Newbie looking for budget setup advise

The Combos available are:

Tower Speakers: Sonodyne Sonus 2605/Wharfdale Diamond 8.4 / Torvin Phantom9 / Kef cresta30: Price between 20k - 23k.
Lower End Tower Speakers: Space Speakers at 14k.

You can also try good Bookshelves in 14k range.

Stereo Amps: Pulz/Norge/Sonodyne/ and few others: Price between 8k - 12k

Recievers: Yamaha RXV 350, 450/Sonodyne/Sony: Price between 14k - 17k

I have not recommended Lithos because they are available only in Mumbai.

i would suggest the diamond 8.1(look for the 9.1 if u are willing to stretch ur budget) with the Nad 320BEE or any other amp in that range for a pure stereo setup.
if u are going to upgrade later to a home theater then go for the yamaha rx-v450.
Benks

Hey benks look into your Inbox, I have sent a PM.

Hey ppl!
Thanks for your prompt responses. have a few more queries
1. Since you have suggested Norge/Pulz,etc. Do these brands have a web presence? I need to locate them in Chennai/ Bangalore.
2. Any experience with Sony AVRs - the pricing is very competitive. The dealer made me hear them in a rather small room (my listening space would be about 20'*12'- dealer's was 60% of that) so am not so sure about those.
3. What about Torvin for amp+speaker - torvin is based out of chennai and makes both so matching and auditioning should not be a problem.
Am asking all this coz i usually dont have the luxury (or maybe its the dealer attitude here) of auditioning quite a few mix and matches. Options at the dealers so far have been limited. Am a novice and matching without good advice could prove fatal for my system. Dealers have usually been trying to push the brands available with them.
many thanks in advance.

Vaibhav

ya Benks, I understand that 5 feet is too close to hear them but I just want to emphasize that how clean was the bass without any boom yet so extended....It simply cannot come out of a ordinary Hi-Fi speaker....It was connected to a Denon Amp with a mosfet circuitry which enables high current from the amp (price of the amp around 50k). He was using a Denon CDP as well....

Sorry All,
The previous message was for some other thread..

I have heard a few Sony AVRs, they are not that good, better would be to go for Yamaha, Onkyo (SR 502), or even Sonodyne (Sonodyne if for HT only). Sony was bad in seperation of channels and that means total loss in HT front, Sonodyne on the other hand is Bad on Stereo but good for HT...Hey Man, Why dont you try the grey Market at chennai ? You know most grey market stuff down South comes from chennai !!!! I myself was planning to go to chennai for the same !!!
Ok, Torvins are not bad, especially the Phantom9 speakers but you have to be very selective as only few are that good, I havent come across their amps so cant say anything personally....But you ca surely give them a try, but see to it that they last long enough, I mean you should think of the future also.
I mean go for genuine Hi-Fi stuffs which you will relish longer, than going in for something just to manage within your budget....Check out good bookshelves (wharfdales, Kef, Sonodyne etc..) and if you find one then you can easily go for a good amp.

Abt the web presence of Norge/Pulz, there aint none..
but if u mail them they do reply promptly..

Main IDs:
R&S Mumbai Office <mumbai@rns.co.in> for Pulz
and Shyambajaj@vsnl.net for Norge

The price for Pulz or Norge may be higer with city dealer. But the ppl from norge were ready to ship the products directly to me at a lower price..

Abt Torvin, be sure to check the TA 300 amp with the phantom 9 series, they did sound good.

How much the Gray market offer in terms of contents(no of brands),and what's their price's compared to dealer's prices?
I mean do you have to pick,what is available,without auditioning?
Thanks.

Auditioning part I am not very sure because I have not visited the market personally, but I dont think one can have much of an opportunity there as those people know only business and almost nothing about music stuff. But one thing is for sure that you do get quite a few brands there. This information is from few sources who have been there e.g (NAD, Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo) are easily available, others we got to check out ourselves.

And what about pricing? What's the difference between a dealer's price and GM price?
Thanks.

