Don't buy anything without trying it in your home for at least several hours with a wide range of your music.
Your amp and acoustics will sound different with a particular speaker than in any showroom; a LOT different.
If need be, buy them but get a 10 day return agreement. Make it clear that they are on trial and expect a full refund if they don't work out. Get it in writing.
I would lean toward the 683 S2; I have heard them several times in various venues and they always have sounded pretty good.
Rotel is very good; you can buy the Rotel amp with confidence.
Don't buy anything without trying it in your home for at least several hours with a wide range of your music.
Your amp and acoustics will sound different with a particular speaker than in any showroom; a LOT different.
If need be, buy them but get a 10 day return agreement. Make it clear that they are on trial and expect a full refund if they don't work out. Get it in writing.
I would lean toward the 683 S2; I have heard them several times in various venues and they always have sounded pretty good.
Rotel is very good; you can buy the Rotel amp with confidence.
Thanks man, will talk to the dealer about that. If in case he agrees the try-out at home, I'll really start to worry about the condition of the demo ones, i.e., CM9...How many ppl have tried them out at home? Are they all with great care not to damage the speakers in one way or another?
Just look them over carefully for cosmetic problems and make sure you are getting a full FACTORY warranty (not some mickey-mouse warranty serviced by some 3rd party that will be difficult to get satisfaction from).
There probably are not a lot of people who will insist on a home audition.
updating, thank you for your invaluable advice guys! In the end, I go for a Devialet 120 and a pair of B&W CM10 S2.
I have to say CM S2 really stands out of the whole CM series and a big improvement over CM9. As for Devialet, I need to say nothing. Yup, the result is, I have to triple my budget~ But the thing is, if I still will buy Devialet in the next few years, why not jump directly to it and waste money on Rotel (Rotel is good of course, but I really love the sound and design of Devialet)?
As for KEF R900 and other speakers, I would love to audit them but unfortunately in my city, you cannot find a dealer with those speakers and Devialet at the same time. As for the current dealer, he provides me a bundle price for the two which seems reasonable to me. That's why I go for it~
Well u're lucky to have a budget that can squeeze the Devialet and the CM s2.
It will be one heck of a system!
I have the CM5 s2 and I love the overall sound of the s2 series. That amp will take it to a new level!
Post ur experience w this combo..i'm very interested.
I think it's unfair to compare the Rotel to Devialet. They are not in the same leagues performance wise and price wise. The Devialet cost much more than the Rotel. Devialet is awesome. They make great sounding components and they are expensive. Rotel makes affordable great sounding gears, especially for the price. I used to own Rotel gears myself and frankly I was quite happy with their performances. Rotel makes great amps. Performance wise Rotel is more comparable to NAD, Roksan, Cyrus, Cambridge Audio, Parasound, Creek and perhaps Rega as well as Arcam. Rotel is more like an entry level hi-fi whereas Devialet is more like high end performer. They both are totally different price ranges too. Rotel is good for what it is and is definitely a step up in performance from those major mass market av manufacturers such as Onkyo/Integra, Yamaha, Sony, Denon, Pioneer, Marantz, Harman Kardon etc.
Don't buy anything without trying it in your home for at least several hours with a wide range of your music.
Your amp and acoustics will sound different with a particular speaker than in any showroom; a LOT different.
If need be, buy them but get a 10 day return agreement. Make it clear that they are on trial and expect a full refund if they don't work out. Get it in writing.
I would lean toward the 683 S2; I have heard them several times in various venues and they always have sounded pretty good.
Rotel is very good; you can buy the Rotel amp with confidence.
Thanks man, will talk to the dealer about that. If in case he agrees the try-out at home, I'll really start to worry about the condition of the demo ones, i.e., CM9...How many ppl have tried them out at home? Are they all with great care not to damage the speakers in one way or another?
Just look them over carefully for cosmetic problems and make sure you are getting a full FACTORY warranty (not some mickey-mouse warranty serviced by some 3rd party that will be difficult to get satisfaction from).
There probably are not a lot of people who will insist on a home audition.
The 682 S2's are whathifi darlings for the last two years although I prefer the sound of the CM series over the 6.
updating, thank you for your invaluable advice guys! In the end, I go for a Devialet 120 and a pair of B&W CM10 S2.
I have to say CM S2 really stands out of the whole CM series and a big improvement over CM9. As for Devialet, I need to say nothing. Yup, the result is, I have to triple my budget~ But the thing is, if I still will buy Devialet in the next few years, why not jump directly to it and waste money on Rotel (Rotel is good of course, but I really love the sound and design of Devialet)?
As for KEF R900 and other speakers, I would love to audit them but unfortunately in my city, you cannot find a dealer with those speakers and Devialet at the same time. As for the current dealer, he provides me a bundle price for the two which seems reasonable to me. That's why I go for it~
Well u're lucky to have a budget that can squeeze the Devialet and the CM s2.
It will be one heck of a system!
I have the CM5 s2 and I love the overall sound of the s2 series. That amp will take it to a new level!
Post ur experience w this combo..i'm very interested.
I think it's unfair to compare the Rotel to Devialet. They are not in the same leagues performance wise and price wise. The Devialet cost much more than the Rotel. Devialet is awesome. They make great sounding components and they are expensive. Rotel makes affordable great sounding gears, especially for the price. I used to own Rotel gears myself and frankly I was quite happy with their performances. Rotel makes great amps. Performance wise Rotel is more comparable to NAD, Roksan, Cyrus, Cambridge Audio, Parasound, Creek and perhaps Rega as well as Arcam. Rotel is more like an entry level hi-fi whereas Devialet is more like high end performer. They both are totally different price ranges too. Rotel is good for what it is and is definitely a step up in performance from those major mass market av manufacturers such as Onkyo/Integra, Yamaha, Sony, Denon, Pioneer, Marantz, Harman Kardon etc.