Cambridge Audio CXA81 S2 vs Rotel RB 1552 Mkii

[yugs]

Hi. I would like some advice on an amp, streamer, and speaker combination.

Option 1
Rotel RB 1552 Mkii , Wiim Ultra, B&W 606 S3

Option 2
Cambridge Audio CXA81 S2, Wiim streamer Pro Plus (as transport) , B&W 606 S3

The room area is around 30M2, but it opens into the dining room, so it's not fully closed. My main source of music is Tidal Hi Res. It's mainly for listening to music in stereo and occasionally for home entertainment, so I don't really care if it's not good for the latter.

The price difference between them is negligible.

 

[RandomEar]

Neither the Cambridge nor the Rotel look particularly good measurement-wise. Doesn't mean they will sound bad, but for the money you can simply expect more today.

Why not consider a Wiim amp Ultra if you consider a Wiim device in the chain anyway?

 

[voodooless]

Why not just get a WiiM AMP Ultra and get some better speakers for the money surplus? B&W speakers aren't super well-regarded in these parts..

 

[yugs]

Neither the Cambridge nor the Rotel look particularly good measurement-wise. Doesn't mean they will sound bad, but for the money you can simply expect more today.

Why not consider a Wiim amp Ultra if you consider a Wiim device in the chain anyway?

I haven't heard the Wiim AMP Ultra but I'm not entirely convinced that it has a better sound stage depth and separation compared to the Cambridge. Which power AMP speaker combo or integrated versions would you recommend in the same price bracket? I'm also open to alternative streamers if there is good value for money out there..

 

[MaxwellsEq]

I haven't heard the Wiim AMP Ultra but I'm not entirely convinced that it has a better sound stage depth and separation compared to the Cambridge

Unless very badly broken, amplifiers with state of the art measurements have no impact on soundstage width or depth.

 

[voodooless]

I haven't heard the Wiim AMP Ultra but I'm not entirely convinced that it has a better sound stage depth and separation compared to the Cambridge.

Amps do not influence the sound stage. All of these amps will likeley sound the same under controlled conditions.

Which power AMP speaker combo or integrated versions would you recommend in the same price bracket?

None. Combinations are a myth for amps and speakers, stemming from the early tube days, where the output impedance had a massive impact on the frequency response. Nowadays (the last 50 years or so), that is no longer the case.

As to speakers: look at:

A collection of loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

Sort by score (with or without EQ/sub), pick your price bracket, and see which one lands on top that you like the look of. Those are likely good candidates to go and listen to in person. And even then, note that the listening space in the store is not the same as at home. At home, the same speaker may sound quite different because the room is very dominant. My tip: look at KEF and AsciLab.

 

[JeremyFife]

Hi,
It's hard to look past WiiM for streaming, particularly because of the included room correction/EQ.

Plenty of very good amps out there - check the reviews here. One suggestion: something from the 3e range? Hypex based models are a step up (but not audibly) is you want to spend more.

I'd agree with the previous posts though, WiiM Amp Ultra is a good shout.
I'd also agree about looking at alternative speakers.

Sound stage / separation etc doesn't come from the electronics, its encoded in the recording and altered by your speakers and your room.

Take a while to read some reviews (here) and the comments.

Enjoy

 

[peng]

I haven't heard the Wiim AMP Ultra but I'm not entirely convinced that it has a better sound stage depth and separation compared to the Cambridge. Which power AMP speaker combo or integrated versions would you recommend in the same price bracket? I'm also open to alternative streamers if there is good value for money out there..

You may be convinced if you read the following review based on measured performance:

WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Amp Ultra stereo streaming amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $529. I was surprised how heavy and solid feeling the Ultra is for its size. I upgraded its firmware which went smoothly and rather fast. I was pleasantly...

www.audiosciencereview.com

There is no way the Cambridge Audio integrated amp, or even their separates can match (but very comparable) the performance of the Wiim amp Ultra, except for the higher output (that's only if compared to the CA separates, not the CXA81 integrated, that is only rated 80/120 W 8/4 ohms, so the Wiim Amp still wins).

 

[popej]

Wiim Amp still wins

User wins
IMHO when electronics is already transparent, convenience of use starts to be important. For me single remote wins over multiple.

 

[peng]

User wins
IMHO when electronics is already transparent, convenience of use starts to be important. For me single remote wins over multiple.

100% agreed, both amps are transparent enough. Depending on his listening habits, the class D Wiim may be slightly better for the B&W's impedance dips but it that's just an educated guess.

 

[voodooless]

100% agreed, both amps are transparent enough. Depending on his listening habits, the class D Wiim may be slightly better for the B&W's impedance dips but it that's just an educated guess.

View attachment 514953

View attachment 514954

It really looks way worse than it is because of the 45 kHz bandwidth.

In reality it's more like this:

 

[peng]

It really looks way worse than it is because of the 45 kHz bandwidth.

In reality it's more like this:

View attachment 514957
View attachment 514958

In practical term, I now think the two are very comparable in terms of audio performance, so it is down to other factors such as cost, aesthetic, features/functionality.