The pricing difference is atleast from 30% onwards.....The Denon 1604 reciever which retailed at 32k at profx and later they offered it at a special price of 25k (because the model was to be phased out) was then available in Gray Market at 18k. Mind that the replacement of 1604 is now 1705 which is again priced at 32k and you may get a discount of at most 10-12%. So whats your opinion now ?

Cool,if they have most of the brands..

abhi.pani schrieb:

The pricing difference is atleast from 30% onwards.....The Denon 1604 reciever which retailed at 32k at profx and later they offered it at a special price of 25k (because the model was to be phased out) was then available in Gray Market at 18k.

Hi abhi, I presume u r from B'lore.. can u tell me where u enquired the prices? I mean the grey market prices..

ok I got the prices from one of the local hi-fi dealer in Bangalore who is into Hi-fi speaker business and he had offered me the prices at which he can get me amps from gray market through his contacts.

Well, this is really tempting - a denon for 18K !!
Now, this may sound like am really just sitting here and writing mails but am new to chennai (moved from Bangalore on 1st Feb) - so, would anyone know where these dealers are in Chennai?
Also, how do you match amp with speakers (Since i wont have the luxury of auditioning here- i would go with possible model nos and specs and pick up what is available)
From reading this forum so far, i know now that i need to have the resistances matched - its something like lower the resistance, tougher it is for the amp to drive the speaker, right ?
cheers!
V

that's right.
regarding the grey market stuff, approach the dealers themselves(those who deal in some brands and not the other). ask them if they can provide other brand components(ones which he does not deal in) and he mostly will reply that he will not be able to give u warranty on the stuff(means grey market). that's how i got my reciever(though almost all the yamahas sold in india are grey market stuff). but he offered the Marantz also. i don't know about any grey mkt Denons. the only ones i have come across so far are teac,sherwood,yamaha and marantz.
Benks

Sreekrithi
Grey market is mainly in a place called national market, in gandhi nagar and surrounding places in b'lore and thats where all the grey chain starts. Go make a visit and never ever beleive in middle men, just mention the model number and enquire prices.I've dealt with these kind of guys since 12 years. Be careful while purchasing and remember - " there's no warranty". And since the guys who posted here have mentioned the prices can anyone give me the tel no of those dealers they have mentioned.I'm doubtful about the prices these guys claimed, so watch out for refurbished ones coz the price quoted includes every one's lion share involved in the trade chain.

TROJAN_HORSE schrieb:

Sreekrithi Grey market is mainly in a place called national market, in gandhi nagar and surrounding places in b'lore and thats where all the grey chain starts. Go make a visit and never ever beleive in middle men, just mention the model number and enquire prices.

I've been to national market. Any particular building/shop there who has these stuff?

yeah, i have not seen any of these class of items in national market.
Benks

Guys nobody stocks them like it would normally be in a showroom , enquire the 3rd shop on left or right.Remember it's a grey market and they keep their stock in a diffrent place to avoid unneccesary troubles.You can order thru them they will get anything for you.

Abhi Pani wrote :

ok I got the prices from one of the local hi-fi dealer in Bangalore who is into Hi-fi speaker business and he had offered me the prices at which he can get me amps from gray market through his contacts.

Can you be kind enough to post here who this guy is and from where does he operate with his address.

i second benks and sreekerthi on this. I lived in bangalore for 4.5 yrs before moving to chennai. I did not come across any such stuff in National market / gandhi bazaar area. These areas had mostly the mass market electronics such as panasonic, sony, other imports.
Does anyone know the locations /contacts of such people in Chennai ?
thanks
V

hey tidel,
like i said try approching some of the dealers themselves. they will usually have some contacts thru whom they can get u these stuff. however, it is much tougher to barain on these stuff unless u buy a lot of equipment from them and not just one component. actually Mr.Palani from Audio Planet(Torvin) offered to get me some of these amps some time back. he can also get u some used stuff which he will vouch for. he is a very nice chap but he sometimes fluctuiates on his prices.
Benks

yes thats right in the National market here in B'lore you dont find much of hi-fi though there are one or two shops who have them ( I have seen personally) but I havent tried any deals with them as they are generally rough to people who dont seem to buy from them.....BTW I didnt mention the names of the people who gave me the offer because few of them are a part of this forum.....they are not into this GM business but they do it to keep customers with them and to sell their own products. Anyway if someone personally wants meet or interact with anyone of them then just send me a private message. I dont know many people but just a few who will help you mostly if they feel you will buy other products from them.

