Advice on best amplifier + speakers to manage a difficult room

[skinnypuppy71]

It's nice to know some folks are getting into dads vinyl collection..lol..brilliant stuff.
On another note, I wouldn't rely on the room correction of the wiim products, it's very basic and when I had the wiim ultra, I tried it out just for curiosity sake, into my then Acoustic energy ae1 active speakers, it did actually make the sound worse and basically removed all the bass in my little 2x2 summer house which does suffer from bass boom at certain a frequency...but the room correction over compensated and I reverted to the flat response, but I will give it this, the parametric eq on the wiim app is very handy, so Yeah!....maybe the room correction ain't that great but you'd still have a decent eq to play with until a agreeable setting was found.
Enjoy your vinyl, it's great fun..

 

[RTHerringbone]

So then the choice is between Rotel A8, Rega Io and the first gen Audoliab which are all around £400. Any thoughts on the relative pros and cons.

I've had the Marantz PM6007 you mention in your first post. It's very capable and represents big bang for the buck at the price point. If aesthetics matter, it may be a bit of a mismatch if / when you get the WiiM Ultra. It's a bit old-fashioned looking to my taste, but one of the best options in that price bracket.

I can't give an objective view on the other options. I like Rega stuff and like the look of the IO so I'd lean that way personally, but based on nothing other than preference.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Have added a picture of the room, if that helps

The good news, the room isn't as bad as it looks and you can make it better.

If there are normally binds on the windows, can you go a stage further and get curtains? You may need to be creative with the rail!

I'm guessing the right wall is glass to waist hight overlooking the room below. In an ideal world that would be replaced with something "dead" that doesn't reflect the sound. Your could have a temporary cover over them for example a rug you hang over while listening to music, or even a curtain you can pull across.

Finally, the speakers are going to be low, so get a low sofa or chair so the speakers are as close to head hight as possible.

As for the amp, I still think the the Audiolab is still the best deal in town. If you want streaming capability immediately, you can get the 6000A Play for £399. I haven't heard it but I am told it isn't as good as a regular 6000A but it isn't far off.

If you go for the WiiM and buy online, you have 14 day cooling off under remote selling rules, so you could always return if it doesn't live up to your expectations.

 

[Allears]

It's nice to know some folks are getting into dads vinyl collection..lol..brilliant stuff.
On another note, I wouldn't rely on the room correction of the wiim products, it's very basic and when I had the wiim ultra, I tried it out just for curiosity sake, into my then Acoustic energy ae1 active speakers, it did actually make the sound worse and basically removed all the bass in my little 2x2 summer house which does suffer from bass boom at certain a frequency...but the room correction over compensated and I reverted to the flat response, but I will give it this, the parametric eq on the wiim app is very handy, so Yeah!....maybe the room correction ain't that great but you'd still have a decent eq to play with until a agreeable setting was found.
Enjoy your vinyl, it's great fun..

He had a 1st press White Album which I am very excited to play

 

[Allears]

The good news, the room isn't as bad as it looks and you can make it better.

If there are normally binds on the windows, can you go a stage further and get curtains? You may need to be creative with the rail!

I'm guessing the right wall is glass to waist hight overlooking the room below. In an ideal world that would be replaced with something "dead" that doesn't reflect the sound. Your could have a temporary cover over them for example a rug you hang over while listening to music, or even a curtain you can pull across.

Finally, the speakers are going to be low, so get a low sofa or chair so the speakers are as close to head hight as possible.

As for the amp, I still think the the Audiolab is still the best deal in town. If you want streaming capability immediately, you can get the 6000A Play for £399. I haven't heard it but I am told it isn't as good as a regular 6000A but it isn't far off.

If you go for the WiiM and buy online, you have 14 day cooling off under remote selling rules, so you could always return if it doesn't live up to your expectations.

This is great thank you. The chairs are on order and are low and pretty much will put me at head height. We can put a rug over the glass and have one for the floor too. I think I am going to go for the Audiolab. I am guessing they will be OK with the Kupids?

 

[Fandango Andy]

This is great thank you. The chairs are on order and are low and pretty much will put me at head height. We can put a rug over the glass and have one for the floor too. I think I am going to go for the Audiolab. I am guessing they will be OK with the Kupids?

You will be fine. It has more than enough power, and if anything is a class above the speakers.

Having never seen a them except in pictures I was curious how small the speakers are, they are only 5cm shorter, 3cm narrower, and similar depth to my old Tannoy M1's. You wouldn't want to put the Tannoy's in your space though, they need some room around them.