Another Amp Recommendation Thread

Hi,

I've always had some hand me down seperates from my dad, but have now started paying far more attention to what I'm hearing. So, I swapped my cd player from an old denon to a slightly newer (!) Pink Triangle Cordinal (it's a one box). Recently my Celestion F2 speakers were changed for a pair of Cura CA30 floorstanders and I got some new VDH cables.

Next on the list is Amps. I have a Rega Elex integrated which is past its best, with the channels slightly off balance. So, ending the long story I am looking for some new amps. I will have roughly 2000 to spend (possibly up to 2500) from October. I was hoping to get a pre and power. So far things coming up (on various sites) are ATC CA2/ ATC SPA2; LFD LS2/PA2; some Valves amps: ART diavolo and conductor (which I can't find much out about). And other stuff that pops up on hifi for sale. Is anyone familiar with these amps? I'm not sure whether the Curas are sensitive enough for valves: the diavolos are about 13W and the Curas have about 89db. Any advice/ recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Also is mixing brands with pre/powers a bad idea?

 

Hmm what about a second hand bryston 4bst (£1200) or a new 3b-sst. I dont know those speakers though. AVI pre second hand for about £400?

 

What Denon cdp are using, which souce do you use most eg cdp 75-25

 

Thanks,

I only really use the cd player through that hifi so won't be needing a phono stage.

The Pink Triangle is a vast improvement on the Denon though. I used to work in Virgin and managed to win the Denon in a raffle when they upgraded the system used on the shop-floor. Will find out which model it is, but it's not great.

The Cura's I believe were a small English speaker company that went out of business a few years back. The CA30s did retail at about £1700, but I got them second hand a couple of months ago for £500. They have a sweet midrange with good soundstaging and a rear firing bass driver.

The Brystons sound interesting. I've just read Hifi choice's review and it fairly sings its praises. The 4BST is going at hififorsale, but does the preamp come up regularly as well?

 

Hi,

Yes sometimes it does but I dont like it very much. Expect to pay over a grand 2nd hand. The avi pre is better and goes for 3-400. You could always go for an avi lab pre which is newer but I havent heard it.

Regards,

Nick.

 

thats it run the hoover round and the wife is happy again

 

lol what does that mean?

 

what we talking about now? the wife was giving me grief so a quick hoover and she is ok

 

2k amps that may include me at some time. i am bored with surround sound.

 

nils you have 2 vinyl junkies here now

 

bryston surround amps sound the same as the 2 channel amps. Check them out!

 

have you heard them? and how much are they

 

nils has gone

 

Yes indeed. The 3-4-5 channel amps are all based around 3b and 4b st and sst amps and sound exactly the same. Which country are you in? They go for very good prices in the states. I prefer the older st range. I think the 8b-st is 4 channel and goes for about £1200 or so.

 

i am in scandinavia nick, cant say which one. i get my gear from uk anyway jesus hifi is expensive here, there is only ONE sme dealer here and no michell dealers so you get an idea yea.

 

loads of linn dealers though. but you won't find me in one of those places

 

ok try to get one from the states

lexicon rebadge the bryston multichannel amps. the only difference is that you get a different case and 3 years warranty rather than 20. They are much cheaper and you can egt them on audiogon for £800 or so, a bargain for 5 amp channels - 120w per channel. each channel is equivalent to one channel of a bryston 3b-st.

 

they have a system in one high end shop here, i have never seen anything like it. £50k worth of kit it looks out of this world. but sounds like the music has been strangled to death. linn must have helped develop it i'm sure.

 

you wiil skint me at this rate nick. do you want an ax10i on the cheap?

 

where do you live my friend?