Amp suggestions
Discussion
Hi all,
I am looking for an amp which will deliver a nice improvement in sound over my current setup. Currently I have an old Audiolab 8000A integrated amp, paired up to Meridian 206B CD player and Linn Axis turntable. Speakers are Mission 752 floorstanders. Listen to alot of CD and vinyl but also amplify my laptop and tv using a headphone jack to rca adapter.
I am looking for something a bit more warm and powerful at low volumes, the Audiolab is a bit cold and clinical, and must have a phono stage. Will spend around 500 quid, new or second hand. The Roksan Kandy K2 and the Rega Brio R both look good at the moment, and are within budget new (almost!). I am worried the rest of my kit might not be up to scratch though...
Any ideas very welcome.
I am looking for an amp which will deliver a nice improvement in sound over my current setup. Currently I have an old Audiolab 8000A integrated amp, paired up to Meridian 206B CD player and Linn Axis turntable. Speakers are Mission 752 floorstanders. Listen to alot of CD and vinyl but also amplify my laptop and tv using a headphone jack to rca adapter.
I am looking for something a bit more warm and powerful at low volumes, the Audiolab is a bit cold and clinical, and must have a phono stage. Will spend around 500 quid, new or second hand. The Roksan Kandy K2 and the Rega Brio R both look good at the moment, and are within budget new (almost!). I am worried the rest of my kit might not be up to scratch though...
Any ideas very welcome.
Good to (virtually) meet another Linn Axis owner!
I'd say for those Missions you need something with plenty of power. Combined with your want of warmness, that suggests either an Arcam or an NAD. A good NAD integrated would do the job admirably, say a C356. An Arcam could need bi-amping. An A85 and P85 combination if you can get one in budget (looking at eBay this is just about do-able) would give you all the warmth, and power, that you could ever need.
A left field choice worth an audition could be a NAD D 3020 plus say a Cambridge Audio 640p phono stage. Your Meridian could then just act as a transport - I think there's only one analogue input on the amp. I'm intrigued by these NAD direct digital amps - I don't really like the thought of delta-sigma analogue-to-digital conversion of the input for amplification after there has already been digital to analogue conversion for the input, but the reviews suggest that there is nothing to worry about.
I'd say for those Missions you need something with plenty of power. Combined with your want of warmness, that suggests either an Arcam or an NAD. A good NAD integrated would do the job admirably, say a C356. An Arcam could need bi-amping. An A85 and P85 combination if you can get one in budget (looking at eBay this is just about do-able) would give you all the warmth, and power, that you could ever need.
A left field choice worth an audition could be a NAD D 3020 plus say a Cambridge Audio 640p phono stage. Your Meridian could then just act as a transport - I think there's only one analogue input on the amp. I'm intrigued by these NAD direct digital amps - I don't really like the thought of delta-sigma analogue-to-digital conversion of the input for amplification after there has already been digital to analogue conversion for the input, but the reviews suggest that there is nothing to worry about.
Interesting, thank you!
There is a hifi shop 5 minutes from my door which has the Roksan Kandy, Rega Brio and NAD C356BEE for sale so could give them a test.
I am loyal to the old Audiolab though, I have has it for 8 years and I know the previous owner bought it in the very early 90s. Use it every day without fault. Is it maybe more cost effective to take it to a specialist to refresh, or even boost it with the 8000p power amp?
There is a hifi shop 5 minutes from my door which has the Roksan Kandy, Rega Brio and NAD C356BEE for sale so could give them a test.
I am loyal to the old Audiolab though, I have has it for 8 years and I know the previous owner bought it in the very early 90s. Use it every day without fault. Is it maybe more cost effective to take it to a specialist to refresh, or even boost it with the 8000p power amp?
I suspect a Marantz PM7200 will give you something close to what you want.
You really need an amp that's capable of delivering a lot of current rather than a lot of power - something which the Audiolab doesn't do IMHO.
The NADs are capable of high currrent as is the Marantz.
A PM7000 should be ok too.
ETA: A decent USB DAC would improve the sound from your laptop too - rather than using the headphone socket.
You really need an amp that's capable of delivering a lot of current rather than a lot of power - something which the Audiolab doesn't do IMHO.
The NADs are capable of high currrent as is the Marantz.
A PM7000 should be ok too.
ETA: A decent USB DAC would improve the sound from your laptop too - rather than using the headphone socket.
Are they the earlier 752's or the later 'freedom' model? IIRC the freedom had a smoother sound due to the soft dome tweeter.
I had the freedom model years ago and they partnered well with a Tag pre-amp and Audiolab 8000PX. It was a massive upgrade over the 8000A I started with. I did have the 8000A with the 8000PX but the system only really started to sing when the 8000A was replaced by the dedicated pre-amp. I later changed the power amp to a NAD power but the difference was small, dare I say listening at low levels took a step back.
I think the 752's are pretty good even by todays standards, I've changed my speakers a few times since, and it's taken a massive increase in price to truely eclipse the 752's performance.
AFAIK the later (chinese) Audiolab 8000 products were pretty muich the same as the final Tag designs (PA20R/ M100), and offer great value on the used market.
I had the freedom model years ago and they partnered well with a Tag pre-amp and Audiolab 8000PX. It was a massive upgrade over the 8000A I started with. I did have the 8000A with the 8000PX but the system only really started to sing when the 8000A was replaced by the dedicated pre-amp. I later changed the power amp to a NAD power but the difference was small, dare I say listening at low levels took a step back.