About GM, you cant compare Chennai to B'lore, Chennai is the Hub where as B'lore is not even the hundredth fraction of it. Infact the GM in Blore is one of the worst for anything hi-fi.
And as Benks said it, you better go through a dealer and he will mos oftenly route you to an authentic product because you are buying other products from him.

You have lived in b'lore for 4-5 years and you draw a conclusion that if you have not seen then they don't sell. read the previous postings and you get a better picture of how dealings are done here.

It seems that you know much more about this so please enlighten us with whatever you can share. In Bangalore if its GM then it is assumed to be National Market and that it didnt at all seemed to be a great place for hi-fi. Hardly I could find one or two shops who had few hi-fi products, they might be having other connections to get more products on order but if those are the only choices then its bad....In chennai whereas you have n number of such dealers who can get you m number of products and at much better prices....

If you feel chennai is better then why do you enquire about what is available here.Now list me the number of dealers you know in Chennai.

Without enquiring about Bangalore how can I say that Chennai is better.......

Dear Sir Abhi Pani,

you wrote :

In chennai whereas you have n number of such dealers who can get you m number of products and at much better prices..

and I wrote :

If you feel chennai is better then why do you enquire about what is available here.Now list me the number of dealers you know in Chennai.

you wrote again :

Without enquiring about Bangalore how can I say that Chennai is better.

See makes no sense at all. Stand by your words man.

Benkenobi now do you understand what my previous posts meant.

Some things are understood, I stay in Bangalore so I also research on the scopes available here.......but Chennai is the GOD of Bangalore for Gray Market Stuffs.....

Hi Abhi...r u going to chennai to purchase stuff??

Not right now since I am still into speaker audition but for amps, I may go or catch hold of some dealer here in Blore who can get me things from Chennai GM.

hey guys,
the marantz sr-4400 is 20 to 22k in grey market
32 33k retail
Benks

How did you know about this ??

SR 4500 is any day better but rare to find and retails at 27000

Some things are understood, I stay in Bangalore so I also research on the scopes available here.......but Chennai is the GOD of Bangalore for Gray Market Stuffs.....

who told you that chennai is god for GM stuff in bangalore. You have no idea of what crap comes out of your head. What do you mean by

Some things are understood

better learn to reply back to the point or else seek a proper coaching and then later talk about HIFI. I can see your taste in your postings and you are always praising cheap local made stuff and compare them to good brands.

Amen.

Hey Torjan Horse,

You need to pipe down a bit in your tone and tenor. This being a HiFi forum, most members would have sensitive ears. Many of your replies are jarring and offensive to me, and I presume to others of my temperament.

You may not agree with the views, tastes or any other attributes of fellow members. The done thing would be to put forward your views/counter views in a polite and humorus way, else, apply restraint and move on.

As you may have noticed once you join a discussion other members seem to leave at a gallop. Use some horse sense and take a hint!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roshan.

that's right. u do need to restrain urself from making rude and obnoxious comments. this is a discussion forum and like i said regardless of what people post, whether they are right or wrong take it in ur stride and move on. the recommendations made here are only those which we found to be good and those which suited our taste. so, this may or may not help u in narrowing down ur choices. that's all.
if u know something and want to express it do so gracefullyand not in the 'i know it all ' snob way.
Benks

Hey Trojan_Horse,
Do I need to say anything more ? I think you got the reply......As a matter of fact, the guy who started this thread was a newbie to the forum and wanted some fruitful + graceful advice, he is no more around, thats your effect.....

