New Amp or 2nd hand? £300 budget

[Magistrate]

Hi, I have a budget of around £300 and wondered whether I should get a new amp (been looking at a Cambridge Audio in Richer Sounds) or get a 2nd hand one from yesteryear?

Do Amps deteriorate with age? I'm guessing an Amp that was a few grand 10 years ago should be under £300 now?

Any thoughts?

[Gingerbread Man]

5.1, stereo?

[Magistrate]

Yeah just normal stereo. Only want it to play music from my cd player (separates)

[PJ S]

You can pick up some cracking bargains used, but you need to balance that with what if a component gives up the ghost - could be costly to diagnose and repair - so proving a false economy.
However, would open the door to some brands and potentially higher resolution/power.
Good luck with your search, as many of interest could mean long drives or buying unseen and unheard.

[pernod]

There is a middle ground that's also worth considering. I managed to pick up a lovely Arcam amp a few months ago which was ex-demo direct from a specialist audio store (as the model has been replaced by one which includes a DAP streaming server this one was being replaced).

[Seeker UK]

Without knowing what CD & speakers you've got, it's tricky to recommend.

[Magistrate]

I'm thinking of upgrading my speakers also, so any recommendations on these also. I think I am prepared to take the risk of component failure on a second and one, so anyone any recommendations for GOOD 10 year old amps which were a fortune new, and are a good sound? I like a good low volume bass

[PJ S]

The bass will be a function of the speakers & room interaction.
A good damping factor will keep sensitive bass speakers in check, so it shouldn't be wallowy, but rather taut.
Electrocompanient would be worth a look at.
BTW, are we talking power amp or integrated? Do you have a pre-amp?

[Magistrate]

Erm, you've got me? I guess powered? I will also be using a dock for the ipod and a DAC to input to the amp

[davidspooner]

Just picked up a pair of Meridian monoblocks for £250: built in 1988 but absolutely almighty

[PJ S]

Magistrate said:

Erm, you've got me? I guess powered? I will also be using a dock for the ipod and a DAC to input to the amp

Those are line level, unless the DAC has variable output, so not requiring a pre-amp and volume pot.
Still wouldn't overlook the right integrated amp though.

The problem with recommending anything is not knowing the size of room, where the speakers are going to be sited, and what style/size/price.

[Seeker UK]

davidspooner said:

Just picked up a pair of Meridian monoblocks for £250: built in 1988 but absolutely almighty

205s? Excellent amps.

For £300 the OP can buy a Meridian 551 which is a pretty damn good integrated.

Message to OP - what DAC are you using?

[PJ S]

http://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/integrated-amplifier... - Metaxas & Krell KAV, but would need budget doubled.
Musical Fidelity too.

http://www.badaweb.co.uk/show.php?site=soundcrafth... - okay, not exactly £300, but still.

[Seeker UK]

PJ S said:

http://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/integrated-amplifier... - Metaxas & Krell KAV, but would need budget doubled.
Musical Fidelity too.

http://www.badaweb.co.uk/show.php?site=soundcrafth... - okay, not exactly £300, but still.

Straight if that website - this Arcam Alpha 10 is on budget and would be a cracking amp to use:

http://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/moreinfo.php?prod_id...

[Magistrate]

Seeker UK said:

Message to OP - what DAC are you using?

Its an Arcam DAC, again bought from Richer Sounds but a few years ago now!

[Seeker UK]

If your absolute top budget is £300 and you want best "bang for your buck" then IMHO, you need to consider any of the following:

NAD Pre / Power
I know that NAD are not the sexiest looking bits of kit but they do sound good and you can pick up a 3120 for < £150 and a pre like a 1020 for < £100 add £50 for a good interconnect between the two and you're off.

Audiolab 8000a
This will give you lots of power and drive (and inputs) for < £200. Get a black-cased 'pre TAG' model and make sure all of the phono sockets are OK. If you really want you can add an 8000p and biamp.

Cyrus
£300 will get you a Cyrus 5 amp or 3 which over time you can upgrade with a PSX power supply and a power amp.

Naim
Naim is a bit of an acquired taste. For your budget, you could get a Nait 5i integrated or even an older NAC 32.5/NAP140 pre-power. Be aware that Naim use DIN connectors on their kit as opposed to standard phonos.

Arcam
The Alpha 10 integrated (as I stated above) is worth buying. You may also find an Alpha 8 and 8 power for the money. Also worth checking are any of the later A series (A75 is worth a punt).

Other amps to consider would be Rega Brio amp, Ion Obelisk, or Talk Storm.

A quick search on the net found a few goodies here:
http://www.steveshifi.co.uk/used-hifi-amplifiers-5...

Join AVForums, HiFi Wigwam and Pinkfish - there's loads of gear being sold on those fora for good prices and you'll get loads of advice.

But you really need to audition them. All the above have fans and detractors but they all sound different and only you'll know what you want to live with.

[Magistrate]

Thanks Seeker, this was the sort of thing I was after!

Going to see a NAD amp tonight that was in local paper.

[Seeker UK]

Magistrate said:

Thanks Seeker, this was the sort of thing I was after!

Going to see a NAD amp tonight that was in local paper.

You might want to listen to it as well....

[Toffer]

Seeker UK said:

Arcam
The Alpha 10 integrated (as I stated above) is worth buying. You may also find an Alpha 8 and 8 power for the money. Also worth checking are any of the later A series (A75 is worth a punt).

This one sounds much nicer than it looks. IMHO the slightly older ARCAM products (ARCAM Delta 290) look a bit more substantial...
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/amplifier/arcam-delta-290/...

[Roadster25]

To add to Seeker's list may I suggest older Exposure kit? I bought an early nineties 7 and 8 pre/power combo for £300 a few years back which I'm very happy with. Similar to Naim in many respects but a bit smoother, standard phono plugs and a great phono stage. Seems to be very well built and still supported by Exposure. The integrated amps of the same era are also well regarded, maybe a bit cheaper.

I always try to buy second hand because if I don't like it I can sell it on without making massive losses. Just a thought.