Tips for new stereo amplifier

crinkleshoes

crinkleshoes

crinkleshoes

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My valve amp decided to bite the dust, so I'm fancying something new.

Going to go digital this time, rather than analogue.

Will be paired with either Kef LS50 or Kef Q900... probably spend most of its life with the LS50s... I find a warm amp works better with Kef speakers than a bright one, to my ears at least.

Haven't really been looking at the market for a while... always like Cambridge Audio in the past. Could go with one of these, but I'm thinking about something I won't really have tried before... like Arcam, Roksan, Technics, Cyrus, etc.

What are the good ones to look for in the £1-2k range at the moment?

Listen to mostly electronic music, mostly vocal... some rock... come classical.

I know I'll need to audition myself... just trying to get an idea of where to start looking.

The Roksan Caspian M2 looks to get a lot of good reviews.
 
Ref the Roksan, it simply get's good reviews on that awful rag of a supposed "hifi" mag, which I wouldn't give the time of day to.
Don't get me wrong, the Roksan could well be a fine amp, but I'd put zero credence on what WHF say. Just go have a listen to a few options in a local dealer that stocks the speakers you're interested in.

Some additional thoughts:
- Kef now have an active version of the LS50, i.e. having it's own built in amplification. Never heard a pair, but it would be worth making the effort, as you know the amps would be well matched (or at least you'd expect them to be)
- If you want "warmer" amps, then digital ones (e.g. tripath and similar), are probably not a good call. Never heard one that was anything but well detailed and often fairly forward
- For smoother delivery amps, consider units with AB, or class A running, e.g. the Quad range, maybe an old Meridian G57, Luxman, Accuphase, Karan 180 and similar. Again, make the effort to try to find one to listen to. There's some real bargains s/h and I've yet to have any decent power amp fail on me
 
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For that cash you've got to head into a shop and enjoy spending your money! I'm biased towards cyrus kit. Their solutions look quite attractive if you're after a built in DAC or streaming device.
 
I went to audition the CA Azur 851A, expecting great things being their flagship integrated amplifier, and was hugely disappointed. It just sounded flat with no dynamics.
Tried the Roksan Caspian M2 and it had everything the CA lacked; well worth the extra money IMO. Don't know weather its just mine, but they do get hot around the power supply area, as do Cyrus.

On another system I was running Cyrus amps with kef speakers and they do seem to pair well.
 
Sorry this is off topic but why would you use Q900's if you have LS50's? The LS50's are so much more beautiful sounding. Definitely don't cheap out on the amp. The LS50's can sound as good as blades (so sayeth some people. Not saying it's necessarily 100% true) hooked up to seriously high end amps.
 
With the speakers you have in mind, I agree Amps which on the warmer side of neutral seem to synergise well with it. With a 1-2k budget on amp whether it be brand new or second hand there are a lot of options. Just draw up a shortlist and see what is available in your area. On the amp list try Arcam, Marantz, Nad, Cambridge Audio and as Mr Sukebe suggested the Accuphase And Luxmans are worth an audition but that is another tier above. Mark Levinsons. The older ones can be had for reasonable money.

And as for Class D as Mr sukebe suggested they are nowhere near as warm as conventional amps regardless of how people try to spin it. Because of the what they are they seem to share a similar sonic trait. The only one I can think of that I would even consider using is the Jeff Rowland stuff.

I have spent some time with the CA Azur 851 auditioning it. It fine but not for my setup. I use to own a Cyrus setup many years ago and got all the dinky power supplies for it and stuff. It was fine but a bit on the dry side I found.
 
I have recently come across a French brand called Advance Acoustic and own a pair of their speakers and set of their mono bloc power amps. I've also heard some of their other products. They don't have many UK dealers but I rate them highly and if you can track them down I'd suggest a listen as, in my opinion, their products offer excellent value at their respective price points. I think they have a few options in your price range...
 
mistersprinkles said:
Sorry this is off topic but why would you use Q900's if you have LS50's? The LS50's are so much more beautiful sounding. Definitely don't cheap out on the amp. The LS50's can sound as good as blades (so sayeth some people. Not saying it's necessarily 100% true) hooked up to seriously high end amps.
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yeah Q900 are budget floorstanders, and pretty budget ones at that. LS50 are high quality standmounts. LS50 are better quality.
I understand standmount versus floorstander, but if you want floorstander the same level as LS50 you're looking at several thousand pounds.

One option would be to buy second hand flagship floorstanders to save money.
 
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