Hey Trojan_Horse, Do I need to say anything more ? I think you got the reply......As a matter of fact, the guy who started this thread was a newbie to the forum and wanted some fruitful + graceful advice, he is no more around, thats your effect

I'm really happy thats he's not here or he would take your suggestions directly to land on a pile of crap. Talk sense man. Don't make statements you don't mean. If chennai is better in product range and prices then dare to post the prices compared to bangalore and list of dealers whom you have cordial connections with,instead of your "it's understood' attitiude. Doesn't work evevywhere. does it??

Benks and roshan

I agree that the opinions are at the diposal of the taker, but when you don't know facts why confuse people.As I can see there are some veterans in this forum with huge knowledge databank and willing to help, seek their advice. We are here to learn and not teach what we haven't learnt compltetely. I agree every one must post their views , but where is the authenticity? Roshan do youl ike to enhance your knowledge or go behind some guess work done by an amateur. I'm sorry if I was too strong but lets make this a better forum.Lets all strive to increase our audiophilic sense than wasting time. Time is precoius for me and you all.

have i left anything unsaid. benks and roshan chill it's summer

guys!
Chill it! Please
Here's some more info regarding Chennai market. I spent the entire sat in the electronics market of Chennai. The location is called 'Richie' street. Its behind Hindu office on Mount road (close to Chindadripet station). The place has to be seen to be believed! There are about 150 shops of electronics (audio, video, PC, software and hardware),etc.
I did not discover anything like that in Bangalore earlier (maybe i didnt explore) - and this place has put me in an even bigger dilemma - that of 2nd hand v/s New. The dealers are willing to get just about any brand (NAD, ARCAM, Denon, marantz, Pioneer for amps, B&W, Acoustic Energy, Mordaunt-short and lots more, etc for speakers) from SE Asia. Prices quoted are 4-5 k for a 5 yr old amp, speakers depending on the type and brand. They claim that 'untouched board' and u can inspect the piece whichever way you want to. But above that- i dont have a way to verify the age. And that is my problem. Oh, casette decks from Nakamichi to Technics are all available!
Now, my prob is that i dont speak Tamil, and dont look like a local (am a punju) so i dont know how much to believe the dealers - but everything would be about 20% less than retail if its new. (Yamaha 5.1 channel is about 14 k v/s 17 k in retail -chennai). So, grey market is alive and kicking - but being a local /Tamil speaking should help!
Manek, if you're reading this, would really appreciate your comments. Pricewise, i can get a much better brand, but the golden rule of listening in a good setting doesnt apply here. They would allow me to listen, test, etc but in the shop which is about as big as a used paper shop!
Do comment.

TROJAN_HORSE schrieb:

I'm really happy thats he's not here or he would take your suggestions directly to land on a pile of crap. Talk sense man. Don't make statements you don't mean. If chennai is better in product range and prices then dare to post the prices compared to bangalore and list of dealers whom you have cordial connections with,instead of your "it's understood' attitiude. Doesn't work evevywhere. does it?? Benks and roshan I agree that the opinions are at the diposal of the taker, but when you don't know facts why confuse people.As I can see there are some veterans in this forum with huge knowledge databank and willing to help, seek their advice. We are here to learn and not teach what we haven't learnt compltetely. I agree every one must post their views , but where is the authenticity? Roshan do youl ike to enhance your knowledge or go behind some guess work done by an amateur. I'm sorry if I was too strong but lets make this a better forum.Lets all strive to increase our audiophilic sense than wasting time. Time is precoius for me and you all. have i left anything unsaid. benks and roshan chill it's summer

well praise be to heaven . trojan horse is going to deliver us paradise. what a load of horse shit. according to u , u have elevated or in process of elevating the forum. take a look at the kind of posts u have made. i hardly see anything worth spending my time over. this is my last rebuke towards ur post.
look there are amateurs(including me, regardless of the fact i have been into rock since i was 5 and tinkering with my dad's system)on this forums. so what if there is some gues work done. like i said, it is ur call to make as to whether u want to heed what he has posted. i sure do agreee that there are veterans on this forums who know a lot more than i do and definitely their words hold a lot of weightage, but then again that does'nt mean i should disregard my own experience and just go by waht they say. like i said, its ur calll to make.

