MidFi Upgrade advice, I'm overwhelmed!

[Capt Haddock]

I've re-awakened my HiFi interest due to a random purchase, but now need some opinions as to what to do next. I'm not new to HiFi (had a Cyrus 1, Trio deck and Missions 30 years ago, should never have sold them). I listen to everything bar classical - Steve Hillage to the Sub-Humans, Black Sabbath to Tangerine Dream, Lee Scratch Perry to German Hard House, Trip Hop to Ice T........ varied. My system was until last weekend:

Rega Alya speakers
Denon PMA 350II (I know its old and bold but I liked the sound for years)
Cambridge Audio 640c Azur (starting to play up a bit)
Project II turntable Ortofon 510 cartridge (an original Project II not one of the new ones)
Squeezebox (rarely used)

Last weekend I happened upon a Creek 4040s2 amp in a sale for £90 so bought it for my son to replace his NAD. I forgot how good amps of this era are, (why did I sell the Cyrus 1) Lurking in the corner were a pair of weird but attractive purple speakers, big steel bands over the top of them. The enthused seller showed me the ribbon tweeter upgrades he had done and gave me a demo. I was hooked. £200 later and they were in the car. Panic! What are they, have I been done? Found out they are MonoPulse 22 units from 2004 but cannot get any info on them even from Allan Hendy - suggested I buy a new pair
I like them alot, tighter and better base than the Alya, good soundscape but in the same vein of real sound.

The dilemma.
Speakers Swapped, and think I'm happy.
I will upgrade the Project with an Ortofon Red
I have funds for either a new amp or CDP not both. I cannot decide which is more important currently. Almost bought a mint Rega Apollo for £200 (and still can), but should I really upgrade the amp instead? I need to run 2 sets of speakers from the amp (speakers B going to a QED switchbox for kitchen and garden speakers), so an amp with second set of speakers is essential. Don't mind second hand. Opinions and abuse welcomed.

 

[Jeff Lee]

Did you get any replies from anywhere to your query, on this forum or elsewhere??

 

[lawrence001]

My experience is you'll need to spend a few hundred to get a worthwhile upgrade. If it was me is start with a passive pre (google for more info, a basic model with alps blue pot is good, but you won't get a turntable input you'll need a separate phono stage for that, I recommend the yaqin valve model with cheap upgraded valves added, this will give you confidence to explore more valve options later like a valve buffer between passive and power amp). Does your amp have a pre out/power in it will usually have links between the sockets on the back if so? If not you'll need a power amp on top. Look on eBay, start with a known brand like older arcam, cyrus or audiolab kit, they can go relatively cheap. I use a yamaha dsp e800 processor as a spare, they go for about £40 but if you know how to set them up as power amps they are brilliant. You can worry about the digital source later.