Afternoon people.
Can anyone please give any of their useful thoughts, advice and preferably real life experience of the best options available to me for my next upgrade.
I'm pretty happy with the AV performance of my system, but regularly feel that the stereo audio performance could be much improved.
My initial thoughts were to upgrade the source first and swap the CD5/FC2 for a CDX2, but I can't help feeling that my AV2, on it's own as a stereo preamp without a dedicated stereo preamp is holding back the CD performance of my system. Would I maybe see better improvement from a NAC202/HC or NAC282?
Any advice would be much appreciated, so thanks in advance.

Hi Simon

A bit of a "golden question" this! Source or pre. Prepare for the discussion!

I would personally pitch the AV2 in same ballpark as the Nait 5, maybe as good as a NAC112 (with music obviously). Probably somewhere in between. I don't haven't a huge amount of experience with the 5 or 112 to substantiate that, but I don't think they'll be many arguments

In my opinion, there's probably a bit more in the CD5/FC2 than the AV2 is currently revealing so....

I think I'd take a slightly longer term view than just the "next" option.

If I was ever going to get a CDX2 (or equivalent) in the reasonably near future, then I'd probably plumb for that first. The AV2 will definitely let the CDX2 shine through and besides I think the CDX2 is just THAT MUCH BETTER than the CD5 (regardless of "cap"). Then I would shove a 202, or even 282, in there at a later date with the knowledge there's substantial benefits to be had.

If I was interested in getting the best of out of the source I already had then I'd probably grab a 202 and a hicap. Putting the hicap on the CD5 and running the 202 with the FC2.

Well there's two options anyway!

Or you could trade the CD5/FC2 in for the DVD5. You'll probably be trading down in music but up in video. Quite a few less boxes too!!!

Hope that helps. Enjoy!

J

Hi Si

Just thought of something else.

Apologies if I'm asking you to suck eggs but make sure the AV2 is not processing the signal from the CD5. It should be in direct mode so that all the digital garb shuts down. It makes a BIG difference. Although you probably knew that

J

I would go for a 202 and "power" it with the second output of the FC2.

About the AV2, it sounds a bit strange with music, it has very good qualities in the high and low ranges (may be better than the 112) but the medium is not really convincing, it lacks of presence to me. I believe it has really not been build for music.

By the way, I don't know what your DVD player is but used as a drive with the AV2 and some very good coaxial cable (chord digital signature for ex.) it can be surprising.

[This message was edited by karyboue on Mon 27 September 2004 at 3:14.]

Cheers. I do like the idea of the DVD5, but I don't think I'll be getting rid of the CD5/FC2 for the DVD5 just yet. I am tempted, but I do like my newish Panasonic DVD/HDD recorder as it plays dvds great via component progressive scan into my plasma and gets rid of the video recorder which keeps my girlfriend happy.

I'm was thinking the pre-amp 202 or maybe 282 first route would be best, but am tempted of the thought of getting rid of two boxes (CD5+FC2) for one CDX2.

Has anyone else heard the CDX2/AV2 v CD5/FC2/202 to be able to comment?

I know the best idea is to just have a listen, but it's always good to get other peoples opinion first before I decide what to borrow from my dealer.

PS. IMHO - My DVD Panasonic DMRE85HEBS plugged into my AV2 via it's digital (Optical only) output sounds no where near as good as my CD player. Also my PC sounds even worse via it's digital ouptput, thank god, as it looks rubbish in the lounge!!

And what about a Fraim ?

I tried dem'ing an AV2 as a stereo pre-amp, and really wasn't that impressed. As already guestimated, it's about on par with a Nait 5.
A good pre-amp will improve things dramatically.