cheers,
Benks

I agree that the opinions are at the diposal of the taker, but when you don't know facts why confuse people.As I can see there are some veterans in this forum with huge knowledge databank and willing to help, seek their advice. We are here to learn and not teach what we haven't learnt compltetely. I agree every one must post their views , but where is the authenticity?

if you can please read it carefully this is the context of chennai dealers I made a point that if he is not sure let him not confuse. I never made a statement that I will be delivering paradise and I requested all members to direct towards a better forum. Yes every one's learning and talking about my posts even I'm an amateur , but I post what makes sense to me and all.Yes every one has an opinion to make but care has to be taken to post what is true. I'm not challenging anyone's experience or capability tinkering with your dads system at 5. But will you agree if someone's posts bull shit here.if you feel it's a load of horse shit every time I post thats your problem. Yes I have not elevated forum to any level but caught a member in the process of bull shitting. Go through the posts and try n understand whose post was not making sense.

Reply appreiciated

TROJAN_HORSE schrieb:

te] But will you agree if someone's posts bull shit here.if you feel it's a load of horse shit every time I post thats your problem. Yes I have not elevated forum to any level but caught a member in the process of bull shitting. Go through the posts and try n understand whose post was not making sense. Reply appreiciated

Maybe so, but there is a way to convey the message.i am not saying ur posts don't make sense, only that it shows u show no regard to people's feelings(more like kicking him in the stomach). say it to them like as though u are improving their outlook not like as though u r slapping him in his face. okay, enough of this cribbing around. let's make a pact and have a crack at the peace pipe
. BTW could u please elaborate on ur system.
ur presient setup.
Benks

benks wrote :

take a look at the kind of posts u have made.

Then why don't you look at the worthless posts made about Grey markets by Abhi pani and why didn't you revert to him about this.You were also bent upon deciding that National market doesn't sell Hifi goods. Why don't you enquire ,few of my friends have purchase good HT's from there eons ago and I have accompanied them and one of my partners has hand in glove business with these GM guys.I can make it 200% sure it is available, but only on order and prices they can challenge Chennai.

P.S.
Don't be at the receiving end always if i mentioned amateurs I'm one as well, and that post was made to the guy concerned, so guys stop stomping in the assumption that I have abused all. It was meant for someone and hopefully he got the message.

TROJAN_HORSE schrieb:

benks wrote : .You were also bent upon deciding that National market doesn't sell Hifi goods. Why don't you enquire ,few of my friends have purchase good HT's from there eons ago and I have accompanied them and one of my partners has hand in glove business with these GM guys.I can make it 200% sure it is available, but only on order and prices they can challenge Chennai.

yeah.
actually after u posted this thing about stuff from national market.
i checked it out and it seems to be true. they can source u anything available from the S.E asia and Dubai. i humbly agree that i too posted my view without quite looking into the facts.
but regarding good stuff(reliable, that too from national market), i 'm a bit skeptical about. have had a lot of bad experiences myself(not to mention my friends). i agree that this is risk that u accept regardless of where u buy the stuff from. GM is still GM
Benks

now about ur present setup...

Benks to be frank the most frightening part is you give them the advance and wait for thr stuff to arrive. Can't beleive them coz they are smugglers by profession

Man Trojan,
You are rigid as well as ADAMANT and ARROGANT, this is not a forum at pointing out each others attitude but to share knowledge and experiences. you might be having a great time at the Bangalore GM with all your great contacts but it may not be the same for me or Benks or for that matter anybody......If I had a better time at Chennai then its for me and I will tell it 100 times to n number of people. You wanted me to put down the list of GM dealers I know in Chennai.....Man, I have already given it to the person concerned in this thread because he required it, I am not here to prove myself (atleast to people like you who are 'JUDGES' in their own world). If you were that keen to raise the level of this forum, you should have helped the guy who had started this thread with your contacts rather than abusing people on this forum and showing your awesomely ill-mannered personality.

How much I know and Understand HiFi is much more well known to other members in this forum than you because we have been interacting for quite a few months now. If you still feel that you are the one to evaluate me than PLEASE CONTINUE WASTING YOUR TIME........My time is much more precious...