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Difficult Choice

HI,
choosing a HI-FI from scrathc is a difficult exercise.
I'm asking for help.

I might get Lamm2.1 amps or Tenor 75i
i tried the hybrid amp from tenor and was very disappointed
I found it not as full and "real" than the 75i (kind of normal) but it was on the top "messy", lacking precision.
I was using a EMM Labs transport + Dac directly plugged in the amp + Kharma Grand Midi Ceramique
Very disappointing
I have to say that those EMM Labs did not impress me that much and I wonder if it is not better to use a preamp with them.

Kharma exquisite Midi seem to be a good choice even if it lacks some guts with the Tenor
A sub could be a solution but i did not try
I'm wondering if those VR9 Von S. are that much better than the Kharma
I'm interested to know as well what people think of
Sonus Faber Stradivari (do they work with SET)
Dynaudio Temptation (do they work with SET)
Pipedeams model 18
Audio Physics Caldera ?

More over, what preamp to use ?
There is a Audio Note on the offer but does it go well with
Lamm ?
What about the new ARC reference3 ?

Concerning the source, is the DCS suite that good ? I was not that impressed by the EMM Labs.

Thank you
dck
kw6
692 posts
 
Hi David,

I have a pre-amp suggestion for you: c-j ACT2

Good Luck!*>)
linkster's avatar
linkster
432 posts
 
Hey Hooper, I don't doubt that the EMM Labs stuff is great, but I also suspect that the Reimyo you listened to was not broken in or had some odd PC interface. Me, I had the 15 second audition and stone cold new out of the box, I sent my Accuphase DP-75V packing and reached for the checkbook.
cincy_bob
270 posts
 
Linkster, it's funny you mention your experience with the Accuphase DP-75V. I owned the DP-75V up until the time I bought my EMM Labs equipment. My experience was just as you described. As good as the DP-75V was in its day, that CDP is not even in the same league with the best digital front ends on the market today. IMO
dck OP
13 posts
 
Dear all,
I'm not in the US but in France.
So it is quite difficult to find a dealer with these gear. I would love to be able like you guys to check all the possibilities going around the shops.
There is one dealer that does Kharma and used to do Tenor (going to do Lamm soon as Tenor closed down). But dealers always try to promote what they sell and not is best for you.
So I heard Tenor and I repeat that I prefer the 75i that the hybrid. The speakers were Grand midi ceramique and the source the EMM Lab set plugged straight into the amp.
For the amount of money the whole thing represent, I was not impressed.
I would like to know more about brand that are not imported in France (De la Joule, VAC, Wavac, Audio Tekne, even Audio Note, CAT, and Lamm for now)
Actually, I'm ready to spend some cash on an audiophile system but if i can spare some bucks by buying demo or almost new I will (and there are some opportunities here)
I just hoped that people with a bigger know-how than me would be passionate enough to share their knowledge

Thanks to everyone who is answering trying to help me in setting up a brand new system from scratch.
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
David,
Why not take a few days and come to NYC to audition a variety of equipment? Or a trip to Asia to do the same? Your sonic preferences as well as your music preferences will have much to do with what you ultimately choose in a system. You could very easily spend big money and end up with something that does not work for you. If you happen to have heard a particular sound or component that you liked, that would give people here some guidelines for making further recommendations.
All the best,
Howard
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