I think the 752's are pretty good even by todays standards, I've changed my speakers a few times since, and it's taken a massive increase in price to truely eclipse the 752's performance.
AFAIK the later (chinese) Audiolab 8000 products were pretty muich the same as the final Tag designs (PA20R/ M100), and offer great value on the used market.
Now I fancy the Rega Brio R and Rega DAC combo. Had a listen of the Brio in a shop and thought it was an impressive little amp. Not sure if the DAC is a worthwhile purchase, though it can be got now for about 300 pounds and would be a nice companion to the amp. Hopefully someone can offer advice:
I do listen to a lot of music on my laptop, streamed from internet radio (BBC iPlayer) and then casted to my TV via a Chromecast or on iTunes (320kbps MP3s), with the TV or laptop plugged directly into my existing amp via the headphone jack (w/RCA adapter). I was thinking I can hook up my TV via optical out and/or I can hook the laptop up via USB connection to the DAC. Will I see any improvement? I have doubts as the source material isnt high enough quality, most of the reviews talk about lossless files etc. However surely my ageing CD player will have a new lease of life using the Rega DAC?
I do listen to a lot of music on my laptop, streamed from internet radio (BBC iPlayer) and then casted to my TV via a Chromecast or on iTunes (320kbps MP3s), with the TV or laptop plugged directly into my existing amp via the headphone jack (w/RCA adapter). I was thinking I can hook up my TV via optical out and/or I can hook the laptop up via USB connection to the DAC. Will I see any improvement? I have doubts as the source material isnt high enough quality, most of the reviews talk about lossless files etc. However surely my ageing CD player will have a new lease of life using the Rega DAC?
I had a Meridian 506 / Audiolab 8000 combo for a very long time and it was only upgrading to a 501/557 pair that I finally traded in the 8000s.
You don't need a massive amp watts-wise just one that can deliver a lot of current. My recommedations would be:
Meridian 551 - these can be got for < £300 and are a good match for the 206
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERIDIAN-551-INTEGRATED-...
A bit hrder to find are the Evolution Aura II - lots of bottom end extension and smooth top end but very detailed all the same - I swapped mine for the Audiolab but I later wished I hadn't :-)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aura-Evolution-VA100II-S...
Or for a bit of a left-field option, keep the 8000A as a pre-amp and get a Quad power amplifier, like a 606 or refurbed / updated 405.
You don't need a massive amp watts-wise just one that can deliver a lot of current. My recommedations would be:
Meridian 551 - these can be got for < £300 and are a good match for the 206
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERIDIAN-551-INTEGRATED-...
A bit hrder to find are the Evolution Aura II - lots of bottom end extension and smooth top end but very detailed all the same - I swapped mine for the Audiolab but I later wished I hadn't :-)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aura-Evolution-VA100II-S...
Or for a bit of a left-field option, keep the 8000A as a pre-amp and get a Quad power amplifier, like a 606 or refurbed / updated 405.
In the end I bought an exposure 2010s2, for 650 Euro only a few months old. Pretty happy with that but hoping it goes well with my missions.
Next purchase will be a decent DAC. I spotted new meridian directors on ebay for 299. Not sure if this is overkill and Cambridge audio sac madic 100 will do, for 100 quid. Looking to boost my CD and internet sounds. Any opinions?
Next purchase will be a decent DAC. I spotted new meridian directors on ebay for 299. Not sure if this is overkill and Cambridge audio sac madic 100 will do, for 100 quid. Looking to boost my CD and internet sounds. Any opinions?
Phugoid said:
In the end I bought an exposure 2010s2, for 650 Euro only a few months old. Pretty happy with that but hoping it goes well with my missions.
Next purchase will be a decent DAC. I spotted new meridian directors on ebay for 299. Not sure if this is overkill and Cambridge audio sac madic 100 will do, for 100 quid. Looking to boost my CD and internet sounds. Any opinions?
A £100 DAC is not going to be better than the 16bit bitstream converter in the 206b.Next purchase will be a decent DAC. I spotted new meridian directors on ebay for 299. Not sure if this is overkill and Cambridge audio sac madic 100 will do, for 100 quid. Looking to boost my CD and internet sounds. Any opinions?
Esseesse said:
Phugoid said:
I guess so but the 206b is 25 yrs old, wasn't sure how much the game has changed since then.
Generally the impression I get is that extracting the maximum from a CD was mastered 25 years ago.
Oh how we wished. We still haven't sorted Vinyl reproduction yet
Even if the processing chip has been sorted and the firmware to process it does a good job you still have the analogue stages to play with. I am told the current favourite DAC is the Audiolab M-DAC. I've been happy with my Chord DAC 64 running with a cheap Pioneer DVD player DV-565A. The difference between the built in DAC and the DAC 64 is hugeP700DEE said:
Esseesse said:
Phugoid said:
I guess so but the 206b is 25 yrs old, wasn't sure how much the game has changed since then.
Generally the impression I get is that extracting the maximum from a CD was mastered 25 years ago.Oh how we wished. We still haven't sorted Vinyl reproduction yet
Even if the processing chip has been sorted and the firmware to process it does a good job you still have the analogue stages to play with. I am told the current favourite DAC is the Audiolab M-DAC. I've been happy with my Chord DAC 64 running with a cheap Pioneer DVD player DV-565A. The difference between the built in DAC and the DAC 64 is hugeGassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff