Recent content by KidKomet

  1. K

    £200 to buy a new stereo amplifer

    Are you set on buying new? Might be worth looking at ex-dem or even S/H. For just a few hairs over your budget I've seen a Rega Brio-R and a Roksan Kandy K1 Mark 3 go. Both would give a significant improvement over the Marantz in my opinion. As always, demo where possible!
  2. K

    Sony STR-DN850 + KEF LS 50: need advices

    An odd combination. If you're going for a stereo setup then I'd ditch the Home Cinema amp and get a dedicated 2 channel amp. Those KEF's can sound incredible with the right choice. I think above all else, some demoing is going to be required. Source a local dealer and get listening.
  3. K

    Speakers upgrade

    I'll pitch in with another vote for upgrading the amp first. As previously mentioned, they're great little speakers that can easily be transported to a dealer for a solid afternoon of auditioning. Roksan and Arcam are great suggestions. If at all possible, try and audition a Creek Evo 50a. I...
  4. K

    Mini Amplifier - Recommendations?

    Following up from this idea, which I believe will net you the best audio quality for your budget. See if you can demo a pair of Ruark MR1's or Q Acoustics BT3's. I personally prefer the Ruark's.
  5. K

    Speakers and Amplifier / CD Player / Streamer recommendation please

    I hate to throw a spanner in the works but have you considered the active route? You may struggle to get the warmer sound you're looking for but with the right CDP and Pre-amp it can certainly be achieved. Maybe something from the likes of Bang & Olufsen? (Ex-dem Beolab 9 comes to mind, or see...
  6. K

    Rotel RA-10 Or Rega Brio-r

    The Brio-R is hands down the better amp in my opinion. If you can, listen to them both and chose the one you prefer. As mentioned above though, if you intend on upgrading your speakers in the future then ultimately the Rega should work out to be the better option.
  7. K

    I need advice on buying VINTAGE AMP

    Whilst I haven't personally heard the Technics, I do know that Marantz used to make some great amps in the 70's, though I imagine they'll be tough to come by. Especially in good condition. Other brands to consider are Pioneer, Nakamichi and NAD. As for CD players, again you can't go wrong with...
  8. K

    undecided on new Floor standing speakers

    It's a controversial issue within the hobby, always wanting to upgrade or try something different. It has it's pros & cons. The only truly solid piece of advice we can all abide by is to demo as much as possible and then go with whatever sounds best to you.
  9. K

    undecided on new Floor standing speakers

    Hi Maslence and welcome to the fun! That's a healthy budget so do take as much time as needed to get the sound you enjoy the most, don't rush anything. Demo as much as possible. Now, if you're going down the floorstander route you definitely won't have to worry about a matching sub unless...
  10. K

    16 vs 24 bit

    There are plenty of great articles on the internet that explain the technical differences, just Google them. As for the practical differences, very little exploits the headroom 24bit offers so a well mastered 16bit CD will sound every bit as good as the 24bit equivalent unless remastering is...
  11. K

    Advice on what amp would suit me..

    For what it's worth, you'd be able to get a Pioneer A50 for under £500 and they're really quite good for the money. If you're willing to venture down the S/H route then I recently saw a Marantz Pearl Lite KI signature go for little over £400 and a Creek Evo 50A go for £500. The Creek would be my...
  12. K

    Bookshelf alternative to Mission 783

    Is there any specific reason that you'd prefer a sub? I'd always advise to try and get the bass you're looking for from the right 2/ch setup. It'll sound much more tightly integrated. Typically, floorstanders have better bass extension and depth but if space is the issue then there are bookshelf...
  13. K

    integrated amplifier: vintage or new?

    Personally, I would venture down the S/H route with that budget. Just be very careful that what you buy has been well looked after. As far as what sort of amps you can get, you've pretty much nailed it with the likes of the older NAD & Rotels although I'm others will come along with other...
  14. K

    Budget amp for Cambridge SX50 Speakers

    I'd be looking at some older amps. Pioneer A-400, Marantz PM6010 (Or possibly the 66), Arcam Alpha 7 or 8, NAD 3020. If you stick with Cambridge Audio, try to find something above their lowest, entry-level amps (Like the A1/A5) and go for the Azur 340 for something similar. Good luck!
  15. K

    Please Suggest Floorstanding Speakers Which Flourish with 80 Watts per channel

    The power of the amp won't be an issue, it's really the sound signature that you'll need to get along with. I'll throw a load of on-the-nose options at you. KEF iQ7's, Q Acoustics 1050i's (Or 2050 if you can find them), Wharfedale diamond 10.3's, Mission MX3's and finally the Acoustic Energy Neo...