Stereo 2.0 Advice Solicited

[Imsai37]

I have a budget of $5000.00 to setup a Stereo 2.0 setup for my HDB 4 Room Living Room. After consulting, Gemini, CoPilot and ChatGPT, based on my music preferences have come up with the following 2 setups.
Mostly listening to CD, FM Radio, Spottify. Occasionally music video TV chanels.
The dilema is on deciding the integrated AMP between Cambirdge Audio CXA 81 MKII and Emotiva BasX TA2.
My preference is with Emotiva but the challenge is, Emotiva does not have dealer and has to shipped directly from USA and do not have a support.
Is it worth taking a risk to be delivered to Singapore? - Can experienced Audiophiles advise?

Proposed Setup:
Amp: Cambirdge Audio CXA 81 MKII or Emotiva BasX TA2
Speakers: SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf
CD: Cambridge Audio CXC V2
Streamer: Wiim Pro

 

[dreamaurora]

I have a budget of $5000.00 to setup a Stereo 2.0 setup for my HDB 4 Room Living Room. After consulting, Gemini, CoPilot and ChatGPT, based on my music preferences have come up with the following 2 setups.
Mostly listening to CD, FM Radio, Spottify. Occasionally music video TV chanels.
The dilema is on deciding the integrated AMP between Cambirdge Audio CXA 81 MKII and Emotiva BasX TA2.
My preference is with Emotiva but the challenge is, Emotiva does not have dealer and has to shipped directly from USA and do not have a support.
Is it worth taking a risk to be delivered to Singapore? - Can experienced Audiophiles advise?

Proposed Setup:
Amp: Cambirdge Audio CXA 81 MKII or Emotiva BasX TA2
Speakers: SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf
CD: Cambridge Audio CXC V2
Streamer: Wiim Pro

Since you are just starting out and probably also need to please the wife, I would advise to keep it simple (less boxes in living room).

Honestly, at your budget I will just get AudioLab Omnia All in One for amp, cd, and streamer. Current price $2.3K after discount from Alpha Audio in Lazada, you can just ask them to give you same price as Lazada in their Adelphi shop and they will oblige. IMO AudioLab stuff is better than Cambridge at the same price point.

Then you can have $2.7K for nicer pair of speakers and even a sub. Don't forget to allocate budget for some nice cables too.

 

[yapks]

You have many choices. I’ve listed some possibilities below. You could go with just streaming speakers plus a subwoofer, such as the KEF LS50 and KC62. This setup will cover Spotify listening and can connect to the TV for movies. Never mind the CD player for now—you can always add one later once you get started with a basic setup.

All equipment has its own sonic characteristics. Whether you prefer a powerful, fast, or more relaxed sound depends entirely on your personal taste. There’s no need to be overly concerned about reviews. Of course, watching YouTube reviews can be helpful, but in the end, you should choose what you like.

If you want more flexibility in customizing your setup, you can opt for a streaming amplifier like the WiiM and pair it with passive speakers that suit your preference. I especially like coaxial designs for their cohesiveness.

Streamer Amp
NAD C 700 V2 $2,399.00
WiiM Amp Ultra $701.00

Passive speaker
Fyne Audio F500 $1,500.00
Sonus Faber Lumina 1 $1,550.00
Neat Motive SX3 $2,400.00
Streaming Active speaker
KEF Coda W $1,099.00
KEF LSX II LT $1,399.00
KEF LS50 II + S2 Stand $3,299.00

Subwoofer
REL T/9X $2,800.00
KEFKC62 $2,199.00

Link
https://www.lenbrook.com.sg/collections/nad/products/nad-c-700-bluos-streaming-amplifier-copy
https://av1group.com.sg/collections/wiim/products/wiim-amp-ultra
https://absolutesound.com.sg/shop/all/speakers/sonus-faber-lumina-1-walnut/
https://bsolutesound.com.sg/shop/all/speakers/neat-acoustics-motive-sx3-white/
https://www.e77.asia/product-page/fyne-f500
https://www.e77.asia/product-page/rel-t-9x-subwoofer-new
https://atlas-sv.com/products/kef-kc62-subwoofer
https://atlas-sv.com/products/kef-coda-w-wireless-hifi-speaker
https://atlas-sv.com/products/kef-lsx-ii-lt
https://atlas-sv.com/products/kef-ls50-wireless-ii

 

[yapks]

More than twenty years ago, when we were younger and full of enthusiasm, there was a healthy stream of newcomers joining this hobby and asking questions for advice. I was one of them. Nowadays, it’s increasingly rare—and precious—to see someone take an interest in hi-fi. So, a very warm welcome to the hobby.

 

[boxerfan]

If you don't mind studio active speakers, do check out Neumann or Genelec. I think there is a dealer at Excelsior. Should be able to find on Shopee too.

If you wanna stay passive speaker, there is a new Korean make, AsciLab, with very well designed & engineered speakers. The C6B which is very well received should fit your needs. You'll have to be patient coz demand is so huge they are constantly OOS. I think they have appointed a SG dealer, so maybe check with the dealer if they have stock coming in. https://ascilab.com/

 

[dreamaurora]

If you don't mind studio active speakers, do check out Neumann or Genelec. I think there is a dealer at Excelsior. Should be able to find on Shopee too.

If you wanna stay passive speaker, there is a new Korean make, AsciLab, with very well designed & engineered speakers. The C6B which is very well received should fit your needs. You'll have to be patient coz demand is so huge they are constantly OOS. I think they have appointed a SG dealer, so maybe check with the dealer if they have stock coming in. https://ascilab.com/

WAF for studio active speakers is low. If he wants to go active speaker route, slightly more than $5K can get Cabasse Rialto from Ong Radio. During sale time I've seen KEF LS60 go below 7K, so that is a good option too.

