Advice on Valve Amplifier & System

[spudgun]

Looking for advice on purchasing a Valve Amplifier, turntable & Speakers if anyone can help.....

Ex Wife convinced me to sell all my 'black boxes' some years age and now I'm loooking to rebuild a system, got around 2K to spend and been looking at an Icon Audio amp (Stereo 40 MK III 6AS7), Rega Turntable (RP3/Elys2) but stuck on speakers to compliment these in a medium sized living room. Will look to add on a CD player or streaming device when funds allow in the future.

Has anyone got experience or advice on Icon Audio Amps or similar valve products around the 1K mark?

Also if anyone has recommendations on speakers to compliment this type of set up that would be much appreciated?

Thank you.

 

[davedotco]

Firstly you will need a phono stage, the ST40 is line level only, not cheap if you want to stay with valves.

Take a look at the hybrid Croft integrated, £1k including a valve phono stage, super amp. Think twice about the Elys too, I would speak to Croft and get a recommendation.

Speakers at this level are largely a matter of taste, you really have to try a few. Should you make the effort to find the Croft, see what the dealer suggests.

Personally I would be looking at a brighter, sharper cartridge than the Elys and then looking at someting like Q Acoustics Concept 20 or maybe the new Epos K1.

 

[Infiniteloop]

If you're not against second-hand equipment, I would definitely investigate this area in search for a Valve Amp. I went this route some years ago and picked up my Unison Research S8 for a third of the price it was when new. It is in mint condition and has performed flawlessly every day I've used it since.

Perhaps Valve Amp owners are an even more meticulous bunch when it comes to looking after things than the general HiFi enthusiast......

This is the second Unison Research Amp I've owned and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

They are beautifully built, are usually self-biasing and sound amazing. They are also beautifully designed as you'd expect from that Italian pedigree.

I recently bought a Devialet 200 for the main system, but cannot bring myself to part with the S8....

Second-hand might be a good way to go for speakers too. - perhaps some Opera's?

 

[BigH]

Steve on here has an Icon amp and Kudos speakers I believe, he has some quite expesive TT. Someone else on here I think downgraded from Icon to Croft and thinks its better, so my advise is look at Croft Int. and maybe Kudos speakers. I read on another post that Harbeth get recommended with Croft.

Depends on your taste, music, room etc.