Have your say & ask the experts

KBaudio:

Frankharvey - why do you not think that is the case?

gel:

KBaudio -  What would you like to audition which speakers and amps?

Id really like to compare.....

AMPS: Onkyo 3007, Denon 4310, Yam Z7 (wouldnt mind hearing the Sony 5400 and the pioneer lx82)

SPEAKERS: B&W CM 7 and 9's, Monitor Audio GS20's and 60's, Focal 826 and 816 and the Special edition versions

 I have found places to audition the speakers but not with these amps and never all together so I can trully compare.

 Even when I listened to 2 speakers - at the same store - the settup time between hearing one speaker and a next makes comparision tough.

You could try phoning around and looking at these places:

1.  Canterburyhifi.co.uk

2.  Technosound.co.uk Milton Keynes

3.  www.hifix.co.uk - coventry.

Hope it's okay to mention what hi fi team.

Gel

 Thanks a lot for those - I will check them out!

What's making you go for those speakers?

Because most people I know would go for the FPM and the XT Series B&W Speakers.

KBaudio:

gel:

KBaudio -  What would you like to audition which speakers and amps?

Id really like to compare.....

AMPS: Onkyo 3007, Denon 4310, Yam Z7 (wouldnt mind hearing the Sony 5400 and the pioneer lx82)

SPEAKERS: B&W CM 7 and 9's, Monitor Audio GS20's and 60's, Focal 826 and 816 and the Special edition versions

 I have found places to audition the speakers but not with these amps and never all together so I can trully compare.

 Even when I listened to 2 speakers - at the same store - the settup time between hearing one speaker and a next makes comparision tough.

I know SevenOaks in Nottingham have all the amps apart from the Sony and Yammy Z7 available for demo.

In addition they have all the speakers you mention I believe apart from the Focal's.

I'm actually going to demo the Pioneer LX82 on Friday. I might even consider a speaker upgrade to the CM range myself. Temptations, temptations!

CarlP:

KBaudio:

gel:

KBaudio -  What would you like to audition which speakers and amps?

Id really like to compare.....

AMPS: Onkyo 3007, Denon 4310, Yam Z7 (wouldnt mind hearing the Sony 5400 and the pioneer lx82)

SPEAKERS: B&W CM 7 and 9's, Monitor Audio GS20's and 60's, Focal 826 and 816 and the Special edition versions

 I have found places to audition the speakers but not with these amps and never all together so I can trully compare.

 Even when I listened to 2 speakers - at the same store - the settup time between hearing one speaker and a next makes comparision tough.

 

I know SevenOaks in Nottingham have all the amps apart from the Sony and Yammy Z7 available for demo.

In addition they have all the speakers you mention I believe apart from the Focal's.

I'm actually going to demo the Pioneer LX82 on Friday. I might even consider a speaker upgrade to the CM range myself. Temptations, temptations!

Thanks Gel - I think some of the rayleigh stores carry Focal and B&W

 do let me know what you think fo the CM's if you go

gel:

What's making you go for those speakers?

Because most people I know would go for the FPM and the XT Series B&W Speakers.

Honestly - I have never heard of the FPM's and i thought the XT were just compromised - style over substance but i dont know the first thing about them - thats just my baseless suspicion  - i dont think i have ever been into a shop that even has them

They are definetely serious speaker packages.

I have the FPM and my dad has the XT Series.

The XT will go seriously loud. As in shake the house stuff, there is no loss in peformance despite the style.

Whereas the FPM are my personal favourites because they mix so well with pioneer amps, my local dealer used to have them in there with the pioneer amps and I had seem them for years, and they were always the best sound I have heard, because of the mix with the pioneer amps.

Whereas the B&W CM I have never heard and don't know much about.

You should if you can have a listenen to them - highly recommended.

JTD:

Anyways....... I'm worried this demo will confuse me more. In most respects the pioneer is what I want (I dont want heigh channels or a second remote) and it will match up well with my kit. Likewise I am thinking the Pioneer might rob my speakers of bass and character, or is this completely dependant on how I tweak the Pioneer?

Funny you should say this, because this was exactly what I found when I tested the Pioneer LX71 against the Yamaha RX-V3900. I felt a lack of bass punch and control from the Pioneer. There was a lot more to be excited about with the Yamaha in my opinion. When I posted my findings in a danish forum (with a lot of Pioneer fans...) I was told that the Pioneer can be set up to sound anyway you like it to.

Well, I went for the Yamaha (ended up with a Z7 instead though) and haven't regreted this for one moment!

I also tested the famous Sony DA5400ES (and I never did thank you Andy for your nice advice and guidance in the August WhatHifi magasine! The prerequisites changed since my first post considering the Yamaha RX-V1900 as I was meanwhile recommended to move up in price. Never got a chance to test the Rotel, but the Sony surely put up a good fight!) and a Denon AVR 4308A, but next to the Yamaha DSP-Z7 they can't keep up in my opinion. 

I should add, that I haven't heard the Pioneer LX82, and as it is the award winner of this year I am sure it is an excellent amp.

JTD:

If the Yamaha sounds better I will be confused even more as I hate the orange display.....

Well, I wouldn't exactly let the colour of the display decide which receiver to pick! I believe there are now 3 different colours in my kits... But sound and functionality comes first in my opinion.

TKratz:

JTD:

Anyways....... I'm worried this demo will confuse me more. In most respects the pioneer is what I want (I dont want heigh channels or a second remote) and it will match up well with my kit. Likewise I am thinking the Pioneer might rob my speakers of bass and character, or is this completely dependant on how I tweak the Pioneer?

 

Funny you should say this, because this was exactly what I found when I tested the Pioneer LX71 against the Yamaha RX-V3900. I felt a lack of bass punch and control from the Pioneer. There was a lot more to be excited about with the Yamaha in my opinion. When I posted my findings in a danish forum (with a lot of Pioneer fans...) I was told that the Pioneer can be set up to sound anyway you like it to.

Well, I went for the Yamaha (ended up with a Z7 instead though) and haven't regreted this for one moment!

I also tested the famous Sony DA5400ES (and I never did thank you Andy for your nice advice and guidance in the August WhatHifi magasine! The prerequisites changed since my first post considering the Yamaha RX-V1900 as I was meanwhile recommended to move up in price. Never got a chance to test the Rotel, but the Sony surely put up a good fight!) and a Denon AVR 4308A, but next to the Yamaha DSP-Z7 they can't keep up in my opinion. 

I should add, that I haven't heard the Pioneer LX82, and as it is the award winner of this year I am sure it is an excellent amp.

 

JTD:

If the Yamaha sounds better I will be confused even more as I hate the orange display.....

Well, I wouldn't exactly let the colour of the display decide which receiver to pick! I believe there are now 3 different colours in my kits... But sound and functionality comes first in my opinion.

I agree, but the Pioneer's sure do look sexy

gel:

JTD how did the demo go?

The results!!!