There is a lot of very good smaller brands from Taiwan, China, and Malaysia that can be found in Singapore now. I am seriously impressed at the kind of performance those speakers can produce at much lower price point compared to the usual audiophile brands.

To answer OP's original question, not sure about durability of Emotiva, but usually well-built amplifiers can last decades. But I won't buy an audiophile product just based solely on review though, need to experience it personally first to see if I will like the sound.

 

[hawkwind]

Have a look at Eversolo Play. It's well regarded and probably the best integration into all the available streaming services in the market. Forget Cambridge Audio or Audiolab - their software is nowhere as good. Eversolo also has room correction and EQ built in which can be very useful for most untreated rooms. The just add speakers of your choice. The speakers I can't say much since I have not followed at this price point.

 

[Imsai37]

[UPDATE] My HDB Hi-Fi Journey: From $5k Budget to $1.6k Modest Setup​

Hi everyone, just wanted to share an update on my 2.0 setup for my 4-room HDB. After my initial post about a $5k budget for Emotiva/SVS, I decided to take a more "tactical" route during the 2.2 and 3.3 sales on Lazada/Shopee. I’ve ended up with a system that sounds phenomenal for my muscial collection, and at a fraction of the cost.

The "Bargain Hunt" Damage:

• Amp & CD Bundle: Snagged the Arcam SA10 and NAD C538 for just $861.83 (combined!).
• Streamer: WiiM Pro Plus for $268.
• Speakers: Bought Wharfedale Diamond 225s ($305) on Swan ST3.1 stands. ($104)

Cables & Connection Tweaks:

• Optical/Coaxial: Using a Vention Optical cable from the WiiM to the Arcam (solid 192kHz lock). and Ugreen Coaxial Cable for CD player
• Interconnects/Speaker Cables: Swapped to Golley Lion cables and added NORDST ODIN silver-plated jumper cables to the WD225s. The jumpers made a surprisingly noticeable difference in taming the treble for older 80s recordings.

The Result: Instead of $5,000, I spent roughly $1,600 total (including stands and cables). The Arcam’s Class G-derived power is a perfect match for the Wharfedales—the mids are lush, and the bass is tight and punchy. Currently streaming bit-perfect WAV 44.1/16 from my Synology NAS (Plex) and playing my 80s Pop/Rock CD collection from the NAD, it sounds like a much more expensive system.

Thanks for all the advice earlier! It goes to show that with a bit of "sale hunting" and the right cable synergy, you don't always need to spend the full $5k to get that good sound.

 

[ricogan427]

[UPDATE] My HDB Hi-Fi Journey: From $5k Budget to $1.6k Modest Setup​

Hi everyone, just wanted to share an update on my 2.0 setup for my 4-room HDB. After my initial post about a $5k budget for Emotiva/SVS, I decided to take a more "tactical" route during the 2.2 and 3.3 sales on Lazada/Shopee. I’ve ended up with a system that sounds phenomenal for my muscial collection, and at a fraction of the cost.

The "Bargain Hunt" Damage:

• Amp & CD Bundle: Snagged the Arcam SA10 and NAD C538 for just $861.83 (combined!).
• Streamer: WiiM Pro Plus for $268.
• Speakers: Bought Wharfedale Diamond 225s ($305) on Swan ST3.1 stands. ($104)

Cables & Connection Tweaks:

• Optical/Coaxial: Using a Vention Optical cable from the WiiM to the Arcam (solid 192kHz lock). and Ugreen Coaxial Cable for CD player
• Interconnects/Speaker Cables: Swapped to Golley Lion cables and added NORDST ODIN silver-plated jumper cables to the WD225s. The jumpers made a surprisingly noticeable difference in taming the treble for older 80s recordings.

The Result: Instead of $5,000, I spent roughly $1,600 total (including stands and cables). The Arcam’s Class G-derived power is a perfect match for the Wharfedales—the mids are lush, and the bass is tight and punchy. Currently streaming bit-perfect WAV 44.1/16 from my Synology NAS (Plex) and playing my 80s Pop/Rock CD collection from the NAD, it sounds like a much more expensive system.

Thanks for all the advice earlier! It goes to show that with a bit of "sale hunting" and the right cable synergy, you don't always need to spend the full $5k to get that good sound.

Congratulations. My personal advise if you don't mind. Be contented with the system you have now and enjoy. Do not be tempted by Hi Fi marketing, etc. on accessories to improve the sound. It will never end and will drain your money. And you if bought something new, and hope it will improve the sound better, it's a gamble. New accessories may sound good for me but it may not pleased you. Also take note if you intent to sell of your existing accessories, it will be tough. Happened to me

 

[Imsai37]

Congratulations. My personal advise if you don't mind. Be contented with the system you have now and enjoy. Do not be tempted by Hi Fi marketing, etc. on accessories to improve the sound. It will never end and will drain your money. And you if bought something new, and hope it will improve the sound better, it's a gamble. New accessories may sound good for me but it may not pleased you. Also take note if you intent to sell of your existing accessories, it will be tough. Happened to me

Spot on. Given the bargain I snagged with the Arcam/NAD combo, I’m content. I’d rather spend my energy digging through my FLAC/CD library than looking for the next shiny component. Time to let the music do the talking!

 

[ricogan427]

Spot on. Given the bargain I snagged with the Arcam/NAD combo, I’m content. I’d rather spend my energy digging through my FLAC/CD library than looking for the next shiny component. Time to let the music do the talking!

Do you have a turntable or intent to get one to complete your system?

 

[Imsai37]

Do you have a turntable or intent to get one to complete your system?

Never really had vinyl in my collection and never really going to invest on them. Happy to play FLACs from my NAS and pop-in CDs once in a while.