Amplifier for KEF 104/2

chrisvb · 27 Apr 2011 at 20:44

I need an amplifier for my KEF 104/2s i used to have a technics su-v707 90w rms per channel. What would be a good replacement amplifier?

lucid · 27 Apr 2011 at 22:08

The 102.4 are really nice speakers. They deserve something a bit more upmarket that the Technics... but what is your budget?

chrisvb · 27 Apr 2011 at 22:23

lucid said:
The 102.4 are really nice speakers. They deserve something a bit more upmarket that the Technics... but what is your budget?

If you could give me a high, medium and low price suggestion that would be great. not really sure on what i want to spend. I bought the Technics 26 years ago with some Carina 2s then upgraded to the 120/4s

jellybeard999 · 27 Apr 2011 at 22:52

What is high and what is low?

A high budget for an amplifier to me would be a tiny proportion of what some here spend on interconnects alone for example.

chrisvb · 27 Apr 2011 at 23:03

300-600 around that margin. I'd probably want tO spend around £300 max though if possible

lucid · 28 Apr 2011 at 01:46

New - I think I'd take a listen of the Yamaha AS500 (c.£300). On paper it has the power to give those speakers a bit of control.

Second-hand I'd be tempted by the Exposure 2010s and Roksan Kandy sitting on Ebay at the moment. They're in a different quality league to the Yamaha. Chances are they'll go over your budget though.

Interesting alternatives in the used world - Linn Intek & Linn Classik, Pioneer A400. Rotel might not be a bad choice.

There's plenty of Arcams, Denons, Marantz and Nad to choose from, but you may find the sounds polite, bright or bass heavy so it's a bit more of a gamble with those.

Steer clear of the Mission Cyrus. They're overrated and overpriced IMO.

Soul.Survivor · 28 Apr 2011 at 02:36

Hi mate,

I'm looking to sell my Arcam A70 which will be perfect for your kefs

chrisvb · 28 Apr 2011 at 07:16

Soul.Survivor said:
Hi mate,

I'm looking to sell my Arcam A70 which will be perfect for your kefs

how much would it be?

chrisvb · 28 Apr 2011 at 17:52

another question: what can i use to get scart and hdmi inputs and get a single output of a hdmi for my hdtv.

I've had a look on the bay and the rotels seem a good price.

wonko · 28 Apr 2011 at 20:20

I've had Kef Ref 102s in the past, which were of a similar age, and found the big rotel power amps were well suited and had the grip and current delivery to keep the bass nice and taut.

lucid · 28 Apr 2011 at 20:31

chrisvb said:
another question: what can i use to get scart and hdmi inputs and get a single output of a hdmi for my hdtv.

That's not going to be easy or cheap. How many sources of each signal type?, and how many sockets of each type on your TV?

chrisvb · 28 Apr 2011 at 20:33

wonko said:
I've had Kef Ref 102s in the past, which were of a similar age, and found the big rotel power amps were well suited and had the grip and current delivery to keep the bass nice and taut.

thanks, the price of the rotels seem to be in my budget. What rotel model should i look at ? ROTEL RA03 is the one i've been looking at.

chrisvb · 28 Apr 2011 at 20:36

lucid said:
That's not going to be easy or cheap. How many sources of each signal type?, and how many sockets of each type on your TV?

i've just built a house so i have put a hdmi cable in the wall and a single hdmi wallplate behind where the tv will be wall mounted. I need a couple of hdmi and a couple of scart inputs to one hdmi output.

Mr_Sukebe · 28 Apr 2011 at 20:51

I got the impression that the kefs like something with balls and that's fairly upfront. I spotted a tact 2175 recently going for around £500. Might be worth considering.

chrisvb · 28 Apr 2011 at 21:07

Mr_Sukebe said:
I got the impression that the kefs like something with balls and that's fairly upfront. I spotted a tact 2175 recently going for around £500. Might be worth considering.

i've also heard this. My technics su-v707 made them sound very nice.

wonko · 28 Apr 2011 at 21:13

chrisvb said:
thanks, the price of the rotels seem to be in my budget. What rotel model should i look at ? ROTEL RA03 is the one i've been looking at.

Hi, the integrated RA03 is newer than the RB991 (200W pc) power amp that I've still use. I'm rather out of touch with their later models TBH (for which my wallet thanks me), so take this with a dose of salt, but I was very impressed with their power amps but less so with their 'grainy' preamps.

Mr_Sukebe said:
I got the impression that the kefs like something with balls and that's fairly upfront. I spotted a tact 2175 recently going for around £500. Might be worth considering.

Completely agree with the balls bit, but if the 102s were anything to go by I'd avoid taking the 'up-front' too far.

chrisvb · 28 Apr 2011 at 21:30

okay say i found a second-hand ROTEL RB991 POWER AMPLIFER i would need a pre-amp with this correct? also, does anyone know where i could pick up one second-hand?

wonko · 28 Apr 2011 at 21:41

Yes, you'd need a pre-amp of some sort to switch inputs and control the volume. Suggestions would rather depend how many inputs you'd want to switch, and if you'd be after remote control. It could be as simple as an potentiometer/attenuator in a box.

chrisvb · 28 Apr 2011 at 21:43

wonko said:
Yes, you'd need a pre-amp of some sort to switch inputs and control the volume. Suggestions would rather depend how many inputs you'd want to switch, and if you'd be after remote control. It could be as simple as an potentiometer/attenuator in a box.

2-3 inputs and a remote would be nice.

wonko · 28 Apr 2011 at 22:02

I've no great suggestions I'm afraid. I ended up building my own after looking at bits of kit like Creek Audio's passive preamp and wondering why such a small box with few parts cost so much.

Just to check should others have ideas: are all the inputs line-level analogue (i.e. do you need a phono preamp stage for a turntable or are there digital inputs that you'd need a DAC for)?

Amplifier for KEF 104/2

Man of Honour