi. Reviews tend to correlate very strongly to the volume of advertising. Only your ears will tell you.

I haven't and I did wonder [about what hifi] but it's heartening to know how much performance you can get for your money these days. This actually sounds ideal for my downstairs rig, when I eventually get one.

[troika]

TameRacingDriver said:

troika said:

Have you listed to the aforementioned amps? Up until very recently I was running £20K of Naim amps (now downsized to about £5K’s worth to reduce the box count). Yes, it sounds very, very good, as one would expect. However, the (relatively) little Yamaha really isn’t a millions miles behind. Huge law of diminishing returns apply. The Linn is fantastic VFM at £2.5K but the 803 really is very close indeed in terms of performance.

Ignore What Hifi. Reviews tend to correlate very strongly to the volume of advertising. Only your ears will tell you.

I haven't and I did wonder [about what hifi] but it's heartening to know how much performance you can get for your money these days. This actually sounds ideal for my downstairs rig, when I eventually get one.

Absolutely. Have a browse on the Naim forum. Half of them are in a hypnotic trance. It is good stuff, but their business model is a based on a constant upgrade path so many believers are ultimately never satisfied until they have full 500 series or even statement rigs, which can be £100K+

[Salmonofdoubt]

gizlaroc said:

Have you tried the Monitor Audios Bronze 2's back in there?

They are an amazing speaker when driven properly. Different league to the Eltax.

I did they sounded really nice with it. But I managed to get a pair of open box Bronze 5's from Peter Tyson for £299. They're a better fit for my current room as I didn't have stands for the 2s and don't have sturdy enough shelves.

Going to hang on to the Bronze 2s and will use them in another room when I move to a bigger place.

[TameRacingDriver]

troika said:

Absolutely. Have a browse on the Naim forum. Half of them are in a hypnotic trance. It is good stuff, but their business model is a based on a constant upgrade path so many believers are ultimately never satisfied until they have full 500 series or even statement rigs, which can be £100K+

I’ve always liked the idea of Naim stuff, given that a lot of stuff I listen to is trance/electronic so always imagined it would sound good for that sort of thing, but I often wondered whether the stuff was overhyped too, in part, due to the religious zeal that Naim fans often seem to have.