Decision time: Anthem/Rotel/Adcom pre-pro, Energy, NHT, Paradigm speakers

Are these your final three brands?


I would guess that the new Anthem should edge out the other two products because it should benefit most from being the latest release of the processors you mentioned. I have heard positive things about the amp also personal reviews not pro reviews.


I think I will vote for the Anthem and Rotel second.


Just a hecklers opinion but I would hold out for the Anthem it seems like they intend to make a statement with it.


Other option would be a used ACT-3 to free up more money for the amp. The acurus has great build quality and a very nice sound, out of the so called budget pre's sounds the best IMO!


Listen to the little Acurus you should be able to get one for around ?<1100

gba1,

The Anthem AVM2 is on my short list too(if you find any more info please post it), but like you, I've not been able to find out much about it because it is so new. As for amps, I've located a very interesting company named Odyssey audio (odysseyaudio.com). They are a division of the German company Symphonic(very high end). The odyssey amps are sold direct at a VERY good price & have 20 year warranty...ala Bryston. The reviews on Audioreview.com are very posistive. E.G the Stratos stereo with 150Watts per channel area only 895.00, and can be factory converted to mono at no cost! They also have other amps: monos, 3 channel, & an upcoming 5 channel amp, etc. Very good looking and seem very well designed...that famous German engineering type.


As for speakers, I have to recommend the brand I just purchased...also direct. They are from a Canadian Company named Newform Research (mine are the R645s). They are hybrid monopole planar ribbon with scanspeak mid/woofer combo. These are truely reference quality speakers for a very low price (2,265.00 delivered..have other lower cost models too)...great for both music & HT. Again see reviews on audioreview.com. The owner reviews there are quite good. So far all 5 stars and have received audioreview's gold star. The owner John Meyer is absolutley great to deal with...he sometimes contributes to the MUG forum as NR speakers are discussed quite a bit there too( http://www.sonic.net/~howl/MUG/ ). I hope I haven't given you too much more to consider, but in my search these are some of the best I've seen.

Dom,

didn't expect my Paradigm comment to go unnoticed. I was actually very strongly leaning to the 100s. Did a side-by-sde with the 80s and with the new Energy veritas in Canada last week. I always like the 100s a lot more than the 80s, although they are huge. The Energy seemed much more responsive and articulate. I was probably slightly swayed by the salesperson who was quite down on Paradigm as they can be a very difficult company to deal with.

Has anyone else listened to the new Veritas 2.2 and 2.3?


Nathan, I have seen the Acurus Act-3 and it is quite nice as well. It lists for $2000 and I got a quote for $1775. Where can it be had for less than $1100?? I can get the Anthem for around $2100 and the extra $300 over the Acurus seemed worth it.


As for as they my final 3 options, not really, just trying to wrap my mind around the plethora of equipment out there. Speakers are probably my biggest unknown at this point in time. Always willing to listen to the sage advice of the AVS board!

gba1,

Thanks for the link to Sonicfrontiers...but I've already been there. I'm now looking for a pro &/or owner review, etc. Also, I forgot to mention another amp on my short list. This one is a digital amp...ala TACT Millenium. It's from an American company named Spectron(Spectronav.com). They have a current stereo model (Musician II - 400Watts per channel) that is supposed to be as good as the TACT Millenium...but for about $3K instead of the TACT's $9K! They are supposed to release a 6 channel version very soon (was supposed to be this Sept... but all manufacturer's miss their published due dates it seems). Digital amps are the wave of the future! Analog amps are in their last days...except for some holdouts, as there are for vinyl records affectionados, etc) Digital amps/etc will lower costs and improve yearly in price performance similar to tah found with computer CPU advances. John Meyer of Newform Research (newformresearch.com -great site for discussion on many different audio technolgies here..not just speakers) is developing a digital amp too(as are almost all amp manufacturers). His recomendation is to not spend too much money now on amps, as digital amps will soon (12-24 months) offer much better performance for much lower cost that today's analog amps. Low cost/high quality, was the only reason why I was considering the Odyssey analog amps now...I would really prefer to get the new Spectron, or Newform research digital, multichannel amps...if they are released soon enough!


[This message has been edited by Veritas (edited 10-10-2000).]

I think you would be doing yourself wrong if you didn't try out some magnepans and maybe smaller Hales speakers. I don't think you would dissapointed with either.


I don't want to see your speakers on audiogon in a year but I prob. will that is the nature of the beast. I have never heard a - about Maggies this is very impressive considering the field of hecklers and critics. Also please give the Theta Casa Nova a whirl! You may find that it is a very good value also. (plus there are people who can help you out on the price)


I know a 4000 dollar pre-amp may not be in the budget but you might not have to pay that?????????


Anyway just give it a whirl.


Hope your system works out like you want and I would be lying if I didn't say the 3801 from denon is impressive at a low cost. Dont think it would work if you are listeining to music. If you are a music fiend then $ for $ the Casa Nova is the best, followed by the ssp-25 7 EAD encore (the later are not modular & the Nova is)


You can prob. tell that I am a THETA owner but I would hate for you not to at least give one a whirl.


Na-Tron