2nd-hand Amp Value

[Twill]

Hi,

I'm interested to know what people on here think about 2nd value in the budget amp market. I'm looking to pick something up 2nd hand as my shoe-string is extremely threadbare at the moment, and I had my eye on a Rotel RA-04 to partner my B&W DM601s, but most RA-04s look like they go for £200ish at the moment, which seems a little steep considering they were only £250 new and have since been superseded.

To be honest, I would buy a new RA-04 if they were still available at £250, but I don't want to stump up the £300 for the RA-04SE.

So, I've got to thinking about alternatives to the RA-04. One obvious candidate is the RA-01, which seems to be better value in the 2nd hand market, but how do you think these 2 stack up against each other sonically? I know they have a fairly similar spec' on paper.

And then there's the Cambridge 640A, how would you rate this against the RA-04?

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Thanks.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Other possiblities, IMO, would be:

NAD C320BEE, NAD C352, Arcam Alpha 9 or 10 integrated, Audiolab 8000s and possibly the Arcam DiVA A65.

It'd be handy to know what music you generally listen to and also what your source is?

 

[Twill]

Hi,

Thanks for the thoughts. At the moment my source is also broken, (everything, including computer, has gone up in smoke at the same time, hence my undignified scramble for value left right and centre), but it will be a PC in to a DAC, the Beresfords look like best value at the moment.

Music-wise, not classical or pop/urban, but most other things, anything from heavyish stuff like Tool, Soundgarden and The Smashing Pumpkins, through to Bright Eyes, Fleet Foxes, Arcade fire and Sigur Ros. As well as the prog' stuff, anything with actual instruments in it, along with some classic stuff like Led Zep', Hendrix, and Country Joe.

My listening levels aren't that loud as I live in a terraced house, and I really like the sound of my old DM-601s, although I think these might be getting a little tired, and may well find themselves replaced at some point down the line.

Hope this paints some kind of picture!

Thanks.

 

[d_a_n1979]

With your tastes in music then I'd definitly take a look at the NAD C320BEE or the Arcam Alpha 9/10 integrated amps.

Plenty of power and will drive the B&W's with ease; their soundstage will also suit your music tastes well.

As for speakers; if you were to upgrade you cant go far wrong with the B&W 602 S2's or the S3 speakers. The Monitor Audio BR2's would be a good choice as well

 

[Twill]

Hi,

Thanks again.

I may well look in to the NAD option then. I've heard a lot about the NAD 'sound', and how it's great if it suits your tastes, but I don't actually know what the characteristics of this apparently quite distinctive 'sound' are. How would you describe the traditional NAD 'sound' presentation then?

I also noticed that the 326bee is available new for £250ish, which seems like a decent price, but everyone I have spoken to suggests that Rotel will suit my tastes and B&W's more than NAD.

 

[d_a_n1979]

The Rotel would be woth looking at yes; if you feel that you'd like to go for new then deffo demo the Roitel RA-04 as well as the NAD C326BEE amp. It also may be worth while you demoing the Audiolab 8000S integrated amp as well.

The NAD and Arcam integrated amps gel very well with B&W; as do Rotel. With your taste in music (which is a bit similar to mine as I liste to Queens of the Stoneage, SOAD, AC/DC/MEtallica amongst a lot of electronica), I've always found that Arcam and NAD have done a better job with B&W speakers than Rotel has.

 

[jimdonnelly]

If you fancy a Rotel why not try to pick up an older one like the RA931. Great amp, which you will be able to pick up for very reasonable money.